Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking. We had a fun Christmas eve with my mom's side of the family, then we had a fun Christmas morning, and then a fun Christmas day... Whew that's a lot of fun. I do have to add...We were short on girls so the ONE got to play Mary the rest...well let's just say we improvised... (take a good look at Todd, he had to be an angel)
It was nice though, the older boys once and a while, would remind us what Christmas is truly about and it was nice to stop and reflect that Christ is the meaning. I always feel super blessed this time of year to have such great family and friends to spend the Holidays with.

My tiny guy loves pudding

I think it's so funny that Tanner seems to find pudding, everywhere! First from the trash and then dad even feeds it to him for breakfast! Oh-well it's still stinkin cute!

Snow....Men?

My guys had tons of fun playin in the snow. We went out with some friends down the street and built a "Calipiter" according to Tate. Then a few days later the boys helped Todd build a snow cave. They had so much fun. Like I said the snow is good for something!

Merry Christmas

We wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We are glad to be all of your friends and family and thankful that we have so many loved ones to share our happenings with.
Thank you for all the cards and letters we have received and if you didn't get one from us I'm sorry, I have been a little bit of a slacker this year. Please know you are all in our thoughts and prayers and we appreciate all that you do.
May we all remember what the season is truly about! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... Here's to 2009!

Love,
Todd, Connie and Boys

How are You?...

I've decided those three words are something else...We use them as a greeting. They are considered polite and nice and I would assume are meant to be used with sincerity. But so often I find that those three words are used a liitle too carelessly. Let me explain.
You see someone in a hurry, either you are in a hurry or they are, you wave across the way and say "Hi, How are you?" Do you really think they are going to stop and really tell you how they are doing? Do you really mean how are you...
Another example, I have been to the emergency room before, like a mother of all boys would expect to be at some point, and the first thing I hear from the nurse is "Hi, How are you today"
Sometimes it is all I have in me not to say the honest truth "My baby is screaming while standing in a crowded hospital room, with a child that has just fallen down and broken is arm, I have spaghetti all down my brand new pink shirt, the only pink thing in my house and my husband is on an overnight call for work...How are you?" But usually I smile and say "fine, thanks" and we go on with the real reason I am standing in the emergency room with a crying boy...
Point three and we all know we have been there done that...Is you use these words out of habit and some one you don't know very well breaks into a deep discussion about how their cat, that has been with them for the past 10 years, has suddenly been diagnosed with a rare form of cat cancer, but it's ok because the family will be coming from across town to keep them company as they decide what action should be taken. And it is a blessing because it has been two weeks since they have seen cousin Mertle from Springville and this is a great opportunity to get re-acquainted with them. But because we used those words we are bound to listen to them for the next 20 min.
I know we all use these words when we truly mean them, and I am NOT trying undermine that fact, but sometimes it just makes me laugh. Maybe they should come with a disclaimer.
Sometimes these posts are as pointless as the greeting but life goes on and I will continue to write pointless posts, once and a while, and to say the three words "How are you?" when maybe I should choose my words more carefully.

A list...

Todd and I were talking the other day about things that happen in our house that probably don't happen in a house with girls...

(Disclaimer: some might be gross)

1.Fist Fights...and were not just talking about the older boys...the younger ones have their fare share.
2. Burp wars
3. A low toilet paper budget
4. Spending 3 days in Disney Land and not stepping one foot onto Princess territory.
5. hearing "Mom! ___Peed on me!!!" (aka...pee sword fights)
6. Using the stuffed animals as Kung -Fu targets
7. Going 3 weeks with out watching 1 chick flick....(thank heaven for girls night out!)
8. Not owning ANY princess movies....oh-wait don't tell I think we have Little Mermaid...
9. Except for one...ok..maybe two exceptions,ever, we DON'T paint fingernails.
10. CUTE is a four letter word in our house :-)

We MIGHT be wrong about a few of these things...but I'm pretty sure we're not :-D

Santa

I have never made my kids sit on Santa's lap before. It's just always a little weird to me to say "Here child sit on a strange, scary, mans lap and lets take a picture" But this year for our ward party we had Santa come and Tobyn and Tanner were completely fascinated by him so I figured why not...So this is one of the very few picture we have with Santa...Kind of goofy but they had fun, I think...

