SNOW IN LAS VEGAS?????????

We could not believe it when it started snowing in Las Vegas. The kids wanted to hurry and go outside before it stopped. Little did we know that it would snow all afternoon and night. We had so much fun playing in it. I was shocked when it started to stick and now we have at least a few inches and it is supposed to snow all night. Garrett's work shut down early and I laughed at first and then he remined me that there is no snow plows and salt in Las Vegas and no one even owns shovels. So it made a lot more sense to me. But coming from Utah it seemed silly. It was a fun novelty at first, now we are worried about all our palm trees freezing and dying.

This is when it first started to stick. He started out in a sweatshirt because I did not think it would get much more than this.

Even Zoey liked the snow.

Kennedy of course had to get in on the action. It was so cute to see the kids in the snow. Nothing like my childhood, where snow is a novelty.

I LOVE Little Girls!!

I love having a girl and getting to dress her. It is so much fun. I love little boys too, but their clothes just aren't as cute. I have to admit, that I am not as frugal as I should be with dressing Kennedy. Girl clothes are way too cute. So my favorite thing she has so far this fall are her silver ballet flats. I just love them. They go with everything and are so cute.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Lisa and I took the kids Trick or Treating at the mall at 4:00. It got really crowded fast and we were glad we went early and then we met up with Garrett for the rest of Halloween night.

This was our ward Trunk or Treat. We had lots of fun. These are pictures of the cousins. Kennedy and Lex, and below Dallin with Abby and Lex. We love having family in our ward to do things like this with. Kennedy could not wait one second to get a sucker in her mouth. Once she saw one it was all over, but she was happy the rest of the time.

3 Reasons I know I've arrived as a "MOM"....

Okay, so I obviously know I am a mom because I have 2 great kids that I love and adore. But unitl recently I have not felt like a "MOM". In fact there are times when I still feel like I should be in college of high school. But here are some of the BIG reasons I feel I have become a TRUE "MOM"!!


1. I have a kid old enough to play sports.

We put him in soccer this fall, and he likes it but not as much as T-ball. In fact after every game Dallin asks Garrett if he is going to play T-ball again. (Secretly I know Gar loves to hear that, but never says a word, he is actually really cute with Dallin and practices with him and helps him to be better). It was really funny, on Dallin's first game I had no idea how physical soccer was for little ones. They all started running in a pack toward the ball and Dallin was getting pushed and shoved so he turned around and hit some kid in the head. The little boy started crying, when Dallin sat out the next quarter we had to explain the nature of the game to him and that there is pushing a little bit, but he can't hit people. So now I am a soccer mom and carpooling to and from games and practices.

2. I just started coupon shopping!!

Okay so my sister in law, Lisa got me started with Grocery Smarts and it is great. You match the coupons to the sales at the store and save HUGE!!! You also have to do literally no work because http://www.grocerysmarts.com/, does it for you. This is what I got at Albertson's this week. Sorry about the picture, I did not space things out to well.

4 boxes of poptarts

2 bags mini sunmaid raisin boxes

3 boxes Yoplait Yo+ Yogurt

4 boxes of Gogurts

1 box Lean pockets

5 Green Valley Giant bags of Vegies

2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel

3 big boxes of Progresso Chicken Broth

2 boxes regular Cheerios

2 boxes multigrain Cheerios

2 cans Betty Crocker frosting

2 Big bags Mission Tortilla Chips

3 bags Cheeios snack mix

3 Ready made Pillsbury cookie dough

All for $30.50

Savings $105.31

That is 78% Savings

I was super excited. Lisa told me it was exciting and it really is. Everyone in line turns to look at you and asks you how you did it.

3. I am going to drive a Mini-van!!!!

We did it, my lease on my camry is up and the most practical thing to do with the advice for the prophet and apostles is to be conservative. So here I am. Through Gar's job at Toyota I get a killer lease on any Toyota, and they pay for Garrett's car. He gets a new one every year and I get great terms on a lease. We really thought long and hard about this. I was always the one that said, "I will NEVER drive a mini-van". But I am actually excited. We thought about getting the new Highlander Hybrid with the 3rd row, but impractical for kids and strollers and groceries because the 3rd row does not split so If I put a 3rd kid back there then I have no room for groceries or strollers or anything. And we do not want to spend the money on a Sequoia. I love them, but we have nothing to tow and we don't need it. And the Sienna is the best looking van out there.

There are my reasons. I am officially a "MOM"

In Loving Memory.....

My grandpa Dahn way by far the very best man that I have ever known. He past away on October 5, 2008. He died of old age, and our family takes comfort that he has moved on to a better place where he is happy. He hated being old and not being able to do the things he once did. He was more like a father to me and my brother and sister in many ways. He was always there for us and filled in where my own dad could and did not. He gave us every fathers blessings, he baptised and confirmed my brother and sister and he administered the blessing that saved my life, or saved me from severe brain damage 8 years ago. He was my spiritual mentor and guide. If I ever had a question I went right to my grandpa and he knew the answer. We have been reminiscing the past week about him and one thing that he always did was anything the prophet said. Always. And he did it right when the prophet said. He did not wait. He was a great example to all who knew him.

