Christmas Poem

My husband is very talented in many ways and this is one of them.  He wrote this over the course of an hour or two on Christmas Eve and I didn't even have to spell check it!  Hope you enjoy!

Twas the night before Christmas

As I write this letter

My family thought I couldn't get this done, 

But I'll show them better.

It still isn't Christmas yet

just a few hours to go,

I'm writing next to the fire

As snow falls out the window.

The kids are excited

As Santa's drawing near,

It's going to be a chore

Getting them to bed I fear.

The family's getting bigger

With a new puppy named Koko,

She's tearing up the backyard toys

And driving mom loco.

Kristy is running the daycare at home,

She loves spending time with the little ones

Joey's still working at SUU

Having fun and bringing in the funds (actually I think Kristy still makes more than me).

Kelley started kindergarten this year,

She really likes school.

Tyler spending the day playing trains and cars

And thinks he's super cool.

Well again we leave you our poem

On this most holy of nights.

Hope to see you soon,

We'll leave on the lights.

But if not, we hope this letter

Finds you and your kin

Happy, healthy, harmonious

And don't forget to grin.

For on this night the reindeer fly

And the fat man rides again.

Love, 

Joey, Kristy, Kelley and Tyler

Candle Giveaway

Go here to enter.  My neighbor across the street makes these...I like them because they DO smell good and they are Soy candles, which really are a little nicer than the normal ones.  Hurry...only a few more days...

Trains, Planes and Automobiles...

Thanksgiving night we drove to SLC and stayed in a hotel with the kids.  We had planned to go see the lights on Temple Square that night until we realized they weren't turned on until the next day.  So we had time to kill on Friday.  Tyler is OBSESSED with trains to the point that I am recording "Extreme Trains" on the history channel for him to watch later.  He calls it his "engine" movie.  (I love it, because what a fun, innocent thing to be obsessed with!)  So we decided to ride Trax around for a while.  We started off by SLEEPING IN!  Gotta love the hotel curtains that block out all daylight.  Then the kids and dad took a dip in the hot tub and we were off.  We spent a couple hours riding Trax and then the new Frontrunner train up to Farmington and back, just for fun.  The kids loved it, but Kelley was disappointed it didn't go faster.  

(I took this picture of the tracks and the kids.  Joey, my "artist" complemented me on it...WAHOO!)

Then off to the Clark Planetarium because Kelley wanted to go.  They had this ball contraption there that kept both the kids enthralled. Tyler was the only one that threw a fit though when it was time to leave. 

Tyler was also fascinated with the rocket display.  He stood there for at least 5 minutes.  Those of you that have three year olds will know how incredible that is ;).

Then dinner at Applebees...yum!  Tyler fell asleep on the bench as soon as he finished his chicken strips.  
it's back on the train and off to temple square.  We've taken the kids to the lights almost every year now I think, but this year we forgot all of our gear, so had to make due with what we had in the car.  We must have looked very interesting.  
The lights were beautiful and we really had a lot of fun just hanging out with the kids.  I would definitely suggest a day like this to anyone.  

I wish I could find the right image...

OK so my first thought was that old LDS movie about the "ugly" girl with the greasy hair who everyone teases until they find out she helps kids...do you guys know the one?  Couldn't remember the name so no luck finding that.  Next I thought...Stever Urkel, but in most of his pictures he's got a huge grin.  Same problem with Ugly Betty.  And I sure don't want to take a picture of the real deal (AKA, me) so you just get the story instead.  Here's the scene:

I had to switch cars with Joey this afternoon at the university.  I was planning on running all sorts of errands that I never get to run because of the daycare.  Today I had Misty watching the kids, so I was out and about.  Well I dropped off the car, but it didn't have a parking tag on it, so I had to park clear down the street.  Then I had all my stuff I had to take with me, plus some things I had for Joey to keep at his office.  I'm walking down the street with a huge armload of stuff and what happens?  I drop stuff all over the sidewalk.  I have to say I was very impressed as I had several people offer help and come to my aid.  I was SO embarrassed though.  But I got gathered up and dropped off the stuff to Joey.  He told me the van was parked back across the street.  OK.  So I'm walking over there and it's in between classes so there's all sorts of students around and I realized...I am a big fat dork.  At least today.  You see I was headed out among other things to clean out our garden in New Harmony.  So I had on my "work jeans"  I love em, they are so comfortable, but I have to admit are floods.  They are short enough that they show my ankles, but not short enough to be considered capris.  In addition an old SUU t shirt and sweat jacket with my ratty old tennies.  I had on my glasses, only a tiny bit of makeup and my hair was quickly blow dried this morning.  College students are extremely cute and fashionable.  I so with I could just keep it all together, you know what I mean?  But often somethings got to give...  So I'm a little irritated anyway and then I spent a half an hour looking for the van, which wasn't actually in that parking lot Joey later remembered.  Oh my.  The good news is the garden didn't take as long as I thought and I got my errands completed.  AND I saw gas for $1.47 here today and paid only $1.85 for a gallon of milk.  WAHOO!

