Yuma trip 2009

We left for sunny Yuma Arizona the day after Christmas again this year. Let me tell you, I wasn't looking forward to a 10 hour drive with the little kids, but we made it! I packed a ton of treats, games, and movies to keep them entertained. Despite all the things I had done to prepare us for the drive, I knew we wouldn't be able to drive straight through - so I booked us a hotel room in Las Vegas. The name of the hotel was "Wild Wild West" - and the only reason I tell you this, is so that you will not make the same mistake I did and book your stay there! It was a dive!! After getting the car unloaded we decided to head over to the strip to check it out. Neither Paul nor I had been to Vegas in several years - and boy has it changed!! We ended up down on the end of the strip with the Luxor and Excaliber - but what I really wanted was to see Ceaser's Palace, the Mirage and Treasure Island - -  well...it is QUITE a walk from the end of the strip we were on to the end of the strip I wanted to be on ...so the kids got tired and we ended up having our big exciting Vegas meal at the McDonalds on the strip. I guess that's what you gotta do when you have little kids. Carson even left his "mark" on the parking lot of the strip (which I can explain in person if you really want to know!).

The next day we headed the rest of the way down to Yuma and arrived just in time for Grandma Mary's yuuuummmy Roast & Potatoes! It was so nice of her to fix us dinner and was a welcome change from the McDonalds we'd had the two previous meals. Bob and Carol (Fred & Mary's friends) also were in Yuma at the same time so we got to spend time with them as well.  Our hotel in Yuma was MUCH nicer than the one in Vegas and even nicer than the hotel we stayed in last year in Yuma. We proceeded to spend the next few days spending our money in Algadones and at the Yuma Swapmeet. We got to eat Nachos in the beer garden, barter for jewlery and all kinds of stuff we don't need, get loaded up on mexacillians and eat dinner at a fun mexican resturaunt. We did  have some excitment on Wednesday while in Mexico - there was a 5.8 earthquake - which was really scarey! Mary, Paul, Jaedyn and I were in a small shop looking at bowls and I heard a loud rumble. At first I thought it was a large truck, or the hummer carrying the armed Mexican guards, but as I looked at the face of the shop owner I could tell something bad was happening. Then I felt the ground shake. Paul was hurrying us out into the street and pretty soon Kelsi and Carson came out of the shop they were in. The quake lasted for quite awhile and it took me the rest of the afternoon to get my nerves calmed down and to stop my legs from shaking (although those that drink were able to calm their nerves a little easier in the beer garden). After shopping and spending all our money we did some sight-seeing. We visited a small lake in Yuma, visited an old junky car museum, got a date shake, ate at Lutes, the kids swam in the hotel's hot tub (the pool was not heated and too cold) and had a scare at dinner one night when Jaedyn fell from the highchair onto the cement floor - on her head! We  had a busy time in Yuma and really enjoyed the nice WARM weather. It is so nice of Mary and Fred to have us and are so gracious and really spoiled us! We also got to enjoy our New Year's Eve in Yuma again and as is becoming a tradition, we barbequed steaks - celebrated our New Year's early and turned in for the night so that we could get up and start driving home the next day. We did get the chance to stop in Boulder to see my Grandma and Grandpa Lundeen. We drove over the Hoover Dam and stayed at the Hacienda - which was really fun. My Grandpa took Paul on a hike to search for rocks (to start polishing in his new rock polisher) while I got to visit with my Grandma for a few hours. This trip was a little crazy with the kids, and I hope as they get older it will become easier, but I am sure that we are giving them some great memories that they will cherish when they get older.

Beer Garden = Nachos & Margaritas!

Jaedyn was fascinated by these "puppies"

Grandma Mary & Carson in Mexico

Grandpa resting with the little ones! It's hard work walking around Mexico!

YUM - Nachos!!

Carson kept saying "I'm the Guacamole Kid"

In front of Lutes

Some of the pretty scenery in Yuma.

These girls just loved Jaedyn - I think it was the blond hair and pale skin!

Carson knew he shouldn't look at this picture, but he was kinda fascinated with it. He was embarassed until we all started laughing.

