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!!

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life...

As we were driving home from LOTOJA we had to stop to change the baby. We happened to stop in front of these cows, so the kids got out and just started watching them. After a while the cows entertained us by running around a little bit, and a couple of them pooped. We all laughed so hard. I could just picture the owners inside their house looking out at us and thinking we are crazy for being so entertained by COWS!!
LIFE IS SHORT!! TAKE TIME TO HAVE FUN IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!

HERD RETREAT - "A Time and A Season"

So, there's this group of girls that have been my friends since Jr. High and High School. We are called THE HERD. Are we proud of that name? Well, no, but we go with it!! We were named the Herd because we traveled around together a lot, and basically still do!!

Each year we get together for the "Herd Retreat". It is an amazing two night adventure where we go to Jill's condo in Deer Valley and we basically sit around a rectangle table and talk and laugh and of course eat!! We have started the past few years "beading" too.

First we must start with a picture that shows our humble beginnings just 19 years ago. I swear it seems like yesterday!!

And now a more up to date picture , still cute as ever!!

(Melissa, Jenni, Melissah, Cari, Engor - top row)

(Carrie, Wendi, Kristen, Katherine, Jill - bottom row)

Let the retreat begin!! We start out each year at a bead store where a whole bunch of hugs take place and then the laughter!! Choosing beads is a joke!! Kat is our beading queen and she tries to guide us through. Have to admit we really emberassed her at this store!!

Melissah and Cari ($100 and $80 later!!) Hopefully husbands don't read blogs!!

What a great time! Notice I have no beads, my bead shopping takes place at Walmart where the beads are $1.97, I'm a little cheap! And easy, but that's a whole other conversation!!

After buying the beads, of course food is necessary!! We went to Paradise Bakery, and enjoyed some food!! Then we loaded up the cars and we were off to the condo! In years past we have stayed up until 4 in the morning talking. This year I think we made it to 1 or 2! I was laughing saying in 10 years we'll all be calling it a night at 11:00!!

Had to add a picture of wonderful Chelle who came up and took Baby Ryan for 12 glorious hours for me so I could enjoy without any distractions!! Thank you Chelle so much!!!

Now that there are no kids, off to get the fresh bevs!! Yes, Wendi convinced me (and paid for) this HUGE drink!! It's flippin' 2 liters! And I have to admit, I finished it in 3 hours!!

Jill tried to keep up with the 20 oz, but had a hard time!! And then there's Mel who is being so good getting ready for her marathon, drinking the water!!

Here is the rectangle table, with beads galore!! And the best friends ever, sharing stories and life and advice and just laughing. I love you guys so much and thank you for you friendship!!

Our knitters!! Yarn over 1, yarn over 2. I can't believe I don't have a picture of Carrie stuffing her bears! She was busy the whole time cutting and stuffing Carrie Bears!!

Off to dinner! Had to have a picture of the wonderful dessert! As if we didn't have a huge basket of candy sitting at the table at home to fill us up! It's vacation though!!
How blessed I am to have this group of friends. I really can't believe we all found each other. We are all so different and that's what makes our group special! That's why you keep me around!! I love you guys so much!! What a great feeling to know there are 9 girls out there that would stop and do anything for me!!