His great pride and joy in this world was his family. He has 4 daughters, 16 grandkids and 20 great grandchildren. He had a personal relationship with each and every one of us. We all felt like the most important in his eyes. I am very blessed to have had him for a grandpa. I am also blessed that I was able to fly to Salt Lake a week before he died to say good bye to him and to tell him thank you for everything he has done for me. He bought me my flute that I played and took lessons through junior high. I wanted to thank him and give tribute to him so I asked if I could play it at his funeral. His lasting legacy is his unwavering testimony in our savior Jesus Christ. He has left it in letters for all his grandchildren. I will forever treasure it and try my hardest every day to not disappoint him and live up to his legacy. I love you and will miss you Grandpa Dahn.

Last Part of our Vacation!!!

I know I am way, way behind..... But the last part of our California vacation was the Yankee games. We had a lot of fun as always and got some really good autos.

After 3 straight days of baseball, we bring the DVD player to help our 4 year old to not go crazy:)


Kennedy does really well at the games.

I was really excited to get my picture taken with Joba. I had one of Garrett's T-shirts that says "Joba Rules in the Bronx" He saw it from way in the outfield, pointed to me and then came right to where I was and signed Garrett's Beckett magazine. I was shaking so bad. The picture is horrible, but it was fun to meet him.

Reggie Jackson is not a very nice guy. We saw him walking out and I said "Mr. Jackson, I know you are busy but could you please sign my ball." He says, "I'm not busy, I just don't want to sign your ball." But he did anyway and many other people's as well. Garrett asked if Dallin could take his picture with him and he did not say yes or know just walked up to him and did not even smile. And by the way most people that we get to take their picture with Dallin bend down to his level. Reggie is a piece of work.

****I also talked to A-Rod. We had Kennedy down with us, (where else would she go???) and we were standing right at field level during warm up and batting practice. Garrett was leaning over getting something out of his backpack and A-Rod came over to talk to me. He told me to be careful because he has a daughter K's age and a ball could bounce up and hit her. Garrett in the mean time has stood up and was totally taken off guard to A-Rod talking to me. We were both, ashamedly star struck and did not ask for his autograph. We just told him thank you very much for his concern. We are kicking ourselves now for at least not asking, but what do ya do. Some of the ushers at Angel Stadium were asking me what he said because they had never seen him talk to a fan like that. Kind of fun hah!

Redondo

When we go to California every year (scheduled around when the Yanks are in Anaheim) we make our annual trip to Redondo Beach with Dave and Jenny, and now Noah. They had us over for dinner on Sunday night and then we went down and hung out on the beach. It is always a good time and with the kids a little nuts.

Of course Kennedy just wanted to walk and walk on the beach. She didn't want to sit still on the blanket, that was not fun enough. She always has to be where the action is!

Kennedy and Noah. I love this picture because Noah is 6 months younger than Kennedy and who could tell. He is the cutest thing ever. It was fun to finally meet him at 8 months old.

Dave and Dallin running from the waves.

California Adventure 2008

We only had one day to spend at Disneyland so we decided to go to California Adventure. Dallin loves the Pixar movies and had a lot of fun their last year. It was so nice. We went at the beginning of September and there was hardly anyone there. We got to go on any rides we wanted without the wait. Next year we will do both or Disneyland for the tradition of it, but we opted out this year.

Dallin posing for the camera!!!

Kennedy had her own agenda that day. She just wanted to be free to run around. She is much happier that way.

Waiting for the NEW Toy Story ride to open. They had some technical difficulty. We did not want to lose our place in line. It was the only ride with a line that day. As you can see we did not mind the wait at first and then we got tired.

The NEW Toy Story ride. It was so fun and worth the wait. When the park is empty you get spoiled and a small wait can seem forever. But the ride was great, you got to shoot all sorts of things and it kept your score. I think I came in even lower than Dallin :)

Waiting for the Bugs Life movie.

Dallin could not wait to see the characters. Kennedy on the other hand...............

The pixar parade is Dallin's favorite part. I am a bad mom because I have not exposed Dallin to all of the Disney Classics yet, but he loves all the new Pixar movies. So for him this was all his favorite characters come to life. He could not believe his eyes. I love this age when they still believe. I don't want him to grow up.

We ended our day on the Grizzly ? (I don't remember the name). But it was the water rafting ride. It was a blast and we were soaked. It was a good one to end on. I know Dallin is crazy. Remember he loves to pose. I say smile and that is what I get!!

Yes, you are not mistaken, Dallin is wearing goggles on his head. Do not ask me why he has goggles at Disneyland, no one knows. But since they were there he insisted he wear them on this ride. Considering how wet you got the goggles were actually appropriate :)