The Harris Family

Can you believe Christmas has come and gone! Crazy how fast this holiday season whizzes by. We have been off track since Thanksgiving and have done some fun things. In total, after New Years, the kids will have been off track for 6 weeks! Ask me if I'm excited for school to start again? YES!! I love em' but it's time!

Caden and Carson have enjoyed the snow; Halles not to fond of it. Over the Christmas break, we've had so much fun together as a family. It's been so nice to have Steve home from work to do some fun things with us. We've been sledding, skiing, swimming, saw 2 movies (Marley and Me and Tale of Despereau), Steve was able to go to the BYU vs. Arizona bowl game in Vegas with Ty, the kids had countless sleep overs at my mom and dads and their cousins, and had many family dinners together...with my brothers and sisters. Ryan was here from Colorado so we were able to visit Tylers grave and my dad gave a nice family prayer. We went to dinner with Tylers mom, Cris, and her family and our whole family. We pretty much took over Chilis, but since this is their first Christmas without Tyler, it was nice to get together. I think Ryan really enjoyed it.

This year on the Harris side, we decided instead of giving gifts, each family would make a contribution to Primary Childrens Medical Center. We were able to go down to the hospital for a small tour. Our guide talked to the kids about where our money would be going and how it would help the children at the hospital. The little kids had a hard time understanding but hopefully in time, with this new tradition, they will see the signifigance of giving. We missed Anna and Coleman. Anna is on bedrest with her second baby. She will be having him any day now. This side of our family has had many babies born early. We have been so lucky to have them all be healthy and happy. We are truly blessed.

The best news of the whole holiday season is that...

my little sister's PREGNANT! Just barely, but we'll be anxiously awaiting our new baby in August!!
Christmas Eve night, we have a standing tradition, that all the kids have a little sleep over on the floor in one of their rooms. For some reason, my kids always sleep on the floor, so maybe this wasn't to special this year!

Carson did have his Christmas jams on when he went to bed, but mom and dad had alot on their plate and forgot to put a pull up on him. In the middle of the night, he woke up soaking wet and dad (who was half asleep) put these Handy Manny/Cars jammies on him. Sweet!

Halle finally got a DS. She has been playing Cadens for a year now. Santa also brought her a real phone for her room. Thats been hours of fun!! Everytime the phone rings, she runs a mile to get it!!

Carson refused to get in this picture. Surprise Surprise!!

The only thing Caden really asked for was a New Orleans Saints jersey. Santa couldn't resist buying one for Carsey boy too!

Couldn't resist a picture of my dad and Caden playing football on the Wii!! It was a hit!

I don't know if you can tell in this picture, but Christmas at my mom and dads is so squishy. We laugh about how we are pretty much all sitting on each other and their are presents literally flying in the air. Good Times!!

We were lucky enough to get an early Christmas present last weekend. Steve flies alot for work and he had accumulated 3 free flights. He had taken Caden buffalo hunting and their going pig hunting in March, so he said, "take Halle and go do something fun!" We thought about going to Vegas to see a show, or NYC to see Wicked, but I figured she's probably still a little young for that. So we decided to do Sea World. We went 2 years ago as a family and the kids loved it. It's low key and usually not very crowded, so we thought we'd try it again. I told Halle she could bring a friend but after much ponder, she decided to ask Caden. Steve was happy to stay home with Carson. They hung out with my family all weekend! Surprise, surprise!!
We had so much fun just the 3 of us. We stayed minutes away from Sea World, at The Dana on Mission Bay. My kids love staying at hotels. They love swimming of course, but they love just chillin in the room and ordering room service and watching movies!
The weather was great! The first night we were there, the hotel was playing "How the Grinch stole Christmas" on a big projector at the pool. So the kids could sit in the hot tub or swim in the pool as they were watching the movie. I was able to kick back with a strawberry daqari (virgin, of course) and read a great book (Grace, by: Richard Paul Evans...sooo good!)

We always love the dolphin show. I wondered if it would be the same one from 2 years ago...and it is! You know, when the pretend mom falls in the water! The first time I saw that, I about wet my pants I was so scared!

We weren't able to feed the dolphins this time, they closed at 4:00..how stupid! But we were able to feed the sea lions. They are so loud.
I had to be a brave mom! Steve is always the one to touch the gross fish they feed them, but I had to be tough and hand them out to Caden and Halle. Halle, of course, thought it was disgusting too!!
We can't go ANYWHERE without getting our faces painted!

One of the rides the kids rode in this little Sesame Street kiddieland thing. This ride is like The Teacups at Disneyland. I was getting sick just watching them.
It was fun to go at Christmas time with all the lights and trees everywhere. They had Christmas music playing over all the speakers.



It was so much fun to spend some quality time with my big kids. We were able to laugh and talk without being interrupted by Carson (or dad)! I think it's so important to spend one on one time together! We were able build alot of fun memories! I love you guys!

I know this is sick and wrong on so many levels but I saw this clip on "The View" and I love this song so I thought I'd share! This dude (or whatever he is) can seriously dance!

Tag, I'm it! And your next!