Well, I'm not telling this to get pity or anything.  I think it's kind of funny.  It was just an interesting thing to realize I really am on a different spot on the game board of life.  Not that I didn't know that before...but anyway...thought you all might be able to relate is all.  Have a nice day :)

What a Weekend!

What a busy, fun, full weekend we had. I think it's too much for one post, so I'll probably do few over the next day or so. Check back for fun pictures of our great weekend.

So to begin we had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving feast at my Aunt Frankie and Uncle Randy's house in Tooele. Everyone pitched in and dinner was delicious. I've included a few pics here to make you salivate. My sister's salads were works of art. For those of you that know her (Kelsha) that shouldn't surprise you.

Kelsha also in a stroke of brilliance brought beads to make ornaments with and kept Kelley busy ALL morning long.  Tyler got in on the action a little as well.  

Unfortunately I didn't get any pics of Kelsha, so you don't get to see her here, but did snap some cute pics of Karmin and Kember...the young spoiled ones ;).I've also included for your viewing enjoyment a picture of Kelley doing her rock star impression.  Not sure which rock star she saw with THAT face...
Of course dinner was followed by a movie. We watched Hancock with Will Smith. It was actually pretty good, but had lots of language. Finally included here a picture of my brother and his wife Misty.  They live just around the corner from us, which is lots of fun.  We love having them around.

My new calling!

One of the greatest blessings in my life is the gospel.  I've been so grateful to always have it in my life.  I love the Church, I love the people I meet there and love that it makes me a better person than I believe I would be otherwise.  I have always been one happy to serve where I was called.  As many of you know I LOVE music and play the piano.  My entire married life I've been in music callings, mostly in primary.  They are so fun, but I am so excited now to be serving in the Relief Society.  I was called as the Education (1st) Counselor in the presidency this last week.  I feel a bit in over my head, but am so excited to serve and learn and grow.  Joey is a bit apprehensive about my being busy with this all of the time, but I believe that whom the Lord calls, he qualifies and so I have a hope that I will be qualified as I do my best. 

By the way...Joey was called almost immediately as the Scout Master in our new ward.  He's really excited.  He's been in this calling for the last year and a half and LOVES it.  It is a very busy calling for him, so we'll both have to support each other.  Somehow though I think this will make our family stronger and help us both personally and spiritually.  

My kiddos!

On to one of my favorite things to talk about...Tyler and Kelley.  I'm sure I've said this before, but they are truly the light of my life.  Sometimes that light comes in the form of a lightning storm (;), but they are my sweeties all the same.  Here's a bit about my kids:

Tyler:  Just turned three yesterday (which is why he has the honor of being listed first).  He is SO fun.  He LOVES to dance and has great rhythm.  He is obsessed with trains (Thomas as well as real trains), Cars (mostly the movie) and pretty much all moving vehicles (motorcycles, trucks, helicopters,  etc).  He is really passionate and energetic.  He loves to play baseball in the backyard and really likes the color orange.  He has off and on been a biter, much to his mother's embarrassment.  Tyler loves his sister and is a very loving kid, often doling out hugs and kisses freely.  He has REALLY cool hair, way cute dimples and a personality to match.  I got a shirt for him that I think says it all "My parents are exhausted".

Kelley:  Kelley is almost five and a half and is just turning into a little angel!  She is so much fun right now.  She is in Kindergarten and loves it.  She is so creative, constantly pulling out all my ribbon and glue and paper and scissors to create stories or pictures.  She always has a smile and is still sometimes a bit of a mamma's girl.  Kelley LOVES friends and would have someone over all the time if I had the energy.  She has always been really smart and is really fun to have a conversation with.  Kelley will wear a dress every day if you let her and adores princesses.

I could go on forever.  These two are so precious to me.  I feel so blessed, although often inadequate at the chance to be their mom.  They remind me of the things that are good in this world and that I can be better.  I find it hard to remember a time when they weren't a part of our family.  I sometimes think at life before kids and wonder what the heck I did with all my time because it seems like everything now is consumed with them, but I wouldn't trade it for the world now.  I love em!