NEWTON HALLOWEEN TRADITION...

So, Steve and I are not into scary movies (action, romance, occasional porn) but NOT scary movies!! So each year on Halloween night, we watch a couple of scary shows! It's awful and bloody and gross, but so much fun. Our friends the Ellet's (that used to live here, but moved to North Carolina) sent us this show to watch. Thank you Ellet's for hooking us up with this scary show!!

We were sitting there watching it and just wondering when it was going to get scary. And then Holy Crap! I screamed so loud and totally woke up the baby when the creepy guys showed up, and then there was the blood and guts, and there I was with the blanket pulled up to my face so I could cover my eyes when needed. Once again our evening and annual event was a success!!

HALLOWEEN AT THE NEWTONS...

THE CABIN....

I love having this place to go where time doesn't matter! We don't have to BE anywhere and don't have to answer the phone and can eat whenever and just be together.

On this trip we decided we wanted to work on the kids math skills, so we decided to teach them this fun game called "21" (You may know it as BlackJack!!) We really had so much fun playing. Steve was the dealer. I think he was from China/Mexico. He would do the funniest accent and we would just laugh. This was him, "You play or no?" When we'd lose "Oh, you not should hit, too bad, give me money" .....

It snowed while we were there, great opportunity for the fire while watching movies!!

Of course, PUZZLE TIME!!! Linden and Steve finished one puzzle, then Linden wanted to start another the next day. She worked for a couple of hours on it and then got bored. Of course once Steve starts something he has to finish it (a trait I love about him, but it can be a bit annoying) so I got everything cleaned and packed and he finally put the final puzzle piece in around 5:00 pm!! Right in time to hit the road....

I just love my kids and hope I can be a good mom to them. Sometimes I get very down on myself for not being a good enough mom, but then when they walk up to you and give the random, "I love you mom", it makes it all worth it!!

LINDEN IS 14!!!

So hard to believe that 14 years ago today I was giving birth to my baby girl Linden!!

Let me start with the day before....

I was 5 days overdue at this point and SOOOO ready to have this baby! So I went out and mowed 9 lawns with Steve. (much to his dismay! How emberassing to have a pregnant wife out mowing) Anyways, that night I went to bed early. Steve came into bed around midnight and I said to him that I was sorry if I keep him up because I was a little uncomfortable. After a while he said to me, "Do you realize you're "uncomfortable" every 2 minutes?". Here's my all time dorky moment, I didn't think I was in labor because the doctor told us to call the hospital when contractions were 5 minutes apart. Mine were 2 minutes apart, so I didn't call. New Mom or Kristen move? You be the judge!!

We finally went into the hospital and I was dialated to a 6 or 7. They gave me an epidural right when I got there!! Little miss Linden didn't want to come out very easily, they had to use forceps and would literally pull me off the bed getting her out and then push me back up, and then pull again.

But at 8:32 a.m. a beautiful baby girl was born!! 8 lbs 6 oz. with the most wonderful cry (that we later learned would continue for a whole year!!!) But that first time we heard it, I will never forget.....



Here she is at 1 year old....

What a cute girl!!

Linden Ann Newton, I love you so much. You have brought so much joy to my life. I don't know who I would be without you. You are a smart girl, you are funny, you are artistic and creative, you are honest and loving, you are a wonderful daughter and a great sister, you are a beautiful daughter of god, and I hope I can continue to help you throughout your life to know what you are worth. You are amazing!!!

Weekend with Friends.....

When we lived in Idaho Falls we would come home to visit family once a month, or every other month. Now that we are living here, our Idaho Falls family comes to visit us!


In life timing is everything, and things happen for a reason, it was meant to be living next door to Christensons. They are now part of our family and we love them so much!!


When we see the van pull up and park in it's place in front of the house, we know the weekend has begun.....


No plans are really necessary, we just hang out, and of course go out to eat to get away from the 8 kids running around the house!!

The girls have fun playing Harry Potter, or just hanging out. This visit they went to the mall and played video games...

Brandon and Carson are still the cutest little best friends. I love seeing them together!

Even down to the youngest..... Braden and Kyla Jo have a great time together..

The worst part of it all is having to say GoodBye again. But we always try to make plans for our next "get together".

We are so thankful for the memories we make each time together, and look forward to the many memories we'll make through the years!!

Ode to BABY MAGIC...

Oh how I wish there were a "Scratch & Sniff" option on this blog! Because you would smell THE most wonderful smell in the world, my little Ryan, slathered in BABY MAGIC!!

Our day begins with a bath, diaper, and then Baby Magic everywhere!! I will really really really miss this stage when it's over, so I'm enjoying every minute of it right now!!


I love this girl so much! (she looks a bit disinterested, but I'm sure she loves me too, right?)

BACK TO SCHOOL.... ( a little late)

I realized I didn't blog my kids starting school this year!! Since most of them started in the middle of summer!! So I thought I'd share a couple of pictures...

LINDEN - 8TH GRADE

CAMRYN - 3RD GRADE

BRANDON - 1ST GRADE

BRADEN - PRESCHOOL

RYAN - School of Eat, Poop, Sleep, Laugh... Repeat

I love these kids so much. They are my life!!! They are smart, fun, beautiful people that bring the most joy and the most frustration to my life!! I would be lost without them!!