A Great Helper

Bronson is so much like his dad.  He can do and fix anything!

For Christmas Bronson got a big tool box filled with his own tools.  He loves to use it anytime he can.  

He's heard me complain about the holes and chipped paint on his bedroom wall

and I came home one day to find he had patched all the holes and made

his wall ready to paint!   Luckily we still have the same paint left over in the garage :)

He's such a good boy and it always searching for ways to help his mom...

Blast From the Past

I love coming across old pictures of my kids.

It makes me realize how much they are growing up :(

I think this was taken Easter 2006

What I remember about this day...

*Bronson wore his missionary name tag for about 5 years in a row.  Never missing a Sunday :)

*Bronson loves his little sister - he still does!

*This was the last year I bought Easter dresses without my kid's being with me

Maddie hated this dress (surprise, surprise!)

*Talbie started wearing contacts a couple of months after this picture.

 

Happy Birthday Emmie and Valentine's Day

My baby was born on Valentine's Day and yesterday she turned 10!

Emmie is such a joy to our family. We wouldn't be complete without her.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of her when she was 5

 Another all time favorite...

We started the birthday/Valentine's day by giving the kids their

Valentine gifts before school.

I love this tradition.  My dad always gave me a box of chocolates for Valentine's day

and it always made my day.  If I didn't get a gift from a boyfriend it didn't matter

because my dad never forgot me ;)

Bronson re-gifted his box of chocolates this year and gave them to a girl he likes!

 

 I decorated Emmie's door before she woke up.

I know it may be hard sharing your day with everyone else

 We opened gifts before school - at the crack of dawn.  Bronson and Talbie leave 

for school just after 7:00...

 Yes, Maddie dyed her hair red!  We'll see how long she keeps it.

That's what happens when you're in hair school I guess.

 Emmie got a Barbie from Maddie

 A tea set for her American Girl dolls from Talbie

 And a homemade catapult from Bronson :)

 I don't have a picture of her main gift for some reason...

Dave and I gave her a cell phone!

I know many of you may think we're crazy but we don't have a home phone because

it never gets used and we'd rather put that money towards our monthly cell phone bill.

With 3 teenagers and Dave and I having phones, if no one is home with Emmie, it leaves her home a lot of times without a way of getting a hold of anyone.  So she got her own phone :)

Then later in the day I got the surprise of my life when Dave had a gift basket

delivered to my work.  I have a strict policy that I don't like flowers sent to me

because I'm a miser and I feel like it's a waste of money.

This was filled with yummy chocolates so it was ok.

Also something pretty embarrassing that everyone at work got a great kick out of!

I won't put it here but email me if you want details :)

 To end our day, our young women's group did a "heart attack" on our Bishop's office door.

It was a great day!

 Emmie's class Valentine's box...

Braces Off!

Talbie got her braces off on Tuesday

After 3 very long years!!

Here is a before shot...

 And after...

She came by my work to show me and Dr. Myers her new smile :)

Grandma was a sport to take her and bought her a Jamba Juice.

This isn't the best picture of the "pearly whites" but they are so pretty!

It was well worth the pain and torture!

Klondike 2012

Bronson and Dave survived another Klondike!

 Where they slept...

 The camp site...

 

I'm so happy these boys like to camp and have so much fun together!

Sister Dalton

Last night Talbie went to the 100 yrs of Seminary Fireside 

at the Conference Center and...

MET SISTER DALTON!

It was such an amazing experience for her.

She went to the fireside with our friends the Swiss family.

Talbie is friends with their granddaughter, Danielle.  

Dave works with Jerry Swiss and Jerry's uncle is Boyd K. Packer.

They were able to get front row seat tickets to the fireside and invited Talbie.

Talbie called before the fireside started and told me how close she was to the

First Presidency and Apostles as she sat in her seat.  She was able to meet a lot

of the Apostle's wives.

As they were leaving the Conference Center, they were able to exit out the 

door where the General Authorities leave.  As they were walking out, they

saw Sister Dalton and went running up to her.

Sister Dalton was so wonderful with the girls and so genuine!

