Hiking at Goosenecks!

For MLK day James actually had work off so we decided to make a trip down to Goosenecks to go hiking and have a picnic. The kids weren’t at all happy about the drive and were mad that we didn’t let them stay home and watch T.V. but when we got there everyone had a ton of fun.

It was so nice and warm, we ended up taking off our coats pretty quick. Chloe loved the carrier and enjoyed her first hike. I couldn’t help taking so many pictures the views were awesome and the kids were so cute and happy.

It is always fun to go on a nice hike as a family.





















After we were done at Goosenecks we went up the Switch Backs (which I found a little scary) to go find a geo cash at Muley Point, but the road out there was to muddy and we didn’t want the van to get stuck so we just hiked a little at the top, broke ice and listened to our echo which the kids thought was so cool, then we headed home. On the way we did stop at some Indian ruins (we were living like Larry).


To sum it up we all had a wonderful day.

Christmas!

We had a good Christmas. It was so nice to be home and settled. Our kids were extra spoiled because we did most of our shopping online and had it sent down to my parents house so we wouldn’t have to move it. Chloe and Ethan got so many things that we actually put several of their toys aside for their birthdays.

First Day!

Our Christmas Tree Surprise!

new bunk bed for the boys.

Moving from Lehi

Last day at our house.

Conner's Christmas program.

I need to write about how well the timing worked out with our rental, the move, boy’s school and James’ job.
Well when we moved up to Lehi we found a rental in Travers Mountain right behind Cabellas. It was a great deal and a month to month contract because the owner stopped making payments on it so it was going to go into foreclosure. It eventually became bank owned and the bank offered us “Cash for Keys” which is $3,000 if we get out within the month, or we could live there rent free for 3 months. We chose the 3 months and it actually took them a month to process everything so when it was all said and done we lived in our house rent free for the last 4 months.
OK now here is the cool part. Our eviction date was December 15th, the boys got out of school for Christmas break on the 18th, James’ job started on the 21st. When Jams found out about the job we asked the bank if we could stay till the 18th for the kid’s school, they said it was no problem we just had to leave the key in the key lock box. The kids got to finish school and go to their parties (not Bryant he ended up being sick the last week). Our renter was out of our house on the 11th. James’ Brother Mike had meetings with his job up North so he brought Grandpa Frost’s trailer and moved us (thanks again you saved us a lot of money).
Now here is the bad stuff that wasn’t fun. The last week we were there Bryant got super sick, then I hurt my back on the Wednesday before we were moving and for some reason it started hurting under my right ribs. It felt like someone took a knife and stabbed me all the way through to my back. I went to the hospital because I took my medication from when I had Chloe and I still good barely move. It felt like contractions it was so awful. My mom and dad came up to help us move. Thursday I was completely pointless and James went into work both Thursday and Friday to help train his replacement. Friday I was feeling a ton better so I helped pack some more, went to Conner’s Christmas program, then me and my Mom took poor sick neglected Bryant and the other kids and started home. When James got off work he tied up some lose ends and then my Dad, David, Mike, James, Ivan and some other elders loaded everything up. Then Mike and James drove home about 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.
It was weird leaving our house up there. I cried when I came and I actually cried when I left. We are going to miss our good friends that we made and Thanksgiving Point the most. Looking back it was a good experience for us. It helped us see that we could survive somewhere besides Blanding and we are a lot more comfortable in the city then we were. Also we appreciate the blessings that come with living in Blanding more. People who saw our rental kept asking if we would have a hard time moving back to our little home because our rental was more than twice as big. At first it seemed a little tight, but now that we are unpacked and settled this seems to fit our personality better. I like that we are all close and it feels nice and warm and cozy. I am excited for it to warm up enough for our kids to play in the yard everyday.

Santa!

I was so happy that our ward in Lehi talked Santa into coming to the Christmas party. I didn't know where to go to find Santa, and with the move I didn't know if we would have time to go see him. They also took this picture for us. Thanks!

Temple Lights

My sister-in-law Jami invited our family to go to the Salt Lake Temple with them to look at Christmas lights. We joined her in their tradition of going to “Crown Burger” (mmmmmm so good), and then walking up from there to look at the lights.

When we got to down town SL it was so busy, we figured out it was a Jazz game right by where we were, we were lucky we got parking. It was the busiest I have ever seen temple square also. It was crazy, we figured out it was mutual night and all the mutual groups thought that would be a great night to go also. We had fun spending time with our family, Thanks Jami!

Thanksgiving! Giving Thanks for a New Job! and Many other blessings.

We spent Thanksgiving in Monticello this year. The day before James had a job interview with the county to become the “Chief Deputy Clerk”. Well the job interview went well, James felt good about it, then we had a great Thanksgiving with his family. Over the weekend we spent time with family, went to the temple with James’ sister Becky who is now a sister missionary going to Russia, played cards with friends (thanks Ginger and Steve), and listened to an amazing farewell talk by Becky. A great weekend.

Some family pictures taken before Becky left.





On the drive home on the Monday following James was offered the job. This job is such a great blessing. Although we have enjoyed our time in Lehi and have made new wonderful friends, we felt that it was best for our family and finances to move back to Blanding.
So far James seems to like his job. He is pretty much doing the same thing. He likes the people he works with and has just been trying to train and stay caught up. It is over in Monticello but he now carpools. He also gets to spend some of his lunch breaks with his parents which he loves.

A few pictures from November.