The Reason for the Freezin'

Grandma Marge turned 80! (and it felt like it was 80 below! We even had to buy warmer jackets while we were there!) I can't believe she's that old because she still has just as much fight in her as when I met her 12 years ago. Erin made a beautiful slide show tribute to Grandma's life and I don't think there was a dry eye in the room... I mean, I seriously had to fight back the ugly cry. Thanks alot Erin! What a fabulous lady and a fabulous life she's had... and is still having. I just hope I have as many people care about me when I'm 80 as she does. It was so great to visit with everyone and actually see all their beautiful babies in person instead of just on the blogs! All the great-grandchildren had so much fun together. I hope we can get together more often because I really enjoy all of you so much!

Grandma used to bounce Claudia on her leg and sing "To market, to market" when she was a baby. I think Claudia could almost bounce grandma now!

This is what happens when I break out the camera!

"I'm a birdie!"

Yes Georgia, your adorable, gigantic head is still there!

While this looks like a temper tantrum, it is really just another one of Georgia's great poses!

And this is what happens when Claudia gets a hold of my camera!

Grandma Liz, Georgia and Heather and Davids little girl, Abby.Georgia and Jill's little girl, Brooke.Claudia and Julia were sooo excited to see Joseph! Check out the awkwardness of Claudia's hands!... and face for that matter!I guess they could technically get married! Joseph is Michelle's son so they aren't related by blood!But these two are. So no wedding here! Ewe!

I made Ryan take the camera for a few minutes to take some shots of me so my kids will remember what I looked like when I was young... ish!!!

Grandma Marge and most of her great grandchildren. After Georgia fell off the chair onto her face I had to hide behind the chair so she wouldn't cry anymore.Did I mention I've been to the E.R. twice this month for her! She's split her head open and had to get a staple and she jumped off my bed and landed on her lip splitting that as well!Erin and Liz invited me to Gardner's Village for "Witches Night Out". Can I just say that hundreds of women dressing up like witches to wander through boutiques, in Utah nonetheless, is the most random thing ever! But it was so much fun! I'm totally going to take Claudia next time! It cracked me up!

And finally the morning we left we woke up and looked outside and it had snowed. I had just enough battery left in my camera to snap this picture!

This Is For You, MOM!

The trip wasn't all bad. We did get to see Jeff and Missy's new baby boy, Jeffrey Cannon and Georgia had so much fun seeing Caitlin.

Is this not the cutest picture of Jeffy!
I just love the big eyes! He looks so much like Caitlin did at this age!

Bear and Jeff are only 5 months apart! It's such a huge difference now, but I just know they're going to be great buddies!
Look how happy he is to have another boy in the family!

You might think Bear is so sweet trying to kiss his new cousin but he was actually trying to eat him.

I don't know why everyone says Caitlin never smiles for the camera! Aunt Cocobunns must have the magic touch!

As of right now - I think Jeff and I could switch babies and it would make more sense!

Our Trip To Utah

This pretty much sums it up!

Every time we return from driving to Utah I swear I will never, ever do it again... and yet, once again, we drove with 4 kids the 12 hours there and back... We got the Explorer all packed up around 9pm on Wednesday, got the babies buckled in, got Claudia and Julia cozy in the back, hooked up the DVD player for some entertainment, said a prayer, turned the key and... nothing. Our car wouldn't start. After a few hours and several expletives (from Ryan of course) he left to rent us a van. I brought all the kids inside and fell asleep. Around 12:30am Ryan came home, packed the van, got the kids back in the car and we headed on our way! This time I mean it... I will NEVER EVER DRIVE TO UTAH AGAIN. (That is unless Grandma Marge has another big birthday bash, another baby cousin is born, or we just need to see relatives we haven't seen for a while!)

My Babies

Sometimes I just can't believe I'm the mother of 4 kids!

Conference and Cupcakes

My mom came over for conference a couple weeks ago and the girls had so much fun decorating Halloween cupcakes with her! I think I see a tradition in the making!


We love you Grandma Beth!!!






If you look closely you'll notice Julia did Bear's hair! Poor baby bear!

Playing Catch Up

Ok - I know it's been a while - a long while and I have some MAJOR catching up to do! It's so overwhelming to me but since you are all DYING to see pics of my gorgeous family I guess I'll just have to show them off!!! Twist my arm!


Claudia had her appendix out in late September. She was such a trooper. I think the fact that she couldn't eat anything until after the surgery bothered her more than the pain in her side! Here she is right before they wheeled her away. I must admit I got pretty emotional cause you just never know! I wanted to stay and watch but they wouldn't let me so Ryan took me out to dinner at Outback. (I felt sooo guilty... but in my defense, the cafeteria was closed and you gotta eat, right?!)

After the surgery Abby and Emileigh got to get out of school early and visit Claudia. That made her day! They both got in the bed with her. It was so cute. What great friends she has!

Claudia was so upset about having to have the "stupid surgery" because she missed her first field trip, her soccer game, and a pioneer trek with all the girls from achievement days. What a weekend to get sick!



She moped around until about 8 o'clock when all the girls headed over after the trek and sang her a song, and all the girls from her soccer team "t.p.ed" and "heart attacked" our house... not to mention my great friends who heard she was sick and brought her gifts! It was like Christmas... and she has a cool scar!




And I have to ask... what's with the super speedy healing of 9 year olds anyway?! She came home on Friday night and was begging to go watch her soccer team play the next day, and got so mad at me when I told her I didn't think it was such a great idea to go to church that Sunday.