THANKSGIVING TRIP

This year our family wasn't able to go down south for Thanksgiving so we decided to take the kids to Salt Lake and rent a Hotel room. Our friends, Darren, Amber and their kids were also alone for the holiday so they joined us for the two days of activities. We went to Olive Garden for dinner and then took the kids swimming all night. They all had sooo much fun. Braeden said that staying at a hotel is the coolest thing ever. Then on Thanksgiving day we met up at Golden Corral for a great lunch. The food was really good but not as good as my mothers. After we ate we all went to the Gateway and saw the movie "Bolt" the kids and the adults loved it, it was so funny and well worth it. I think that every year that we can't spent Thanksgiving down south with our extended family, we will always do this.

THANKSGIVING TRIP

Darren being a goof ball!
Swimming at the Hotel
DON'T EVEN ASK!
Darren, Amber, Marley, Ryan
Maddison and Denni

THANKSGIVING TRIP

Our friends at the Gateway
Marley, Maddison and Denni
Braeden and Denni at the Gateway
Our family, freezing by the fountain
Us in front of the Gateway

DUE WEST

Tonight I got the chance to go to a Farm Bureau Banquet with my neighbors Justin and Jana. Ryan being the party pooper stayed home with the kids, so I got to 3rd wheel it. The food was great but the entertainment was Awesome. Due West (Tim Gates, Brad Hull, Matt Lopez) came all the way from Nashville to play at the Banquet. I'm sure I've rambled on and on before about them but they happen to be good friends of our family, (so I like to brag a little.) I never get sick of listening to their music and these guys crack me up. I had such a great time.

BRAEDEN'S FIRST BOOK

I had such a mother moment today. After Braeden got home from school he threw his backpack on the kitchen table and demanded that I help him with his homework. So after we all had lunch I pulled out his homework and there were two books for him to read. Until now I (by I, I mean Ryan) have always read the books to him, but today he read the whole book to me. I didn't even have to help him. I was so proud. Braeden you are growing up so fast.

DISNEY ON ICE

A few weeks ago Ryan was able to get some tickets to Disney on Ice in the Wells Fargo suite. We decided to get the kids really excited and told them we had a big surprise. After a week of anticipation Brady could take it no longer. He constantly pestered me and Ryan about what we were going to do. Finally I told him we were going to see Mickey Mouse. His response was "Yes, we're going to Disney Land!" I explained it was Disney on Ice, not Disney Land. He was a little disappointed, but was still really excited. The big day finally came and that morning I woke up with horrible pain. It was another kidney stone. I called Ryan home from work, and couldn't even get out of bed. He ended up going solo to Disney on Ice with the kids, so I told him to take lots of pictures. He took 5. Thanks Ryan. In his defense the batteries died in the camera so he had no choice. The kids had a wonderful time, and I wish I could have been there.

THE BIRTHDAY HAMSTER

Braeden has been begging for a hamster for his birthday for a few months now so finally I gave in. We took him to the Pet store and let him pick it out all by himself. The cashier at the store told us that the one we picked out was sooo nice and sooo mellow, so we were really excited to take it home and play with it. WHAT A NIGHTMARE! I think that our hamster has ADHD and it is really mean! The other day the kids wanted to get it out to hold it so I went to grab it softly and it BIT ME! HARD! It broke through the skin and I bled all day. A few hours later Braeden was petting it and I walked in the room and it started to spit it's own poop at me, after it ran out of poop ammo it started to spit its food at me. It doesn't do that to the kids, just me. So I've come to the conclusion that the birthday hamster named Brown Sugar hates me. I know that Braeden will love and take care of it. Happy Birthday Braeden, you have grown up into such a handsome boy!