Merry Christmas~Last Blog of the Year~Picture Overload

We had such a wonderful Christmas. We started on Wednesday the 23rd by going to the Tuacahn in St. George to see the live nativity. It was fun and Channer loved seeing baby Jesus and the real donkeys, camels, and sheep. We met up with Chantry's mom, Dusty's family, and Chantell's family. It was quite cold, but still a lot of fun.

On Christmas Eve we went over to Grandpa's for the Brindley Christmas party. We got there around 4:00 and listened to McKayla play her violin. She has only been doing it for a couple months and is already pretty good at it.

Then Chantry pulled the kids on the sled and he even took a ride too.

They had so much fun and I would have thought Channer would not want to go for too long, but he wanted to keep going and going forever.

Santa Clause showed up at the party and brought all the kids a stocking full of stuff. Channer didn't want to sit on his lap this time (he was super tired and got hurt on the sled, so was not up for much). Chestyn on the other hand was excited to sit on his lap and pull his hair.

Uncle Fred put this hidious mask on and looked so funny, I couldn't help but take a picture.

After a yummy dinner with too much food, we opened presents. As usual everyone got spoiled. Chantry's dad gave Chantry and I a stereo for our Ranger and his mom gave us a cow, so we have plenty of meat to last us throughout the year! Channer got a cute little hunting vest and his first rifle that shoots darts. He also got a train set, some fun CD's and more cars (his favorite).

Chestyn slept through opening presents, but he got a cute basketball set, a caterpiller, a cute outfit, and some bath toys. SPOILED!!

After all the fun of opening presents, we sang a little karaoke.

After we got home from Grandpa's house we opened pj's and read a new Christmas book and sent the kids to bed. I was more excited than them. They woke up a few times in the middle of the night (as usual) and when Channer woke up at about 4:30 I was so tempted to tell him that Santa had come, but then I decided he needed a little more sleep. So at about 7:30 Chantry and I woke him and Chestyn up. Yes, we woke them up, cause we were so excited. Crazy how they are up at 6:00 on any given day, but on Christmas they could have slept all morning.

The only thing Channer asked for was the Blue King off of the Cars Movie. So I wanted to make sure that was the first thing he found. By the look on his face you can tell that he would have been happy without anything else besides this car.

He was so stinkin' funny. He would open one present and then run away and play with his car and we would have to tell him there were more presents and to come open them. I love the pjs they got this year. Channer is so into the Cars Movie that these were perfect.

Chestyn had a great morning and loved the toys he got, but of course the boxes and paper were far more entertaining. Chestyn got a Leap Frog table, a push and ride toy, a bumble ball, some books etc.

Channer got his Blue King, a car gargae, a sleeping bag, boxing gloves, snow pants, a TAG reader book with books to go with it, other cars, etc. We had a great Christmas indeed and our boys were SPOILED.

This is to just prove that Chestyn does cry every once in a while, it just doesn't happen that often. His cry face is even cute though.

On Christmas morning Chantry's mom and dad go from house to house to see what all of the grandkids got, so we waited for them to come over and then we went over to Grandpa's for breakfast. After breakfast we all went out shooting skeet. It was freezing cold and the wind was blowing like crazy, so me and the boys stayed in the car most the time and watched.

After shooting we went back to Grandpa's and just hung out the rest of the day. It was a great time, did some more karaoke, played some games, ate food, and visited. It is always a great time and the time gets away from us. We didn't get home until almost 10:00, so the kids didn't even get to play with there Christmas toys, so they have been non-stop this morning.

This is my last blog of the year and I am getting ready to print my blog (that is my Christmas present). I just want to say that we have had a WONDERFUL year. Our two little boys are our world and make life so much fun. I really cannot imagine life without them. We are so blessed to have two healthy boys. I am so grateful for Chantry and all that he does to provide for our family. His job has been so up and down this year and I know he stresses about it, but he never fails to find a way to take care of us. We are so lucky to have come from wonderful families with great siblings, great parents, and the cutest nieces and nephews in the world. We truly are blessed and I never want to forget the important things in life. The other day Chantry and I were coming out of the bank with our two cute boys and an older gentleman was holding the door for us. As we thanked him, he point at our kids and said "cherish these moments, they do go by quick". Not that I didn't realize it before, but it brought a tear to my eye thinking about it. Time is flying and I really want to keep this blog up for the sake of my kids. So they can look back at the fun times we had. I only wish my parents had kept a blog. Life really is great and we look forward to a great 2010!

