1st Cruise & WE LOVED IT!

We decided to take a little vacation without the kids before baby #4 came along and so we opted to try out cruising. We went on the Carnival Paradise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico from Jan. 25-Jan. 29. We had such a great time. Five other couples/friends from our ward decided to come with us and it made for some really great memories. When I am with Mike, I am reminded over and over of the reasons why I am probably the luckiest girl in the world. He is such a wonderful husband, father and friend.Us on the ship with the beautiful sunset in the background.

Our friends in Catalina Island.

Catalina Island (our ship is in the background)

The clan at La Bufonda, Mexico (1 of 3 blowholes in the world)

We went horseback riding along the beach at Ensenada (all 12 people rode horses at the same time--it was one of the highlights of the trip).

Ride on Cowboy!

Mike and I dancing! My husband is a great dancer!

Kellie Clark, Me, and Akemi Reynolds

Couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture with Titanic background. I was just hoping our ship didn't sink after we took this picture.

All six couples together

Back: Wilsons, Reynolds, Drysdales, Clarks
Front: Clydes and Doriuses

Headed home...Bye Y'all, say Bye Y'all!

Baby #4

Here comes baby #4! Our little baby is due on June 16, 2010. We had our ultrasound and found out that our next little baby is a healthy baby boy! We were shocked (more me than Mike) because I always saw myself with 2 girls and 2 boys. Apparently, Heavenly Father's plan is not my plan, but I know that He knows best. I am not quite sure what to do with 3 boys running around the house, but I think I am supposed to learn more about PATIENCE! As I ponder the idea of having another boy...I think of raising 3 young valiant warriors in the gospel that will hopefully become missionaries and further the work of the Lord. It is an overwhelming and awesome task, but Mike and I will try our best to teach by example the things that Heavenly Father would have them do and become.
Definately a boy part in there!

His arm and some fingers...I hope he is not flasing us a gang sign!


His face...we can't wait to see what he looks like in real life!

New Year's Celebration & Sledding

It was time for our annual New Year's Celebration with the Dorius Family at Linda's house. Just like every year, we had a great time eating, visiting, laughing, and playing games! We also went sledding, which the kids and adult kids sure enjoyed. I think that there were only a couple of collisons and no major injuries. I know that Allison, Laura, Tori and Kylie ran into some innocent bystanders on their inner-tube! Ouch!Kylie and Allison on New Year's Eve.

McKay and Allison celebrating the new year!

Who ever invented these noise makers anyways?
They obviously didn't have kids who blew them over and over and over.

Mike looks surprised that it is 2010 already! This is not the best angle of me, but hey--I need to come to terms with my double chin!

The Dorius cousins celebrating the countdown! Happy 2010!

Grant all bundled up! He loved sledding. When we aske him if he wanted to keep going down the hill--he always told us "no," but as soon as Mike got on the sled, Grant had to be right there with him!

Daddy and Grant

McKay loved sledding!

Allison and Tori

Chrismtas Eve & Christmas Morning

Christmas was wonderful again this year. We tried to scale back and I think we did to some degree, but as I looked around Christmas morning-- I realized that my family is extremely blessed and I feel ultra lucky. So many people have been struggling, and I do not have the answer why Mike's business had one of its best years so far. We do not take it for granted, but instead try to be grateful for each passing month that is prosperous and never expect it to to continue. We tried to help others this year, but there is always more we can do.

We had a great time on Christmas Eve with some friends that didn't have family around. The Gibbs, Reynolds and Iversons came over and we ate and ate and ate. We had tons of appetizers as our main meal (cocunut shrimp, egg rolls, stuffed mushrooms, potstickers, Texas Caviar, fruit & dip, chips, veggie tray, and much more). We then acted out the nativity with our puppets and had a great time together. After they all left, it was time to open the Christmas Eve pajamas and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

The kids in their Christmas Eve pajamas in front of the tree.

All the kids laying on Allison's bed. Grant slept in his crib, but McKay and Allison slept in the bed on Christmas Eve anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival.

Daddy reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Christmas morning and dumping out the stockings!

Santa brought Daddy lots and lots of Starbursts!

McKay and Allison got Ipod Nanos.

McKay and Grant sporting their new BYU football helmets (they got the full uniforms). Go Cougars!

Grant playing with his new Thomas & Friends trains! He was in heaven!

The kids in their new teepee. Our friend, Fiona Peterson, made it for us (since I don't really sew).

Mike and Grant singing on the new family Kareoke machine that Santa brought!

Leaves, leaves everywhere!

Oh, how the leaves have fallen! I love having trees for the shade, but I can not say that raking leaves is my favorite thing! However, this year I invested in a leaf blower and it made life much easier. My boys were such great helpers. They were excited to use the rake and we decided to make a pile of leaves at the bottom of the slide for them to land in. They had so much fun sliding into the leaves. I love the excitement that these boys have for life--they add fun and excitement to my busy life and remind me to stop and enjoy the moment!Grant raking away!

McKay was very methodical about raking the leaves into small piles all over the lawn.

Weeeeee....McKay landing in the leaves.

Grant couldn't get enough of the leaves!

Rice Krispy Gingerbread Houses (December 7, 2009)

I don't know if any of you share the same "dislike" for making Gingerbread houses at Christmastime. It just seems like the roof or sides of the house always collapse before I can finish decorating it. So...this year I decided to try and make Rice Krispy Houses. It was so easy and so fun to shape them into houses and they never collapsed since they were solid! It made all of us happy and I think that I am convinced to keep the tradition going.

Mike and the kids creating their masterpieces!

Allison and I had a great time...I think that I have some OCD tendencies when it comes to decorating my little house!

The final creations!


McKay and Allison showing theirs off for the camera!

Allison, Mom, and McKay's Rice Krispy Houses. How fun and easy...and they are still standing!

Christmas family pictures

I realize that I am incredibly behind on updating my blog. As some of you know, I am expecting baby #4 and the months of November and December were my "sick" months. I put off a lot of things, but here I am now...trying to catch up! These pictures were taken at the beginning of December and were our attempt to try and take Christmas family pics...it seems to be getting more and more difficult to find a picture that has everyone looking good--I guess that just comes with trying to get more and more kids to smile!Our little, but growing family!


McKay (5), Allison (9) and Grant (2)

This picture was just too cute to not include--I think it captures Grant's personality quite well (fun, yet a little mischevious).

Our Christmas tree. Mike cut it down in Kanosh and did a great job. It probably has been our most full tree, but it is a nice shape. It didn't fall over...thanks to Mike's efforts to attach it to the vent above with fishing line.