UPDATE #2

At the end of July, Craig was sent to Carson City to attend the POST Academy and to become a CAT 1 Police Officer. I would have never guessed in a million years I would be married to a cop. He was gone for 16 weeks, July 26th - November 10th. In which he missed a lot, Kayla starting 1st Grade, Kayla playing her 1st sport, Soccer, Halloween

1st day of 1st Grade

Soccer

Halloween: Austin is a Park Ranger, Ashley is Cinderella, and Kayla is a bride

and ANOTHER MOVE. That's right!!! On one of his visits home, we decided to move from the top on the hill to the bottom of the hill. Of course he had to go back and I was dealt with the move, by myself. Although he did come back to paint the house but I did everything else...of course I did have some help. After the move which was quick, I think 10 days. I flew to Texas with Sandy, Heather, Brock, Stephanie, Juan and my mom for my uncle and aunts wedding anniversary. Which was a blast!

The world biggest wind chime

The Schlitterbahn

Juan having fun with an ice cream cart we found

The masquerade party

Hernandez cousins

Then right when I got home, I flew back out this time to Carson City for Craig's graduation.

It was good having him back home, especially for the major holidays and birthdays.

Poetry & Pie Day

I love that kindergarten is so easy, no hard homework, no drama, just a lot of fun. Kayla really enjoys school and I hope she always will.

Standing in the Tarzan section at school wearing her Turkey hat she made.

I forgot to video tape the poem she was in, but she did good. Look how happy she is!!

I Love this poem!!

Group Shot

I love this song even though some of the kids are not singing the right notes. And I have to admit I got a little teary eyed.

I had to much fun with you Kayla. I love you! May we have many, many more fun days like Poetry and Pie day.

Halloween

What a busy weekend! Friday our local grocery stores Lin's was having a Halloween Carnival in the parking lot. The kids had a lot of fun and a great way to start the Halloween weekend. Although it was a little warmer than I would have'd liked it. I can't believe how big my kids are getting. This year all the kids picked out their own costumes, which to my surprise Kayla decided not to be any Disney princess...WHAT! She loves all the Disney Princesses. I think school has changed her a little, just a little. Definitely in a good way. Well, here they are at the Lin's Carnival.

Ashley is Tinkerbell, Kayla is a Stitch Witch and Austin is Bumblebee

Group shot: Austin, Ashley, Kayla, my sister-in-law Tracie and her daughter Cassi

Ashley fishing

I love that other kids want to help pass out candy...it makes me happy.

Kayla and Austin

After Lin's we had a couple of hours before the next one. Luckily for me I got them to take a nap...well Austin didn't but I did. They woke up just in time for the next round which was at the Old Gym in Overton. They were celebrating 70 years and having a fun low-budget carnival. I wasn't to impress just because I had to pay for every game, which was 50 cents x3 and since I have small kids, of course they didn't win anything but a small piece of candy like a tootsie roll or smarties. So needless to say we didn't stay long, but it was OK we went home and carved our pumpkins.

Austin and Kayla wondering if they dare put their hands in the pumpkin

This year Kayla wanted to do her own pumpkin. Here she is cleaning out the inside.

Kayla putting her pattern on

The finished look: Kayla's is the rose, Austin's the big happy face and Ashley's the goofy face.

Saturday morning we went to the Valley of Fire. It was a lot of fun. Austin really liked the bowling.

Ashley bowling

I'm surprised that Austin let the man put that mask on him.

Ashley throwing balls in a pumpkin

Waiting for the witch's brew (7-up/sherbet drink)

Enjoying the cookies they got to decorate. The cookies were a little too cooked because Tanya, my mother-in-law, chipped her tooth on one and she just had it fixed a few weeks ago.

And then last but not least, the trunk or treat at the fairgrounds. Waiting to go in.

Kayla was so excited to see her kindergarten teacher Mrs. William's

Ashley happy to get some candy

Kayla relieved to be home

It was a busy weekend but it was filled with fun. The kids had so much fun and more than enough candy.

Birthday's, Retreats and Fundraisers

Oh, my gosh so much has been going on this month. Let's see, Ashley turned 2 on the 1st. I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast.

Ashley loves Mickey Mouse and she got her very own dress up dress. She was very excited!

I think the BIGGEST news is that Austin is potty trained...Hooray!!!

While everyone was enjoying the fair, my mom and I were enjoying ourselves in St. George at a quilt retreat at ScrapApples. It was a blast. It was my first one of many to come. Our teacher was Carrie Nelson, she is the designer of Schnibble quilts you may also know her as Miss Rosie.

This is her new book Schnibbles times two

This is the class room, on the far left you can see some quilts hanging on the wall, the big quilt is my moms and the small one next to her's is mine

It was a two day quilt class, there were about 15 of us. Most of us were doing a quilt from the new book. I chose to do the quilt "Imagine" using the Civil War line by Moda. Although I did a small quilt it took me just as long as the other gals who did a large quilt.