Loved the ward party BTW...totally fun!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I love the snow...Have I said that before? It's hard to drive, fly and walk in, but it sure is pretty and at least there is a reason it's cold outside! It's also good to play in if you are a 9,7,5,3 or 1 year old boy...

Too Cute!

These posts seem to be filled with video... I love it when you get to hear the kids first full belly laugh...I just LOVE IT!!

African Drumming

TC has worked hard in an after-school program, African Drumming. He has stayed after school Tuesday's and Thursdays for the past couple of months. He has had so much fun. We had the opportunity to go listen to him play. The kids did AWESOME!
Way to go TC!

A Man's Best Friend

Todd and I have talked about having a dog for a long time. We spent many nights talking about what kind it would be when the time finally came. I was always open... big, small, it didn't really matter to me. Todd would always tell me "I need a big dog...something the boys can use as a small horse" He would usually tell me when I commented that I wouldn't mind a small dog "Well I don't want a little dog that I have to put clothes on."

All I can say is look at him now. Max sleeps by him, plays with him, thinks for sure they are BFF!

I think it's cute

(wait, did I just put the word cute on blog that is full of boy stuff?! Yup guess I did!)

Some Wii Adventures..

We have a Wii (had to type it, sounds funny if you say it out loud, go a head I know your trying it right now) Anyway....It's fun to play and Todd ALWAYS beats me at the game...it doesn't matter what it is! So we were playing a basket ball game and I was getting pretty good. I kept beating Todd!! That NEVER happens in the family. Usually TC can beat me.

But this time I had him, score: Me 82 Todd 52...HA! I had done it....."This has to be documented!" I said "let me get the camera!"

But of course he HAD to spoil the fun. I won't say the score it's too much....*sigh* but at least I had him for a while...and the boys had fun watching mom go down...as always.... and we had some good family time...priceless!

Black Friday...

Two VERY sleepy people on Friday morning...

I go shopping every year on Black Friday. I sit with all of Todd's family and looking through ads and map out what store we are going to hit first, and second.... then we decide who is going where in which store.
Todd's cousin and I ended up with the wal-mart shopping list. But we had a problem, huge list and only two of us...we needed more man power! So for the first time ever...I got my sweet Todd, to come. He vows NEVER again, up at 2:30 and a bunch of crazy women seemed to be too much. :-)
Thanks to my brilliant idea we went down to Payson wal-mart. It was CRAZY! Usually the stores have maps of where things are going to be out and you can walk around before and put the 2-day sales things in your cart and then stake out and wait for the blitz items. Nope, not this year...at least at payson. We were at wal-mart for THREE hours (I'm usually in and out in no more than 2 if it's out first store...1 if it's not)
Anyway...even though this year had it's some never again's.... I still got some supper good deals and most of my Christmas shopping done. And I am sure I will do it agian next year.


oh- We had a wonderful thanksgiving...It was nice to be closer to home and back with the big family (Todd's immediate and extended family) we haven't done that in a few years.

Twilight

Todd took me to go see twilight with a few other friends. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it so I'll keep my oppinions to myself, However, I will say....I liked the soundtrack :-)

oh-PS
Todd didn't feel too un-manly going to see it. There were other men in the theater, But I will say he did cheer when Edward first came on the screen ;-)

Tanner and the Stairs

We knew the day was coming soon. I just didn't know when and well, here it is. Tanner has conquered the stairs. I didn't get the camera in time to take a pictures of him on the way up, but I did get a couple at the top, so that's a good thing...right?

Ladies watch out...

All I can say is I'm their mom so it's a bit of a bias opinion, but I think they are pretty dang handsome!
They all wanted suites so they could be like Dad. We bought them a little big, but usually kids grow so...anyway you can't tell with their coats on, the 2 inches of extra material bunched in their belts or the 3 inches of hem on the bottom. So the over all effect is a nice lookin' group of boys.
They don't sell suites little enough for Tanner but eventually it will come.
ok I'm done braging I will be more humble from now on....

I've found the answer

After a long search I have found the asnwer to Titus's question!







It's a 'Hill-Billy'

It's not what we had in mind when we said that's what Tanner looked like....but hey it's an answer.

