The new man in my life :-)

My little sister Janetta (aka Nettie)gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last Monday. She invited me to attend the birth. What an awesome experience..the closest thing to heaven! I absolutley love babies and would have 10 more if I could find me a good guy..hee hee (jk) Love this little guy and looking forward to being his Auntie!

Jenna's Baptism

On December 4th, Jenna had a special day....one she has looked forward to for a long time! She was baptised a member of the LDS church. She is the last of my girls to be baptised...so it was a bittersweet moment for me. The spirit was really strong there!! We had alot of friends and family attend..perfect weather and everything just fell into place. I am SO thankful for so many wonderful friends and ward members who are just like family to me. When all the men stood in a circle and layed their hands on her head to do the confirmation, it was a total 'goosebump' moment for me...my sister Rula said she felt the same way. The spirit of the Holy Ghost was so strong and such an awesome peaceful feeling. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life! I was a convert and it has been the best decision I have ever made.

St George Marathon 2010

For the past three years my daughters and I have volunteered to help at the St George Marathon. It has been SUCH a wonderful experience filled with unbelievable stories of perseverance, dedication, and everyone has their own reasons for running 26 miles! This years marathon was no exception..My daughters Lindsay and Alley and I met "Sam" (my CNA instructor) in St George around 5am the morning of the marathon..after carpooling 15 minutes towards Veyo we stopped at mile marker 13 of the marathon route..the station we do each year. The excitement in the air was so contagious as we felt bus after bus WIZ by us in the darkness of the morning hours. After setting up our station with a few tables, canopy, chairs, oxygen, lots of icy hot and bengay for sore muscles..blister stickers ready..Vaseline on tongue depressors and so much more we had maybe 30 mins before the first runner could be seen coming up the road with a police escort...as he passed everyone cheered, whistled and clapped, encouraging him on! It was SO fun to see the excitement in my girls faces..as more and more runners started to whiz by we found ourselves SO busy that we forgot about food, pain of kneeling on asphault, the heat of the day..ALL that seemed to not matter..serving others who had worked so hard to accomplish this marathon was a complete joy for us! This year really went by fast..after the last runner passed we cleaned up our station and all went to ChuckaRama for lunch to celebrate another successful yr of helping someone in need! :)

Hiking The Narrows in Zions :)!!!

WOW! What a rush to hike the narrows...If you haven't ever hiked it...I highly recommend it!! ((4 sure)) So a month or so ago..Holli and good friend of mine all 3 decided we were gonna hike the narrows! What a great experience!! The scenery thru the canyon is breathtaking...not to mention the experience of walking Thur rushing water for miles and miles!! We talked and talked which made the day go by faster...half way into the hike we stopped for a quick bite to eat! :) If I had the chance to hike it again...I WOULD!! We topped off the night by eating at "pizza noodle" in Springdale..Yum! I cant wait until our next adventure...Hiking..my new found love!!

Camping in Bryce Canyon

A few months ago our family decided to go on an overnight campout to Bryce..It was the first time Me or the girls had ever been. We packed up the mini van with enough bedding luggage and food for a week...even though we only planned on staying one night. We were hoping to stay in one of the campgrounds inside the park..but upon arriving realized they were all full...We drove around hoping to magically find an empty campground spot...but no such luck! We decided we would look around the park a bit and then maybe just head on down the road 5 or 10 miles and camp and one of the campgrounds outside the park...but on our way we spotted these wicked cool T-pees which looked like you could rent out...so we decided "just for fun" we would check it out! They did have just one more OR we could rent a darling little cabin for just a little more sheckles. After discussing it for a minute we decided it would be SO much fun for the kids..there was also a pool right next door..HECK YES! That's my way to camp! We warmed up some homemade potato soup and rolls..yum! Then went swimmimg for an hour os so and topped off the night with a card game "skipbo" The cabin just felt like home!!..for such a tiny little room I was surprised how smoothly everything went and how well everyone got along! The next day we wrapped everything up and drove to all the look out points in the park....and even decided to do a 2 mile hike with the girls...The scenery was breath taking...We had a safe drive home...and just really enjoyed spending quality family time!! :)

Yankee Meadows...Summer campout 2010 :)

This summer our family had our annual family campout at Yankee Meadows...a tradition we look forward to every year!! The kids had a ton of fun riding fourwheelers, hiking, roasting marshmellows, playing with their cousins and eating yummy dutch oven meals. I am sure thankful for my wonderful family and the fun memories weve made this summer :)

Hiking anyone??

At the beginning of the summer I set myself a goal to get in shape....at least to try and lose the "pear" shape...so in order to do this My family and I have been going on LOTS of hikes!! Talk about fun...I loved to hike as a teenager and spent many hours roaming the hillsides of Colorado City with my best friend Ginger...I kind of fell out of the groove once I got married and started having children. The past few months I have gotten back into the groove and BOY is it ever fun...definitely makes me realize how out of shape I am...but what doesn't kill us makes us stronger...right?? Anyhew... a few weeks ago we decided to attempt Angels Landing in Zions. I was a little nervous wondering if I could REALLY hike that far but equally excited!! It was a TON of fun...and SO beautiful and peaceful at the top...definatley a hike I would do again!!

Family time hiking the Narrows!

Since I am a slacker about updating my blog I decided I better add a post at least once a month...Saturday the girls and I and a good friend of ours hiked the Narrows in Water Canyon. It was a beautiful day for a hike and we totally took it slow and easy...like 4 hours..lol...its normally about an hour hike up and back if you hurry. Oh well...i decided its way more fun to stop and smell the roses...or cactus apples :) I have always loved hiking but kinda fell out of the groove when I had kids SO this summer we have set a goal to go on at least one hike per week!! Hopefully it will help me get in better shape and teach the kids to enjoy the beautiful country were surrounded by! Overall it was a wonderful day filled with fun memories:):)

Family...thats what it's all about!!