She showed them that she was wearing her YW medallion and honor bee

and Talbie was able to tell her that she had earned her medallion and honor bee!

She was so excited to hear that from Talbie and talked to her for quite a while about it and

thanked the girls for dressing modestly :)

It was an experience she will never forget!

Happy 19th Birthday Maddie!

 Maddie turned 19 on January 17th!

I have been horrible at blogging lately and that's really not like me.

 

 We had a little family party last night so everyone could come over

and wish her a Happy Birthday!

 Emmie was our photographer for most of the night

so we have a lot of pictures with heads cut off...

 Boston in a Barney shirt that used to be Maddie's - about 18 years ago :)

 Megan, Maddie, and Abi

 Logan drove down from Logan (Utah) to help Maddie celebrate

 Dave and Marianne Heaps - soon to be leaving on their mission

to China!  They were called to be Public Relation Missionaries and will be leaving in a month or so.

 Abi and Abe

 Brock, Boston, Dave, and Grandma

We had a great time celebrating Maddie's birthday

Here are 19 things I love about Maddie...

1.  Her smile.  She's beautiful, especially when she smiles.

2.  Her ability to be a good friend to everyone.

3.  Her close relationship with her Grandpa.  She has him wrapped around her finger!

4.  She's a neat freak like her mom (when she wants to be!) and knows how to clean.

5.  She's a great big sister.

6.  All the free hair cuts and colors we are getting from her hair school experience.

7.  Her love of music - especially 80's music.  We are kindred spirits.

8.  Her testimony...it's strong and unwavering!

9.  I love that she considers me a best friend.

10.  I love that she tells me everything - the good and the bad.

11.  She has high standards.

12.  I love that she and Talbie are becoming such good friends.

13.  She's a faithful journal writer.

14.  She's a hard worker

15.  She's a good cook

16.  She sets high goals.

17.  She listens to her parents advice - without too much complaint.

18.  She chooses the right.

19.  She's a joy to our family

Emmie's Surgery

Emmie had surgery today to have another set of tubes put in her ears.

This was her 4th surgery.  She has had 3 sets of tubes in her ears, adenoids taken out, 

and a sinus surgery.  Her immune system struggles so much but I think 

this new set of tubes is really going to help her stay healthy!

This is us waiting in the waiting room...

 

We waited about 2 hours before they took her back for the surgery.  That was 

pretty annoying but at least she had mamma's new iphone to play with!

 

 

 The nurses are always amazed with her because she wakes up from

anesthetic - laughing!  She loved her juice box!

 The wheelchair ride was her favorite part of the day.

 She was showered with love and presents all day.  

This is what Aunt Sandy brought her.  Her dream in life is to be a

barrel racer!  The poor neglected girl has never even been on a horse :(

Merry Christmas!

.

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas!

We had a great time together as a family.  More pictures to come...

Visits From Santa

Dave continues his tradition of dressing up the Sunday before Christmas

and makes stops to see if kids are being good!

 Maddie assisted with the make up...

 Ready to go!

  Our first stop was Sandy's house (Dave's sister) where her kids

and grandson, Charlie were there.

 There's something magical about a visit from Santa!

 Charlie's been a good boy

 Emmie even had a turn.  Emmie is a firm believer still and it was fun for her to

go with us this year.  Even though she knew it was her dad dressed up, it's still exciting!

 Bronson's turn...

 Aunt Sandy had to have a turn!  Santa knew she wanted a man for Christmas!

He promised to do his best!!

 Steven had a similar request (except he wants a girl! :)

 After Sandy's, we took Bronson and Emmie over to Grandma Knowles because

they were going to have a sleep over with their cousin Ben since Christmas break has

started!  Ben was SO EXCITED to see Santa!

 Grandma was excited too!

 Our last stop was at the Heal's house.

 Boston was a little nervous

 Dallin was ready with his list...

 Boston - still nervous!

 Brock helped Boston tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas

 Logan tried to convince Santa that he'd been good.  I don't know if Santa bought it!

 Brock taking his turn...

 

Then Boston warmed up to Santa in the end.

It was a fun night of Santa visits!