What Princess are you??

Okay so I rarely take these, I am not sure why? Maybe it is due to pure laziness or maybe I don't really want to know the answer or perhaps just lack of time?? Who knows why, but my sis-in-law Kristen had this on her blog and I kind of wondered which princess I would be so here are the results.

I have to say I was somewhat surprised because I think some of this was right on?
So Kristen, this is for you, are you proud of me?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

The Big Pine Wood Derby

I can't believe I almost forgot to write about Tyler's first scouting experience. I think he looks so cute in his scout uniform. That's such a cheesy mom comment:)

Tyler had his first pine wood derby a couple of weeks ago. I had 4 brothers so I guess I should have known what to expect but I was still quite surprised by the amount of effort that goes into this event. It was quite entertaining!! Tyler and Brent worked pretty good together on this little car until the last day when Tyler accidentely dropped it. I then sensed a little stress involved, but for the most part they had fun and his car usually took first or second place. Way to go Tyler!

It's a close call

Tyler was pretty excited to carry in the flag.

McKay and Sydney's way of getting involved.

What a team!

Sunshine makes me HAPPY!!

Since this month is meant to celebrate things we love, I am writing to say that I love the sun!! I am not sure if it is the vitamin D or what but the sunshine makes me happy. These last few days I have had lots more energy and I am actually kind of nice to my family. Yes, I do believe that this is all due because of the beautiful sunshine that we have been able to enjoy recently. So here is to celebrating the sunshine, which has decided to come back into my life and I am really loving it:)

Below are some pics of our family enjoying the snow this winter. I have always loved the snow and winter but I am officially ready to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring any day!!




Tyler and Sydney making a very dirty snowman, since we do not have grass yet!



Sydney and McKay enjoying a night snowfall.



Why do kids love to eat snow??



Sledding up in Midway.




Sydney making a snow angel, she was obviously very serious about this.

I just noticed that I didn't post any pictures of Brent in the snow, but honestly Brent is not much for getting cold (it's that warm California blood of his).

A Little Trip to Remember

On Friday we decided (actually Tyler really was the one who wanted to go)on going up to Salt Lake and attending President Hinkley's viewing. Many thought we were crazy because it was snowing and we had heard the lines were very long but for some reason I just kept feeling like we should still go. I don't think Brent thought it sounded like much fun taking 3 little kids to stand outside and freeze and I have to admit the thought didn't sound that entertaining to me either. Needless to say we left around 3:30 and decided to ride trax, which the kids loved, and arrived around 4:30. When we arrived at the Conference Center I was amazed to see how many people were there. You would have thought at that point we would have said forget it, but once again for some reason we decided to get in line. We ended up waiting outside for almost 2 hours and Brent and I kept looking at each other and saying, "well should we go, this is crazy?" The weird part was my kids were as happy as could be playing with other kids in line and taking turns going to the visitor's center at Temple Square. We also really enjoyed talking to so many people from all over the place and sharing each other's memories of the Prophet. So we finally approached the doors and when we stepped in they informed us that we would probably have another 1 1/2 - 2 hour wait. By now I thought I don't think these kids will make it but when we mentioned that we might leave, my children were very determined that we stay and see the Conference Center and our Prophet, President Hinkley. So once again we looked at each other and said well I guess we have made it this far and at least we would now be warm. My kids loved being in the beautiful Conference Center and we were able to watch a tribute on President Hinkley. There was such an amazing spirit that filled the room. There were all ages of people very young and very old and so many sweet people that helped entertain my children. It was such a beautiful and emotional sight to walk down the hall of the prophets and see our beloved Prophet lying there so peacefully. We finally left the Conference Center around 10pm and Sydney said to me, "Prophet Hinkley looked like he was smiling in his coffin." I told her he probably was. I love the faith of these little children. They are such great examples to me. Had it been up to Brent and I we might have missed this amazing experience. I hope at least Tyler and Sydney will always remember a little bit of the feeling they felt on this day. I am so grateful to have these sweet little spirits in our home who are great examples to us of what it means to have faith.

I was sad that we didn't get many pictures, in fact we only have a couple of pictures in trax so here they are. I think we were too cold outside to get the camera out or too busy chasing McKay and then once we were inside they didn't allow pictures. Bummer:) If you have never taken your kids for a ride on trax, I recommend it. McKay especially loved it because I think he thought it was so cool not to have to ride in his car seat!

