MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas holiday!! So much that we didn't get our letter out like we had planned. hehe :0) But, we hope you all have a very Happy New Year!! ...Much love. :0)



Just click on the picture of our Christmas letter and it will enlarge so you can read the text. :0) Happy Holidays!

We prefer to call it..."EXPRESSIVE"

Some may say that I am a very "EMOTIONAL" person...what with the CRAZY excited, OVERLY happy, EXCESSIVELY distraught, UNATTAINABLE expectations, OVERWHELMINGLY passionate, EXCEEDINGLY stressed, and a tad bit OBSESSIVE slue of emotions that I frequently feel and express. hehehe...
It was very applicable when I heard of a counselor that said, "We don't like to call it EMOTIONAL...we prefer to call it EXPRESSIVE."
I'm pretty sure it's ok to indulge in innocent obsessions from time to time and overreact to a movie, a book, a game, or an experience on occasion. And...though, I may feel low lows at time, it's worth those moments to fully enjoy the highs and satisfaction of feeling so much and loving so deeply. :0)

Twilight fix anyone?

So...every time I check my blog, I get all giddy when I see that "I'm an Alice".  hahaha...  I'm really feeling the need for a Twilight fix.  This picture is of the scene when the first arrive at school as a couple...with supermassive blackhole playing in the background.  UHHHH.....could watch this scene a million times!  hehe...  :0) 

I guess it's time to go see the movie again, or give in and actually read the portion of Midnight Sun that was released.  It's so funny how much I enjoy the Twilight series.  Haha...enjoy, obsess over...whatever...  :0)  

Hmmm...it does make me wonder though...what other great books are there out there???  By great, I mean...easy to read with a fun, captivating story line...preferrable one with an impossibly hot, immortal cabable of fullfilling my every whim.  hehehe  

I would love to read something that will sweep me away like Twilight.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I will try to spread my obsessions (a little).  hehehe

Shout out!!

Girl time...there's so much to be said for that. :0) I lucked out yesterday and was invited to join a bunco group. :0) I was so excited to have some much needed girl-bonding time, and get to know some new friends. Everyone there is so nice! (so nice they even let me win....hehehe - cynical laugh - hehe) We ate super yummy food, chatted it up, played some bunco...it was way fun. :0)

"It is a sociological fact that women need women. President Gordon B. Hinckley said to us as a Relief Society general presidency that “our women need fellowship with one another in an environment that will bolster their faith." -Bonnie D. Parkin

Thanks for the awesome night girls!! Can't wait for next month! :0)

Belay...Belay On. Climbing...Climb on...

Sean, James, Joni and Samantha went rockclimbing yesterday at the Rock Haus. They all did pretty good I hear. Sean belongs there...so, I'm glad that he made it in. It's been a while. :0)

James and Joni had a good time. They had a quick refresher with an instructor there and then they were ready to go. James actually decided to get a month pass, so hopefully Sean and James get some good times in there over the next few weeks at least.

As for Samantha.... She rocked the haus!! (hehehe) Seriously...amazing climbing. Which is very cool and very scary from a mother's viewpoint. But, really, all my talking won't explain. So, I'm including a lot of pictures! :0) Enjoy!

Could she be cuter??

And she's off!

Sean is really an excellent teacher.


And she's off again...

Wow!! This is seriously my little 4-year old! eek!!

There really are so many other great pics that I'm going with a slideshow as well. You simply must see the shots of Samantha Flashing a bouldering route! YA!!! I KNOW!!!!! :0)

Kaity had a lot of fun too, but didn't feel up to doing much climbing...just getting all chalked up was enough for her. hehe. And Drew was just along for the ride...and loving it! haha

Good times...good times

Samantha's Boulder flash!

Fun Quiz!

Yeah! I thought I related to her the best. :0)


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are intelligent, outgoing & stylish. A true girly girl, you love shopping & makeovers.
Although you are a generous friend, you can be coy, tricky & very persuasive in order to
get your way. You are known to zone out occasionally during conversations, but your
friends forgive you because you are understanding, supportive & know how to throw one
heck of a party!

Bah HA!! I totally forgot that the description said....sometimes zone out during conversations. hahahaha....Unfortunately that's true! Sorry...And, I'm apologizing in advance for my sure to happen future zones. :0)

And yes...Sean took the quiz too. (Well, answered the questions as I read them to him. hehe) But, it's still pretty fun, huh. :0)


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

You are strong and playful, with a good sense of humor. If there’s a problem, you’d rather be actively doing something than sitting around coming up with solutions. Despite you’re aggressive and competitive nature though, you’re always there to backup those closest to you.

Leaves, leaves and more leaves!!!

The ginormous maple tree in our front yard is so amazing!! It's an awesome canopy or beauty in the fall. And then, when the leaves fall...look out!!! Sooooooooo sooooo soooo many leaves!!! It made for a lot of fun times for the girls. And, a side note...raking leaves is a seriously sweet ab workout!! :0) Enjoy the fun pics of the girls...could they be cuter!! :0)

Fall craft project

Seasons...Wow! Something we haven't really experienced for a long time. We have absolutely loved the fall this year. I remember dreading the first feeling of jacket weather when I grew up here, but now that I've been away for so long...I LOVE IT! We drink hot chocolate, collect and play in the leaves, we (against all of our feet's desires) wear socks.