My Husband's Addiction

In the 5 1/2 years Chantry and I have been married he has BOUGHT and SOLD 6 trucks, 2 Jeeps, 3 snowmobiles, 3 four-wheelers, 4 camp trailers, and 1 motorcycle, those are just the things I can think of, we won't go in to detail about tires, generators, etc. His motto in life is "everything's for sale for the right price". I cannot complain one bit because he NEVER loses money. I used to go crazy with all the buying and selling. The people at the DMV saw me all too often(not just cause I was the title clerk at the Ford dealership), and the bank knows me all too well. Looking at the big picture I actually owe my husband a big THANK YOU. It is because of his addiction that we are nearly out of debt. He makes smart choices and works hard for what we have. He deserves so much more and one day I hope he can get whatever toys he wants. Now if only he could sell our house :) Love you Chantry and thanks for all your hard work and everything you do for our family.

What have we been up to??

We have been so busy, but having so much fun the last few weeks. I am not even close to being ready for Christmas and I swore I was not gonna let it stress me out, but I would have to say thinking about it kind of does stress me a little. I like to play WAY too much and not get things done that need to get done. I still have a ton of wrapping to do (haven't wrapped one gift). I do have all my shopping done though. I want to catch up with all my house work and laundry by Wednesday so that I can enjoy the holidays. The Brindley Family Christmas party is Thursday and I need to come up with something to bring for pot luck. I also would like to find time to make some Christmas goodies. I always want everything to be perfect, but seem to run out of time. I think I am more excited for Christmas than my kids are. Channer is super excited though and every time he tells me Santa is bringing him the Blue King (from cars) for Christmas...I just can't wait to see him on Christmas morning when he really gets what he wants.

Anyway this past weekend we had too much fun in Antimony. I went over Thursday night and brought Laramy and Wyatt with me. Channer had so much fun as usual because over at grandma's house he is spoiled rotten. Chantry took us sledding behind the Ranger....or hooding if that is what you want to call it.

We have had fun with friends over and cousins over. The other day Canyon and Charlee came over and I actually got a few pictures. They always have so much fun together and Charlee just loves Chestyn. She tries to be his little mommy even though Chestyn is almost the same size.

We started project that I hope to get finished soon. My dad gave me the old table and chairs that were in our dining room when I was growing up. First of all I think it is a very pretty table and will be really nice after we refinish them. Second, it was the very first thing that my mom and dad bought along with a matching china hutch (but that goes to my sister). So it is something that has meaning too. Not sure where the before pictures went but here we are in the process of working on it and I will put before and after pictures when it is all done.

Just because, here are a few pictures of my cute boys doing what they do best....just being cute.

Excited

So about a week ago I put that I was excited on Facebook. I did not think people would be so curious, but I had people guessing anywhere from me being pregnant to winning Publisher's Clearning House. While I am extremely excited, I only dragged it on forever on Facebook because I thought it was funny. Anyway for all those wondering, we bought a cabin.

While I would love to say this is the cabin we bought....it's not. I am so excited about the one we did buy though. We have property over in Antimony and found this cute little cabin to put on it. It needs some work, but I think it is so dang cute and that it will be fun to have a cabin over there. We love to go visit and our property is right on Otter Creek in the most beautiful location.

Don't you think it is so cute. Like I said it has a lot of work to do, but it will be fun having something to put our money into and having something fun to do as a family and it has so much potential. This is Chantry with the deck loaded on a trailer ready to move to our property. We will be moving the rest of the cabin in the next few weeks and then start the fun stuff (painting, carpet, etc). I really think it will be so fun and sorry to all of you Facebook friends who expected it to be much more :)

Santa Land

We took Channer to Santa Land today. I love Santa Land. It so cute and the trees are so creative.

When you go to see Santa, you enter through an Igloo and go to the North Pole. I just think it is so cute and I appreciate all the work put into it to make it fun for the kids.

Channer was actually a really big boy this year and sat on Santa's lap. He would not say a word the whole time, but he didn't cry or refuse to sit on his lap, so I was happy.
Chestyn sat on his lap too and I was quite surpised that he did not pull his beard off. He loves to pull hair.

They have some other fun stuff for the kids like face painting (which Channer of course would not let them), coloring, and stuff and its all free.

Channer's Birthday and B-day party

Channer had a great birthday. When he woke up we had the house all decorated for him. We knew we weren't doing his party til Saturday and we wanted it to still feel like a special day. He was so excited! He came out and opened his presents from mom, dad, and Chestyn. His favorite was his Super Why costume. He put it on and loved pretending to save people and he looked so darn cute.We took him to McDonald's to lunch at his request and then we took him to Wal Mart because he wanted a car and M&M's, so of course he got it.

