Balloons

Twelve balloons. That is how many pink balloons we sent to our sweet Taylor in heaven this year. It's not fair that I only have 3 kids and not 4. Someday.

Cookie Exchange

In December I got conned into throwing a cookie exchange. I am not really a cookie baker per se but I do love a good party!

2011

We had an awesome 2011 with lots and lots of blessings. We are loving El Paso(especially in the winter) and have made lots of great friends.

Adam is working for Boston Scientific as an Account Manager for the Endoscopy division. He LOVES his job and has had lots of success in this area. This is his second year teaching early morning seminary and he really loves working with the high school kids. After years of begging him to run with me he has finally decided that he wants to run a marathon and has started training.

I have been busy with the kids and my photography business. I have been very blessed this year with my photography and have busy taking pictures of amazing high school seniors. I have also teamed up with some friends and started putting on workshops. We are doing four this year Las Vegas, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina. Between the family and photography I keep pretty busy.

Gage is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. This year Gage had his first year of tackle football. He loved it, but it was a little intense for me. He also plays the guitar, scouts and is on the student council. He loves to read and I never thought I would have to get mad at my kids because they wouldn't stop reading. He is the most social kid and is makes friends everywhere he goes.

Talon is 7 years old and in the 1st grade. Talon loves to play on the Xbox and would play on it all day long if I let him. Talon is our sports fanatic and thinks and talks about football and/or baseball all the time. Talon does flag football, baseball and swim lessons. He is super competitive child and is always challenging Gage.

Presley is 3 years old and started preschool this year. She is our little princess and is so much fun. She is sweet and spunky at the same time. Presley started dance this year. She loves to sing and walks around the house singing and dancing. She got a pink tricycle for her birthday this year and rides it in the house all day long.

I am so grateful for all of our many blessings. Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to give so many great and wonderful things to.

NOOOOOOO!!!!

I can't believe my baby is 3 years old. I hate that she is growing up. We had a little get together with some her friends. Love this little girl so much!

Funny Girl

Oh I love her! I can't believe my baby will be 3 in a couple weeks. I love the stages all my kids are at right now. They are so much fun! So sad I will never have a baby or a one year old or a two year old again. Love them all so much!

First Day of School

Gage 4th grade

Talon - 1st grade

Presley - Pre-pre school

Summer

This is about the only thing you can do in the summer in El Paso. So we do lots of it!

Tracen

Braylond

Fourth of July in Delta

It is nice to live a little closer to Utah. This year we headed up to Delta for the fourth of July. I LOVE going to Delta for the fourth. It is kind of like a high school reunion. Love it!

White Sands...again

We made another little day trip out to Whites Sands, NM with the Johnstuns.

The old men trying to show the little boys what is up.

Moab

The end of June we went to Moab for a Schroeder family reunion. The kids have so much fun with all the cousins. This day the boys were river rafting and Presley and I were just hanging out at the lodge.

Ahhh Pres

Why won't my daughter look at the camera? ***SIGH***

This little girl is the sweetest thing. She sings and sings and sings all day long. She sings in the stores (usually at the top of her lungs), she sings in her crib after we put her to bed, she sings during prayers, and she sings in church (at the wrong times). We just love her little voice and it makes all of us smile.

Gage

So, so LUCKY he is mine!

Pine Wood Derby/Science Project

We had a busy month in January. Adam....I mean Gage had the Pine Wood Derby and I......I mean Gage had the science fair. Not going to lie, I.....I mean Gage totally stressed over the science fair and Adam....I mean Gage spent every spare second working on his derby car.

Are you dying to hear if our....I mean Gage's hard work paid off? Lets put it this way I....I mean Gage took FIRST in the science fair and well Adam....I mean Gage didn't take first in the Pine Wood Derby. Don't feel bad he didn't take last either (but close). It is okay Adam....I mean Gage I am sure your derby car will be way better next year!

2010

Wow! We had a lot of changes in 2010. The biggest change was our move to Texas. We were so sad to leave, but have LOVED living here. The schools are great, the people are nice and you can't beat the weather.

Gage started 3rd grade this year and is our little smarty pants. He LOVES to read and once he starts a good book he can't put it down. He is obsessed with "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and has read the series about a million times. He got baptized, wrestled, played soccer, swam, played flag football and started scouts this year.

Talon started all day kindergarten this year. He is doing really well and is becoming a great little reader. Talon learned to swim this year and loves swimming at all of his friends houses in the summer. Talon also is a great runner. He can run forever. When he gets a little older he is going to be my running buddy. Talon wrestled, played soccer, swam and did gymnastics.

Presley is our little diva. She is so much fun and really completes our little fam. She is all girl and loves me to do her hair, paint her finger and toenails, put on lip gloss and play in her little kitchen. She loves her daddy and can not get enough of him. Presley got potty trained this year, which is more an accomplishment for me than her!

Adam started a new job with Boston Scientific as a Territory Manager in the Endoscopy Division. He has learned so much and loves his job and the company. There is a ton of opportunity in his company and we are hoping to go foreign in the next few years. Adam is also the early morning (5:45am) seminary teacher. Adam really enjoys it...and well I am the sometimes-supportive-always-has-a-tired-husband wife.

I have been busy with the kids of course. I have also been busy trying to get my photography business up and going in a new state. I have met some great people while doing it. I still run a few days a week and love the weather at 5am in the morning in Texas. I just recently got called to the Young Women's and am super excited about that. I have met some great new friends and LOVE were we are living.

We have been so blessed in 2010. A lot of really good things have happened to our family this year. We are so excited for 2011 and what it has in store for us!

Disneyland

Our "vacation friends" that is what we call them. We always vacation with the Williams. We LOVE them! We decided this year to mix it up and let the kids come.

The first day we went to Venice Beach to people watch. The kids begged to go to the Freak Show and we caved. We intended to spend a few hours there, but ended up spending most of the day walking up and down the board walk at Venice Beach.

The second day we went to Disneyland. We had such a great time. It is so magical at Christmastime.

cute Ava and Karinne

Presley loved Ava

It snowed (not really but it was still amazing).

The last day we hung out on the beach. It was 86 degrees and perfect. We spent most of the day at the beach and then headed to the pier for dinner.

We had such a great time and the kids couldn't get enough of each other!