Udy Family

The Heber Creeper

2011-10-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

My sister came to visit last month from North Carolina and while she was here we took our little three year olds to ride the Heeber Creeper. What a beautiful ride. The boys loved it and I loved the peaceful scenary.

Blake turns 7

2011-10-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

For Blake's birthday this year he requested an Angry Birds Party and that is what he got. Happy Birthday to my sweet, cute, funny and lovable Blake. I love you!

2011 School Year

2011-10-17T12:35:00.001-07:00

Macy - 5th grade

Abby - 3rd grade

Blake - 1st grade

Tyler - Preschool

My kids were excited to go back to school this year. They love learning and exploring new things and I love to see that in them!

Boating on Utah Lake

2011-10-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

This summer our friends invited us to join them tubing out on Utah Lake. I have never been on that lake before so I was excited to go. We had a blast. We tubed, laughed and swam in the lake. The kids had a wonderful time and it was nice to enjoy the cool water on a hot day.

AF Canyon

2011-10-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

We have some wonderful friends who own a super cool Mini-Winnie and we all went camping together this summer up American Fork Canyon. I'm not much of a camper but this really was a fun trip despite being spooked in the night by what we think was a moose. We made campfire dinners, had smores, and carved our names in the trees.

Hiking the Y

2011-10-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

This summer our family made our first trek up the Y together. What an amazing view. When I was a student at BYU I never did the hike and now I wished I had. It was neat to share that with the kids and now when we drive by and see the Y on the mountain they can know they were there.

Mooooo

2011-10-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

As always, our family looks forward to the Chick-fil-a tradition. In July they ask customers to dress up as cows and as a reward they give you free food. My kids love it and I love the chicken!

Alaska

2011-10-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Back in July we had the amazing opportunity to go to Alaska with some wonderful friends. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I did so many things that were out of my comfort zone and I loved every minute of it. Alaska was truly breathtaking and my most favorite spot of the trip was Seward, Alaska. It was postcard perfect.

Washington D.C. - Girl Trip

2011-08-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

Day One-

We arrived at my parents home and there were gifts already waiting for us. The girls all received matching pj's as did my sisters and I. (I cant believe I didn't get a picture of my sisters, mom and I in our pj's) As well as matching pj's, my parents had been saving all their loose change for sometime and then each girl got a chance to dig through the money and grab as much as their hand would hold. This has been a tradition of my parents for some time. I think I had the winning grab and collected nearly $40 in change!

Day Two-

The Un-Birthday Party. That morning my sisters, mom and I all decorated individual cakes for each girl. Instead of one big cake my mom insisted that each have their own. We all acted silly, wore my dads ties, played games, sang Happy Birthday and each girl received an un-birthday present and an Alice in Wonderland tea cup and plate. We had a very fun time that day!

Day Three-

Beach Day. My dad took us all to a small beach on the Chesapeake. We loved it and enjoyed just relaxing, making sand castles and being together. My mom had given all the girls beach towels, cover-ups, sand buckets and shovels and they all had flip flops and visors they had decorated the day before.

Day Four-

Christmas in July. The night before my mom set up a small Christmas tree, Christmas hats and wreath . Each girl had a Christmas gift to open and we all sang Christmas songs and danced around the tree. As a gift back to my mom she asked each girl to share their talent with her and perform something they had prepared. Macy played the piano and Abby and her cousin Eleni created a dance together that they performed for us all. It really was a special moment.

Also this day we went to Oxen Hill Farm. It was miserably hot but the kids still had fun. They milked a cow, fed the chickens and gave the collected eggs to the pigs. Day Five-

Baby shower for my sister Emily. With my sister due in a few months we thought it would be fun to have a little baby shower for her and her little girl to come. This meant more cake, treats, games and presents.

Day Six-

Fourth of July. To start the day off my sister Diana and I ran in an 8K race which turned into a 9K. The course was marked wrong and it was not a race that I enjoyed. But I did it, I ran 5.5 miles in 50 minutes.

Later that evening we attended a Fourth of July party at my dad's work, The Heritage Foundation. It was held on several floors and then when it got dark we all made our way to the roof for fireworks. You could literally see about 50 different fireworks displays that night. It was incredible. The night was filled with good food, an ice cream cart, face painting, a magician, balloon animals and dancing. We had a blast! Mom had matching fourth of July shirts for all the girls to wear and my sisters and I made bows for the girls to wear.
Day Seven-

I took the girls to do some sightseeing around Washington D.C. It was nice to have some time just the three of us and be able to show them some of my favorite things.

Day Eight-

Going home. My parents really made this a wonderful and memorable trip. We loved our time there and made many memories. It was sad to say goodbye.

Love...

2011-07-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

where we live. Enough said.

Stewart Falls

2011-07-11T14:38:00.001-07:00

Clint has been wanting to take us on some hikes likely and particularly one he recently discovered. It's by Sundance and it's a beautiful hike up to Stewart Falls. The kids loved the hike and the waterfall at the end. There was still a good amount of snow up there so I would like to go back again with the family later this summer. Loved the area, gorgeous!

My little can collector

2011-07-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Macy has been collecting cans from the neighbors for months now and she finally had a big enough load to turn in. Her total earnings this time = $32.84. She really has been working hard and visiting every neighbor to collect what cans they have. She has told us the money she earns is going to her college fund. So proud of you Macy!

Manti Pageant

2011-07-11T14:25:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to the Manti Pageant with some friends. It was a quick trip, drove there, watched the show and drove home that night. We got there early enough to score great seats and I loved the show. A great experience for the whole family!

Cousin Carlee

2011-07-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

The view from Clint's parent's back window, beautiful!

After visiting Idaho for a weekend we brought back with us my niece, Carlee. She stayed with us for three days and the girls enjoyed having her around. So nice to have had family with us for a few days.

While she was here Abby had a dance recital. She looked beautiful and danced so well. Love you Abby and the talent you are developing!

Tyke Toter

2011-07-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

We got a new gadget for Clint's bike. It allows Tyler to ride along with him, and he loves it. We have been taking rides up to the local ice cream and snow cone shack and it's been awesome. The kids love riding their bikes and now Tyler can tote along too.

SuRPriSe!

2011-07-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

Love my mom!

