Home Sweet Home

I forgot to mention the SNOW! Not a big deal for some of you, but the kids finally got to play in the snow a few weeks ago. We went up to my parents cabin in Show Low about a week after storms had dumped over a foot on the ground, and a good 5-6 inches was still there. We took a nice trip with Justin's family and spent the weekend relaxing, singing some karaoke, and pulling our kids behind the quad through the snow. This was Dale's first snow experience. He reacted to the snow the same way he reacts to sand....by trying to swim in it. Except with the snow he would lay in it, then his hands would immediately start to get cold (because of course he was pulling off his mittens constantly) and then cry for help up since he couldn't do it himself. I honestly don't know how mothers of young children do it when they live in an area where there is snow all winter long. I just wanted to stay inside and not deal with it! Too much work getting these little ones bundled, then ...

For the blog rolls.... I've created another public blog that I will post short updates to that will link to our blog. If you have us on your blog roll then you can change the address to this blog and that way it will show an update when we have a new post and will have a link to our private blog. Thanks to my friend Krista for the idea :) The public blog is owensbloglinks.blogspot.com

Just some random pics! Our camera busted and for a few weeks we really didn't take many pictures. We just got our new one but sadly I kinda need to adjust to taking pictures all the time again. It just doesn't occur to me to grab the camera now :( One of Brighton's front teeth are loose. I have been strangely dreading the day when he loses his front teeth. It's like he's truly getting to be a big kid when those big awkward teeth start growing in rather than his cute baby teeth. I don't look forward to it at all. When he told me it was loose I grabbed the camera and made him smile so I could get some good pictures of his cute "little boy" smile before it turns into a "big boy" smile. It's starting to occur to me, just in the last month or two, that my children are growing up way too fast, and that perhaps it's time to slow my life down a bit. I never thought I'd want to quit my job, but a feeling it starting to develop in me that...

Brighton never ceases to amaze me... In primary this year the presidency has asked all the kids to bring scriptures to church every week. Brighton has been bugging us for a few months anyway that he wants his own scriptures like Justin and I have. I've been telling him that I will get him some once he is baptized, but Brighton has persisted so two weeks ago Justin took him by the Bishop's office after church and got him one of the free Book of Mormons the Bishop has stacked up outside his office (for members to take in case they have a missionary experience and can give someone not of our faith a Book of Mormon). Brighton was so thrilled to have his very own Book of Mormon, that as soon as he came home he changed his clothes and did this:  Justin snuck up and caught a few pictures before Brighton saw him... and he continues to do this every night before he goes to bed. He is so excited to feel like he can read his scriptures. I honestly don't know how much he understands...

The kids new jumping moves on the trampoline: 1. Twiller jump 2. Triple dipper 3. Belly flop 4. Jumping H 5. Crab jump 6. Jumping C 7. Ninja Kick 8. Feet hands Kick They are having a great time creating all their new moves!

Weeds I try to find teaching moments with Brighton often. He is such a thoughtful and inquisitive soul, so I always try to impress upon him the important things while he is still so receptive at his young age. At the same time, however, you wonder how much will really stick when they are this young. I guess at 6.5yrs a lot has already stuck because he gave me such a reminder yesterday while we were outside. I had walked Dale down to the end of the street to pick Brighton up off the bus. (Let me cut in and say how CUTE it was to see Dale light up when he saw the bus and start running and smiling because he knew Brighton was coming. He ran right up to Brighton with arms open for a big hug) Anyway, when we got back to our house we were walking up the driveway and I noticed an awful lot of weeds in our side yard that have been growing since we haven't mowed in a month with the grass being dormant. I stopped and started yanking weeds and asked Brighton if he would help. To my surprise...

Before it becomes too cliche to still post about Christmas , here it is. On Christmas Eve a guy in our neighborhood was doing Carriage rides for anybody that wanted one around the neighborhood.. Justin's brother Trent and his wife joined us for a ride and sing-a-long. The horse used to pull carriages at Disneyland, but Disneyland "retires" them when they turn four years old.  Justin and Trent both brought their ukuleles so we could sing songs (I think we lasted about two songs before it died out, but nonetheless it was cool)  The drivers gave all the kids candy canes. Dale has never had a candy cane before...Dale was very quiet and well behaved the entire ride after getting his candy cane and devouring the entire thing...  BIG horse  After the wagon ride we went to Justin's parents house for Christmas Eve dinner and gifts from the grandparents. We didn't get any other pictures than this one for some reason. Dale will randomly warm up to people and go right ...