Hot tubbin'

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Great Grandpa Lundeen!

Christmas 2009

This Christmas was as busy as ever. We are still (even after 5 1/2 years together) trying to figure out what our traditions are. Once again, this Christmas came and went and I felt like I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do or the way I wanted to do it. I wasn't really in the Christmas mood this year, and even despite my efforts to serve others and try to have the spirit of Christ in Christmas - I don't feel like I achieved that. The kids did enjoy some of the activities we did, and Carson really "got it" this year - getting excited about Santa Claus, the tree, the Little People Nativity I bought (even though he and Jaedyn were constantly fighting over the Baby Jesus), the lights, the goodies and the general excitement in the air. I hope that in the coming years I can try to bring my kids the happy memories of Christmas, that I had when I was a kid.
Some of the activities we did this year were to attend our Ward Christmas party (where Paul got to play a part as Richard Paul Evans), Festival of Trees, This is the Place Heritage Park, an Evans family party, and a Swanson family party. Paul and I went Christmas shopping and Paul got really excited buying a "retro" Christmas present for Carson - a Hot Wheels race track set - which Paul and Carson really enjoyed setting up Christmas morning. Paul also got the dreaded assembly task - putting together the "retro" kitchen set for Jaedyn. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to spend time with my family - I guess THAT is what Christmas is all about.

Carson putting a pound of frosting and sprinkles on the cookies!

New Christmas Jammies!

Cookies for Santa, Carrots for Rudolph

Reindeer "food" - Thanks to Aunt Natalie for this fun project!

Merry Christmas!

The excitement of a new toy!

Jaedyn started to understand what un-wrapping presents was all about!

Grandpa read the Grandkids 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - so cute!

A cute little bunch of monsters!

Shambolicious!

We are big fans of the show Survivor - in fact, its the only show that we watch together as a family. This past Thursday we were enjoying the show and one of the more colorful characters "Shambo" got voted off. Kelsi decided to pay tribute to Shambo by dressing up Jaedyn as the Shambo Baby. Here is the result......

It was pretty funny!!

I'm thankful for....

I am so thankful for so many things in my life! I just wanted to express my gratitude so that on the days that I am selfish and forget all that I have, I can remember that I truly am blessed!

First and foremost and I am thankful for my family!

I am thankful that I have the most WONDERFUL husband! He is just a loving and hardworking man. He does everything he can to make me happy. He is a great daddy and so strong. He is one of the smartest people I know and has taught me so much. I am grateful for Paul.

I am so blessed to have the three most amazing children! I am so grateful for each of their individual personalities and all that they bring into my life. Each one of them have such unique personalites and each one of them are just a JOY in my life! I am grateful for Kelsi, Carson and Jaedyn.

I am also so blessed with THE BEST parents anyone could ever ask for!! My parents are such a great example to me and I am so thankful that they raised me, loved me and have ALWAYS been there for me!! I am grateful for Mom & Dad.

In addition to my parents I am so grateful for my brothers, sister, their spouses and their children. It has been so much fun seeing my brothers and sister grow up and raise their own families. I have such fond memories of growing up with my brothers and sister (ok, yes, there are some not so fond memories too). But overall I am so glad to have had such a great childhood experience with them. Each one of them are so special to me in their own way and I am so lucky to have them all so close by and such a big part of my life. I am grateful for The "Swanson's".

I am also grateful to have Paul's family in my life. Mary and Fred are such great In-laws - I couldn't have asked for a better Mother and Father in-law. They are are great examples of love to me. They always do such much for Paul and I. I know I don't tell them enough - but I love them so much!! I am grateful for Mary and Fred.

I am also thankful for Paul's brothers, sister, their spouses and children! If it weren't for them Paul and I wouldn't be together. They are always so great to include us in things and always to be there for us. It is so nice to have so much family!! I am grateful for The "Evans'".

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for the greatest example of love: My Savior. It is such a comfort to know that there is a grand plan, and even though life is hard - Jesus Christ is there to ease my burdens, lighten my load and help me through it all. I am grateful to have the gospel in my life, to be blessed to serve in callings and to have such a wonderful ward family. I am grateful for God, The Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost.

