Another Attempt at Blogging

I have decided to start blogging again. I think journal writing is so important, but I am just not good at it. I have loved the idea of blogging, so that I can document pictures as well as dates and my thoughts. So, I guess this is my way to re-commit to blogging again. So, I am going to find time each week to blog. Thank you Lisa for inspiring me...yet again!

Kyle made some slippers out of Duct Tape last Sunday afternoon. He cut out some card board for the soles and just started taping. I was pretty impressed. I was trying to help Spencer make a duct tape wallet from a tutorial and he just whipped up the slippers all on his own.

Jared is doing a science fair project with his Friend Bailey Capt. Their project is on things that glow. It is going to be super cute!

Christmas 2012 Pajama's

The loot from Santa! Kyle and Jared got Airsoft Guns. Landon got a Monster Remote control truck. Spencer got a rip rider 360.

Spencer's Loot

Landon's Loot

Kyle and Jared both got Ipod Nano's. I haven't seen them without their earbuds in their ears since Christmas Day!

Landon Turns Eight!

Landon is so excited to turn eight. He is so excited to become a scout and get baptized. He had an extended week long birthday this year. On the Saturday before his birthday he was thrilled to have a birthday party. He invited 5 of his friends over for Donuts and Chocolate milk. We opened presents and then headed over to Lowe's Extreme Air Sports for some major Jumping and Rock Climbing. Chad and I have decided we like to take the kids somewhere other than our house. We got to sit and watch them have a fabulous time. On Sunday, we had family over to celebrate Calvin, Annika, Jace and Landon's bdays. Then on Monday (his actual bday) we took him to his favorite restaurant (Mi Ranchito's) and then went to Grandma Julie's house for cake and icecream. Landon was mostly excited to turn 8 so that he could be baptized. He has been preparing for his special day and was so excited. Tonight before bedtime prayers he said he wished he could be baptized again, because he felt so good inside. Landon is such a special part of our family. He is always the first one to make his bed and is the first one to volunteer to help with Ellie. He keeps us smiling with the funny things he says and does. We love him so much and are so proud of him!

With his friend eating donuts


At Grandma's house blowing out matches, because I forgot some candles


My little blondie eating his creme filled donut


Even though Landon is afraid of heights, he is fearless on the rock wall


Climbing out of the enormous Foam pit


My cousin Rebecca made this incredble BullDog Cake for Landon


Special Baptism Day


Daddy and Landon!


Chad and all his Boys! Think I am gonna have to blow this one up!

St. George February 2012

We like to take the kids away over Presidents weekend. The winters get long and we all get a little stir crazy around here, especially me. This year we asked the kids if they would like to go to Arizona (we have a few friends there and Chad's mom lives there)or to St. George. Without question the ALL said St. George. So we loaded up the burb with our Bikes and our Dog and went to St. George for the weekend. We had a fabulous time. It was still a little wet to bike ride, but we still had a great time hiking and spending time together. We were able to stay with the Trammell's were also able to spend time with my dad each day.


All of the boys so excited to go on their first Mountain Bike Ride


It was a little too wet and Muddy. Kyle is such a nice brother!


I think Spencer kept getting in Jared's way


Hike in Jenny's Canyon


The boys all love to Hike and find Secret Hiding places


Jenny (Natalie's daughter) got to come and spend the weekend too. We took her on a couple of hike's with us. She is so great with the kids!





On Sunday we walked around the Temple Grounds. I have always loved the St. George Temple!





My Dad and I! We had a great time talking about all of the things we have in common!

Wrestling State Champs

Chad has had the opportunity to help Coach Pleasant Grove High School Wrestling Program for the last four or five years. In February they took the State Championship for the second year in a row! Chad loves it and loves working with the High School kids. It has been so rewarding for him! Last year we took about 5,000 pics. We didn't get very many this year! Darn!

This is a picture of all the kids chanting "Speech, speech, speech" to the head coach...who never talks.