The day after Tyler had his little surgery I was walking outside to water my flowers, hair a mess and in my pajamas. To my surprise my mom was in my driveway and had flown all the way from Washington D.C. to surprise our family with a visit, and what a surprise it was. I threw my arms around her and cried. So glad she was at my home especially after the ordeal I had the day before with Tyler.

We love you Grandma Nana and are so thankful for you each and every day.

At our city's parade with my mom, and rockin' the free hat that I caught!

The Toothpick

2011-07-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

About 4 months ago Tyler stepped on a toothpick and half of it broke off into the bottom of his foot. It was lodged too deep to pull out on my own, so I took him the to the Dr., four times. Each Dr. said it was okay, it would come out on its own, nothing to worry about. Fast forward 4 months and the toothpick was still lodged in his foot, it was swollen, red, painful, and definitely not getting better. I had enough and took him to the emergency room and told them I wasn't leaving until it was removed.

Being the squirmy 3 year old that Tyler is, he had to be sedated for them to remove it. Such a sad sight, but it was removed and life it good now. The Dr. couldn't believe it was in there for so long and he sent my home with the toothpick as a souvenir.

A new couch, finally

2011-07-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

We have been using a hand-me-down from a hand-me-down couch for the last 12 years and we finally got a new couch for our basement. Who knew it would be so traumatic for the kids. They got so attached to that couch and I was just wanting to burn it. But we gave it to a family who wanted it and now we have upgraded. I "love" the new couch. So much more room, comfortable and it looks a million times better than the old one.

BEFORE

AFTER

Legacy Center

2011-07-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

The kids and I spent an afternoon swimming at the Legacy Center. Tyler was not a fan of the water, but we are working to change that. The other three kids had a blast. So nice to have a relaxing afternoon, swimming and hanging out together.

Blake Graduates...

2011-07-11T13:23:00.000-07:00

from kindergarten! Now on to first grade. We love you Blake!

Blake and his lil buddies on graduation day

A day at the track

2011-05-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

My Uncle came to town last week and we had the wonderful opportunity to spend a few days with him. Dinner one night and then on Saturday we got to go see him at the Larry H. Miller Racetrack in Tooele. Oh my, we had a blast! My uncle races cars and although he was not racing this particular weekend, he had rented his car out to another driver. The kids loved it, I loved it, Clint loved it. It was like a whole other world out there.

My uncle asked me if I would be his flag girl. No clue what he meant but I told him I would. I was in charge of going onto the track before the race and holding the car's flag. Each car would then line up next to their flag and get ready for the race to begin. It was fun to be out there right next to all the cars. What a rush!

And Blake informed all of us that he was Uncle Don's number one fan. Blake even asked for his autograph and to have a picture with him! It was adorable.

Easter

2011-05-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Easter was simple yet fun at our house this year. The city Easter egg huntwas a hit and Macy even scored a new scooter as one of her prizes. Wow, was she excited! She said to me over and over, "This is the best day ever!"

Spring Break

2011-04-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

With Clint teaching in one school district and our kids attending school in another, our spring breaks did not match up. We still wanted to do something fun together so we opted for staying in a hotel downtown. That way Clint could still go to work in the morning but yet we could enjoy a little break together and a change of scenery.

We really had a wonderful time. We stayed at the Hilton, swam a lot, rode the TRAX, explored Temple Square, went to the top of the Church Office Building, visited the Church History Museum, Brigham Young's Home, and ate a lot!

April Fools

2011-04-06T11:51:00.001-07:00

In my family, April Fool's Day has always been a day filled with tricks and mischievous actions. My mom and dad have always been up for a good prank and that has been passed down onto us kids. This year was no different. My parents and sister had quite the exciting April Fools Day. Head over to my sister's blog to read about their experience. Here And this post as well, here. She is quite the writer and can convey the story much better than I.

I wanted in on all the action so when my kids came home from school they had these cupcakes waiting for them. Everything is completely edible and in candy form. They sure had a good laugh! I hope everyone enjoyed their April Fool's Day as much as we did here!

She's a Star

2011-04-06T11:38:00.001-07:00

Over the last month, Macy has been participating in rehearsals for an upcoming play at her school. It was titled, "Once Upon a Mattress," which is an adaptation of the story, "The Princess and the Pea." Last week she performed and we all went as a family to watch. Macy did a wonderful job and it was such a treat to watch her on stage. The kids got a real kick out of the show.

We love you Macy! You did a wonderful job and we are so proud of you.

Locks of Love

2011-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Abby has been growing her hair out for sometime now and last Saturday was the day to get it cut. She donated her long hair to Locks of Love and is so happy with her short new do. I'm so proud of Abby and her decision to give to another.

Tricky Leprechaun

2011-03-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

My kids get excited about every single holiday that exists and they love to celebrate them all! Well this year the sneaky leprechaun came to our house. I left to pick the kids up from school and when we came home we found this in the middle of our living room.Under all of that chaos the little leprechaun left a little treat for the kids.

Macy and Abby were determined to catch him that night so they created a little leprechaun trap along with a note. Too cute

Special Kids

2011-03-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

I love my kids. They are so incredibly thoughtful. A few Saturdays ago Clint and I had a meeting to attend up at the church. We left Macy home to watch the kids.

Well, when we returned the house was cleaned and vacuumed but the kids were no where to be found. I turned to go into my room and found this on our bedroom door.

The kids were inside hiding to surprise Clint and I. I loved it. I loved that our kids took the time to create something special for us. It really was a special homecoming and they were thrilled to see our reactions. I love you Macy, Abby, Blake and Tyler!

He's Three

2011-03-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

Tyler turned the lovely age of three this week and the only thing he wanted to do was make a wish. All day he came up to me asking to make a wish. He's obsessed with blowing out candles. We kept his birthday very low key by going to McDonald's, getting happy meals, and playing in the play area.

We love you Tyler and love all the crazy, energetic, wildness that makes you, you. You make us smile and each day is an adventure with you in our family. Love you to pieces!

To Be A Student Again

2011-03-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Clint and I had the opportunity to go to BYU's last home game of the season and I loved every minute of it. We met up with some friends there and we really enjoyed ourselves. I commented several times during the game that I wanted to sit with the students. Just watching them go crazy and have fun made me want to be a college student all over again. I could do without all the schoolwork and tests but to have that kind of crazy fun again would be awesome. I'm already excited for next years basketball season. Loved it!

