Family Picture May 2022

Family Picture May 2022

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Day






What a fun Christmas day! And I even got dressed before the kids got up so no pink robe in these pictures. First thing we do is open the "Christmas Box" and read all the service we did or noticed each other doing as our gift to the Savior in the month of December. Then we do stockings and presents! This year the kids seemed to just appreciate everything more, there was no exclamation of "What else?" or "I wanted ___ not socks!" We took our time opening everything and Grandma and Granpa Schauers were here and Uncle Todd to participate in the fun. I will be sad when our kids are grown up too much to merit the Schauers presence on Christmas morning. We left the spoils around 10:30 and went up to Eagle Mountain to participate in more Christmas giving/recieving. It was a non-stop fun day, and we were all a little exhausted the next day. I think it is a perfect end to a really great year. We are so blessed.

One of the things the kids and I did for Grandparents this year was a calendar of pictures the kids made. I generated the months with pictures of family members on their respective birthdays on the computer, but the kids hand made the pictures for each month. Here are some of the pictures they drew for the calendar:








Jared and I were commenting on how the Christmases are all starting to run together, we couldn't remember one from the next. This is what I want to remember about this Christmas:
-working on Calendars for grandparents every Saturday in October and November
-the kids got water bottles just like Mom's in their stockings and loved them!
-Calendar for Uncle Todd too, and he loved it!
-the first year I obeyed Jared and did not buy him any Christmas gifts (he bought himself an ice fishing pole and auger
-luggage for the kids full of clothes for their "big" gift
-giving money to many people in need, at Jared's direction
-Secret Santa for a neighbor family
-the kids passing out treats for the neighbors
-our fiber-optic Christmas tree light bulb finally burning out
-all Fiora wanted was a glitter ball, 2 bucks
-Weston and his remote control car
-Savanna waking up first and dragging the other kids out of bed, and watching "A Christmas Story" until Dad got up
-The nativity at the Barretts
-Progressive dinner with Schauers on Christmas Eve, and my kids singing "Chocoloate in my Stocking" (Weston), "Up on the Housetop" (Fiora) "Away in a Manger" Savanna
-Singing "Peace Peace Peace" with Shawna Schauers
-No fighting all day!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Nativity 2009







Savanna was Mary, Joseph was Joseph, Travis was baby Jesus, Fiora and Lucy were angels, Kayden, Trevan and Weston were shepherds, and I was the donkey. Everyone else was a choir. This very simple (we hurried through and didn't even do the wise men) and surprisingly smooth nativity recreation was a very fun for the kids. I included some pictures of Kynsie holding Holly's baby doll Sophie, she's only 6 days old here!


Also Savanna worked very hard this year in her school choir, she stayed late Thursdays and went early some Tuesdays. The end product was a Christmas concert in the mall and at school. She was an excellent singer and the cutest one in the whole bunch! Grandma and Grandpa Schauers and Grandma Barrett just happened to be in town when she sang at the mall so they got to see her perform, good job Savanna!

Jared is thirty something



Today is Jared's birthday! We love him. He has been a great example to me of being very generous this year. We celebrated at my parents on Sunday and Barretts sang the birthday medley of 7 songs to him, he requested his favorite brownie trifle for the second year in a row for a birthday cake, and received many nice gifts too! Today I made him a german pancakes with all the fixings breakfast and gave him a gift--6 pounds of pistacio nuts!! We had a fun lunch at Tucanos with the office folks and a few spouses (I was invited!). Then we topped the day off with a dollar-movie, Spaghetti with a chance of meatballs, which we all thought was very funny! Jared is at the Snow's watching the BYU Bowl game as I blog. Hopefully they will win and complete his very special day.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Ward Christmas Party




We had fun and the ward christmas party! They had the best looking Santa I have ever seen. The kids aggressively fought their way to the first of the line to sit on Santa's lap. They got a candy cane. Savanna sang "In the Shadow of the Temple" with the activity day girls. Fiora ran around saying hi to her friends. Weston refused to eat his potatos but he liked the turkey. I got to see my Westover friends one more time! Jared got full. And I enjoyed the brownie dessert.

Studying for finals

I am officially done with finals. Last night was the final final, at 8:00 PM. It was late, I was feeling very giggly while we were trying to study. I think I did well despite my tiredness. I was satisfied with all but one of the exams, and overall very pleased with the semester. Happy for a break now!



This is Maranda and Kim and I studying late last night, one is how we really feel and one is not. You guess.

Welcome Sophie!




