It finally is snowing

Okay, I know that it is not a lot of snow and the pictures are not good quality but I had to take pictures of our families first time waking up to snow. It was so fun to wake up and open our blinds and see everything covered in beautiful white snow. This is probably not anything new to a lot of you but it is to us and we love it. Katon came running into our room this morning saying did you see outside, did you see what is outside. Then when we came out into the family room every single blind was open and Katon and Mikelle were sitting by the window looking out. Needless to say we enjoyed our first time as a family seeing it snow.

Cousins having fun playing at grandpas and grandmas.

















Kayla and Casey are the best of friends when they get together.











My sweet little niece Alexis. She is absolutely adorable.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We went and stayed with Stevens parents and had Thanksgiving with the Kempton clan.














We left on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday Steven went and did some plumbing to earn a little spending money and I met up with my sister Kristy at the mall to let the cousins play and let the moms do what they do best, shop! It was a lot of fun my mom and other sister Nacole showed up and so it was fun all getting together. Steven and I went to dinner and a movie that night. It was a lot of fun. We hadn't been on a date for a while. It was so kind of Martin and Sue to watch are kids for us considering Thanksgiving was the next day and we were having it at the Kemptons. We weren't all that selfish leaving them with the kids. We made sure they were all in bed asleep before we took off. Anyway Thanksgiving was a blast and the food was great. The boys all had a ping pong tourney and us girls ran after children. Later that evening we went to the Jarvis's and played games all night and had a great time over there. On Friday my mom, sisters Kristy and Jodi and I went shopping from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. It was so much fun getting all the good deals and I was able to get all my Christmas shopping done in one day. It was fantastic. On Saturday Steven woke up early to go ride with the Chandler boys. Steven, Robert, Andy Ray, Tim Ray, and Curtis Heyman went and rode their quads and bikes all morning and yes out ran a man who was calling the cops on them. I don't think it would be a true Chandler boy ride without someone chasing them. Anyway we drove back up here to Flagstaff that evening and came home to freezing weather. We are still liking the cold though. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are having a wonderful holiday season. There is only 29 more days till Christmas.... Yikes!!!

Girls love to play dress up!!!

Making cookies

Kayla and I making cookies on a Sunday afternoon. She loves to sit on the counter and wait until I am done so that she'll have first dibs on the cookie dough.





We love to make chocolate chip cookies on Sunday. It has almost just become tradition.

Look what we found

The kids were playing in the front yard while Steven was working out there and they found this in our yard. Yes it is a tarantula. I about died when they came and showed me what they found. I am just hoping that it was a neighbors pet and it got loose. I pray that they aren't common here. I have enough spiders to deal with here in the woods I don't want to worry about tarantulas.

It's cold here

Kayla is all ready for the cold weather. She'll always go and get her beanie and gloves out of the closet and wear them all around the house. When she wants you to help her put them on she'll come and say I cold and then chatter her teeth together. It's pretty cute.

Halloween

Here are the kidos in their Halloween costumes. Katon a power ranger, Mikelle a nice witch and Kayla Cinderella. Mikelle made it very known to everyone that she was a nice witch not a mean one. I was sad knowing that this was the first Halloween that my kids didn't get to go trick or treating with their cousins and they didn't get to go in my parents neighborhood (which I think is one of the best trick or treating neighborhoods) But it ended up a lot of fun. Our neighborhood was great. Seriously every house participated in trick or treating. Our kids got so much candy. It was nice because our kids were old enough that we got to just stand on the sidewalk while they went door to door. Katon and Mikelle helped Kayla when she needed it. For FHE the night before we carved pumpkins and our kids got their own little pumpkin and painted them. They had a lot of fun doing that. Needless to say, we had a great Halloween.

Katon had an interesting experience at the dentist. He had a tooth ache one night and so I took him to the dentist the next morning. We knew a pediatric dentist in our ward. Steven serves in the young mens presidency with him. So we were able to get in on short notice. Come to find out Katons tooth was infected and he had to get it removed. So Katon got put under and about 5 hours later here he is with his tooth. It did take all day but Dr. Dowell took great care of us. He did everything he could so that he could fix Katon all up that day. He is a great guy and we were so grateful for all he did for Katon that day. Katon had a really good experience. I was amazed with Dr. Dowell and his staff. Hats off to all of our dental student friends. Katon was really brave and was so excited to have the tooth fairy come. He now is really cautious about eating sugar and other foods and drinks that the dentist told him was bad for his teeth. He now has 2 more loose teeth. (the two bottom ones) He can't wait for them to fall out so that the tooth fairy can come again. He wants to buy lunch at school with his tooth fairy money. He's a good kid and is so helpful at home. He is the man of the house when his dad is gone (which is very often) and he doesn't let his sisters forget it.

