family is life. life is family.

There is nothing better than christmas with small children.  They are the light of my life and a reminder of the goodness in the world.  While there are those that want to fill christmas with all things material, I am grateful for the simplicity and love that comes from the true meaning of the season.  And to my darling children: I hope you will remember this and hold it close in your hearts. Christmas is love, togetherness and giving from our hearts.  No amount of money or gifts will replace this!  Our christmas was chaotic and messy for a week! And oh how some might reject!  But my heart is with my children, my husband, and love for the Savior.
Carson was so excited to see a stuffed tiger in his stocking and Malia loved her stuffed pony.  Morgan got a magic set and I got some markers to start drawing with.  We visited all our family.  Yesterday we went to see Grandpa Ridd, who, in his old age, was so happy when we asked him to play the harmonica for us!  Too bad he doesn't get visitors more often.  i sure love and admire that man, I see so much of Wes in him, he really cares and we feel it.
I have loved having the kids home, we have gone sledding and played together all week.  I'll be sad when they have to go back to school!

I haven't posted in about a year. I regret it because so  much important stuff has happened. and by important , I mean awesome progressions of the little ones.  I have also learned so much this year.  One came from a very fun trip with my girlfriends.  It literally opened my window of learning to enjoy the journey. I love to be in the company of open, positive, creative minds.  And these girls were all about it.  I cannot thank my blessings to have people like this to communicate with in my life.  They keep me sane!
Wes has also had a big year in that he started working for a remodeling company.  Although the pay isn't quite how it used to be, his stress is all but gone and it's nice to have him home on the weekends.
It got pretty busy and we really weren't getting together as a family much anymore, and we have come to realize that the time together was more important. So for this year, we promise to do a camping trip with the kids and some smaller trips-maybe visit Jenn when she moves to Wisconsin.
Morgan and I were able to visit her this year in Washington D.C.  We had already made plans when the government decided to shut down all the monuments.  We arrived to see signs up, fences, and police guards monitoring our monuments. It was a real let down to me to see the monument of Lincoln and be turned away. He never would have allowed this!  The monuments opened the next day and the juxtaposition was interesting. People were back to work and as we came up out of the subway, there was a band playing for an outdoor army meeting or something- it was all very fun! Morgan loved it.  It was fun to take him and see him so inspired.

Regardless, I have started to do a little art here and there, we have redone the kids room and I now have a space to create and I love it.  My kids love to do art in it as well and are coming up with some great stuff.  I don't know what I would do without my little three angels.
A lot of the year has been posted in Instagram and I am going to try to keep up the blog as a way of clearing my mind and recording the adventures of our life in a crazy world.

Yes Wes's birthday was 2 months ago and i've got a little time to blog about it because being the good dad that he is, he took little Malia to work with him today.  I guess he was just doing runarounds.  He also managed to sneak in a little lunch break with us today!

Just a few amazing things about Wes. in no order, other than when it pops into my head.
He is a hard worker and knows his priorities.
He is a worthy priesthood holder and works hard to keep it that way.
Kind to everyone.
Had the guts to start his own business, from the ground, by himself.(and keeps it going)
Loves his kids and they know it.
Unselfish.
Strong and steady.
His clients have become his friends. has no enemies
He loves what he does, passionate about building, finances and helping others.
He hiked/ran across the grand canyon, not for accolades but because he loves it.
He's more concerned with helping someone than being better than someone.  Doesn't do the whole Rat race thing.
Someone once took advantage of him financially and he turned around and helped them move out of their house because no one else would.
That's the kind of person he is, I think he has it figured out.
Wish i could buy him an Indian motorcycle For his bday!

   Oh boy this was a welcome treat to a long cold winter!  We had to get out. I had planned to do a race down in St George but tore my hamstring, so we went anyway and didn't race.  It was warm and healing to all our pale skins and indoor eyes.
    I love how excited the kids get and how easily pleased they are with just being together by the pool. We also did some hikes and ate some good food.  I think it made us all feel a little better.
   We found a hike called Johnsons Arch where we heard frogs and then ventured down to catch a few.  There were cotton bushes down by the river which the kids thought was pretty cool. I had a little frog in my hand and just had to double check with carson that he wasn't poisonous.  We were good.
Afterwards, we mingled at a little flea market where I found the coolest silver ring made by an Indian woman named Lucy.  Morgan got a flute and carson and Malia both picked out a little turtle.  Morgan played it all the waaaaay home. Malia left her turtle at the restaurant, and Carson kept his turtle close and knows where it is always, just as with his other animals.  Because that is his personality.
I am grateful to live in a state with so much diversity in climate and landscape.  So wonderful to have a beautiful winter but also a warm desert not too far away.
Even the drive isn't bad, our kids get along pretty well with books, snacks(that don't give them hyper crash), audio books and fun conversations about things or people like george washington or egyptians.










































We visited my mom on the way there and back, which breaks up the drive nicely and she always makes a nice dinner when we come, which never goes unappreciated.