Valentines

2011-03-09T17:21:00.001-08:00

This year for Valentine's Day we took all the kids with us to Chili's. It was a Monday night so we made it a family occasion! Dinner was great even though our order took forever. But the manager was good to us and gave us appetizers and desserts for free. We came home, opened presents and overall had a wonderful time celebrating "love day."

Pierced Ears

2011-03-09T17:07:00.001-08:00

Macy and Abby both got the green light to get their ears pierced and they were more than excited! My friend's mom owns a piercing gun and was kind enough to come over to the house to get the job done. Macy didn't even flinch, while Abby was in constant tears. I really thought Abby wouldn't go through with it, but they both endured and they both look adorable with earrings.

It's Gone

2011-02-01T08:52:00.000-08:00

After being up for over 10 years, our crib is now down and gone. Wow. I didn't think it would be so hard to see it go, but I just had memories flash through my mind of each of the kids sleeping in the crib as babies, countless sheet changes from times when the kids were sick and throwing up, the day Clint and I went crib shopping while I was pregnant with Macy. Just lots of wonderful memories and now it's gone. I shed some tears as it was sold and the new owners loaded it into their van.

Before it left we had to get one last picture of all 4 kids inside. Where has the time gone? My kids are growing up, fast!

She's Baptized!

2011-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

The first of January Abby had the wonderful opportunity to get baptized by her daddy. It was a really special day and there was such a wonderful feeling at her baptism. Grandma Nana flew out to be here for the occasion.

As always, when the kids get baptized they get their own quilt made by me and the Grandmas. It's always a group effort and the kids look forward to getting their very own special quilt. Of course Abby's quilt is all shades of pink. A true girl!

After the baptism we had a nice simple lunch with friends and family. It really was a special day and I am so proud of Abby and her decision and example to be baptized. I love you Abby! And thanks to all those who helped to make the day so wonderful for Abby.

Christmas 2010

2011-02-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was a good one. It was just our little family and it really was a nice and peaceful time together. Christmas Eve was spent having dinner at Chili's. The kids thought that was awesome and I loved not having to mess with the clean up.

As always, the kids got the traditional Christmas Eve pj's.

We put together not one but two Christmas puzzles this year. Always a fun tradition in our home!

This is the first year in our married life that we haven't traveled to Idaho to cut down our own tree. The kids were bummed about that but our schedules this year just didn't allow us to get up there. So we went to a tree lot and found a real beauty. Unfortunately the tree died only after two weeks. Blah. Hopefully this will be the only time we have to buy one. You can't beat cutting them down yourselves. The fresher the better!

A trashed house is a happy house! We spent the whole break hanging out in our pj's and just being together and playing with the new toys. I loved every minute of it!

Here are the kids with their favorite toys. Macy got an iPod.

Abby got a complete set of Disney Princess Barbies.

Blake "loves' his Star Wars video game.

And even today Tyler can't get enough of his set of Toy Story toys. He plays with them everyday and even sleeps with them at night.

Hello Double Digits

2010-12-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

Macy has said goodbye to nine and hello to the double digits. Wow. I have a ten-year old! My sweet, sweet Macy is growing up. She had her best friend come over for a late night, and the family helped to make this a special day for her. Some friends had extra tickets to the David Archuleta performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and were kind enough to give them to us. Lucky Macy, the concert was on her actual birthday. Since we only had two tickets, I took her and we had a wonderful, wonderful time. The concert was outstanding!
Some highlights of Macy's birthday:

*Getting her first Harry Potter book. Thanks Sarah!
*David Archuleta concert
*Ice cream cake
*The green light on getting her ears pierced
*Having a late night with her best buddy
*Getting her own sewing machine

The Lights at Temple Square

2010-12-21T20:07:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we met up with some friends to see the lights at Temple Square. Despite it being "very" crowded, we enjoyed the views and the feeling on Temple Square. We had fun, enjoyed some laughs and let the kids ride the TRAX line.

Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Making gingerbread houses, always a fun tradition at our house!

The Grinch

2010-12-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

This December Abby had the opportunity to perform in her dance studio's production of "The Grinch." She wore a beautiful costume, make-up and got to perform on a real stage. She was in heaven. The whole family cheered her on and we loved every minute of it. Thank you Abby for sharing your talent with us and for a wonderful show. We love you!

I took many years of dance as well and for about 6 years I had the opportunity of performing in the Nutcracker each December. As a tradition my parents would give me a Nutcracker after each opening show to remind my of my experience. Even though Abby did not perform in the Nutcracker, I wanted to carry on this tradition with her. So we got Abby her first Nutcracker. She was thrilled!

Abby turns 8

2010-12-21T19:31:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago Abby turned the wonderful age of eight! She was so excited for this special day that she asked me earlier what time she was born. I told her 2:19 in the morning. Before going to bed the night before, Abby set her alarm so she could wake up and celebrate the exact time she was born. Clint went down to her room at 2:15 and they watched the clock together until it reached 2:19. They both celebrated and cheered together the exact moment of her birth. It really made Abby feel extra special.

Abby had a few friends over to celebrate her birthday and we all had a wonderful time. Per her request we had chocloate cake with chocolate frosting!

Thanksgiving

2010-12-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

This year we were delighted to have my parents here for Thanksgiving. They flew in from Washington D.C. the night of the "blizzard of 2010!" The weather never got as bad as predicted, thank goodness.

Having my parents here with us had us all in pure heaven. The house was so alive and full of love. I absolutely felt it was the best Thanksgiving ever. Just perfect! I even had the privilege of cooking my first turkey, upside down by accident. You learn and grow right?!

We had our usual traditions:

* Putting together a Christmas puzzle, twice. Tyler got a hold of the puzzle when we were almost done and destroyed it. It went together much quicker the second time around.

* Nana and Pops emptying their pockets of change and allowing the kids to dig in a bowl with one hand to get as much money as possible.

*The fishing pole game where Nana and Pops have the kids fish for prizes behind a huge quilt. Always a crowd pleaser.

*Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

*Black Friday shopping. Need I say more.

It really was an absolute perfect Thanksgiving. Thank you mom and dad for coming to spend the holiday with us.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

Growing up my mom always made Halloween so special for us. I remember every year she would take us to the fabric store to look through the books for patterns of Halloween costumes. Then we would pick one we liked and she would get to work making them for us. It was always a special tradition that we looked forward to every year.