At the first sign of the leaves changing, we went on a nature walk with the whole fam...Grandma, papa, Tawnya, us and all the kids...just around mom's block. We collected so many varieties of leaves that were all so beautiful. So, that was a very fun outting. Then, the next day, we made them into placemats with clear contact paper. The girls had very specific oppinions about their leaves, color and placement. We even made a mat for Sean. :0) It made a great table decor for a few months. This picture was taken when the placemats were almost 8 weeks old. :0) A fun project I highly recommend to everyone.

Samantha...5 one day, 4 the next...

Samantha...my little Sammy, turned 4 on Nov. 9th. She's absolutely convinced that she was NOT 3. Our conversation usually went something like this:

Mom: "How old are you Sam?"
Sam: Without hestitation, "5!"
Mom: "Really? Are you sure you're not 3?"
Sam: Jumps to the ground wherever she was... "Mom...watch how big I am" Then puts her hands on her feet, and follows them all the way up her legs, body and puts her hands high up in the air... "See! See how big I am! That means I'm five!!"

So, when her birthday celebration came (we celebrated with the family on the 8th). This was heard several times...

Guest: "Samantha how old are you today?"
Sam: "5!"
Guest: "5! Wow! How old will you be tomorrow?"
Sam: Again, no hesitation, "4!"

hahaha... Such fun little things she brings to us! But, I have to agree with her completely...I had a hard time believing she was 3 too. :0)

We all had a great time celebrating. Sean made her cake for her...a perfect pink flower cake! She loved it and...yummy! She loved all of the gifts and was so gracious to let Kaitlyn help open almost all of them. Kaity was desparate to have everything to herself. haha...good times... Especially when Samantha got to the gift from Grandma Dot and Grandpa Bunnell. They gave her a darling stuffed dalmation puppy. She opened it and snuggled the puppy immediately...very sweet. And then set it down next to her. Kaitlyn got ahold of it and has barely let go since then. hahaha... Funny the things they become absolutely attached to! :0)

Sam also got to bring birthday treats to preschool for everyone. We ended up going to Walmart and finding a really fun tinkerbell cupcake arrangment. She was excited about it and really wanted us there to take her picture (which I was more than willing to do). She had a great time having me and Kaity there to watch her big day.

Happy Halloween!

We have had a great time this year with Halloween! Party after party! Grandma Dot went all out as usual. We ate sooo well and the kids loved it.

Samantha has been able to dress up for halloween 3 different times this year and I think she's been something different each time. hehehe... She's getting very good at the costume thing. She was a kitty for Grandma Dot's party, a fairy princess for school and a bundled princess for halloween night. :0)





Kaitlyn had such a great time with halloween this year. She dressed up as a cute little witch for grandma dots and a pretty purple fairly princess for halloween. She definitely had no hesitation in trick 'r treating. Most people would have them choose their own candy and Kaitlyn would have easily cleaned out each bowl if we didn't watch. Who wouldn't....they offered! hehe..

Even Zoe got into the spirit of the night. She walked around with us and got a few doggy treats out of it. hehe...

We're so glad that Jame's came to stay with us for a while. He's been so much fun to have around. It's just a shame...he's only been here for a week and he's already had a hunting mishap...hehe...


Trick 'r Treating was fun...we left from our place and just walked the cul-de-sac's...me, sean, pumkin zoe, pumkin mason, panther drew and Aunty Tawnya. Samantha were singing an impromptu halloween song as we walked, cheered, wished everyone a happy halloween....needless to say....having a grand ol' time. :0) Mason walked along too, and he was finally happy in his pumpkin costume. hehe...



James and Joni dressed up and met a bunch of friends at the utah state basketball game. James had a great time! Who wouldn't....he was hangin with Joni...hello?! hehe...

Grandma Dot's Halloween Tea Party!

It was so fun to be in town this year for Grandma Dot's Halloween tea party. :0) She always does so much work and the kids had such a great time. :0) We had fun eating all the yummy food and playing in the leaves. Thanks Grandma!! We love you!! :0)

Oh, how I love the fall...

This has been an exceptional month! I haven't seen fall leaves for almost 7 years now....and I LOVE IT!! Every street is filled with beautiful colors... The air is so fresh and crisp... It's usually just the perfect jacket weather (that still allows for flip flops)... We are having a great time! :0)

Earlier in the month, Joni, my girls and I went to Salt Lake and spent the day with Aunty Lori, Lydia and had so much fun shopping, eating, and hangin with the Bunnell fam! We also saw all the crazy funny witches at the Gardens and there were lots of places for photo ops. Cutest girls ever, right? :0)

My children are experiencing the change of seasons for the first time. ("seasons" in arizona are a little less exciting...hehe) Weather in general is a bit new and sometimes confusing for them. They get very excited about any weather at all other than beautiful sunshine. The other day, when there was a slight breeze and several leaves fell from the trees, the girls starting cheering, jumping up and down and saying, "Yeah!! it's christmas time! It's christmas time!!" Convinced that leaves falling is just the same as snow falling....which they have learned to connect to christmas. hehe... Won't it be fun for them when the many many days of snow come and go....with no christmas. :0)

I really am loving the fall though. I hope that next year, after experiencing a full winter, I can still appreciate the fall as I have this year. :0)

We have arrived! (in a cyber sense...)

Hey there blogging world! We have finally arrived! I seriously doubt my ability to maintain this fabulous blog, but we'll give it a go anyway. :0)