Todd has a tuff job....

Look at the view from his office...man, what a job. The whole valley was over cast. He had to fly around for a while to find a place to go through the clouds and get back down. The pictures turned out pretty good, even though they were taken on his phone camera. Days like this make the hard work totally worth it. The mountain you can see is Mount Timpanogos. Pretty Amazing!

I have been thinking...

As I read my friend’s and Family’s blogs and hear stories of things that are happening in other people’s lives, it makes me more grateful than I can even begin to express for the things that I have. So I have decided to make a list of the things I am grateful for.

My wonderful Husband
My beautiful boys
Mine, and my families, health
My husbands job, and the fact that he comes home every night
My mom
My mother-in-law, My Father-in-law- ALL my in-laws
My Dad, even though he’s not here to read this
The smiles my boys give me every day and every night
My home, and the fact that it has air conditioning and a heater.
The Gospel, and the hope it gives me.
My friends, and their support
A free country, where there is a grocery store on every corner, and the right to an opinion that can be expressed
MY LIFE

I could go on and on…I wrote all these things down not to brag about what I have or anything else, but so that I can see, written down, the blessing that I have. I hope that I can be strong when others need me and grateful for the things I have even when times are hard.
I pray for all my friends and family who are having potentially crushing hard trials. May you and your families stay strong and be blessed.

I'm a Dork...

I know, I know...Me being a dork is nothing new, I just thought I had really out done myself this time. I went to the grocery store to get food (of course). I gathered all my things together and went in the store, did my shopping and came back out to the car. I looked all the pockets of the diaper bag for them and shook it, you know...to listen for the familiar key rattel noise....and then I realized...oh-look on the seat, right next to my driver license, inside the LOCKED car.

The people in the parking lot must have thought I was a total dork, becuase I took the time to take a picture. Good thing I only had one boy with me. The tiny one that couldn't get out of the cart, and it was a warm day AND Todd was home so it wasn't a big deal to come bail me out. So I guess it was good timing to be dork :-)

Halloween Fun

There's not much to say here other than we had a lot of fun on Halloween (and the day before with friends). After a quick stop at Grandma Christensen's house to see Aunt and Uncle's costumes, we headed up to Grandma Biesingers and had fun walking around her neighborhood. After that was done we enjoyed some donuts and juice with grandma. It was a fun night and we all fell into bed when we got home!

ahh...back in the day

So I had to go run errands today...as usual...and I had to pass by Provo High around their lunch time. I watched a kid slow down in his truck so that one of his fellow PHS mates could throw a ketchup packet at another fellow PHS mate...who...from what I could tell was not fond of this idea, nor had any idea that that was what was thrown at him. Then as I turned the corner I saw another kid run across the street and his buddy tackled him when he got across and acted like he was going to throw him back into the street.
Why write this, You ask... because watching all these shenanigans got me thinkin' (insert cloud bubble here full of Connie walking through the hall of high school) That I DO NOT miss high school. I have fond memories of SOME of the stuff that happened there...and maybe that was because I had a big boyfriend who saved me from all the stupid stuff I did...or maybe it could have been more had I lasted longer....but, the point is I am glad I am out and that I would not repeat those years.
The other day even as I looked at pictures from back in the day, I thought...WHAT WAS I THINKING! Never mind the outfits, the hair, the silly faces, the awkwardness,but it is so unfortunate that we all have to go through that...and if you don't think you did...don't kid your self, go back and take a look at the pictures!
For any of you reading this thinking "I loved high school!" to that I say good for you! You got the most out of a bad, no not bad, ummm, hmmm, what's the word I am looking for...well it's not coming to me... situation.
So to all those you made it to the end of this crazy post, again good for you...It was pointless I know, but it felt good to get it out. I think I'll go have some chocolate now and dream of the years to come when my children must experience such a thing as High School!

Kids and Pumpkins...

