2010 Year in Review

Talk about jumping in head first - starting a blog with a year in review WOW!!!

2010 was definitely a year of highs and lows, as every year, but this year I am so glad we were able to come out feeling stronger and more sure in ourselves and our testimonies.

Here are the highlights of what made 2010 a year to remember!

Sports, Sports, and more Sports!!  The boys have really loved being on the different teams and playing sports.  We are so lucky - there is always a fan section at the games filled with our family that is so supportive.  The boys have made great friends through the teams and so have Clark and I.  We really appreciate the coaches the kids have had over the years.  Clark was able to coach both Jantzen and Braxton in different sports in 2010 and he really enjoyed that.  He is really great with the kids and taught them a lot.

BASKETBALL --

Could you ask for a better fan than a Grandma?

FOOTBALL --

SOCCER --

Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Dean made these adorable Valentine posters for the kids.  They LOVED them!!!  It took a while to polish off all the candy and treats that were attached to it but they plugged away and did it.

For Christmas Clark got us tickets to see Phantom of the Opera that spring down in Las Vegas.  We took a road trip with the boys and Grandma Kae and went to stay with Uncle Del and Aunt Ruth in St. George and then Clark and I drove into Vegas for the show - it was awesome!

Braxton and Aunt Ruth share a birthday and so they have a cute little bond as birthday buddies.  They usually see who can call who the fastest to wish the other one a Happy Birthday every year.

We had such a great time, relaxing, chatting, playing games and listening to Uncle Del's stories from the LAPD.  The boys had a great time too -- watching The Simpson's (Uncle Del's fav) and playing with Clark's cousin Michelle's 2 little girls.  Ava and Raquel are the same ages as Braxton and Jantzen and they had a blast.  Brax and Ava tried to play poker with Cheezits (I think they ate more than they bet) and Raquel and Jantz played great together too.  Of course they are smart kids and know to get along with pretty girls!  It is always so fun to stay with Ruth and Del - Ruth is a great cook, and they are so relaxing to be around.  We are grateful for their hospitality for sure!

Like I said SPORTS was a running theme through the year (as I think most years will be) and we had a fun BYU basketball party.  BYU was in the March Madness Tournament and Grandpa John, Papa Dean, Clark and the Boys are ALL big BYU fans.  Four generations of Zoobies in one place - SCARY!!  It was such a fun party and I was so glad that we have the fun memory, here's hoping there will be more nights just like this one!

Scouts for us has...let's just say, it has been a challenge!  Whether it is MY lack of brain power to remember to get Brax there, or our "struggle" at racing anything; pinewood derby cars, rockets, you name it!  Scouts has been definitely a challenge.  It is always fun, but these are the pics I could find of the smiles, not the defeats!  The boys are ALL good sports about it and I am convinced one day we WILL have a winning race!

 
Braxton had his 3rd grade school program and they were "Orville & Wilbur Wright"  We had LOTS of support from our great family and lets be honest -- HOW CUTE IS HE!!

Jordan is so tired of the paparazzi always hounding him - its got to be rough! =)

Easter was one CRAZY holiday in 2010.  We got to have 2 Easter egg hunts with both sets of cousins (we LOVE our Cousins) it was so much fun -- Jantzen decided to crack his forehead instead of an egg, so we got our first set of stitches on Easter Sunday as well.  He was really brave and the cousins even held off from their egg hunt until he got back from the insta-care.  All in all it was great, with a side of CRAZY!



Three of my Favorite Ladies in the WORLD!!




Ready, Set ... GO!!





You are suppose to crack Easter Eggs NOT your HEAD!! =(



Birthdays are always fun and we try to make sure we spend them with ALL the people we love - our families!!  Clark's birthday starts the party that last ALL year - at least until the end of September.  This year I decided to make him his favorite cake - German Chocolate.  Because of the "Nut" factor we haven't had this flavor for years.  I found a recipe online for a frosting that I "tweaked" a bit and TA DA! German chocolate cake. 
The only thing sweeter is being able to spend our special days with all the special people in our life.

Towards the end of the school year Braxton's class had a special afternoon where they invited the Mom's to come have a tea party.  They had a special program ready where they told us all how much we were loved and appreciated.  Then they even served us cute little refreshments.  It was a wonderful afternoon and what better gift could a Mom ask for than that!!

We sure love Mrs Matthews - she actually went to High School with Grandma Cheryl, small world!

Jantzen graduated from Kreative Kids Preschool, where he was able to go to school with his cousins Cooper and Colby...it was such fun time for them.  His teachers were Miss Kristi and Miss Mandi, they are so great and taught them so much.  Life is good when you can send your kid to preschool and one of your greatest friends is his teacher.

Summer 2010 we had a lot of fun -- at a lot of pools.  The boys took lessons with their good friends, it was so much fun being in the sun and soaking up the rays!! 

We also got to spend the 4th of July at a cabin up Fairview Canyon.  We had the coolest little pool to go to, it was like we stepped right into the movie "Sandlot".  It had a water slide that the kids, and the Dad's loved!

We had some first's this year...one of them being Jantzen loosing his first tooth!  He was so tough, he actually pulled it out himself and just handed it to me.  Happy to report the Tooth Fairy came and he was very happy!



Braxton took a BYU Football Camp in the summer with his buddy Michael.  They had a blast, the last day of camp they had the opportunity to play on the field at Cougar Stadium.  Clark was able to go with and watch that day -- it was such a fun memory for them both!

