Winter Camping

We got a new camp trailer and we just couldn't wait to take it out. Kevin's friends were going wheeling Thanksgiving weekend and so we decided to meet up with them out past 5 mile. The kids could not have been happier to try out the new trailer. Granted it was freezing outside but we managed to keep warm with the little heater just blowing away all night. (so grateful to Tyler and April for letting us use their generator) There were 3 families there and the kids were so excited to play with all the kids. They had so much fun going on the trails and Lauren just couldn't have been happier since there was a yellow jeep that she got to ride in. We also went Geo cashing. I have found a new love. Oh my gosh that was so much fun. You put the coordinates in the GPS and then you have to find where someone has put a cash box. You put an item in and take an item out. The kids thought it was great too. Just driving randomly through the desert looking for a tiny box. It was so much fun. Tyler and April came out for the day to ride four wheelers with us and the kids were happy to have them come play with us. Tyler showed Emma how to ride their four wheeler and love it. The funniest part of the trip was there was a boy there that was a couple years older than Emma but had a crush on her. It was so funny to watch him interact with her and Emma was completely clueless to the whole thing. It was cute. It was fun to sit by the camp fire and watch the kids ride the bikes and 4wheelers. Lauren made a friend and was so excited to have a sleep over in their camp trailer. We can't wait until it gets warmer so we can head out again.

The kids all bundled up watching a movie

Lauren and her new friend Kelsie

Kevin trying the waterfall. He almost made it before he broke an Axel... oops

Gabe enjoying his bike
Emma on the 4 wheeler

Whatwould a trip be without this picture!! LOL

Our fun little camp spot.

Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful for. First off Kevin.. I don't know if he knows how much he has helped me this past year. He has so much love for me and my kids. We have had our ups and downs but I am so amazed at how he continues to love unconditionally. I wish this man was in my life 15 years ago, but he would have been 15 and I would have been 19 ewwwe weird. Any way I am thankful for his kindness, his respect for me, his ability to fix anything and everything, how he makes me laugh, how he makes me smile just by walking in the room, most of all how safe he makes me and my kids feel. Second my kids... I am amazed at how much they have grown this past year. Not just tall... (Jacob passed me this year) but emotionally. They have shown such improvement in school and at home. They fight of course like brothers and sisters should be they have such a love for each other too. Jacob is still amazing at any sport he plays. That boy gives it all every single game. He excels above and beyond in school and he still loves to read all the time. He has turned in to a young man and I am so proud of him. I'm still sad that I don't get to be around him all the time, but I know that he is where he feels he can grow the best and for that I just am grateful for that. I learn so much from that boy and without him I really would have been lost. Emma has improved leaps and bounds this year in school. I am so thankful for her teacher who seems to really get Emma, but I am also so proud of Emma for the confidence she is finally getting in doing her school work. She is now a B+ student and for her that is GREAT!! I am thankful for her love that she has for me. She needs to be with me all the time (I get annoyed sometimes) But I am thankful for the love she has for me and I hope I can show her how much I love her all the time. Gabriel is my life saver. That boy just loves to help me in any way he can. Anything I ask him to do he will. It takes him a minute but he does it. This boy loves to learn and asks me the most random things but loves loves to gain knowledge in all things. Gabriel is starting to take an interest in sports and is loving basketball right. We are looking to get him on a league here soon. Gabriel also loves scouts. He thinks its so much fun. This boy is allllll boy. Then my sweet Lauren. I am so thankful for her. She as most of you know has been well not easy. But the love that this child has amazes me. She loves her family so much. She is sweet and wants to make sure that you know she loves you. She is excelling at school too and has taken an interest in reading and it is coming quickly to her. I am thankful for all the ups and downs we have as a family to learn and grow with each other. Third I am thankful for my sisters and brother I have such a deep love and connection with them. Angie lives so far away and we have seemed to not keep in touch as much as we should be I love that girl more than anything. She has always been there for me. She is such an amazing mother and wife. I look up to her. She will tell ya like it is and I am grateful for that. Melisa came back from Arizona this year and I tell ya what I just couldn't be happier, to have her so close to me that we can see each other almost everyday. Talk to each other every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times. To help each other out to know that no matter what I think or do to know that she loves me. To have her so close has blessed my life more than I can express. I love you Both Angie and Melisa. I am thankful for my brother. I got to seem him a couple of months ago and I just had nothing but love for him. We haven't been close for a long time and I miss that boy. I miss his adventures, I miss his laugh and I am just grateful that I can go to him in a time of need and he can come to me. Fourth my parents and pretend in-laws. This may be hard to write right now, do to certain things going on right now. But I am so so thankful for my dad. He has always been a hard worker, he always provided for our family, he was always there for me when I need him. I am grateful for the love he has for me and my kids. I am proud to have such an amazing father. To just be able to think of him brings such a peace to my life. I am thankful for my mother. I know she has given her all to her children. I know that she loves me. I am thankful for all the times we laugh together. Thankful for her helping me with my kids and caring for them as if they were her own. I am thankful for her trying to better her life in order to better our lives. She has been through so much and I know that deep in her heart she just wants her children happy. Thank you mom. I am grateful for Kevin's parents. Wow what kind people to accept not only me but my children and treat them with such love. The raised such an amazing man that I am grateful for. They are so amazing and Steve would do anything for you any given second of his life. That man really truly is the giving tree. He is so thoughtful. Sue has such a love and sweetness about her that you can't help but want to be around her. She has made my children feel so welcome into their family (even though we technically aren't) Thank you for giving to us and showing us how to love one another. Last but not least I am thankful for my friends. I have met so many people through the years and people have come and gone, but there are the ones that no matter how long it has been you can pick right up where you left off. The ones that always cross your mind hoping that they are doing OK. Then the friends that I get to talk to all the time. Oh how they have helped me through the hardest times in my life. And to see that they still love me makes my heart so full. I love the long scrapbook weekends I spend with some and talk until 2 or 3 in morning and the times of just going to lunch and seeing how they are doing. Yes I know this was a lot but I just wanted to let everyone know how thankful I am to have what I have. I have everything I need. Love all around me.

