SNOW IN VEGAS!

So this happened a while ago, but it made History so I have to brag that we were part of it. Vegas got the worst snow storm in 30 years. North Las Vegas did not get hit as hard as other parts, but it was so funny to watch how excited everyone was because it was snowing. Having just moved from Utah I thought it was a little silly. But we had fun letting it fall on us and attempting to have snow ball fights. (I think we made about 4 snowballs before we had no more snow to play with.)
I was sad that we were not able to make snow ice cream this year. This is one of our families favorites!

Micah trying to catch snow on his tongue or lick his face. Either one works.

Madi and her friend

Matthew- Maxx is trying to throw some snow at him.

The Three Musketeers- Yummy Snow!

I love the fact that we can play in the snow with only our jackets on. That is awesome!
Wow! Look at all that snow. I know, most of you have never seen so much in your life!! Because of all this snow they had to cancel school the next day. Which was hilarious to me! Because the next day it was sunny no snow anywhere! But still no school. The kids loved it.

Christmas Lights

It is amazing, I am blogging again! I have received many emails from people asking if I was dead. It was close, I just wasn't sure if I was going to make it through December, but all is good now! First of all blogging is not my favorite thing to do. In fact I strongly dislike it. (Such a positive comment!) So I have to force myself to do it. But I love reading everyone's blogs so I feel it is only fair that I attempt to do one myself. I am going to try to do better, but no guarantees. We had a wonderful Christmas season. There was so much fun going on that I just did not stop to blog. Now that it is all over I do what to take a couple blogs and share some of the things that we did. (There is no time to share everything!)

Ethyl M. Chocolate Factory:
I know most of those reading my blog are from Utah and get to experience the magnificent Temple Square. But here in Vegas we do things a little bit different. We decorate CACTUS!! It is awesome! This cactus garden at Ethyl M is amazing. It was so much fun. We went with the Whitlocks and the Shakespeares. They had so many lights. They were beautiful even on cactus. (However, I did miss the whole nativity scenes that you get on Temple Square. I love those!) However, we even were able to meet the red M & M and Santa. NO one cried on Santa's lap this year and it seriously just was not as much fun. I love the crying blackmail pictures. We ended the night with a tour of the chocolate factory and a piece of chocolate. It was a lot of fun. I found it a little hilarious that we were walking around looking at cactus. Plus we had to constantly remind our children stay on the path and not touch the cactus. I love Vegas!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone pigs out and gains 10 pounds. That is what the Holidays are about!! We are staying in Vegas this year and celebrating with my sister (and her family) and my cousin who also lives in Vegas. It will be a nice small Thanksgiving. Only 19 of us. Since the holidays are not just about pigging out, (I know I confused some of you because you really thought that they were all about food) I must say that I am so thankful for everything in my life. If I were to make a list it would go on forever! There are a few things that I must say that I am grateful for:

My amazing husband- you are the BEST!
My husbands booty- it is tight!
My husband letting me boss him around and him doing what I ask!
How my husband makes me laugh
(Ok I will change the subject you are all getting a litte nauseas
My terrific kids
My sister who is letting me live with her - what service
All my family (they help and support us more than I could ever imagine)
Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, my testimony, all the gospel bring to me in my life
My successes and my trials
And everything else in my life - especailly chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!

Each morning our family gets up and each person tells one thing that we are grateful for. ( I write them down because some of the kids responses are hilarious!! Their comments are usually something like this: McDonalds, yo-yo's, underwear, jam, Lamanites-or whoever we are reading about in the Book of Mormon, and so on. ) This is great way to start the day. This has really helped me look at all that I have, not only from my point of view but through others point of view as well. It makes me think of things that I might not think of and I realize how much I have. I am so blessed. We have been doing this for a while so we are having to get really creative. The other day my husband said that he was grateful for a new day and the ability to change. How lucky are we that we can decide each day to make it better than the one before. I love this.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Dads funeral

We were finally able to have dads funeral on November 18, 2008. (He died Nov. 4, 2008) It was a little tricky getting his body here from the Philippeans. (Where he has lived for the past 6 years.) The funeral was so beautiful. They did not have specific speaker, they just allowed people to come up and share a memory. It was such an amazing funeral. Such a tribute to the amazing dad that I had. I heard a few stories that I had never heard before and it was so wonderful. I was able to share my memories and I really was grateful for that.

Plus it was so nice to see so many family members and friends that I have not seen in years. After the funeral we had a wonderful lunch at my Grandma Aston's clubhouse. I am so grateful for family. I love my dad so much. He was such an inspiration to me in my life and taught me great lessons that I will never forget.

Happy Halloween

This post is so late, but Happy Halloween everyone! I love Halloween. I love going out all night. Everyone is done and I am still going full force! I have to drag them around. It is a good thing that I look like I am 12! One benefit of being small is that you can trick or treat your whole life.
I ROCK!


These are the only pictures that I have. I took Halloween pictures with my sisters camera and have not uploaded them yet. Yes I am being lazy. These pictures are from the church trunk or treat a week earlier.


This year we just told the kids and adults to just find something in the dress up box. It think we all did a decent job. This is what we found:

Dad: construction worker
Mom: Witch
Madi: 80's girl
Matthew: Ninja
Maxx: Pie Maker
Micah: Gorilla (not pictured)
Uncle Adam: Ghost Rider, but he did not bring his costume when he visited us from Utah. (He has red hair.)
Uncle Alex: I have no idea
Braydin: No idea, but he looks like a punk with blue hair
Acaylia: 80's girl
Ruby: Ballerina
Sam: Cowboy
Amy: You are a party pooper!! But I still love you.

Who says you need girls?

So I've always wanted to more girls, but I am learning that boys act just like girls. Here is the proof. I just love blackmail photos! We had some girlfriends over they were all painted their nails so the boys joined in. (With the help of their 14 year old cousin who thought it was funny!)



Maxx actually painted his own nails. Not too shabby.

Braydin helped Micah and of course picked out the most noticeable color we had -RED!
I could not get him to hold still for a picture. He was ninja kicking! At least he still acts like a boy.
Maxx is so intense! He wants each nail to be perfect. He is silly. Don't you love the outfit. Aunt Amy has the best dress-ups. the kids prefer these to their clothes. I am just thankful that they have clothes on. (That is a major problem at our house. They love to run around in their underwear playing muscle man - where you flex your muscles and then wrestle each other until someone cries. (This is especailly a real problem with my husband-he puts on his underoos and there is no stopping him. Just kidding babe- I love you!!)

The Big 5!!

My big boy turned 5. (About a month ago. I am behind the times.) I can't believe that he is that old. Where does the time go?


He really wants to be a football player when he grows up. Most of the time this football is glued to his hand.
He is such a teddy bear. He still lets me snuggle him and I love that. I hope this never changes. My two oldest do not even want to acknowlegde me as their mom. I am embarrassing!! ( Maybe I try to be a little embarrassing- what else are parents good for! I can't wait until they are teenagers! :)

I love you Maxx- you are my sweetie and make my life so much fun. You have a great personality and we have so much fun together. (He acts a lot like his mom-scary!)