A few months ago my Sister Rula and I and our kidlets decided to spend an afternoon at the Dixie rocks above St George. The kiddos had SO much fun roaming the hills, finding caves and having a picnic...not to mention it was cheap family entertainment:) I LOVE to hike and be in nature..makes me wonder why we don't do it more often. I am SO thankful to have been born into a big family >>that is truly where I find my happiness in life. How lonely would life be without them?

Weekend getaway :)

A few weekends ago the girls and I rodded off into the sunset and spent a few days in SLC for Lindsay's volleyball tournament. Since one of the days happened to be a Sunday we desided to go to the temple grounds and feel the good spirit there and maybe snap a few pics. It was beautiful as always and the spring blossoms were in full bloom. I have never been inside of an LDS temple...YET. I hope that someday I can experince being sealed together as a family for time and all eternity.

My Twin Sister

This would be my sister Suzie. Ha ha...I was scrolling through my pictures trying to find something interesting to post about...Suzie is an amazing person! She is someone you can turn to no matter what you're going through..she is raising her 5 children plus four children from her husbands previous marriage. I NEVER hear her complain. She is organized, consistent, always on time (unlike me, ha ha), private, a dedicated Mom, and a wonderful friend and Sister. Just thought I would take the time to say that I love her and am glad God chose us to be sisters:) I am blessed!

My Baby turns 7!!

Little Miss Jenna celebrated her 7th Birthday on November 18th..(ya I know, Im a little behind on my blogging) ha ha Jenna and I celebrate our Birthday on the same day and I still can't believe she is 7!! I always tell people she is my "baby"...she DOES NOT like that...lol, It's amazing how similar we are...must be the scorpio sign? jokes..Anyhew just wanted to say I love this little twirp and am thankful for her spunky spirit...keeps me on my toes!

Raising a teenager...Ahhhhh!

As most of you know..Holli is our oldest child....(15)to be exact. She is a great kid and one of my best friends. At times we knock heads and I wish I had an owners manual on how to raise a teenager....ha ha (anyone have any advise on do's and dont's of raising teen girls?) but, I do have to say that I am very proud of her and all my girls. They are my world and I am so lucky to have been given the blessing of having them in my life!

Best Christmas Ever:)

Our family was SO blessed this year...Not only because of the many gifts that were dropped at our doorstep but because of the knowledge that we came to realize...We are surrounded by angels! We are very blessed to have such wondeful friends and family who took the time to show their love for our Family this year...You know who you are:) Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!

Photo shoot in SLC with Hollis new camera.

A few weekends ago we were in SLC and Holli wanted to check out her new camera...SO, Lindsay was willing to be photographed. Holli did a great job and when I saw the pics it really suprised me how grown up Lindsay looked.

Come to my party!

I am doing a coupon party this Friday at 7pm. Check out this blog to get an idea of what its all about. If you're interested in coming give me a jingle at 680 2816.
http://www.shoppingsmartswithjodi.blogspot.com/

Girls Day Out

To start the summer off with a bang, The girls wanted to start it off by going to the Sand Hallow aquatic center. Holli was hanging out with friends, So Lindsay, Alley, Jenna, Baylee, Gracie, Emily and I had a fun girls day out. My sister Janetta and her little girl Sonja met us there. After a few hours at the pool the kids were "starving" as they called it...So, to top off a fun afternoon we decided to go to Pirate Island Pizza.Yummy food!! The kids were having so much fun that we didn't get home until 10:30pm. Lindsay said.."WOW Mom, That sure was a super fun day." We really have been having a great summer...I wish it lasted longer:)

Taylor Swift Concert

For Holli's fifteenth birthday she wanted more than anything to go to a Taylor Swift concert...sooo,Holli and Lindsay started saving their sheckles and around the end of May I took Holli, her friend Lauren, and Lindsay and sped off into the sunset for Vegas. We went shopping for most of the morning. Trying to think of something fun to pass the time we decided to go check out the stratosphere tower. Holli and Lauren decided they wanted to go on the big shot...Lindsay and I were too chicken. Afterwards, we headed over to the concert at the Mandalay Bay. We wanted to get there early so they could buy a souvenir. I have been to alot of concerts and I have to say this concert took the cake! It started at 7pm and didn't get out until 12:30am. Two other bands played first...Gloriana (They rocked) and then Kellie Pickler.BUT....Taylor's performance was worth every penny!Every song they played it changed a different background and setting...I guess the only way I can explain it is "Theatrical". It was kinda like watching a music video LIVE. After intermission, the curtains opened with the beginning of a song but to everyones surprise, Taylor Swift appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the audience. She interacted with the audience and as she was singing, she signed autographs and took random pics with people. I cant say enough about how fun it was...a memory that will be treasured for a long time to come. I'm glad she is a great role model as well. SO, if you have the chance to go to one of her concerts during her Fearless tour this year I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Secret little spot on the virgin river

The kids have been having a hoot this summer...about a month ago my sister Suzie called me and asked if we wanted to go swimming with them to this secret little cove they found on the virgin river. It was a short little hike down to the river but well worth the drive and hike in. It looked just like a mini beach...and the water was only like 2 feet deep at the deepest part. The kids had a hoot floating down the river (of course within eyesight of Mom)...I'm kinda paranoid around fast moving, deep water and kids.... any hew, we spent a good half day catching pollywog's, burying each other in the sand, eating lunch, and having water fights. Good... Clean... CHEAP.... fun!