Trip to Utah (the beginning of November)

We headed to Utah the night of Halloween. We were headed there to see Owens brother Luke while he was home from Afghanistan. There were lots of fun events that filled our schedule while we were there. We first Celebrated Haydon's 4th birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Park's house. BO and Haydon are best buddies and it's so much fun seeing them compete and wrestle each other.

We did our family pictures there too... I will just give you a teaser shot for now since the other is for our Christmas letter! (:

Can you believe Kodi is 3? I can't! This is her right after our family pictures. she put on her tinker bell costume that Grandma Sheila gave her and read her tinker bell book. Isn't she just so cute and big? (:



We had a HUGE family dinner with everyone for Luke being home. It was awesome to see everyone come see him. After the dinner, we had a little birthday celebration for Kodi. She thought she was pretty cool!

The fallowing day, we all headed to Chuck E Cheese with my family and celebrated Kodi's birthday with all of them. Kodi just loved it there. She would disappear and we would find her either in the plastic tunnels or dancing to the singing robots.

(here she is dancing to the robots singing! lol)

Kodi opening her gifts from everyone.

Here is Tylar and Marlee (my sister Elicia's baby) they are exactly 1 month apart.

My mom eating a piece of pizza holding Tylar.

Mike and Michelle with Jackson and then Dan (Shawna's boy friend with the gun).

My brother Michael.

Kodi with her birthday cake... She had to have a princess cake so I got her a princess cake! (:

Rylee with her tongue out just like her dad! Lol and then Mercadies in the red shirt.

Uncle Tyler holding baby Tylar! (: *** Tyler likes to think that we named Tylar after him... I'm just going to let him keep thinking that! (;

What next...

BO went to work with Owen this morning and came home with these!


Now, crawdads aren't the only creatures Owens buddy has sent BO home with before. This friend of Owen's has also given BO multiple lizards, so I can't wait for the next temporary pet BO comes home with.
The kids are really creeped out by these and wont touch them... I wont either for that matter. When BO first showed me them, they were in a water bottle all bunched up so I thought they were over gown rolly pollies (potato bugs). GROSS!!! I DO NOT do good with things that reminds me of insects or spiders. Owen told BO that we can raise them until they get big enough to eat (if I don't loose it first!). BO did think that was a "really cool" idea anyway.
Some days I feel like a really nice mom letting them have all kids of weird pets. ***Gag***

Kodi's 3rd birthday and Halloween...

Happy Birthday Kodi!

Kodi is 3! Kodi turned 3 on October 30th. It was a busy day with all the Halloween celebrations and dad working. Kodi got spoiled with all her fun gifts and attention from BO and Rylee.

I couldn't decide what pictures to put on this post, so you get them all! (:

Halloween "trunk or treat" and stake carnival.

(I have no clue who the little girl in the pink coat is.. She snuck in the picture and wouldn't go away, but hey... She looks like she belongs there! lol)

Kodi was "me house" Mini mouse.

Rylee was a western bell and BO was a cow boy.

of course Tylar was the traditional pumpkin and a cute one at that!

Random phone shots...

Kodi in her very own dance class. *middle

Me checking out how my zoom works on Owen... Nice, right?!? (;

Beautiful sunset on our way up north to visit Grandma and Grandpa Park.

Kodi wanted her "care bear" that she cant leave home without (thanks mom) and she just happened to leave it home and was mad come bedtime. I tied a blanket in a knot and told her to use her imagination and pretend that it was her "care bear". Hey... It worked! (;

Random Tylar pictures

The first of mobile phone updates

Our final goodbye to Duker... This is where we buried him and this is Owen GPSing it (he said he didn't care where we buried him, but I think that was a lie!).

I'm 26!

Yesterday (the 12th) was my 26th birthday! I still don't feel old... I actually feel pretty young. (: I started off the day with a mild work out with my friend Rebecca (I started working out last Monday.) Than, Owen took me along with our three youngest children to breakfast. It was nice to not have to make breakfast. After breakfast I came home and got ready for my lunch date with two of my friends Rebecca and Nicole. They took me for some yummy Mexican food and then fried ice cream (oh man... fried ice cream has got to be one of my favorite sweets!) After lunch, I went to the post office, picked up my awesome birthday gift from my friend Heidi from Vegas. Way cute "BOO" blocks and then a super cute sign. *I love them, thanks Heidi!* I topped off my day attending BO's soccer game. I just love watching him kick some serious butt! (; When we got home, we ate dinner and then got ready for bed. Owen gave me a foot and back massage and than we all went to sleep. Thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes and love!

Turkey hunt

Owen the kids and I all went on the turkey hunt this past weekend. Owen was the only one with a tag, but next year I'm going to get one too. We went camping with our friends in the Kaibab national forest area. This hunt was awesome, minus the fact that only two people out of our group of 20'ish adults got a turkey and no, we were not one of the lucky two. We enjoyed the company of all the people in our group and the Kaibab I decided is an amazing place to hunt. It is beautiful! It is on the border of the Grand Canyon! So, the hunt like I mentioned above was lacking in the turkey department. We did see two on one day and heard some once on another day, but not a shot was fired by our guns. I honestly was okay with that since I would have been the one to gut and prepare the thing. I'm fine with doing that, I just wasn't in the mood this trip to do that! (; Owen on the other hand was a little put out... He's a little competitive! I can't wait til next year now, I know it's going to be lots of fun like it was this year!

All of us (minus Owen) with the family we went with

BO was an awesome shot with this little leaver action 22. He loved it and now we have Owen a little to excited for Christmas (yes, I believe that's what BO's getting, but shhhhh it's a secret!)

The younger three checking out this awesome view.

BO's soccer skills recorded

I recorded three quick clips of BO playing soccer. I mainly did it for Grandpa Jeff to see. Hope you all enjoy. *He's the short kid with the red shorts on! (;

(the annoying humming noise that you will hear in the clips is caused by the field lights, sorry!)

Kodi's own dance class

Kodi and her Buddha belly at dance. She has done so good at dance and just loves that it's just her class. She dances so cute and loves to show off her moves.