Brock Moore giving his short, but sweet speech





This is Chad and Brandon Dennison (one of the Heavy Weights he works with)

Christmas 2011

For many that know me, you will know that I am not a big fan of the Holidays. I guess in a nut shell it is because I feel to much pressure. I really feel like it is hard to focus ont he true meaning of Christmas when all I can think about is gifts I need to give and then I worry if the receiver will like what I am giving them. This goes for my friends, neighbors, relative, and yes, even my kiddos. It always ends up nicely. My kids are always thrilled, so I don't know why I worry so much, but I do. It's just me. So, here are a few pictures of our wonderful Christmas. Tera hosted our Prestwich Family party at her house. Calvin Requested a good Ol' Fashion VW Molasses Taffy Pull. I don't particularly love pulling Taffy, but It was a good memory to make! Tera did a fabulous job with the Cafe Rio dinner. Santa brought all of the kids a present and we did our traditional white elephant gift exchange.
On Christmas Eve we have a tradition to go to our good Friends Randall and Sharee Wise. They are wonderful hosts, and we just love them! It is always super fun!
Christmas morning we woke up at about 7:00 AM. I love that my kids still sleep in for the most part. Tim, Steve and Kassie came over to open presents and have our tradtional breakfast Quiche. Grandma Julie was super sick on Christmas, so we didn't get to see her and it wasn't the same without her. The boys seemed happy with their gifts. They all got a Trampoline from Santa. Kyle got a helmet Camera. Jared got a Kindle touch. Spencer and Landon got Remote control Helicopters. Later Jared said, it wasn't the most exciting Christmas we've had, but it was still good. I am glad that it is over!

The Boys on Christmas Morning...


Jared helping Tera hand out her GIANT candy canes


Jessica and Landon


Granny and Lisa


Cathryn and Lisa (Lisa is always behind the camera, so it was fun to get a shot or two of her)


The Slocum and Wise Kids....Wowzers!

Our Newest Family Member...

We were heart broken after Maggie died. It is so true how everyone says animals become a member of your family. As you can see we didn't last long without getting another dog. We weren't trying to replace Maggie, but it our home just didn't feel right without a dog here. So, we found little Ellie. Sometimes I think we are crazy for getting a puppy. It is definately a huge learning curve. But...she sure is cute!

Allof the pictures below are the first day we got her. She was super Tiny and snuggly!

Our Sweet Maggie Girl...

Maggie was our first family dog. We all fell in love with her from the minute we got her on Christmas 2007. She was four years old when we got her and fully house trained. She never had one accident (that we knew of) in the house and never chewed on anything we didn't want her to. We could leave her in the house alone for up to 8 hours and never had to wake up with her in the night. It took us a while to get her social with other dogs, but once we did, she was so sweet with them. She loved walks to the mailbox with Chad and learned to love car rides. We took her on a few hikes, and she was such a trooper with her short little legs. She protected me when Chad was at work and helped me feel safe. She was seriously the best first dog we could have ever imagined. In November 2011, I noticed she wasn't acting normal. She was skipping meals and sleeping more often. At first Chad just thought she was getting old. One day he was home with her all day and got a little worried. He took her to the doctor, and they felt a tumor near her stomach (but not in it). They decided to operate and put a drain tube in to see if they could shrink the tumor. After a few days they took out the drain tube and said that he wound would heal on its own. Well, the wound never healed and she started bleeding more...lots more. We took her to the doctor every couple of days, but they would always just send us away (we won't be going back to that doctor). After a week and a half, Chad took her in and demanded they do more tests and do something. Well, they tested her blood levels and she had lost over half her blood. They told Chad that she wouldn't make it through the night and recommended taking her to a special Animal Hospital in SLC. So, Chad brought her home so that we could all say goodbye to her. It was so heartbreaking for us all, and we all held her and cried. So, so hard! She spent the night in the ICU and had a couple of blood transfusions (little ones...who knew they had blood transfusions for dogs). The specialist came the next morning and said there was nothing they could do for her. He thought she had sarcoma cancer and it was spreading down her leg quickly. He didn't think she would make it through the day. Chad had to say goodbye to her again. He said they let him go into the ICU where he laid down by her and spent a little more time with her before he said goodbye. He called me from the hospital (I was teaching preschool) and we had a good cry over the phone together. We all loved her so much and will never forget our first family dog!


Maggie had the longest tounge yet never slobbered like most bulldogs!


Maggie had the best physique. Everytime we took her tot he vet he had to show her to everyone and tell them that is what a bulldog should look like



Chad loved Maggie


We loved her floppy cheeks and underbite


She loved to make her own bed, and find her own pillows


Oh how we love her so!


This is the night we said goodbye
Jared giving Maggie lots of love. She returned her love with lots of kisses


Landon Saying Goodbye


Spencer giving his last hugs

Trying to smile through tears...our last hugs for our Maggie


We love you Maggie and will NEVER forget you!