This year my mom passed on this special tradition to her grand kids and had Macy and Abby pick a costume they wanted. (The boys will get their turn next year) She spent hours and hours on these special costumes and the girls were so appreciative of her hard work. They loved their outfits and were so proud of them. Thank you Nana for making this Halloween so wonderful!

Witches Night Out

2010-10-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Witches Night 2010

Another Witches Night Out has come and gone and this year our goal was to get pictures with all of those dressed in crazy or odd outfits. I think we succeeded and met some interesting people! Dinner at Mimi's, dancing, hanging and laughing with good friends. It was a great night to be a witch!

GNO

2010-10-24T15:44:00.001-07:00

Who says you have to be a kid to dress-up?

And the winner for best costume goes to...the Gansta!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Last year we went to this really great pumpkin patch and loved it so much we have decided to make it a tradition. Even though we grew our own pumpkins this year, I was on the hunt for a white one. The kids loved running up and down the rows and rows of pumpkins, pushing the wheel barrows, the tractor ride and running through the corn maze. It was a wonderful Fall night.

Soccer

2010-10-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

This Fall Blake participated on a soccer team for the city. He had so much fun and really did a great job. At the last game Blake got a gold medal and that was just icing on the cake. He is so proud of that medal and we are so proud of Blake!

Harvest Time

2010-10-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Last week we decided it was time to cut the pumpkins from our garden. We were actually successful this year and managed to grow four great pumpkins, one for each kid! In our garden we also grew gourds and then cut down the corn stalks for the porch. Many may know that I am not a huge fan of vegetables, so in my garden I grow Fall decorations!

Another Marathon

2010-10-13T08:37:00.001-07:00

The first weekend of October, Clint ran the St. George Marathon, again. He and his brother Mark have made this a fun tradition. Despite the unusual heat for October, they both did great. Way to go Clint and Mark!

Blake Turns 6

2010-09-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Monday night we headed to a new place in town to celebrate Blake's 6th Birthday. It's called Incredible Pizza and it really was incredible. We had so, so, so much fun and stayed there for hours riding all the rides and enjoying the pizza buffet. It is a glorified Chuck-e-Cheese and like a million times better! It was nice to spend time there with the family and to celebrate the special day with Blake!

Look how Blake has grown. I wish I could just squeeze those chubby cheeks again! Here he is with Macy age 4 and Blake at age 7 months.

Clint and I having some of our own fun!

Park City

2010-09-15T10:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Clint ran another marathon. This one was held in the mountains of Park City and was a canyon to canyon run that started in Deer Valley and ended at the Canyons resort. We all went up there to cheer Clint on at the finish line. It was so beautiful; the weather was perfect and we noticed a lot of trees already starting to change color. A perfect day.

After the race we rode the lifts and the kids thought that was the neatest thing. Tyler was the only one a little apprehensive about it all.

Sweet Abby

2010-09-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Abby amazes me everyday with her organization, her ability to see what needs to be done and then pitching in to assist and for her extreme willingness to help around the house. So I wasn't that surprised when a special note showed up in the mail addressed to Abby from her teacher. Abby was more than thrilled, and I am so happy that she has such an amazing teacher this year. We love you Abby!

Family Home Evening

2010-08-25T14:27:00.001-07:00

On Monday we went to Trafalga for Family Home Evening. I had some free passes that needed to be used before the end of the month, so this was a perfect time to go. The whole family played a round of miniature golf, rode the roller coaster and the bumper boats and then played in the arcade. We really had a great time together and enjoyed all the fun!

Blake Starts Kindergarten

2010-08-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Today was Blake's first day of kindergarten! He was so excited and ready for this special day. I am going to miss having my little man around the house but I know he is going to enjoy his time at school. I love you Blake!

Mother's Day

2010-08-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today was the day! Macy and Abby started 4th and 2nd grade today. They had a hard time falling asleep last night because they were so excited. Their teachers this year are wonderful and I just know it's going to be a fabulous year for them. Blake starts Kindergarten a week later and he is just as thrilled as can be too.

Happy Mother's Day to me! I love you girls!

Kennecott Copper Mine

2010-08-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a little excursion with the kids to the Kennecott Copper Mine in Utah. It is the worlds largest man-made excavation and is so large that it's even visible from space. I referred to it as our own Grand Canyon because it is that impressive. I think the kids were impressed!

Reunion

2010-08-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

The end of July my mom's side of the family and a little reunion at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon. What a beautiful place!

We had so much fun chatting with cousins, playing games, and going on the zip line. We all loved it!

Pioneer Trek

2010-08-15T15:01:00.001-07:00

This last month Clint and I had the opportunity to attend our Stake's Pioneer Trek. Since I had never been on trek before I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I loved it! We really had some amazing experiences there with the youth and our testimonies were definitely strengthened.

Walking through knee high mud along the trail.

Sunburned and no make-up, but still happy!

More Disney Pics

2010-08-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Our last day at Disneyland

The Monsters Inc. Door

Some sweet teenage girls gave the kids their balloons.

Macy, Abby and Blake were in heaven!

Spending some time with the cousins.

I was terrified for Macy to ride this one, but she

tells us it was her favorite!

The Dumbo Ride

Had to get a pic with Abby and the castle.

Ty is all smiles with Dad.

Disney Characters

2010-07-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love most about Disneyland is how in character all of the characters are. It was seriously magical talking to them. I think my favorites were Snow White and Ariel. Ariel told Macy her freckles were mermaid kisses, and Macy really thought that was special. We love Disneyland!

Tyler's New Love

2010-07-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

While in Disneyland we all learned of Tyler's love for the Disney Princesses. As soon as Tyler saw Snow White for the first time, he ran into her arms and would not let go. It was seriously the cutest thing ever! Snow White was so sweet to him and called him her "little prince." Tyler even got a big kiss on the cheek. He already loves the ladies.

Cali

2010-07-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

While in California I was able to catch up with my lil sis who recently moved to Arkansas. She had never met Tyler and I had never met her little 3-year old, Eva. It has been awhile so it was nice to get to spend an evening out to dinner with her family and mine.

