Christmas time is near!

 Hallie and some of her closest friends before her choir recital

 Singing her heart out ;)

 This is my hope for our troubled world.

 Puppy is growing...but hating the snow.

This has been the scene at our house for the past 8 days. Influenza....bad stuff. Hit Kayler the hardest, then G.J. and I, then Hallie, and Gavin escaped it's wrath....

I feel so bad, Hallie had a dance recital, but I only got a video...but she did great!

SURPRISE!!!

Take THAT blogger!!!

I figured out how to add pictures and blog without paying.....you just have to add a new blog contributor...which of course is just myself. Tricky tricky I am!!!

We have a herd/flock of 37+ wild turkeys in our back yard. They scare the living daylights out of me....but are pretty cool to watch!

We are the proud owners of this new safe....What is inside this safe scares me even more than the turkeys....but we felt it was needed. It is a gun. I refuse to touch it...or think about it....and I REALLY hope to never have to use it!

 Kayler's wildest dreams came true when my extremely generous friend Stephanie Meier Martinsen and her parents bought this tree for him at the Trees for Charity

 Polar Express!

 Santa!!!

 Kayler visiting so cute with him

 Hallie and Gavin being pretty shy with him

 All the Grand kids

 Kayler and Mrs. Clause

 Swimming at the Hotel

 City Creek

 Zoo Lights

 Temple Square

We went last weekend and enjoyed all the activities shown above with my whole family. Thank you mom and dad for the priceless Christmas time memories!

The end

Sorry folks...I refuse to pay for more storage for a blog that rarely gets read anyways....
I am so super against posting all my personal pictures to facebook...but I guess that is the way it will have to be!

If I can be sneaky or smart and figure out another site, new blog name, etc...I will let you know!~

Quick Weekend Trip

I needed a break...and so my sweet husband offered me a few days off.

I was lucky and made it through the storm to the utah county area to surprise Karlee and baby Mollee. She was so surprised to see me, and I was so glad to relax in her hospital room and snuggle her beautiful baby while watching the snow fall outside her window.

I then ventured on the treacherous roads up to Riverton to see my friend Nikki. We went shipping and out to dinner. I then went to my brothers house. We went to dinner and then crashed for the night.

Saturday was spent shopping and doing errands. It snowed a grand total of 18 inches at his house-it was crazy!!!

We went to the 007 James Bond movie that night. I went to bed early and made a very scary drive home due to the horrific road conditions.

I am so glad for trips like this where I leave needing a break from my life here...then I am able to look forward to coming home to the life that I truly love.

First swim meet of the season!

My Hallie is becoming quite a little swimmer!! She had her first meet of the season and did so well!

Aaaaannnddd....puppy Bentley is still adorable.

And that is all for today :)

Halloween-ness

Kayler found my white go go boots from our costume box

Yes...I am crazy

First Snow!

Kayler borrowed Grandpa Bowthorpes Hat and Glasses

Love at First Sight

Precious--Bentley Searle

Pumpkin contest at school

Soul Taker, Abominable Snowman's Daughter, and Toad from Mario

Cheesy picture....but this is Dorothy and "Toto"

Best dad EVER to dress up as Kayler's Partner!

Handing out candy at our wards trunk or treat

Visiting Great Grandma and Grandpa Stewart

My parents...the blue blobs