Holly and Bill managed to have themselves a girl! We are way happy for them. Here is little Sophi and me, just one day old. The kids all took a turn holding her, briefly. Congratulations Holly and Bill!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Mom can have sugar now




My substance abuse class assignment to abstain from something I ingest that I love is over. Here I am opening the candy my kids wrapped up from Halloween and saved for me. It was harder on them than me I think. They didn't like the idea of having to be off sweets at all. I guess we've conditioned them as true North Americans, sugar's in everything in our culture.

Christmas is coming




If you look too closely at the tree you will notice that I let the kids decorate it this year. There are clumps, overlaps, loners, and gaps. I just want them to have good memories of decorating the tree, not of mom being analytical about it. Grandma Sandy sent us a wooden advent tree, you put lights on it to count down. We got to paint and glitter it ourselves! Weston believes adamantly in Santa Claus this year, he keeps asking me if I do too. But I just say "I believe in Jesus." We went to Walmart last week and saw a "Santa" there taking pictures with kids. Weston turned to me and said, "NOW do you believe in Santa?" I said no. "But we SAW him Mom!" I'm such a scrooge.



It's snowy and cold this week. Jared gets nervous when it gets below freezing because of all the properties he manages, he was complaining about the snow and Weston argued, "Snow isn't awful, snow is fun!" We spent some time outside having fun in the snow today.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Bye bye Westovers

You know that feeling when someone you can count on to talk to, exercise with, watch your kids, and serve each other decides to move away? That's how I feel this week. Our friends the Westovers are moving today. Shelene Westover is amazing, she has two kids my kids age and she and I swapped babysitting while she was working on Nursing school and I was doing prerequisites. She went to school, watched my kids, and all while being pregnant with twins! She is an inspiration. I just adore those twin girls. She has been my running partner for this semester so I feel like she has really helped me stay sane through school. They found a great house in Lehi and even let Jared be their realtor. I wish we could keep them around, good bye Westovers!


Holly's Baby Shower




I made a money tree for my sister holly for her 4th baby coming any day because she isn't knowing the gender until she/he is born. Food Games Family. It was fun!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thanksgiving

I've had more time this week than I know what to do with. It has been nice to relax and take it easy, but I have felt a twinge of restlessness. I'm sure my next two and a half weeks of school will cure my of that. The kids help me set up the tree this week, it takes me a great deal of patience to let them ravage the ornaments and put them on the tree every which way, but I know they love doing it. I did a lot of deep cleaning, mostly vacumming, for my week off, and organizing.
Thanksgiving was nice and calm, the kids and I spent the morning together while Jared played football, then Jared took the kids to his brothers house while I cooked some rolls and green bean casserole, then we had a nice dinner with the Schauers. I didn't eat any sugar, but I overate a lot on everything else. It was all very good. We watched Jared's uncle Steve (his mom's brother) play the guitar and sing for us afterwards. It was a nice show!
The next day Jared took Weston four wheeling with his brothers and cousins, and I learned later he did NOT feed him lunch! Weston about passed out when he came home at 5 o'clock. But he had a fun time with the guys.
My fun event is my sister's baby shower today. I'll post pictures of that later. Heidi, me and Holly went to the temple on Wednesday, Holly is so pregnant that the temple workers asked her not to do a session in case she goes into labor!
Anyway, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to write how thankful I am to the Lord for the multitude of blessings I enjoy and how much I love my family. We are so blessed!

Friday, November 20, 2009

What we do for fun

This time we made a video of Savanna Weston and Fiora doing an Irish jig while Jared was out for the evening.


And if you want some real laughs, here is a therapy skit that is hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE

Has it been 2 weeks?