The Beach

2010-07-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

We had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with most of my family in California for vacation. Our first two days were spent at Newport and Huntington Beach. Oh my goodness, we had so much fun. I love the beach! It was just nice to relax on the sand, enjoy the waves, watch the kids race through the water, and to just be together as a family with no interruptions. We can't wait to go back.

Free Chicken

2010-07-28T10:26:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago it was that time of the year again,

Dress like a cow = free chicken at Chick Fil A.

This has been a yearly family tradition for the past four or five years, and the kids always look forward to it. I love Chick Fil A, and love it even more when it's free!

Spur of the Moment

2010-07-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

The other day Clint came to me and said, "We need to go camping. How about tomorrow." And just like that, we left on a spur of the moment camping trip. We kept it simple and really enjoyed our time in nature and without any distractions. The kids spent their time collecting firewood, searching for shells, swinging from a homemade swing, and making boats to float down the creek. The evening was spent reading by the fire.

We all crammed in our 3-4 man tent (we really need a bigger tent) and Tyler kept the night interesting by crawling around everywhere. He is one crazy sleeper!

I really had fun being with my little family and just enjoying each other.

Eclipse

2010-07-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Opening night of Eclipse I was one of those crazy girls ready to preview the movie at midnight. For someone who normally goes to bed at 9:30 or 10:00, this was a big deal. I went with a group of friends and before we headed to the movie we went to the The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to pick up a treat. Oh my goodness, if you have never tasted one of their carmel apples, you need to go today and treat yourself. They are delicious! I promise you will not be disappointed.
After out treats we had dinner at Red Robin, and not joking, the place was full of all women just waiting to see Eclipse as well. Too funny.

Before the movie they had a drawing for some fun prizes, which none of us won. But I did answer a trivia question correctly and won a copy of the movie soundtrack. Score!

We did all take home a sack of freebies which included a vinyl sticker saying, "I Love Twilight." I wonder what Clint would think if I stuck that on his car window.

It really was a fun evening with fantastic company, a wonderful movie, and I was not even tired at the end of it all, even if we got home close to 3:00 in the morning. I am ready to see the movie again!

Liberty Park

2010-06-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took the kids to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City for a day of fun. We had a picnic lunch, played in the water, and rode the rides. Afterwards we went to the library and then later had ice cream for a summer treat. It was a really fun day hanging out with the kids.

I love summer!

It was a hoot to see Blake on the flying chairs. Abby and I watched him gripping tightly, head down and with a red face the whole ride. We really thought he was going to throw up. But when he got off he said, "That was the most awesome ride ever!" I would have guessed he hated it.

Father's Day

2010-06-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

This Father's Day really felt more like a Mother's Day to me. Clint got to be home with us "all" day. No meetings, not even one. He came to church with us, came home with us, and that evening we went for a wonderful walk. I miss our Sunday walks together, it's our family thing.

The day started with a yummy breakfast for Clint and then gifts from everyone. I think we all could agree that the best gift came from Blake. I had forgotten about it since he made it while in school and it had been tucked away since that last day of school. But Blake remembered and he proudly brought it out for Clint. It's a giant "dad" colored beautifully by Blake with a picture of the two of them taped on the front. I loved it and so did Clint. It really made us all smile.

1st Piano Recital

2010-06-13T17:19:00.001-07:00

Saturday Macy participated in her first piano recital. She has been taking lessons since this last October and has a new found love in the piano. Lucky for us, her lessons are so convenient. Her teacher lives one street away and each week Macy will either walk or ride her bike on over there. She is a very responsible young lady.

We are so proud of you Macy!

This is the Place Park

2010-06-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Friday we spent the day at This is the Place Park. Clint came along with us and we all had a wonderful time visiting the little buildings and seeing how the pioneers lived. The kids played pioneer games, did some laundry, walked on stilts, panned for gold, traded the gold into the bank for a prize, rode the trains and ponies, visited the petting area, and had a school lesson. It really was a wonderful day and even better that Clint was able to spend it with us.

St. George Trip

2010-06-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend we had the chance to get together with Clint's side of the family in St. George. One of the brothers were blessing their twins and the whole family made the trek to be there with them on their special day. With the twins, the grand kids now total 24 on the Udy side!

Macy and Abby holding the twins

Despite the temperatures being in the 100's, we really had a nice break and vacation from the daily routines of life. Swimming, shopping, being with family, tours, and trips to the park was how we spent our weekend. We even got to see Clint's parents who are serving their mission in that area. It was so nice to be able to see them in action and get to hear some amazing stories as well.

Clint and Abby with "Sister Udy"

And what are the chances that my sister-in-law, Lindsey, and I would be wearing the exact same shirt on one of the days?!

Geocaching

2010-06-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Every year the city holds a Geocaching contest during Pony Express Days. Our friends invited us to this years event and we had a blast. The kids have found a new passion in geocaching and treat it as one big treasure hunt.

The next day after the event, they hold a drawing for all those who completed the hunt. Our family made out pretty well and out of six in the family, four of us won something. We are now the proud owners of an Eagle Mountain t-shirt, a water bottle, a coupon for a free haircut and a $30 gift certificate to Bajio! Yumm :)

This is a yearly tradition we look forward to every June.

Tour Guide

2010-06-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

In the past, Clint has given a tour of the Salt Lake City Cemetery and has shown others where 12 of our past prophets have been buried. He was asked by our ward's mutual group to give the youth this same tour. I was fortunate enough (thanks Dulcie) to tag along and see Clint in his new role as tour guide.

It really was special to walk around the cemetery and come along the headstones of our prophets who have since passed. At each headstone Clint would tell a story about the prophet or ask the youth if they had a special story to share about the prophet. I was touched to hear the testimonies of others and their tender feelings towards our past leaders.

Towards the end we came upon a headstone and as I read the inscription I immediately got tears in my eyes. It was President Hinckley's headstone. Oh how I loved him and loved to hear him speak. I am so grateful I was able to be there that night and to see, hear and feel of the greatness of those who have gone before us and have helped to pave the way.

Thanks for the wonderful tour Clint!

Memorial Day

2010-06-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Monday Clint actually had the day off and was "home!" It was so nice to have him around and without any distractions.

We spent the morning shopping for flowers and for lunch invited some friends over for a bar-b-que. We all had some good laughs mainly at Russ' expense. :)

Later that afternoon the city had a free carnival for families and we headed over to that to enjoy some games, prizes and popcorn.