One of the fun things we did this summer was take a hike up to Stewart Falls, in Sundance.  It is such a pretty hike and Barkley really liked it too.  Papa Dean said next time he will bring his new dog Koda!  We live in such a pretty place it was nice to spend the day enjoying it.

We had a rainstorm in August that was AWESOME!  The boys ran outside and in a matter of minutes the cul-de-sac was already flooding.  They had a great time playing around and it was so warm I was even tempted to run out there.  Wouldn't have gotten these great shots though...

School started WAY too soon for me!  Braxton started 4th grade with Miss Prestwich...

 Jantzen started Kindergarten the next week with Mrs. Rico - he loves school just like his brother!

Good Luck hug!!

Jantzen started Kindergarten with his buddies Elijah and Ashton

The "Fall" is my very favorite season, we went back to the Fairview cabin and the leaves were just perfect; orange, crispy and EVERYWHERE!!  We had the best time, relaxing, watching conference, doing crafts - thanks Grandma Cheryl!  Most of all hanging out with the family.  Grandma Cheryl had gone down the night before and decorated the whole cabin with darling decorations to surprise the grand kids.  It was such a great time, I hope we can do it every year.

We LOVE Grandma & Papa!!

In keeping with all things Autumn, we took a trip down to Santaquin with the family to get pumpkins and ride on the hay ride, great idea Grandma Kae!  What a pretty day we had -- the temperature was perfect and so was the day.  The cousins always love spending time together and this was no exception.

With all the family activities that we do in the fall it is also so fun to just hang with friends.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends that we will have for a lifetime!  They are so much fun to get together with and play games, eat yummy food, and talk about everything from the latest movie to our testimonies.  It is such a blessing to be able to call these great people our friends!!

Three Wise Men!!

There is always a seat for everyone

Gardner Village is one of our favorite Halloween time places.  It is so much fun all year round, but when the Witches come out it makes it even better!!  We go up there every year and in 2010 we decided to get a little more use out of the kids costumes so they dressed up.  In 2011 for sure, I think Mommy will even get  in on the action.

Halloween is such a great holiday - no pressure!  There aren't any gifts to buy, any huge meals to prepare, it is all about having fun and being silly.  I love Halloween and I am so glad my family puts up with me and my craziness about the holiday.  Clark will even hang witches hats from my ceiling...now that is LOVE!!

One unexpected event of 2010 was my sweet Braxton had to have his Appendix removed very suddenly at the first of November.  He had complained of a stomach ache and it lasted 2 days.  He is usually such a healthy kid, and rarely does he stay sick long.  After lots of rushing to Provo, and back up to Primary Children's, and lots of prayers, we got him into surgery before is ruptured.  He was so brave and such a trooper.  After 5 days we got to come home -- and he claims that he is SO much better at football now.  Brax thinks his appendix was holding him back - look out world!

Little Brother wanting to get in on the action -- that is actually where I slept the entire stay!

Clark was able to get tickets to some of the Utah Jazz basketball games in 2010, and he was so excited to be able to take each of the boys to one of them.  He made it a surprise and the night of each game came home and told them that they needed to get there shoes on and let's hit the road.  I love the looks of pure joy on their faces - Clark is such a great Dad and you can see that reflected in how much the boys love him. 

So Happy!!

He is almost about to burst!!

It seems like every year the first snow falls and we get so excited for the holiday season to be upon us.  But every year the time seems to fly by a bit quicker than the last.  Just as you get done with the prep work for the Thanksgiving dinner you blink and you are picking up wrapping paper from Christmas morning.  No matter how fast the time goes by the same yummy, warm, "I am home" feeling still prevails and no time can compare.  Each year I have intentions of being shopped, wrapped and my house in order by the time that first snow falls, and every year I resolve for the next year.  However hectic, there is no denying the Spirit that takes over your heart.  Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child, and especially your child, holds a magic that is truly a treasure.

Christmas Card picture 2010 - back story...carpool was on the way got it in just in time!!

Mother Natures way of combining two seasons

First snow fall of the year!!

There are certain days you look forward to all year, one that is at the top of my list is the annual "Gingerbread House" day at Grandma Kae's.  Kae makes amazing gingerbread houses every year with her best friend, and during the holidays she has all the kiddos come over to make their own mini verson.  She puts so much time and energy into getting the most darling things for these houses.  The kids are always so into it, and it is a special day to be a part of.

One of my favorite words in the English language is BELIEVE.  One of my favorite thoughts is that as a family we DO!

This is the first time we have gotten Jantzen on Santa's lap since he was 14 months old!

Christmas morning...this year we not only saw the footprints of Santa, but he left a button accidentally on the fireplace hearth.

"Christmas Story" is one of my ALL-TIME favorite movies and this year our little "Ralphie" got a Red Rider BB Gun.  Fate will be tempted as to whether any eyes will be shot out!

Looking back over the last year has been such a blessing.  Proof that gifts come out of difficult things. We had our struggles with things that were hard, loss of a job - but we found a career.  Loss of our Grandma Cornflakes, but our testimonies grew of the plan of salvation.  So many things that would and could break you down and make you feel alone and unloved.  However we wake up every morning, put the Love of our Father in Heaven in your heart, Knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ in our heads, our Self Respect in our pocket and a Smile on our face.  This is how we face the day and no matter the trial, no matter the achievement we know we are children of God and strive to make it back to live with Him again.

"My cup runneth over..." with the love and gratitude I have for our family and friends that surround us in good times and bad.  Thank you for your examples of strength, your "absorbent" shoulders, loud laughs, and wise words.

We LOVE you!