Lastly, I am so thankful for my home, food, transportation, that Paul has a job, and that I am so blessed to live in this country. These past two years have been tough economically, politically, socially, enviromentally for everyone - but we have been blessed to have some stability and to have never known what it is like to go hungry, sleep out in the cold, or to have to rely on the kindness of others to get by. I really am one lucky lady - I have so much to be thankful for, and need to remember that - even when it feels like things aren't going my way. 

Gobble till ya Wobble!

This Thanksgiving was such a wonderful holiday! I am so grateful for my family and for all the loving people I have in my life. Thanksgiving started early this year, because Paul asked me what I wanted for Christmas about a month ago - and I told him that this year for Christmas I just wanted to have some Happy Holiday memories. (Since some of our Holidays have been less than...uh... happy). So he decided that he was going to start with Thanksgiving and give me two Happy Holidays!!! He suggested that we stay out at my Mom's house the night before Thanksgiving so that I could get up and help my mom with all the cooking. This idea THRILLED me!! I miss my parents so much and was SO EXCITED to get to stay out at their house with them. (I was also excited because it reminded me of when I was a little girl. I would always go stay over at my Grandma Lundeen or Grandma Swanson's house - depending on whose year it was - the night before to spend time with them and to help them get everything ready for the Thanksgiving dinner.) The night was great! I helped my Mom make the pies, we ate pizza, and just sat around and talked. We didn't get a whole lot of sleep - Carson and Jaedyn don't do very well when they aren't in their own beds - but it was still fun!! We got up Thanksgiving morning, made breakfast casserole & sweet rolls. Paul was such a sweetheart and totally took care of the kids so that I could help my mom by making rolls, green bean casserole, setting up tables and chairs, setting the table and getting everything ready for the big meal. We had such a wonderful and yummy dinner and it was so fun to get to have most of my family around. I even had my Dad take our family picture- since we were all cleaned up. I just LOVE my Christmas present Paul - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Gingerbread Festival

A couple weekends ago, it was one of those day. You know .... one of the days where you feel like if you spend another minute in your house you will go crazy. So, Paul asked me what I wanted to do to get out of the house. I wasn't sure what to do, and besides it was snowing. I thought how dumb I was and should probably just tough it out and finish cleaning out the storage room and the garage. Well, my husband being the sweetie that he is, got on the internet and googled things to do in Utah. He stumbled upon the Gingerbread Festival down at Thanksgiving Point. Perfect. Something to do AWAY from the house. So we bundled the kids up and braved the snow to go see some gingerbread houses. It was SO MUCH fun!!! For the price of your admission you got to see all the houses that had been donated by local school classes, boyscout & girlscout troops and other groups. You also got a cookie to decorate, a cup of hot chocolate, free Amber alert ID cards for your kids, face painting, stories by Mrs. Claus, a candy cane and some musical entertainment. The deal with the gingerbread house festival is that groups all over the Salt Lake Valley donate houses for people to bid on, and all the proceeds go to the PTA (a worthy cause I might add). Since Paul and I were new to this whole thing, we didn't really decide to bid on a house until the very end, which by then we had both chosen our favorites (which of course weren't the same). Well, once again Paul proved to be much sweeter than I am, and he let me bid on the house I wanted. The next Monday I got a call that we had won the house!! We had to drive back down there Monday night between 8:00-10:00pm to pick it up, but I was pretty excited. I had to put the house up high for now, because Carson kept asking why we couldn't eat it. I hope that it makes it past Christmas. This was a really fun event, and I will definately be looking forward to this again next year!

I'm pretty sure Carson overdid it with the decorating!!

Jaedyn just wanted to eat the frosting!

Kelsi and Paul were both very intent on getting their cookies just right.

Pretty amazing what you can do with some gingerbread and a little frosting!

This is the house I wanted (and of course being a spoiled brat, this is the one we got).

This is the house Paul really wanted - I did really like the lights on this house, but not enough to change my mind about the other house!