That evening we headed over to our friends house for dinner, smores' and some more good laughs. Thanks Sarah for the bike ride and entertainment; I wish I had a picture of you on your bike!

In all it was a wonderful Memorial Day spent with good friends and family.

Weekend in Review

2010-05-24T14:59:00.001-07:00

This last weekend was the Father/Son's camp out in which Blake has been counting down the days for over a month now. Despite the rain and cold, both Clint and Blake had a wonderful time. Clint even tried his hand at dutch oven cooking for the first time and made a yummy ham and potato dish. While the boys were out playing, myself and the girls had a nice evening as well. We rented "The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" (Macy's choice), ate pizza and painted our toenails. After the movie we sat around talking and the girls asked questions about when they were babies. They love to hear stories of when they were little. It was a relaxing evening and I loved having a night in with my girls.
Saturday, Abby had her first dance recital. She loved performing and getting all dressed up in her costume. Her good friends, Lincoln and Avery, came to cheer her on and Abby loved that! Watching her dance reminded me of when I would perform in the Nutcracker every year. We love you Abby!

16 Candles x Two

2010-05-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday today and I am one year older and hopefully one year wiser too. I have always felt that birthdays kind of lose their magic as you get older. You know as kids, there is this special feeling associated with your birthday and the whole day just feels like Christmas morning, but as you get older the magic fades a bit with each passing year. Well, this year has been different. I have been so blessed with wonderful friends who have really made this birthday one to remember.

Makeovers at Nordstroms, dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, treats and cards dropped off at my house, birthday dinner brought 'over and one on the way for tomorrow night, a yummy birthday cake, and just very kind thoughts extended towards me. This really has been a special day, and I have truly felt loved. Thank you!

Mother's Day

2010-05-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

I hope all of the wonderful ladies out there had a fabulous Mother's Day. Mine started out with Clint filling his quota on cooking once a year, breakfast on Mother's Day. It was yummy and even better that I didn't have to make it.

The kids all had handmade gifts for me, which they were all really proud of. Especially Blake. He made a sunhat complete with flowers, and he was just thrilled to hand it over to me. I had told Clint earlier that all I wanted for Mother's Day was for him to clean my van. It was in need of some desperate help. At times I feel I live in that van and it looked like it too. I think Clint told me he found 15 socks hidden around the seats. I told you it needed a good cleaning!

I am so lucky to be surrounded my a loving mother and wonderful mother-in-law. I love you both and am so grateful for the examples you are to me.

I love being a mother. I love the hugs and sweet kisses my kids give me. I love their excitement in life and their pure joy in the little things. I had to add the picture at the top. It is of Blake as a baby and it reminds me of the greatest things in life!

Check

2010-05-03T17:35:00.001-07:00

I can check one more thing off my list of "Things I Have Never Done." Try sushi. Yes, that is correct. I did it, I tried sushi and can I just say it is not something I would ever purposely order from a menu, but it also wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Some friends of ours invited us to to dinner and the restaurant of choice was a Japanese Sushi Bar, Koi. So glad they introduced us to such unique food, in my opinion. And lucky for me, tucked in the very corner of the menu I saw they offered rice bowls. My dinner was delicious!

Thanks Russ and Dulcie for some Japanese culture. We had a great time.

Change

2010-04-26T11:58:00.001-07:00

The expression goes, "Change is good." But change can also be hard. Our world "changed" on Saturday with one little phone call. We have known for awhile that our stake was ready to split and there was going to be a change in the Stake Presidency along with a whole new presidency being created. When this happens a General Authority comes out and interviews all the bishops. Saturday was Clint's interview and we just figured it was formality and that was it. 2:30 rolls around and the phone rings. Clint tells me we have 5 minutes to be up at the church. That was it, we knew "change" was coming.

We met with Elder Sybrowsky and Elder Wheeler. What powerful and spiritual men. I literally felt like Elder Sybrowsky was searching my soul while we spoke. Every question I answered he was peering inside of my heart. Amazing.

Clint was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency and with that call has come a wide range of emotions. He will no longer be our Bishop which I am truly sad about. I loved him as my Bishop, I loved hearing all the amazing miracles happening in the ward, I loved to hear him speak about all the missionary work going on amidst the ward, I loved hearing about the rescue of others, I loved hearing others tell me examples of how Clint has helped them in their trials, I loved to see him on the stand every Sunday and for the kids to wave to him. Clint loved the calling as well. He gave 100% of his all to that calling. He loved serving the members of the ward and helping them with anything he could. He really would do anything for anyone.

Now we have a new chapter in our lives and I will support Clint all the way. I am proud of him and the amazing person he is. I know he will give 100% to this calling as well, and I am excited to witness the good he will do for the Stake.

A Week of Fun

2010-04-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Growing up my mom always taught us about the importance of making memories. She was always doing fun activities with us and I still remember all of those fun times. So with this last week being the kids Spring Break, I just knew we had to make some memories.

I call last week "The Week of Fun!" The kids all picked out activities they wanted to do during the week and we made a memory everyday.

MONDAY - Bowling with the kids. Tyler made this activity interesting. He did not want to wait his turn and he was running from us all over the place. He even got loose and ran down the entire length of the bowling alley all the way to the pins. Clint had to chase him down. Oh how I wish I had a picture of this!

TUESDAY - Library. To my kids, the library is a hot spot. This pile of books will seriously be read in a week. They love a good book!

WEDNESDAY - Smores. We pulled out the fire pit, lit her up, and made us some ooey, gooey, smores!

THURSDAY - A walk and the park. We went for a bike ride and ended at the park for some running around and fun.

FRIDAY - Chuck-e-Cheese with friends.

Unfortunately, Clint's Spring Break was the week before the kids, so he did not get to experience the entire "week of fun" with us. This is what Clint accomplished during his Spring Break, and I love him for it! Now to get organized and fill those shelves in the basement.

Easter 2010

2010-04-05T18:36:00.000-07:00

This year the kids were extremely exited for Easter to arrive, almost as excited as Christmas. I am not too sure where all this anticipation came from but nonetheless, they were thrilled for Easter to come. All through the night Clint and I heard the kids sneaking up the stairs for a peek. They whispered to each other, "Do you see anything?" "No." "Okay, let's go back downstairs." Then the whole scenario would repeat itself about 30 minutes later.