Tyler's Baptism Pictures....Finally

Tyler was suppose to be baptized on my birthday with the rest of the kids in the Stake, but because we had so many family members here over the holidays,we were able to have our own little baptism so many of them could attend. It was such a great day.



Brent and Tyler before the baptism. I think Brent really enjoyed the one-piece jump suit:)
Isn't Tyler so cute? It's kind of hard as a mom seeing your kids grow up but this day I couldn't have been more proud to be his mom!!



Grandpa and Grandma Duncan and Grandpa and Grandma Adams





The Duncan Fam (the whole Clan)


What a big day!! Clint and Jordan and Emmi surprised us at the church, we didn't expect them, it was such a fun surprise. It had been awhile and Clint and grown out his hair and it was pretty funny because some there didn't even recognize him. My cute mom kept saying, "what is up with your hair?" She obviously doesn't do change well seeing as she has hade the same "hair do" since we all can remember:) We love you mom and Clint I actually like the hair!!




The Whole Gang!!!!


The Adams Family (all but Aunt Heidi)

Thanks to everyone who came and shared this special day with Tyler. I know he really appreciated your love and support.

January....Never been my favorite!!

OK, so January has never been my favorite month. It's always been kind of a let down. Nothing exciting to look forward to, so sick of the snow and cold. I have always been an outdoors, sunshine kind of a girl and I gotta be honest by January I really kind of start to get a little stir crazy, as do the kids. Sydney keeps asking, "When is the sun going to shine, so I can go swimming?" I kind of feel the same way. If it were up to me I might just skip Jan and Feb altogether but that would mean skipping by birthday and this birthday was a good one:)!

Brent and I went out to dinner and a movie (that may not sound that exciting to some, but it is always so nice to get out and go have fun together and act like we are still young!!) My cute niece, Britney, volunteered to babysit, which is big seeing as she is a junior and that is probably the last thing she wants to do on a Sat. night. She is such a cute girl. She decided it would be fun to make a cake with the kids and surprise me when I got home from our date. They made me the cake and my sweet Sydney was so excited to show it to me she just couldn't get to sleep. So when I came home she snuck out of her room and told me all about how they were so excited to surprise me. It is amazing the older I get, I realize it is the sweet little things that mean so much to me. So thanks goes out to Brit and my kids for the great surprise and for making my 32nd bday one to remember!!

The December Madness

Mckay loved having Tyler and Syd home during Christmas break!!

Uncle Mark, Ty and Syd

We had quite the gang over Christmas morning

Sydney, doll baby Jesus, Tyler, baby Jesus (Ellie), Dallin 

Grandpa D., Syd and Ty at Grandma's Christmas Eve sing-a-long

Tyler and Syd loving Christmas morning. I think McKay liked the pink  barbie jeep the most.

The WIGGLE -ATOR, this was the favorite toy from Grandpa and Grandma A. This really is such a fun toy for all ages. Sometimes I sneak a ride on it:)

Grandma A. sledding with Tyler. It was freezing!

Our attempt to make a ginger bread house!!

Tyler's party watching the Utah Flash, sitting on the front row.

I think McKay thought it was his birthday, he was just

excited to be part of the party!!

Tyler and some of his old buddies from Provo.



I know I am once again way behind on blogging, but I had to blog about our crazy month of December because we had so many fun events:

-Tyler turning 8!! (That made me feel very old)

-The Hawkins twins baby blessing, an amazing event considering it took 9 years for these sweet babies to get here.

-Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - lots of fun at the Duncan Christmas Eve Party, and we were lucky enough to have most of the Adams and some of the Duncan's over to share Christmas morning with us.

-Our little trip to Zermatt in Midway. Lots of eating, swimming, sledding, riding Ty's mini-racer down the long halls and freezing on the way home when our car heater broke:)

-Tyler's baptism. What an amazing day. Almost all of our family (both sides) were able to be there, some to our surprise (Clint and Jordan and Emmi) and some that traveled so far. Thanks to all the family and good friends that were there, it was so neat to have so much wonderful support, I know it meant a lot to Tyler.  Todd took all the pictures that day so as soon as I get them I will post some pics of the baptism.

-Little Ellie's blessing. (We had lots of spiritual blessings this month that we felt so lucky to be a part of.)

-The annual Jones Breakfast on New Year's Day. We always love this little tradition and have lots of fun, but I have to admit I think by this point we were all a little exhausted:)

All these fun events and memories really topped off the great year we had. 

So here is to a new year with a million new things I want to achieve, starting out with trying to stay on top of things, even though we are already 2 weeks into January!!! Oh well one day at a time right?!?