Saturday he had his birthday party and it was such a fun day. It was his cousin Wyatt's birthday too, so we ended up combining their birthday parties and it worked out great. Most of Chantry's family was there and a few friends. He got spoiled as usual. He is so shy when others get around and it takes him a while to even come out of his shell, but he did okay after a while.
Wyatt opening his presents. Since it was his 14th birthday, he mostly got gift cards and money.

Channer had a lot of help opening his presents. He got so excited with every present.

All the adults had fun visiting.

Chestyn had fun getting into everything of Channer's.

Channer got this train from his "Grandma with the cow poop" and he loved it!!

I refused to belief that I had a 3 year old until he blew out his candles (which I am not sure why I have no pictures of that), but he blew them out and its official...he's 3 :(

Channer is 3 Today!!

Channer, Channer, Channer,

You are three years old today! We love you so much and cannot imagine what the last three years would have been like without you. Three years ago today, our life’s completely changed, for the better!! I remember that day so distinctly it is crazy. I went to work on a Thursday and told them as I was walking out the door that I was having a baby...they were quite surprised when I called them the next morning and told them you were coming. You were kind of stubborn though and did not want to come into the world until 2:00 the next morning. After 12 hours of labor and 2-1/2 hours of pushing, it was all worth it when the doctor put you on my chest and you grabbed a hold of my finger. I know, I was amazed too and so were the doctors that you could grip on to my finger that quick, but you did, and you have held me there ever since.

You have such a cute personality and come up with the funniest things. I know every mother thinks her child is smart and whitty, but let me tell you kiddo I think that you take the cake. I really think you do. You have two Grandma Marcia’s but you have not let that confuse you. You have named one “Grandma with the cow poop” and the other “the real Grandma Marcia”. I laughed so hard when we were getting ready to go to grandma’s house one day and you said “Grandma with the cow poop on the lawn?” She does always have cow poop on her lawn, so you are quite observant. Grandpa Charley is “Daddy’s dad” and Grandpa Ron, well he is just Grandpa Ron. I would love to see things the way you see them.

Yesterday, I was complaining that our house was such a mess and you said “that’s because I am a happy kid huh?” Well son, if you being happy means I have to have a messy house, I can deal with it. I sometimes get tired of picking up your mess and finding sippy cups that have curdled milk in them, and let me just say our couches have a few spills on them and we won’t even go into detail about what you have done to my body, but seriously kid, I wouldn’t change it.

Well buddy I am quite impressed with the love you have for your brother. You have never questioned since we brought him home or why he was suddenly here, you just loved him, and that makes me proud. He moves a little more now and gets your toys and that doesn’t make you very happy, but you are rarely ever mean to him. You will bring him a toy to replace the one of yours that he has. One day your cousin Chy asked if she could have Chestyn and you of course said no, but you must have thought long and hard about it because a couple days later out of nowhere you said “Chy can’t have Chestyn. She can get her own baby!” One day Chestyn was being rather ornery and I said I was going to sell him to the zoo for $100. You must have thought I was serious because you almost started crying and said “We are not selling him to the zoo and he is not worth $100” What I think you meant to say was that he is worth way more than $100, but I got the point and we ended up keeping your brother around.

One of your favorite “toys” to play with is my measuring tape. You like to unroll and roll it up and pretend you are measuring things. I thought it was quite adorable when I was tucking you in bed one night and you said you needed to sleep with your measuring tape so you could see how long you sleep.

When I say you are a smarty-pants, I am not kidding. One day we were in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and you had previously gone through every sign in there, read the letters, and asked me what they said. Well not too long after a lady sat down in the waiting room and you looked at a sign and said “F-L-U-S-E-A-S-O-N, that spells flu season” The lady looked at me and I could just see amazement on her face. Then she asked how old you were and I said 2. I think she was about to fall out of her chair...then I decided to tell her that I had already told you what the sign said before and she still said she was in complete amazement and that she teaches Kindergarten and a lot them cannot do that. That made me proud for sure.

Thanks for being our little boy. Mommy and daddy love you so much and look forward to pushing our couches together many more times and snuggling up as a family. There are days that I feel I have to neglect you to get my work done, but you never seem to mind. You wait patiently for me to read your book or play hide n’ seek. I sure do love being home with you. Even though I sometimes act like you being a momma’s boy is a pain in my rear, here is a little secret....I love every minute of it! As I am typing this, you are in your room yelling for me from your bed. I think that is adorable that you are a big 3 year old and still yell for your mommy to come get you every morning.

Thanks for always being my little buddy and no matter what remember this....In a world where you can be anything, be yourself!!

Love always,
Mommy

Here are a few of my favorite pics over the last 3 years, in no particular order....and YES, I did cry as I was looking through past pictures.