I think the Easter bunny had to wait until 3:00 in the morning to come just to be sure the kids were all sound asleep!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with friends and family and especially for a time to remember our Lord and Savior and his wonderful Resurrection.

April Fool's

2010-04-01T20:47:00.001-07:00

This morning my sweet, sweet Abby woke me up extra early. She was so excited it was April Fool's Day and she wanted to play a trick on Macy and needed my help. Her idea was to take two cereal boxes, including Macy's favorite (mini wheats), and switch the cereal bags. Sneaky girl.

So Macy poured what she thought was her favorite cereal and out came Golden Crisp instead. We all had a good laugh!

Winner, Winner

2010-03-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so thank you to all who entered the Spring contest. It's so fun to hear what everyone enjoys about Spring. I too am just glad that it means winter is over!

So, all entries were thrown into a bowl, and the winner drawn was from comment number

which was from Nat who said...

"Such a cute give away! Let's see, my favorite thing about spring is the smell of the cool breezes blowing the cold away. It is a very distinct sun-kissed-grass-starting-to-grow type of smell."

Congratulations Nat! Email me your information so I can mail your prize to you, at udyamy at hotmail.com.

Don't forget, if you would like a Spring sign or any other fun items you can visit me at my boutique tomorrow from 9-4. Thanks for playing everyone!

Still Time

2010-03-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

It's not too late to enter the Spring giveaway. You have until midnight tonight to get your comment submitted. The winner will be announced Friday morning so check back then to see if you have won.

Also, if you happen to not win this time, don't worry because you are in luck. On Saturday, March 27th, I will be holding a boutique in my home from 9-4:00 p.m. and you can buy one of these cute signs for a "very" reasonable price. Some other items for sale will be:

Beaded Watchbands and Watch Faces
Easter, Spring and Home Décor
Scentsy
Halftees T-shirts
Flowered Headbands and Hair Clips
Handmade Purses and Diaper Bags
Knitted Children’s Toys
Gourmet Desserts from Cheat Day Treats

If you are interested in coming email me for the address at udyamy at hotmail.com

It will be a fun day with some fun things to get us all excited about Spring!

Hope to see you there. :)

Spring Giveaway

2010-03-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

As a way to celebrate Spring officially being here, I have a fun giveaway up for grabs. This Spring sign will brighten up any room and it's yours for the taking.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post and tell me what you enjoy most about Spring. Everyone is invited to enter and I look forward to reading your comments. All comments need to be submitted by midnight on Thursday, March 25th, and the winner will be drawn at random. So good luck and Happy Spring!

She can see

2010-03-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Yes, the squinting and blurry vision are now gone! Macy had her eyes examined about a week ago and we found out that she is blind as a bat with things 10 feet or more away from her. She told me it's like a whole new world because now she can finally see!

Macy was a little timid at first about the idea of wearing glasses because she didn't want kids to make fun of her. But she has worn them and has received several compliments on how cute she looks. I would have to agree.

Love you Macy and you look fantastic in your new glasses!

The Home Show

2010-03-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we were invited by our good friend, Kolter, to come to the Home Show at the South Towne Expo Center. Who knew you could have so much fun at a home show.

The place was packed with 100's of exhibits and we stopped at everyone. Yes, 3 hours later and we had seen it all. And did you know that at just about every booth they were handing out candy to the kids. It was seriously like Halloween; the kids had sacks and got treats at every stop. They loved it and I loved watching them have so much fun.

Clint and I got some fun ideas for things to do inside and outside of our home.

Some highlights of our time at the Home Show included:

"Trick-or-treating"

Some fun freebies being handed out

Watching the kids enjoy themselves tremendously

And observing others get themselves in awkward positions!

Thank you Kolt for the invite and for the fantastic hook-up! We really had a wonderful time.

A big struggle

2010-03-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

Blake is the sweetest, cutest, most charming 5 year old you will ever meet, but he has a big problem. He cannot clean his room to save his life. Everyday I tell him he needs to go downstairs and put his things away, and he will cry and scream and tell me over and over again that he is not "strong enough" and that he can't do it.

Well, the other day it was the same story. Tears and crying and then finally he tells me he did it. He cleaned his room.

This is what I saw.

I told you he was charming!

Two

2010-03-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

It's true, my baby boy is now two years old. What?! How fast these last two years have gone.

I can't even begin to describe how much joy this little guy brings to our family. He truly makes me smile. Oh, how I wish I could keep him this age forever.

Tyler, you are such a joy to have in our home and your family loves you dearly. Everyday it's a fight over who gets to play with you first. Lucky you. We love you oodles and oodles!

The Olympic Spirit

2010-02-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

From a young age I learned to have a passion for the Olympics and all the emotions, hard work and dedication it brings. This lesson came from my sweet mother who had and still has such a love for the Olympics. I remember on several occasions my mom pulling out her record (yes it was a long time ago!) of the theme music to the Olympics and having all five of us kids march around the house to get into the spirit of the games. Oh what fun that was, marching with my siblings, hearing the music, and thinking of how hard each of the athletes worked in their respective sport.

Now I am the mom, and I want my kids to have that same love and passion for the Olympics. In 2008, when the Olympic games were in China, our family started to bring in this spirit of competition and began a new tradition. Every two years when the games are held we watch the Opening/Closing Ceremonies and various events together as a family while we also enjoy a food item from the host country. So two years ago we watched the games while eating Chinese food, and this year we watched while enjoying Canadian Bacon Pizza (Macy's choice) and drinking Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

I love this new tradition and love even more seeing the kids enjoyment in the competition. The kids really have gotten into the spirit of what the Olympics brings and have watched in delight as they have seen snowboarders do flips, skaters skate incredibly fast, ice skaters perform amazing spins, and skiers ski onto victory. This has been a wonderful Olympics and I have found myself in tears several times after seeing athletes reach their personal victories!

Some of my favorite highlights of the games:
- Apolo Ohno winning his eighth career medal
- Joannie Rochette skating onto a Bronze in the women's figure skating after her mom's unexpected death just a few days prior to competition.
- Bode Miller redeeming himself in the Olympics after a poor showing in Italy.
- And I absolute love to hear all the inspiring stories of different athletes and how they all triumphed over trials, difficulties, injuries and went on to pursue their Olympic dream.

