[ Choke Cherry Creek Ranch ]

We were invited to spend a weekend with our friends Steven and Bonnie at their ranch in southern Utah.  We had a really fun time just hanging out and meeting some really cool people. 

Here are some pics from our weekend...

Joey riding with Aspen...

 

Clayton's first ride with Dad...

The Kids...

[ Ultimate Girls Night ]

Towards the end of August my sister-in-law Stephanie won tickets to the Annual B98.7 "Erin’s Slumber Party".  It's held at the Marriot hotel late at night and they have everything you would do at a slumber party with the girls.  Everything from mini manicures/pedicures, waxing, massages, yummy food, to shopping.  They also had an mini concert with Michael Johns...the HOT Australian dude from American Idol!  We were walking around and I see this guy walking towards us in a white robe...and all I can do is point at him and say..."Hey, that's him!"  And he's just like "Hi" and starts laughing!  How embarassing is that?!!  Nobody even was really around him or noticing that he's walkin through the crowd...and that's what I say!!   Oh well...Here are some pics from our fun night...I totally forgot about these until tonight!
How did I not get any pics of all of us?!  Dang...well these will have to do...

Here's Stephanie...

and Kimberly...

Me getting my manicure...

and the sexy Michael Johns...

Oh...and here's me, my four chins, and Michael in the background!!

Thanks for the fun night girls!

[ 1st day of Kindergarten ]

So like I said before, Aspen started Kindergarten this year!  It's been a crazy transition trying to figure out the whole half-day situation with daycare and trying to get her too and from school.  But overall it's been going well!

We went school shopping about a week before school started and got her some cute outfits...that was always a fun tradition we had with my mom every year!  It was hard not to just pick everything out for her...I tried to let her pick out things SHE liked.  So for the first day of school I had a few outfits layed out and asked her to choose something to wear...of course she has to pick her favorite t-shirt over mommies favorite dress!  oh well!  She looked cute regardless!  Here are a few pics we took before school...my little diva!!

This is her "Mom, are we done yet?" pose...

I love this one in black & white too!

 

Aspen is loving school and learning SO much everyday!  She is going to a great school and has the best teacher, Miss Amy.  We really couldn't have asked for anyone better!  I can't believe the first term is already over!

Here she is looking for Mom after school! 

[Where to even begin…]

The last few months have been extremely crazy for our family. I felt like I was just catching up from Summer when August hit us and we transitioned into our first ever school experience. Aspen started Kindergarten and our life became more hectic! I’m still working up at the U…but driving home during my lunch break to take her from Day Care to school. Crazy I know…but we love our babysitter, love her school and teacher, and I love my job. I can't decide which to give up...I know something will need to change soon but for now this is our daily routine. Except for some lifesaving help from my Dad who helps out as often as he can by taking Aspen for me on the days he doesn't work the night before. Aspen loves it when Grampa takes her because he brings her apple pies from “MicketDonalds”!  The first day after he took her I picked her up and she says..."I like it better when Grampa takes me to school because he brings me pie".  So the next day I thought I'd be nice and stop to get her a treat...I always get it wrong...turns out she likes apple better than cherry!! 
So, August flew by…with no posts on the blog.

And then September hit us…with no posts on the blog.

I tried to catch up in October…and got to about the end of July’s activities! So that leaves me with updates needed from August, September, October, November and now it’s already December!! Where has the time gone?!

There have been many changes in our family that have kept me from being motivated to post anything. But this is supposed to be our family journal of events…so I’m going to try to update on all the fun things we’ve done the last 4 months…not about the not so fun things. And… I have about a bazillion pictures to load, edit, and post for you all to see!

I just want to thank all of our family and friends for the love and support they give our family! I’m especially grateful for you this time of the year. I try to keep up on all your blogs to check out what you’ve all been up to…and you all encourage me without even knowing it!! So thank you and I’m sorry I don’t comment as often as I should!

So if there is anyone out there still reading this neglected blog…lot’s of updates coming soon…and here’s to a new year coming soon too!! Hopefully it will be better than 2009!

And because no post is good with out a picture...here are a few of my favorites right now...

~All the love in the universe~

[ Update ]

Posts coming soon...I promise!!  :)