This was our 2nd annual Fall Break Pumpkin Painting time. It was a lot of fun. Grandma had about 14 kids in her house painting pumpkins. There was paint flying every where! Luckily they were all cousins. (the kids, not the paint flying)
Tobyn was funny, he knew that we were painting pumpkins, so he was determined to paint the ENTIRE pumpkin. He stood up on his stool just to make sure he was getting the back. TC and Titus went for a more themed looked...I think it was Pokemon...and tate, well, he just did his thing.
I liked hanging out with the in-laws and enjoying a relaxing day. (Once the set up and clean up was done)
After we cleaned up the mess and ate some yummy lunch we went to Nelson Grove park to play. We played and played until we were so tired. It was a fun, full, day. I hope the kids get some good fun memories of times like these to pass on to thier kids.
We look forward to doing this agian next year!!

Edit to Experiment #1

Well looking over the pictures. I have discovered more than just Masen is missing... Sorry to family...Remember it's called Experiment #1 for a reason :-) But ya know they all seem like a cute bunch anyway...

hummm....We'll see if this works

I am trying something new... I wanted to put this collage on my blog..but not really sure how. So I guess this is officially experiment #1.
This is just all the fun we have as a family. Sorry Nichole, I need more pics of Masen or they would be up there. Well, enjoy I guess...

It's supposed to be fall...Right?

No fancy pics for this post, just some thoughts of mine. I was so excited for October... cooler weather, Halloween, soups, all the yummy warmness of fall time. I decided to update my blog and do a little journaling.
I love summer! It's my favorite time of year. But when October comes around I start to get excited for all the things that come with fall and winter and make up my mind, or try anyway, that winter isn't so bad. It's a good thing to live in Utah where we have all four season. This time of year I love the colors that the leaves change and sweaters (or jackets, whichever my mood). I also love deciding what to have the kids be for Halloween... sometimes I let them help me decide :-)
My dad always said that October was the "kick off" season (and I am not just talking about football for all you crazy fans) It's the month that tends to kick off all the holiday's....So hurry up and cool down weather and bring on the fun!

Three Years Ago....

3 years ago.... It's been that long? Todd and I were just talking about that this morning. It seems so fast as you watch it go past and yet so long as you look back. Sometimes the other way around..depending on what is going on at the moment. Tobyn turned 3 a few days ago. This was the odd year so none of the kids had huge parties, for his we just ate with the neighbors (what else is new) and then had cake at Grandma's the next day. He got trucks, trucks, and more trucks, oh...and a dino!

He was so funny I would say "Tobyn it's your birthday!!" He would stop look at me then go right on doing what he was doing before. I don't think he gets the idea yet :-) But you know what?! That's ok, I'm not ready to deal with 4 of them understanding that yet. It makes my job a little easier for a while any way.

Food, Food and Friends...

We have had the most Awsomest time ever this summer. We have really enjoyed getting together with friends and neighbors to have BBQ’s and other fun things. They include who-ever wants to come…so if your reading this and feel left out, don’t you can come too!
This time we decided to have a breakfast. It was better than a buffet!! Every one brought something to share and we pigged out! I don’t think one person left hungry and if they did it was their own decision :-)
The kids all had tables and they loved it just as much as the adults did.

TC is 9...I must be getting old!

TC turned 9 on 9/8/08!!! I can't believe it, seems like yesterday he was just a little baby waking me up every 2 hours to get a bottle. We helped him finish his Wolf the very last minute and now he is a Bear in scouts. We went to Carl's Jr with Grandma Biesinger on saturday then had a little party at Grandma Christensen's on sunday. He was excited to Yu-gi-oh cards and Bakugan. (only most little boys know what those are) What a weekend! Nothing makes me smile more than watching my kids grow and be happy!

First day of School

The kids have gone back to school. TC and Titus went back on the 18th. TC is in 3rd grade in Mrs. Emero's class. Titus is in 2nd grade and in Mrs. Howarth's class. They have had fun so far. The first two weeks are only half days so that may contribute to the fun :-)

Tate went back today. We went to wait for the bus but is was running so late we thought it had come early and we had missed it. We went to the school and he played on the playground while we waited then lined up and was ready to go when the teachers said so.

I can't believe three of them are in school already. I really need to find someone for Tobyn to play with or get him involved in something. His favorite pastime is to pester Tanner.

Yesterday we went to 7 peaks to use the kids Peak Reader Passes. They had fun. It was a little cold tward the end but like always a ton of fun.