Last Post Of 2009

I love lists. I love making lists, accomplishing everything on my lists, and reading lists. When New Years comes around, I love to read the lists that list the best music of 2009, top news stories of 2009, stupid news stories of 2009, and all of that stuff! Well, I was reading today and I saw that Octomom and John and Kate made some of those lists. Are you kidding me???? So I went to my family and asked them to tell me one thing they thought was the best thing they did in 2009. Here are their answers:

Ian felt that playing football was the most important thing he did in 2009.

Aubrey said, being in the Hill Cumorah Pageant again.
Austin would agree with Aubrey. He was so happy we were going back to the Hill Cumorah that he told us we didn't have to get him anything for Christmas, (2008) pageant was the best gift ever!
Zach agreed with Austin and Aubrey. This kind of surprised me. I thought maybe getting into college would trump this. Nope.

O.k., o.k., we get it!!!!!! Pageant was a great thing. We all love it. This wasn't going how I planned. Oh well! Don said the pageant was the most important thing he did this year!

This year has been so rough for a lot of people. We have witnessed first hand how the bad economy has affected some our friends and family. I think the best thing that has happened this year is that we made it through this year. We have our faith, our health, a job, a home, and each other. The greatest thing about 2009 is that we are together!

So, Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a wonderful 2010!

Coming Home!!!!

We left yesterday early in the morning. We knew a storm was coming and we thought we could beat it. Well, before I went to bed I checked the computer and learned it was already snowing in Salt Lake. We still went ahead. We thought we would stop in Utah if it was really bad. We witnessed a lot of accidents along the way. Even a fatal one near Beaver that killed an elderly couple. Don made it through, and got us home safely. The snow didn't let up until we were in St. George. That is only a hour and a half away from Vegas. Poor Don, he was wiped out by the time he got home! It was a very stressful day.

Temperature when we left Idaho.

Idaho
Utah

Fun Times In Idaho

The kids loved hanging out with their cousins. That is the one thing I don't like about living away from family. The kids love their cousins, and if we lived closer, they would spend a lot of time with them. I guess, living away from family makes our time with them more special when we do visit them.

This is Gibson. He has the best facial expressions. I tried to take a picture of them, but when he saw the flash, he would smile. So I turned off the flash, but he is too smart and quick! He is just a happy little boy!

When we went to eat at David and Sheri's the boys all had a nerf war. The little boys had been planning and planning this. I love that the teenagers played too. O.k., some of the injuries were not too good, but they had fun!
This is Ryker. He is so funny. He doesn't really cry when he wants something, he yells! I mean he seriously looks at you and yells!
Rayce and Ian wanted to have a Wii day. They planned it out and spent the day playing Wii. They loved it!

John and Veloe's 50th Anniversary

The reason why we went to Idaho during winter break was to celebrate Don's parent's 50th anniversary. My sister-in-laws planned a very nice party for them. It was fun to listen to them talk about when they dated, their first car, their marriage, and just about their life together. Zachery put together another media presentation for them. It was fun to see old pictures. Our kids really liked seeing their Dad as a little boy. It was a wonderful night!

Happy Anniversary John and Veloe!

The whole group! Well, we were missing Wesley Haws and his family and Tyler Young.
David Brasier's family.

Joanne Haws's family. (Missing: Wesley, Alyssa, and Everett Haws)

Doug Brasier's Family

Don Brasier's Family (I know......What are Zach and Austin thinking?)

Jana Brasier's Family (Missing: Tyler)

Their Children.

Veloe's siblings and their spouses.

Lots of new babies were there!

This looks like trouble!

Me and Gibson! He is the happiest baby!

David and Garrison.

This is Veloe and her best friend looking at a book I made them. Veloe loved the book. It had pictures of her and John as little kids. It then had pictures of their life together.

Ian's Birthday Celebration

Ian has never had a birthday celebration with his cousins, but this year he did! We were up in Idaho and had a family dinner with the family and celebrated his birthday! His cousins worked hard to make his day special. They even decorated their house for him. He loved it and had a great day!

He always has to have his ice cream sandwich cake.

Eight is Great!!!!
Blowing out his candles.

Ari and Rayce, looking on.

Temple Square........At Christmas Time

We haven't been to Temple Square to see the lights in a long time. This year we had to go to Idaho to celebrate Don's parents 50th anniversary, so on the way up we took some time to shop, eat, and see the lights. The first time I saw these lights I was dating Don. I don't even remember who came with us. I do remember taking the older kids to see them. Ian and Aubrey have never seen the lights, so it was fun to take them. Now, I had this idea that this would be a wonderful family experience and we would just enjoy being together. Well, it was a good family experience........with a few funny comments along the way. "I am going to die in Rexburg next year! (It was very cold!) "Zach, you are never going to get married!" (I don't even know what that was all about!) Hopefully they enjoyed it as they were huddled together trying to stay warm!