I rarely let my blog go a full two weeks without a post, I really don't know what has happened to November. Things have run like a well oiled routine machine around here, here are Novembers highlights so far.
--The primary program! Savanna was asked to sing a solo for the closing number and she did so well! I received more compliments on her performance than any I or the choir has ever ever done. She is a great singer and the song she sang "I Know that my Savior loves me" was particularly touching. The spirit was very strong. Fiora and Weston said their parts very well too. I loved the primary program.
--Parent teacher conferences. The kids got raving reviews this year. Savanna's teacher went on and on about savanna's comprehension of material, especially social studies. She tested off the charts in that area. Some exposure at home has pushed her in the right direction. Savanna sits next to a girl in school who has social and learning problems, and Mrs. Coyle said she puts Savanna next to her because she is the only one in class who can help and reach that girl. I was so impressed that Savanna is already a little social worker.
Fiora is a reading maniac! She is way ahead of her peers in reading and comprehnsion. Every night fiora reads for twenty minuts without being asked, she just loves to read. Mrs. Jeffrys says Fiora always follows directions and completes tasks and is respectful. I was so glad to hear that.
Weston has the top score for handwriting. His letters are picture perfect. His pictures are picture perfect too! He loves drawing or art time. He is very well behaved and helpful in class. He is putting sounds of letters together and is so close to reading already. I'm so glad all my kids are doing well in school.
--One evening we were sitting around the table and I asked the kids what they have done for someone else today. Savanna had helped a classmate with an assignment. Fiora had helped a friend get something out of the vending machine. Weston had helped a classmate pick up toys. Even Jared had helped a client with something outside his job description. I realized I was the only one who didn't have a service to share! I had just been at school all day. Usually the mom has at least dishes or something. I was so happy with my kids for serving others.
--Now for my highlights...I finished a 20 page paper, a 10 page research proposal, wrote two other 5 page papers, took 2 midterms, went to three BYU Arts events with Grandma, and attended a intern field fair. Social work agencies from all over Utah and Salt Lake County come to BYU and interview us as potential interns for spring/summer and fall/winter. I interviewed with 15 agencies and turned in my top choices--LDS Family Services, the Prison, Utah County Department of Substance Abuse, Wasatch Mental Health, and AF Hospital. The agencies turn in their top choices and I should find out in Janurary where my two placements will be. That was a long and nerve racking day. This week I toured the State Prison in Draper and was shown where I would work if I was placed there. It was a really neat experience. I am very happy with what I am doing.
--Jared has had a great year. Last month he went to Tennessee and rubbed shoulders with Dave Ramse. He and his brother Justin attended conferences, live radio shows, and had dinner in Dave's home. Jared even used his binoculars. It was a neat experience for Jared to talk with one of his mentors. That inspired Jared to set some goals and create an enviable business. He has been exercising more and praying with me every night. I'm impressed with Jared!
Well that's all for now. Hope everyone has a very happy thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Halloween









This year Weston was Bumblebee the transformer, Fiora was Hanna Montana, and Savanna was a vampire. We had a fabulous Halloween party at Jesse and Kelsy's house with my side of the famiy. They provided food games and party favors, and they had the coolest pumpkin sculpture I've ever seen in their front yard. (Savanna nearly won MAFIA). We had so much fun we didn't want to leave, but trick-or-treating was a priority. The kids went out with Jared for about an hour and then came back home, deposited Weston and their candy on the floor and went out again for another hour. It was the first year my kids have gone farther than the ward boundaries for their candy hunt. There sure is a lot of sugar floating around this house. Savanna and Fiora felt so bad for me not having any candy because I'm off sugar, they wrapped up their biggest and best candy in Christmas wrapping paper and put it in my closet for when I can eat sugar again (Dec 15th). I thought that was really sweet of them. So I survived Halloween and even though its not my favorite holiday, I managed to have some fun. The kids had a GREAT time of it.

By the way, Karli did an awesome fashion show with the kids one day and you can see those pictures on her blog http://karliplussue.blogspot.com/ they're totally awesome

Friday, October 30, 2009

Picnic Time

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Bryce Canyon






Jared took me to Bryce Canyon for our 10th anniversary this last weekend. It was a great break from school/work for us and we had a fantastic time. The weather was perfect! The first day we explored on the 4 wheelers but the green machine got a flat tire so we rode together for a while until that one got a flat also. So we had to go to the hotel and relax. We had a all-you-can-eat buffet that included ribs. I managed to stear clear of the dessert bar, but we both got really full. We watched an episode of "Man vs Food" and it made us ill because we were so full. The next day we saw an "award winning" film on Bryce in the visitors center then we hiked our legs off. 12 miles in all, up and down 2400 foot drops. Gorgeous! The fall colors were perfect. My legs hurt after that. We came back late and were exhausted. We attempted a hot tub visit, but there were about 5 kids in there, one of which was a two year old in a huge floatation, so we left pretty quickly. The next morning I could barely walk, but wanted to do one more hike, so I thought I'd just hike off the stiffness. Not so, it was agony going down that drop again, I could tell my body was mad at me when it hurt so bad nothing looked pretty any more. I toughed it out and have all sorts of great analogies about life from that hike. I made it the almost 4 miles and we just left after that. When we got to Gunnison to visit Jared's parents I was paralyzed. But they fed us steaks and corn so I was happy. Good memories.

In Memory of Lillian

In Memory of Lillian
Our Family