Finally...

2010-02-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

saw the movie, Avatar. Wow! I had heard from several people it's a movie you have to experience in the theater. So on Saturday night Clint and I went to the 3-D showing and we were absolutely blown away. Blown away!

Seeing it in 3-D made the experience that much better. I am seriously wanting to go back and see it a second time. It was that good.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

I hope you all felt loved today!

We Have a Winner!

2010-02-12T06:48:00.001-08:00

First of all, thank you to all who entered and shared some fun Valentine thoughts. I absolutely enjoyed reading what you all love about Valentine's Day, and loved getting to know all of you a little better because of it, and since I had so much fun hosting this giveaway, I will be doing another one around Easter time. So check back again!

And now, to announce our winner. All names were thrown into a bowl, and my daughter drew comment number which was, "marci said... For me, Valentines day is all about the sugar cookies!!! Cute give away! You are so crafty!"

Marci, I know where you live, so I won't be mailing it off, but expect the prize to show up at your home sometime today. Congratulations!

Giveaway Time!

2010-02-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about blogs, is that often times they host giveaways. So I have decided to host my very first giveaway and am excited to share it with all of you. Up for grabs we have a Valentine craft, handmade by yours truly. It makes me smile!

So, here are the rules. You can enter by leaving a comment on this post and telling me what you love about Valentine's Day. All comments need to be entered by Thursday, 11:59 p.m. The winner will be drawn randomly from a hat and announced Friday morning. I will then get the winner's information to send it off to you and on it's way.

Good luck to everyone, and don't forget to tell the special people in your lives, "I Love You!"

What to do with...

2010-02-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

a huge, blank wall of nothing? Ask your super cool friend, to have her super talented husband make some super amazing frames. I love these frames and they add just the right touch to our once big, blank wall. If you love these frames as much as I do, I can get you in touch with my friend. They make amazing frames for very reasonable prices!

The cream frame is my favorite!

I Heart Target

2010-02-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Every Monday I head to Target to score some pretty good deals, and this Monday I made out with some fantastic buys.

Ten Quaker Oatmeal Express = $.20

Four Gillete Fusion Razors with cartridges = $2.00

Two Venus Embrace razors with 5 cartridges each + two huge bottles of Olay body wash = $5.00

Three Scrubbing Bubbles all purpose cleaner = $.48 each

I am obsessed with coupons, obsessed I tell ya!

Happy Birthday Clint!

2010-01-19T18:44:00.000-08:00

It's my man's birthday today! To celebrate Clint's birthday some friends wanted to surprise him with dinner at Texas Roadhouse. I told Clint we were going out to dinner to celebrate his birthday, just us, but little did he know that eight of his friends were sitting at our table to join us for dinner. It really was a fun surprise for Clint and a great evening with good food and good company.

Our friend, Sarah, knows how much Clint "loves" applesauce jello and she made him his own applesauce jello cake, complete with a fire hazard of candles. So nice, thoughtful, and delicious. Thank you Sarah

A Sweet Surprise

2010-01-16T10:36:00.001-08:00

While my parents were here for Christmas, I got to talking to my mom about the decorations she puts out for Christmas. I told her that ever since I was a child I always loved this little ceramic Christmas tree of hers that lights up. Something about it just made me smile and I remember always being excited when she placed it out every year. I loved that little tree.

I told my mom that when she passes away, I would love to inherit that Christmas tree. She just laughed and smiled.

Well, a few days ago I received a package in the mail from my mom with the words FRAGILE stamped all over the box. I had no clue what she could be sending. I opened the box and to my surprise there was the little ceramic Christmas tree. A note inside read, "I thrillingly give this tree to you. I would rather be alive and see the joy it brings to you."

My sweet, sweet mother. I love this little tree and I have left it on the counter for a week so I could enjoy it. This Christmas will be extra special when I pull the tree out and think of you. I love you mom!

Happy New Year

2010-01-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

I always love it when a new year comes around. It gives me great expectations for the upcoming year and a good feeling of a fresh start. The start of a new year, for me, is a time to set new goals, evaluate, and try to do and be a little better. I just know 2010 is going to be a good one!

Although I feel that way, the year got off to a rocky start. I decided to ring in the new year with the stomach flu that lasted about 3 days. It hit everyone in the family, except for Clint. Lucky him. :) We were celebrating with my sister and her in-laws on New Year's Eve and had to leave the party early. Let me just say I was bowing to the porcelain god all night.

Anywho, I thoroughly enjoyed the healthy times I had with my sweet sister, Diana. She lives in North Carolina, and so our visits are very sparse.

While I was on my deathbed, or so I felt, Clint took the kids sledding. How lucky are we to live by such a fabulous sledding hill. I keep telling Clint we need to set up some sort of pulley system to pull people up the hill quickly. That slope is a pain to climb!

Do you have any New Year's resolutions for 2010?

11 Years

2009-12-29T14:48:00.001-08:00

Wow! It was eleven years ago, yesterday, that Clint and I were sealed to each other in the Salt Lake City Temple. Now here we are, with four wonderful kids, Clint has an amazing job, and we are happy and learning and growing together.

We celebrated the evening by having dinner at The Roof Restaurant and then off to the movies to see The Blindside. By the way, that was an amazing movie. We both loved it.

My dear, sweet, sister who is in town, watched the kids for us and had her hands full. Ty, our youngest, was throwing up most of the evening. She changed his clothes three times, gave him two baths, and spent some time scrubbing carpets. I owe you big time, Diana!

All in all, it was a wonderful evening to sit and have dinner with a beautiful site of the Temple we were married in. I love to look back at where Clint and I were in our relationship eleven years ago to where we are now. Here's to eleven years, love you Clint!

Here is the view from our table during dinner

Christmas 2009

2009-12-29T14:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was magical. My parents came for five days from Virginia, and it was heaven having them here. Having your family live in various other states is hard because family visits are few and far between. The last time the kids saw my parents was 1 year ago! So this Christmas was extra special with their company, and we were all able to just relax, spend time with one another, and have fun. I loved every minute of it.

Sledding on the slope in our front yard, putting together the traditional Christmas puzzle, decorating cookies, staying up late because you don't want to leave each other's side, and being with family. This was a wonderful Christmas!