Duncan Christmas Party

Wow,  I feel like we already had Christmas! We had our annual Duncan Christmas exchange last week and as always had so much fun!  Grandpa and Grandma D. really spoiled all of us this year!! The grandkids love this special night and love that they get to open gifts early.

They look so forward to their Christmas P.J.'s from grandpa and grandma and once again they loved them and looked so adorable in them:)  Then all the cousins exchanged gifts, the noise level was way beyond loud. It was a little crazy but the kids loved it!  This year we went caroling to some older folks to start the night off.  Andrew and Tyler (8 and 9 yrs old) said how they felt the spirit while we were caroling. I thought it was very sweet!  The party went on and on and we all went home very tired and paid for it the next day.  

Once again we missed Paul and Kristen and Clint and Jordan and their families- Can't wait to see you guys!

Thanks dad and mom for another wonderful Christmas party, the food the gifts and for sharing the true spirit of Christmas with our family!  We really feel blessed to come from such amazing families:)

Better late than never... Right?!?

By this point we were FREEZING!!


Do you love the keys hanging out of Brent's pocket, nice touch.


Aren't they so cute?


Sydney loves to pose for pictures unless of course something is bugging her then she throws a little tizzy:)


I just had to get some sympathy, he was not into this photo session can you tell?

OK, to me, the idea of family pictures always sounds like way too much work!! So every year I think to myself, "I would really like to do family pictures in the fall with the beautiful leaves etc," and every year fall comes and goes and I always miss that perfect moment!!! So this year I really tried to plan it and had it arranged with my cousin who was going to take them, but once again something came up last minute and I had to cancel. So here we are two months later still trying to capture that family picture moment!!! Over Thanksgiving my brother-in-law was coming into town with his fancy camera so I thought we should try to attempt some sort of family picture one more time. Let's just say it was quite the adventure!! Here are some reasons why you should not wait until November to do family pictures outside and/or maybe not even do family pictures period:)

1. It was 25 degrees outside, possible the coldest day of the year so far, and it was very difficult to get anyone to smile because we were all FREEZING!!
2. There was no color left in the grass or leaves! I am not sure why I thought there might be??
3. We had all lost our tans we had acquired in the summer
4.Trying to get a 2 yr old to hold still when he wants to be sliding on the slide or jumping on the tramp was oh so fun.
5. Convincing a second grader that it is not funny to put his bunny fingers behind his sister's head in a real family picture.
6. Listening to our drama queen complain about how the sun was too bright and bugging her and that her fingers were numb!!

After all the complaining and stress, it is always fun to see the end results, the good and the bad. I figure at least I will have a Christmas card picture right?


Well the next day we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt Jeans. It was such a Castleton style Thanksgiving, with the cute name tags by our plates, the 3 pieces of candy corn so we all could name 3 things we are grateful for and last but not least the Castleton program!! For all our family that missed it, it was your typical Helen show. I love my mother's enthusiasm for life. Besides being a wonderful cook, she always knows how to throw a great party. So thanks mom and aunt Jean for the great thanksgiving meal. I dread the day when I actually have to make the entire Thanksgiving meal. For now I will be forever grateful.

P.S. CONGRATS to Paul and Kristen and Dallin on their new baby girl. Little Ellie. She is so cute! Way to go guys. We miss you all!

Halloween Night!!

What a cute cheerleader, it's looks so natural doesn't it?


Our little chicken!


Tyler made the perfect skeleton


We met up with our friends, the Planks. What cute kids!


The scary witch with the kids at the Jones Spooky house.

Ok, I have tried to prolong the scary, gory costumes for several years now but I finally gave in. Tyler was a very ugly bleeding skeleton and he absolutely loved every minute of it. Sydney was this adorable little cheerleader and she loved that and McKay, well he didn't really have a choice, he was a hammy-down chicken and I thought he looked pretty cute! He didn't really care what he was he just loved grabbing handfuls of candy out of his pumpkin.

We started the night by going over to the Jones Spooky house! Heather J. makes a pretty scary witch and her house was one of those really cool halloween houses that Tyler wishes he had:) We also heard about their neighbor that gives out a dozen Krispy Kream doughnuts to each kid, can you believe that? My kids thought it was pretty cool! We then went to our wards trunk-or-treat and ended up in our Provo neighborhood at some friends. Halloween is such a kids night but of course we can't forget about Brent's birthday and to celebrate we went trick-or-treating once again!! What a guy, Happy birthday to my amazing man!