It lasts the whole day!

It last the whole day! After we get up and play with all the toys Santa has brought we get to go to each Grandma's house.  We get to open more presents and spend time with out cousins.  What a great day!



Porter reading his book "YUCK that's not a monster"



Mason is excited with his pants.  Since he is growing so fast he has none that fit him.  Yeah!

Kade opening the stuffed animal rice bag from Grandma Fox.  Warm and snugly. 



The construction of the fastest slot car track ever.  Careful around those turns.



Christmas morning

Happy day.  Mason's favorite gift, a new turtle.  Kade's favorite gift, Scribble Naughts a DS game.  Porter's favorite gift RC truck.  They were happy with ALL of their gifts but those are the ones they spent the most time with.

White Christmas

         We have to travel to get a white Christmas but it is worth it.  We, the whole St. George crew,  met Dad Turley and Amy up at Jess and Greg's cabin to exchange presents.  It is so much fun.  We get Christmas and get to play in the snow.  What a treat.  My kids wouldn't have any other opportunity to play in the snow, it isn't one of the things I grew up enjoying, but I sure enjoy it now.  Making sled trails with the kids and letting them  talk me into doing some crazy things.  Getting to spend one on one time with them and watching them create memories with their cousins is very fun. 

 

Solomon and Mason trying to build a snow cave.

   
 

Jessica getting the Iasac and Kyle ready to go down the hill.

 

Josh provided pick up service.



What goes down must come back up. Its just alot easier this way.



Three out of the 6 females.

Four  out of 14 males.  Holy COW!!!
(Logan, Josh, Kade, Ryan)



Kade

As were waiting at the car for the ride home, we weren't in the car, NO, No.  There was a big snow drift they had to play in before the ride home and they hadn't had a chance to make snow angles yet. 



Porter

Mason

Rollerskating Santa is an ELF!

At the ward Christmas party, Santa makes his entrance on roller skates.  As he skated through the tables weaving in and out he shakes his bells.  Mason comes running up to me "Mom, when Santa tripped I saw up his pant leg and it wasn't a leg it was stilts.  He is a ELF, not Santa!"  I thought that he would be crushed that the real one didn't come, but without a note of worry on my face he continued, "When he bumped into a chair some stuffing fell out. It is an Elf mom, SERIOUS!"  I kept my composure and said " He must be special to get to come here tonight and skate so that Santa wont get hurt so close to Christmas."   Bright eyes glowing "Yeah" he replied.
      "Santa will be right back after he takes off his skates" the announcer said.  Just as he said that the REAL Santa came in.  The other was definitely and elf because this guy was REAL!!!  Porter came over and I was nervous again at such a drastic change in the two different Santas.  Mason relayed the story and Porter was instantly convinced.  So in line we stand. 
    Mason being threatened earlier in the day wanted me to stand with him.  We watched all the kids.  Some happy, others screaming.  I don't know what Santa said but I wish we could visit him once a week.  My kids where like angels that next week.  Mason especially saying thing to the others like "boys lets not fight" or "do you think we can help mom"  I about passed out each time.  Thanks Santa!

 Porter is thinking about what Santa is saying or is he remembering more to add to the "want" list. After all he has been waiting a long time for this.

Mason asked for a Nerf gun and a happy family (aka world peace).  You get brownie points for mentioning your family and a guy can use all he can get.  Love this kid. 

Cosmic Powers, iddy biddy working space.

Ryan is amazing when running these big machines.   The final picture will be taken after it stops raining.

Band Concert

Rock Wall-Stage 1

           For our Christmas present Mom, Dad, Kristy and Ryan orchastrated the stacking of the rock to make our wall.  In came the equipment and an excelent crew to see it through.  Thank you everyone. 

Giving Thanks

Three times to thank all of the people in our lives.  We are so blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Dixie Cheer squad!

Kade's football team Dixie Blue made it to playoffs.  So naturally the cheer squad had to attend.  They are all part of the families who love the football players.  (Truit Rico, Aspen Neilson, Porter Turley, Mason Turley and Ben Turley)  Many more squad members attended the game but were not present for the photo shoot.   Go DIXIE!

Halloween Party

Ready to Trick

All dressed up and ready to trick. They played their part SOOO well.  Porter swooped just like the dementor,  Mason strut just like a rider would and Kade zoned out just like a zomby. 

Lets go to Kingston

Saturday morning I had a wild hair and decided to go to Kingston.  I had been thinking about going and decided not to go.  I woke up Saturday and just decided "lets just go" so in a fast hurry we packed and left.  I am glad that we did.  Grandpa Luke was in the hospital the following week.  I am so glad I listened.  We had fun. Kade helped us rake leaves.  Mason and Porter shot BB Guns. They found an inventive holder for their guns, a newly removed kitchen sink.  What imaginations.    I love my family. 

Long distance travelers

Noah and Tiffany Cheeny stopped  in St. George on their treck of moving from Idaho to Texas.  It doesn't take long for the kids to rekindle freindships.  We all enjoyed the time we had together. 

Girls just wanna relax.

Twice a year the girls get together and be just that girls.  We laugh , cry, veg, create, inspire, build up and simply relax.  Its so nice to have great girls to do this with.  Love you all.

Ready, set, GO!

        From the instant we woke up this morning it was running.  But to a lot of fun places.  Practice. Game. Delivery. Pick up. Party.  Wha -Who! 
        A lot of things were accomplished.  Primary program practice successful.  Football game won (good going boys).  Errands ran.  I finally found a new purse (the search is finally over), and a Happy birthday party.