Jenny's studly brother JD after another winning game of football. There is almost nothing I love better than watching my brother play football. It has been so nice to be able to go down to the valley and watch a few games. We love you JD. Go #15

Mikelle and Kayla just hanging out outside. It is so nice to be here in Flagstaff where the weather is so nice that the kids can play outside all day and you don't have to worry about them getting to hot. I love to just sit outside with my kids and watch them play.

Katon got a new BIG BOY bike for his 6th birthday. He absolutley loves it. One of his most prized possesions. It took him one run in with a bush to get used to the handle brakes instead of the using peddle brakes. He ran straight into a bush the day he got it. No braking what so ever. He raised his hand up after it happened and said I'm okay. Then rode by us to tell us that it was just a little bush. Needless to say I am really amazed by how well he can ride a bike. We might have a pro BMXer in the family.

Katon is in kindergarten. He really enjoys school although it is all day and by Friday he is ready for it to be over. His sisters sure miss him when he is gone and so does mom.

Kempton Family

Here are some of the Kempton family. It's pretty hard to get all Kemptons together in a snap shot. This is the best we got for right now.

Jarvis Family

Here is the Jarvis clan.

Dunes

The dunes is one of our families most favorite things to do. This is Katon doing what he knows best, riding quads. He rode this thing all day. He went around and around and around our campsite. He ventured out a little on the dunes but then got stuck so he stopped trying. He never got tired of riding. He sure is his daddy's boy.

Chris Heymans last night as a single man. A bunch of guys went to the lake and messed around surfing and stuff. Steven is attempting to knock Chris off the surfboard. Boys will be boys!!

Sea World

We wanted to go on a family vacation and what better place than (no not Disneyland) SEAWORLD. We had a blast. We went with our good friends the Youngs. All the kids had so much fun together. Nothing can replace family vacations. They really are great memories.

Our Baby

Our baby is 2 years old now. She sure isn't a baby anymore. That all changed when she pretty much potty trained herself. It is hard for mom and dad to accept and honestly we refuse to accept that she is growing up. She is way too cute for words.

Stevens Graduation

Yeah, he finally did it. Then had the nerve to keep going. That's right three more years of school and I couldn't be more proud. We are now in Flagstaff, AZ and Steven is attending NAU for a doctorate in Physical Therapy. What can I say he is amazing.

Future football stars

The three cousins, Brady, Conner, and Katon. They love to watch thier uncle Josh and uncle JD play footaball that for Christmas they got helmets and footballs from grandpa and grandma. Whenever they know that they are going to see eachother they call and remind eachother to bring thier football gear. Their team is always Mesa High Jackrabbits. Go figure

Mikelle's first dance recital

Mikelle with her grandpa Kempton at her first dance recital. We were a little worried if she would actually dance when she got in front of all those people, but who were we kidding, this is Mikelle we are talking about. The most unshy girl we know. She did great and looked absolutely adorable.

Disney Princess

Jenny took Mikelle to see Disney Princess on Ice. It was fun to have a mommy/daughter date. Mikelle absolutely loved it. I actually enjoyed it too.

Katon T-Ball

Here is Katon and his best friend Jared at their tball game. We never knew how much you would enjoy watching your kids play sports. Even when it's just tball.

Jenny's LITTLE brothers graduation.
We sure love him.

We took the kids to see the greatest show on earth. The Barnum and Bailey Circus. We all loved it and were amazed by the things animals and humans can do.

Let it snow

Steven and Jenny's anniversary getaway at Paul and Kristine's cabin. Yes we got snowed in and Jenny loved it while Steven hated it. Steven had no choice but to sit and relax with his wife. Okay we did make several attempts to get out the quad and go riding but when we finally did manage to get it out and ride it did not take us long to put it right back in the garage. It took us a while to get the feeling back in our fingers and our faces. What were we thinking. Oh, and that lump you see in the snow, yeah, that is our car.

I can do it myself

Mikelle's first attempt to put on makeup.
We think she needs some practice.

It was a long day at the beach and some were ready to go home...

Pro Surfer

Katon showing everybody up on how to really surf. Don't worry, he'll be happy to give you pointers.

Sunny Day at the Beach

Summer vacation at San Clemente CA. John and Jessica were down from Iowa and we decided to go with our families. It was such a blast. We sure miss them.