A nap with Grandma Thompson...?

One is faking and one is really exhausted!

I am a happy aunt when my precious Ava wants to snuggle!

Samuel James Fears

My baby brother has had a baby!
I still remember the day Gary was born,
Dad and I dropped my mom off at the hospital,
they called the next morning to tell us she had a baby boy.
Wow...how times have changed for expecting parents.

I used to take Gary on dates with me when he was three years old.
He was a cute little guy...still is...but big!

Gary and Tara are such sweet parents to little Sam. (dob Dec.20, 2009)

We all miss Ethan...even Dusty! It was so nice to have Ethan home during the holidays. He is only 15 minutes away at BYU, but it is hard to pull him away from the social life of college.

The Tie

When Tanner came out of primary he showed me his tie...it was torn into two pieces. I asked him what happened and he said "it got stuck under my knee". We had a great laugh!

Beauty...inside and out

Alexa didn't wear snow boots
so Spencer volunteered to carry her into the church
for our ward Christmas party.

Spencer has NOT embraced the fact that we live in SNOW country.
He wears shorts and short sleeves to school all winter long.
I forced him to wear these jeans, his only pair.

I went on a "vacation" to Kentucky
to spend some time with my mom and dad for a week.
This is what I came home to...a sweet note and
peanut m&m's taped to the door.
Addison and Annabelle, (addi's best friend)

Thanksgiving in Arizona

My mom and I felt a little chilly
at the Mesa Temple Lights

Addison was in heaven all weekend with so many cousins to play with.

We ate Thanksgiving dinner outside

Grandma and Grandpa Fears flew
to Arizona from Kentucky
to be with some of their
children and grandchildren

Aunt Liz made us do it!

Thank you Elizabeth and Todd
for a wonderful Thanksgiving to remember.

crafting ... again

Tanner came home from school telling me
I had to email his teacher to ask her
where she got these crafts he did in class.
I said I would try to google it and find them on the internet.
He then told me "oh Mom, it is a dot com!"

What can you do in Utah that you can't do in most places?

I love this picture of Drew and his boy, Tanner, walking home from church

Saturday is a Special Day

We started our Saturday with a great breakfast.

I have the best sweetheart in the world...
He not only cleans the garage all day, he washes dishes too:)

Tanner woke up Saturday morning and noticed he was matching with mom and dad.
He was so happy and wanted a picture just like Addison did.

Sweetums got a clean home

Tanner was a big help to his dad

We called our best "handy man" in the world
to help us hang the bikes for the winter.

My sweet brother came right over and saved Drew hours of
measuring and drilling.

My family's favorite meal currently is

Cilantro Lime Chicken

(recipe is on this blog)

THANK YOU to my MOM

When I was growing up my mom made my brother, McKay and I
breakfast (eggs, bacon, the works) every morning at 5:30
before we went to early morning seminary.
I honestly do not know how my mom did all she did raising
10 kids!!!
You are my hero mom, I love you.

Because of her example, I try to make my kids a good breakfast
every day. (For Spencer it would only be good if he had eggs, bacon, toast
EVERYDAY)

Grades are out...Alexa is a HAPPY girl

All A's

This pose reminds me of a picture
from when Alexa was about 5
She loved to look "pretty" for the camera

So Angelic

This is a special toasted turkey, spinach and provolone cheese
It's our specialty these days

Fun times with Aunt Julie

Aunt Julie is so talented...
she not only is the best school teacher in the world

she makes watches too!

Twins

Addison loves to dress alike with me...

We are wearing are matching reunion shirts and
brown "comfy pants"

and
we shouldn't take a picture first thing in the morning!

This is our Saturday

check out the feet off the ground...that's Spencer!!!

Tanner talking to his dog

Dusty and the kids were so happy to see
Cousin CODY!!!

We had a very busy day with basketball, Drew studying
for school, church open house and dedication.
(I will blog our new building later)
My boyfriend and I found an hour to go on a date

Julie, Cody and Garrett came to visit for the weekend.
We are so happy to have them here...it's been so long!

What have I been up to?

Scrapbooking...and boy was it fun!!!

So guess what happened...

the laundry suffered

Alexa is taking a photography class at Salem Hills High School.

She is loving it!!!

This bridge is between our
neighborhood and the park.