Our way of spending time in the snow!!

After New Years we got some good snow. We decided to take the kids sledding our way. It doesn't involve hiking up hills. It is putting ropes together with out sleds, hooking them to mom and Dave's Polaris Ranger, and the way we go!! It was so much fun! The kids really got a kick out of it. This is a snowman that Mom's neighbor had built. The kids had been bugging me to build a snowman with them. I told them it would be dark by the time we got home. And there was no way we could build one this good. So, let's just take a picture by this one!!

So, we had a great time that day. Until one little problem. Dave went to turn a corner. Someone had left out their big black garbage can. I can see we were going to hit it. Add ie was on with me. So I rolled off the sled. Just in time to look up and see my daughter crash into the big garbage can!!! It was the funniest saddest thing I've ever seen!! She cried, but I don't think she got hurt too badly. I think it just scared her. But Mike wouldn't stop giving me crap. "Save yourself Kendra" "Don't worrry about your kid, just save yourself"

All and all it was pretty fun!!

Our adventure to Temple square

We had this idea that we would drive over the canyon. Get on the Front Runner (train that goes from Ogden to Salt Lake City) and go see the lights at Temple Square. Sure we could just drive down there and it would be a lot faster, but where's the adventure in that?! Besides, the boy Owen is such a boy and loves all boy things we knew he would love riding this train. We wanted to go a couple days before Christmas so we could really feel the Christmas spirit. Owen was sick then, so we opted for the Monday after Christmas. We tried to research all that we could about the train. But there just wasn't much to find out. So, we went down to Ogden. Got on the stop closest to us. (futherest north) We basically had no idea what we were doing, but ran with it. It was freakin' cold outside. We had a very easy time finding where we needed to be. The next thing we knew, we were in Salt Lake. Made a very easy change to Trax transit train then onto Temple square. As I said, it was cold!!! Owen was having a great time. Addie said she was bored cause she didn't know it would take so long!! We walked around for a short time. Then headed back. Again, found our way no problem. My favorite part was the way home cause Owen fell asleep on my lap. Those moments are few and far between so I enjoy them when I get them! All was well until they said the last stop. That wasn't supposed to be our last stop!! We still needed to go a lot more north! We panicked. Found out that it only went that far north twice a day. What were we to do?!! This little gal that sat behind us must have heard our conversation and offered us a ride. She was so sweet. Thankgoodness for her!! Then, I got to lecture Addie the whole way home on how you shouldn't exept rides from strangers! And... mind you... there was never anything posted that it only came there twice a day!!!

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

Love these pictures! This one is true Addie and Owen. She is trying to go in for a kiss and he is pushing her face away.

This was taken Christmas night with their matching crab jammies.

Our day starts out by us having a great breakfast prepared by master chef Mike. Mom and Dave always come down for breakfast and to watch us open our gifts. Yes, I'm mean and make the kids eat before we can open presents. When I was little that was tradition with my maternal grandparents, so I guess I figure my kids should have to go through the same!! Hey, at least they don't have to eat mush!!

Then, we open presents here. Then, we head up to mom's to open more presents. We all got so much. Too much probably. But that doesn't mean we aren't grateful!

We missed you Vicki!

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve day didn't start out too fun at our house. To try to make a long story short. I took him to the Dr. that morning only to find out he had Pnemonia (sp?). The Doc was quite shocked as was I. I just wanted something for his cough he had barely gotten. Thank goodness they didn't need to admit him. But we were allowed to be around anyone for at least 24 hours. Especially my mom who has chemo twice a week. It was pretty boring to just be home with ourselves. But we were just glad I had taken him in!!

This is Addie spreading some reindeer food out for the reindeer. And yes, that is next to our light up gator. Carolyn (Mike's mom) sent us that from Florida. We love it! No one has one of those out here!!

Then, this is Owen and Addie opening up their Christmas Eve gifts from Grammy (Carolyn). She always sends them new jammies.

making cookies

Making cookies for Christmas. I decided this year we were going to make cookies for the neighbors. And that the kids were going to help me. They did a great job! They had so much fun. It kinda mad me sad cause I don't do that with them often. And yes, this is even Owen with a mix master. And no, I hadn't been drinking! I think Santa enjoyed the cookies!!

10 years

Sidnee would have celebrated her 10th birthday Dec. 22, 2009. I wanted to put some of these pictures in to wish her a happy birthday. The layout isn't quite what I wanted, but I'll take what I can get. And of course I have to type in purple cause it was her favorite color. I'll describe the pictures in order.

I love this one of Sid! It just captures her and her personality. She was such a happy carefree girl. She didn't have much time here so she needed to live life to the fullest. And why not wear your snow boots with your swimsuit while eating a gogurt?

This is one of me and her. It was taken while we lived in the main street house. We were on our way to church. It is special also cause Mike's Mema (grandmother) bought this little dress for her. (Mema died 3 months before Sidnee).

Her and Mike camping. They were 2 peas in a pod. She adored Mike so much. It would have been easy to be jealous of their relationship. I also like this one cause Sid loved to get dirty. I was a lot more strict then and hated her getting dirty.

Sid and Otis under the desk. Still not sure what those 2 were doing. Maybe it's better I don't know. I like this one cause she loved animals. She loved Otis. And most of all, she loved these 2 blankets of hers; Blue's Clues and Yellow-green. That's what their names were. I wondered when she passed away if I should put them in the casket with her to comfort her. She hated being without them. But I know where she is, she needs no comfort. It is I who is hear that needs the comfort of them.

This when we brought her home from the hospital. We were able to bring her home on Christmas Eve. I had never felt the spirit of Christmas more than I did that year. It was so much fun. And everyone was so excited to meet her. Mom had bought her this Santa suit. We all thought she would be much bigger than she was. The suit drowned her!! But I was determined she was coming home in it!!

And last but not least, her and Addie. This was taken on Addie's first Christmas. Addie was probably about 6 wks. or so. Sidnee was 3. I like this one cause it was their first Christmas together. I was so excited when I found out I was having another girl!!! I loved to dress them alike. Sidnee and Addie had such a special relationship. They were very close and hardly ever fought. That was one of the things that broke my heart so much when Sidnee died. Not for me and Mike, but for Addie. She seemed so lost without Sid. She had always followed Sid around. I'm sure Sidnee still checks in on all of us often, but maybe a little more so with Addie.

I love and miss you so much Sidnee. Life hasn't been quite as full since you left. There isn't a day you aren't thought about. You have so many people you have touched here. I pray that we can all be together in Heaven. Thank you for teaching me how to love. Happy 10th sweetheart!!

I also want to say Sidnee is the reason for me putting the song "Lord I hope this day is good" on my playlist. Not long after Sidnee died (maybe only a couple of weeks) I was on my way to work. It had been a tough morning. As they all were back then. This song came on the radio. I thought that is exactly how I feel! Had heard it every since I was little, but boy did the words ring true that day!!

Dave's Birthday Bash

Happy Birthday Dave!!

Dave's birthday is right before Christmas. Poor guy. We celcbrated by going out to dinner. Mike had bought this lamp for him (from A Christmas Story). Mike was so excited to give it to Dave he could hardly contain himself! I informed my mom I had nothing to do with it!!