        Darcy's birthday party was at the Snow's Canyon sand dunes.  Kristy had a hot dog roast and cake.  The mountain was shadowing the picnic area so it was really enjoyable.  The kids had fun running and playing in the sand. 

      

On top of DIXIE

Its not a hike in a distant place but it sure is nice.  Two of the boys and I had watched enough TV (ok so I thought we had) to last the rest of the day so we went for a hike just before the sun went down.  It was actually a race between us and the sun.  We won and even watched it set. 

Look at what porter found.  Just in time for Halloween.  SCARY FACE.

While the Paint was Drying.

THIS plus THIS equals THAT, well kinda

I found a top to a dresser I have been dying to make into a hutch.  While browsing through my favorite spot in DI I found THIS ....

And When I add it to THIS....

It will make THAT!

    

 (this is the unpainted version.  This is the "fun stuff" to paint.   Can you see how cute it will be.  I am so excited.    I will post final when it's done.)

Finish One Project

I have a bunch of new ideas and things to paint.  I bought paint for my base boards last year.  I have put it off this long I decided to finish that boring project to get it out of the way of the fun stuff.   Kade owed me some money so I put him to work puddying holes. 

Midnight Madness

        Midnight madness is Kade's tackle football leagues season opener.  They play 15 minute scrimmages with other teams in their division on five different fields in Mesquite, Nevada at night.  Kade's team played 5 different teams.  This being our first year showing up early was a good thing.  It took us an hour to find everyone. 
      The very first play of the first game, Kade broke through the line and sacked the runner.  He is on both the Defense and offense.  Yeah it's because he rocks.  We all had so much fun.  Kade loves to play, and Ben and I are glad we aren't playing but watching. The team and coaches are great.  The kids have fun and are learning from each other and really support each other.  I love it. 

        The wind was blowing, parents cheering, plays were being called, whistles being blown and the boys just eating it up.   I LOVE THIS GAME.

Bear/Animal Hunt

        Porter turned 7 on Saturday.  It was probably the fastest party ever, sorry everyone(They moved up the time we were meeting for Kade's football game so we were kinda rushed).   The trick to an hour birthday party with 14 kids and 11 adults.  Keep the kids corralled.  Once we started the party  we just kept going.  First the Bear hunt.  We had hid stuffed animals all over the living room and kitchen and then each of the kids had a turn following the clue and finding their animal(which was their party gift).
        Directly after the hunt, presents.   Porter's was ecstatic with all of the presents.
        Directly after presents, cake.  The teddy bear cake didn't last long.  Ben with the knife and Matthew with the second knife.  His head was gone.  Porter took the arm.  The kids scarfed it down and went and played for the remaining time and the adults visited for a few minutes.  
         You know the party is over when those four things have been accomplished.  Game, check. Presents, check.  Cake, check.  Fun, check.

     Party, Successful!

First Week of School

   It begins again!  Kade is in a different school this year than the other boys.  But they look like they have it under control.  Mason has stepped up and helps Porter.  Some days a little to much and Porter get frustrated with him.  But kudos for Mason.  Kade's in 6th, Mason's in 4th and Porter's in 2nd.  Have fun this year boys. 

Slip, Slide, and Chaos at Grandma and Grandpa's house

       Grandma and Grandpa Funk wanted to do a big party to end the summer.   The plan:  Kids play in the day and parents at night.  And we did. 
       The kids had all kinds of fun playing on the slide(probably for the last time.  Its been a trooper). To the adults it looks like WWF but with a slide and water.  After the kids were all home with a babysitters the parents gathered at Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner and games.   It was a lot of fun.  Sorry men and elders but the girls just rock!!! Yes the girls won at Pictionary.  Great Grandma didn't calm anyone down very well when cheating was accused.  Its probably because she knew the girls don't do stuff like that.   It was a great day.  Thanks everyone.  

      

Freezing (I mean camping) on Kolob

   The last hurrah before school started back up was going to camping with Dawn, Bruce and Talon somewhere cooler than here.  The spot Kolob.  It was definitely cooler.  But we planned on that.  With mounds of sleeping bags blankets and coats we were set. 
    Dawn and Bruce had went up early and picked out a camp sight.  It was perfect.  Close to the lake and close, but not to close, to the restrooms.  We arrived late.  Setting up the tent in the dark was a cinch with Bruce's headlights and the expertise of two trained professionals.  We opted for the rain fly because last time we didn't it rained.  I am glad we did because it rained every night.  We have a good tent.  It didn't leak.  With that comforting thought it was fun to lay there in our warm cozy beds and listen to the rain and thunder.  Monte, Blanca and kids came the next day. 
     Between rain storms the kids would take out the boat.  Talon and Mason rowed out to the Island.  Monte, Mason and Talon were the only ones to get caught on the lake in the rain.  Monte took over rowing and was rowing for all his might. 

      Campfire all day, guns to shot, horse shoes to play and sticks to carve, what else was needed.  It was so nice to relax and do nothing.

Grandma's Birthday in Kingston

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA LUKE!

All the kids and grandkids supriesed Grandma by showing up, slowly one at a time, unanounsed and each time she would comment "did you now they were coming?"  and no one ever admitting anything till all were there.  Then told her Happy Birthday.  There was a BBQ at Uncle Steves.  It was worth all of the stories. 

As the girls clean the house, the boys pitch in and help Grandpa in the yard.  Good little helpers.

L to R  Dakota, Travis, Porter, Mason

What freedom a small town has.  It is so fun to get together to see everyone and to let the kids be kids and ride there bikes everywhere and mostly anywhere they want.  I am so glad we have Kingston.