8 Television Shows on my DVR:

1. Greys
2. Ugly Betty
3. Brothers and Sisters
4. Desperate Housewives (guilty pleasure)
5. Dallas Cowboys Making the Team
6. Good Things Utah
7. Dancing with the Stars
8. Biggest Loser
KIDS
9. Handy Manny
10. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Costa Vida
2. Training Table
3. Biaggis
4. Firehouse
5. Texas Roadhouse
6. PF Changs
7. Main Street Pizza and Noodle
8. did I mention, Costa Vida

8 Favorite Bands/Singers:

1. Journey
2. Chicago
3. Lifehouse
4. Brad Paisley
5. John Mayer
6. Kenny Chesney
7. Michael Buble
8. Dixie Chicks

8 Books I've Read:

1. Twilight
2. New Moon
3. Eclipse
4. Breaking Dawn
5. The Message
6. The Notebook
7. Suzannes Diary for Nicholas
8. These is my words

8 things that happened yesterday:

1. vacuumed
2. freezer meal exchange
3. volunteered in Halles class
4. babysat Kobe
5. stuffed Christmas cards into envelopes
6. checked ratings on "Twilight"
7. took kids to Heathers for sleepover
8. dinner and pleasant evening with Steve

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Thanksgiving
2. putting up Christmas decor
3. Sea World with Caden and Halle
4. many family and friend Christmas parties
5. Christmas
6. Cruise to Bahamas
7. 10 year anniversary
8. Cadens baptism

8 things I wish for:

1. everyone to be happy and taken care of
2. mom and dad not to have to work
3. eternal life with my family
4. for kids not to be abused
5. a good nights sleep
6. for my kids to always be happy
7. for my kids to always be healthy
8. to be with Steve forever

8 people I'm tagging:

1. Julie B.
2. Ann
3. Hilary
4. Heather
5. Kara
6. Niki
7. Andrea F.
8. ANYONE who wants to do a tag!

I know, how boring, no pictures!! I just wanted to post that I LOVED TWILIGHT!!! I've heard alot of people didn't like it but I have to say that I thought it was great. I loved Edward; he is what I imagined him to be, as well as Bella and pretty much everyone else. I thought they followed the book to a tee. The only complaint I have is I didn't feel all the chemistry between Bella and Edward like I did in the book (alot to fit in in 2 hours)! All in all, I am so ready to see it again and can't wait to see the next one (they start filming in February)!
Thanks mom, Heather, Jennifer, Julie, Ashley, Tara, Michelle, Brooke and Annette for staying up late and going to the midnight showing! It's so fun to see it with people you know are huge fans of the book!

Better Late Than Never, right??!!!

Caden is so funny! He hates touching the insides of the pumpkins. Something about the texture.

Happy Late Halloween and soon to be, Happy Thanksgiving!!

After years of playing (and not loving) every sport, I think we've finally found ours!! Caden was old enough to play tackle football this year but after hearing that they have practice everyday of the week with 2-3 hour games on Saturdays, we chose to find a FLAG football league. I couldn't believe how well Caden did. He by far led his team into the playoffs. Thanks to his lightning fast speed, he scored touchdown after touchdown (it may seem like I'm bragging and maybe I am; I'm just a proud momma!!) Literally, no one could catch him. And when it was his turn to pull flags off, he would come out of nowhere and dive for them. The games were so much fun. Steve even lost his voice at one. All in all, they took 2nd place of all the teams from Clearfield to Brigham City. After the championship game, his coach (who was awesome) pulled Caden aside and told him that he was his best player and he thinks he should play tackle next year! Now that I know he's awesome, all the time it takes for tackle will be worth it. Way to go Caden, you rock!!

Yes, thats a girl in the purple! And wow, she was fast.
I should have posted this a month ago, but haven't gotten around to it. Steve finally got mad at me for not having it on here, so Daddy, this ones for you!! Steve shot his first Buffalo back in January. He, of course, had the head mounted and had to go back to Colorado to pick it up. Well, he figured since he was going, he might as well take Caden and let him shoot his first one!! What the heck...do you know many 7 year olds who have shot a buffalo? Not me!! But he was so excited. Steve went out and bought him his very own gun (which is stored in our safe), and Caden aimed and hit it, twice!!! I asked him before he left if he would feel bad when it died and he said, "why would I feel bad", like duh mom, it's cool! So, thank you Caden, for providing for our family!!!
Proud Pappa!!
Our little hunter!!

I took my camera with me to GTU and of course realized when I got there, that my battery was dead; so Thanks Stefanie for taking pictures for me and for sending them to me.

If you ever have a free morning with no kids...go to the set of GTU!! It was so much fun to see how the show comes together. The set is so much smaller than it looks on TV and even kind of beat up. To answer you question Katie, yes, Nicea is so dang tall! And I'm not even joking, they are all teeny tiny girls. Even Marty, who looks normal on TV is so small. I always knew you were supposed to wear alot of makeup when your on TV or in pictures, etc. but holy cow, they wear SO much makeup. This is kind of morbid but you know when you see a dead person in a casket and they are caked in make up? That's what they looked like. I kept thinking, "oh you poor soul. I bet you just want to wash you face!!" But anyway, it was way fun and they are all so nice and fun. Betty did awesome and even had Angie crying.


**if you keep looking through my blog, you'll see another picture of my friends and I with the GTU girls from last fall!! We're BFF's!!

Watch for me on...

I'll be in the audience, along with some friends and neighbors, on Monday to see my beautiful, talented and hilariously funny neighbor promote her book "The Twelve Days of Christmas". 10:00 on channel 4.