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Kevin's family. Kevin just loves how many pictures I take!! LOL Kevin with his brother Tyler and his wife April

Pie time!!! Sue makes the best pies.. all homemade

Cute kids

Enjoying pie yum yum

MOAB..... WOW WHAT A TRIP!!!

The Rigs

Moab again... I know we love this place. However this trip was a little rough. The first day we went out and we did a fairly easy trail Steel Bender. It had its difficult spots. Kevin and I went up and over an obstacle and then Kevin decided that he wanted to go up it again but on a harder line. Fine by me, didn't seem so bad the first time. Now as many of you know I usually get out and take pictures of these fine obstacles. Well the first time around wasn't bad so I didn't bother to get out. WELL..... we ended up on our side. We bounced into a hole and so we tipped onto the driver side. Luckily Kev has a roll cage and is what stopped up from going all the way over. So I just dangled from my 5 point harness seat belt and waited for Kevin to get me out. Kindof crazy and a little shook up.

Here is the end result

The damage not to bad.... I think Kevs pride was hurt more :( The next day we decided to do one of the hardest trails down in Moab.. Prichett. Kevin's brother Tyler and April were with us and they were leading on the trail. We were about an half an hour into the trail when we came to one of the ugly ugly obstacles.

Keep in mind this hill is very very steep. The pictures do not do this justice. He started to up on a certain line but because there was so much sand on the rocks his back side started slipping and he slide along side the rock and then bounced into a hole.....

You get an idea what is going to happen......



He rolled 3 times!!! And walked away with just a bump on his head. It was very scary to watch it happen and to try to get him back out off the trail, not knowing if the truck was going to run or not.

Kevin and Tyler worked on it for some time and April and I cleaned everything up. Luckily they were able to get the truck running and he was able to drive off the trail. Look at how bent the cab is... Still can't believe that the engine was ok and so was Tyler.

All and all it was fun to get away for the weekend. And to learn what is so important in life. So grateful for all that I have and who I am with. He truly is an amazing man!

Sand Dunes

We took the kids out to the Sand Dunes so Gabe could learn to ride his new motorcycle. It was so much fun. Gabe did so good riding his motorcycle and although we didn't get out of first gear he is enjoying every minute of it. The girls rode the 4wheeler around and around in circles for hours! The Sand was a little hard for Gabe to ride in so we would go over to the dirt trails, Kevin and I would set up our chairs and sit there forever and watch them ride. They LOVE it. My kids love love love camping and can't get enough of it. They love the Marshmellows, finding firewood, building the fire, throwing everything into the fire!! We are working on the last one. They think its so much fun to set up their beds and of course exploring the outdoors. We meet up with some of our friends and the have a sand rail that the kids loved going in. Such a sweet Guy to take them out (Thanks Nicole's Dad!) We are looking forward to many many more trips to the Dunes.

Pumpkin Patch

The kids wanted to pick out their pumpkins early this year so that we could have them out all month long!! Melisa and I took the kids to a pumpkin patch and apparently October 1st they are not set up yet. So as the lady was putting out the pumpkins we took some pictures and got the best pick of the pumpkins! Yes we choose the largest pumpkins we could find. $35.00 later I leave the pumpkin patch! Hello $35.00 for pumpkins. Safety first. But we did get some cute pictures!

Gabe Turns 8

So my sweet little boy turned 8 in September. I can remember his birth the best out of everyone since it was around such a traumatic time in the country. It was so weird how his birthday always brings back all those emotions of 9/11. But then it also reminds me of how lucky I am to have him as a son. Gabe has they sweetest spirit about him. He is layed back, full of adventure, smart, caring, thoughtful, giving and funny. This boy loves to tease his sisters and making people laugh.

He wanted a motorcycle for his bday and back in March I told him he had to save up money and pay towards the motorcycle. He started to mow my parents lawn for $5 a week. Even though it was rough on me... driving all the way there and back he loved loved loved doing it. He is a perfectionist and would mow the straightest lines. He did it all summer and saved up his money. Sooooooo I had to hold up to my end of the bargain.

He had his party this year at the Backyard Adventures. It was really fun for the kids to play around on the swing sets and slides. Gabe's best friend Aaron was there and that made Gabe's day!

Happy Birthday Gabe!!

Pictures

I had pictures done by this darling girl Alex. She is great and very reasonably priced. You can check out her blog at http://legacy-photo.blogspot.com/ Lauren kind of threw a "small tantrum" and we had to end the session early. We will be going back to finish up but here are a few that we did get.