My quilt(without the border)

Later in the evening on the 1st day ScrapApples fed us dinner and then after we had a trunk show. First Carrie showed us all the original quilts from her latest book both the large quilts and the small quilts and some others. After she was done everyone else could show off they quilts.

This is Carrie holding a small version of Open Season

After the trunk we had dessert and continue our projects. And the 2nd day was many sewing, sewing, and sewing. Not to mention all the wonderful prizes that were given away. Carrie gave us all 3 patterns, some bobbin bikinis, some wonderful tips and advice and she autographed our books. Some of the prizes I won were a layer cake (Martinique by 3 Sisters (Moda), a turnover (Kansas Winter by Kansas Troubles Quilters (Moda) and 3 fat quarte rs. This was so much fun and I am excited for the next one.

I finished the top of my quilt before leaving...What do you think?

On the 17th, Lexie had a fundraiser for her ONH. Here are some Pic s for it

The quilt that was being raffled

Kira and Michaela helping with rock climbing and bungee jumpingThe wonderful goodies for the Bake SaleBeside doing all for these wonderful things, Craig and I managed to paint his mom's master bathroom, help Gary and Chanell tile they floors, make shelves for they pantry and move some furniture in they house, view they blog to see the pics. Finished the quilting machine (it needs a few parts). Have stuff!!

Spring

Since spring is coming I decided to make a spring dress for Ashley and of course it had to be Dora. So here is Ashley in her Dora dress.
I love this one because she's not only wearing her Dora dress but sitting on her Dora bike.

A LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON!

Ahhh....I can't believe this month is almost done. A lot has been going on and I still have a lot to do. Bear with me as I try to recall everything in chronological order. OK...On Saturday December 5th we had our ward Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun and I know the kids enjoyed it. This year they did a Christmas breakfast with Santa. There were pancakes, different kinds of eggs and egg casseroles and milk. It was good. After breakfast we sang some Christmas carols and then good ole Santa Clause came. Santa told us, but mostly the children, the true meaning of Christmas. It was very good and whoever was Santa did a very good job. After the program all the children and some youth got their picture taken with Santa.
On Monday December the 8th we headed down to California. We decided to leave very early in the morning...like around 2am because honestly we didn't want to deal with the crying and stopping. But the good news is we made it. We spent a week down there and everyday there was something going on. You heard how we started the week...Ashley and stitches. Ya, fun! That evening we had our family Christmas celebration. Every year we start with an ornament exchange. 5 years ago we started a new tradition-just the girls. We do an ornament exchange and this year instead of just giving an ornament we decided to pick a theme which turned out to be Disney animals. Click here to see pictures on Heather's blog and who got who.
Also this year we decided to start a new tradition by doing a siblings & spouses gift exchange. It was a lot of fun! We decided not to do a set dollar amount but a minimum dollar amount, which I thought was a really good idea and to make things more interesting it was suppose to be a secret. But as it got closer I think we all have a pretty good idea who had who. Again to see picture Click here. But one correction Craig had Stephanie and I had Sandy.
I think with all the excitement with the gift exchange every one wanted every one else to open their gifts that every one got for each other. Here are a few picture but to see more Click here.

We got my dad a performance chip, something that goes on his truck to make it run more efficiently

Stephanie gave Craig a Kramer shirt
Sandy and the boys gave Kayla a new Princess Tiana coloring book with crayons and a Disney princess search and find book
Heather gave Austin a nice church outfit
Sandy gave all of us girls a beanie

Thursday night the 10th, my family, Heather, my mom and dad and for a little bit Sandy and her boys went bowling. We had two lanes the kids, Kayla, Austin, Ashley and me on one lane and Heather, my dad, my mom and Craig on the other. Its been a while since the family has gone bowling but I know everyone had a blast.

Craig helping Ashley
Craig and Austin waiting to see how many pins Austin will knock over
Kayla getting ready to bowl a strike
My dad helping Daniel
The gang

Before bowling I took Kayla to the Disney store in the mall. They were doing a Masquerade thing to make way for the new Disney Princess Tiana. They did story time and then had the kids make they own masks.

Stephanie helping Kayla

Friday afternoon, Kayla, Heather and I went and saw the Princess and the Frog in theaters. It was good and Kayla can't stop talking about it. Disney did a good job although some parts I thought were a little scary for children but overall I liked it.
And to end the week, Friday night Stephanie's boyfriend Juan got baptized. It was a very spiritual evening. There was a lot of family and friends to help support him. The missionaries gave the talks and Stephanie sang "His Hands". She did a very good job. I don't think there was a dry eye there.

Juan and Craig

Congratulations Juan and I know this is just the beginning.

Overall it was a good week, full of memories and fun. Now on to the next chapter.