MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This is a tough time of year for me...my family is so widespread. I have my mom's family her in Idaho....soon almost all of them will be here with the news of Chris and Erin moving back next week and the news of Uncle Bob relocating earlier this month and Aunt Cindy joining him when their house sales in Minnesota. In the next 5 years we will also have Casey and Michelle back here with their kids...I am very excited for that. As our family knows, Casey is in Iraq this holiday season away from his family and we all love and pray for him every day! I also want to congratulate my cousin Jennie on her upcoming arrival, now she can join the rest of us in motherhood.
Next we have my dad's family in Oregon. We actually made it to the family reunion this past summer and it was very exciting. I am amazed at how no one has really changed since the last time I saw them ( which was 7 years ago...my bad!) The kids however have blossomed overnight and they are no longer little, now they are all in high school, and Taylor in college....wow, I used to babysit him.. where did the time go? I did miss Danny and Missy this summer which was sad, it has been a long time since I have seen them and their kids. Maybe next time...we had so much fun that we are at least going to make it every other year. And, my dad missed us so bad that he came here 2 months later for a week...it was good to have him.
My husband's family is also pretty special. My sister in law, Kristi lives in Utah with her hubby, Lonnie and we got to see them a couple of times this past year, which is always wonderful...I will love it more when they make Justin an uncle...We also spent Thanksgiving with most of Justin's mom's family at our house. Darin and Juanita, who I love to death....with Chris and Chase. For those who do not know, Chase is going into the Navy and will be leaving in August I think..we will miss him.... and Chris is following up the next year by going into the Marines. We have also spent some time with Michael and Carrie, who I also love....and Miss Paige. They also welcomed a little boy earlier this month, Michael Legion, who is gorgeous. We spent a little time with Mike and Deana and with Lee and Debbie- it was nice to catch up. We expect Justin's mom for Christmas since she missed Thanksgiving. Justin's dad has been a little selfish this year, so we haven't heard from him or seen him, which is OK I think, Justin hasn't really said.
We are also very grateful for the wonderful friends we have. We don't really see each other often with everyone being so busy all the time, but I think that we all still care about each other and think of each other often. Congratulations to Clint and Jennie on the new baby...I am so excited! So, from our family to yours...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Maybe this will be the year that we all connect again!!

The Hubby...

Justin always says that I don't have pictures of him everywhere...well, he hates his picture being taken. Tiana took this one at one of Benton's football games..isn't he cute??

My Tiana Emilee...............

This is my Tiana.....she is girlie in every way, but she is tough as nails when she needs to be. She loves to dance...and sing...and cheer. I think she was just kind of thrown into it with the boys being as active in sports as they are. She has always been on the sidelines, but I think that next year is her year. She played t-ball last year and hated it...now she wants to try basketball....so we will see. She swears that she is going to play football just like the boys and I told her to go for it if that is what she wants to do. When she gets determined to do something, there is no stopping her. I am hoping that she will be tall like Braeden. She grows about 2 sizes every year. I love that she is lovey. She is full of hugs and kisses...the boys have kind of gotten out of the habit, so it is nice.

Benton Paul...

This is my Benton.....the date is wrong on this picture, it was taken 2 weeks ago. With Benton is our dog Bailey..she is a good girl when she wants to be. Those that know me, know that Benton is partially deaf, but that doesn't slow him down one bit. He will be in Jr. High next year at Eagle Rock and that scares me a little. I don't know if he is ready to be on his own academically, but sports wise, Benton is a stud. He is soooo good at football and he gave up basketball this year because he was asked to play on a travel baseball team and he is very good at baseball- he has been on the Allstar team snce he was 9 years old. I think that if this little man wants to be something when he grows up....he will have a road paved!

More Summer Fun...

On the way to back to Boise...we stopped at the waterfalls in Multnomah. We had stopped there 7 years prior when Tiana was just a baby, so it was fun to compare the pictures from both years. It is a gorgeous stop...and it is right along the highway!

Finally a Summer Vacation

We finally made it to Oregon this year for my family reunion. It had been 7 years since we had been there...the funny thing about the whole trip was that it coincided with Benton's State Baseball Tournament, which is usually the reason that we could never go. We managed to arrive on a Friday, reunion on Saturday, visit on Sunday, and go to the Coast on Monday before heading to Boise for Baseball on Tuesday. It was gorgeous!

Just Getting Started...

Well, this is my first blog and since I have no idea what the heck I am doing..I am winging it! Our household just finished up with the football season. Benton's team went 5-2....ok I guess, but Justin will be joining their coaching staff next year on offense, so hopefully they will improve. I think that Benton needs him there. Breaden was asked to play JV this year as a freshman for Skyline High School. That was quite an honor for him....he has always talked about being a four year letter entering college.....and college of choice is....the Oregon Ducks. This was a hard year for him though. One week before two a days started, the doctor wouldn't clear him to play because his blood pressure was too high. After a lot of tests and confusion...conclusion is that it was caused from the pneumonia that he developed the following week...very weird! Then two days before their first game, he broke his right index finger and had to have surgery...he missed the first three games and was crushed. But, you know- he still showed up for every practice and he still went to every game. Justin had a hard time switching roles. He has coached him for the last five years and the spectator part was hard for him. Kobe didn't play this year, but he is gearing up for his first year of tackle next year. And Tiana...well when she wasn't playing with the other little girls....she was of course their cheerleader...especially Braeden.