Book Report & Sucker Treats

This past week or two MaKenna has been working on a book report. I know that she is only in pre-school. She picks a subject and then does a poster and a treat for the class. She then had an assigned time to present this to the class. She chose to learn about Mickey Mouse. This was a fun topic. She learned about Walt Disney and the where the first Mickey was made. She did such a good job on her presentation and we are so proud of her. She was a little shy at first. I know, who would have thought Junior Kellie would be shy. Well Good Job MaKenna!! We love you. We decided to do Mickey Suckers for her treat and so our friends came over to teach us how. Kim and Trevor are really good at making hard candy and since I have never done it...I needed help. She brought her molds, flavors and colors and we learned how to make suckers. It was so much fun. I am so grateful that they were willing to take time to help us. It was so much fun we talked about making it a tradition every month. Thanks Kim and Trevor, you guys are awesome!!!!

Cheers to the Birthday Girl!

It was my mother-in-laws birthday this weekend. We went over to her house for Birthday dinner and games. It was a lot of fun. The kids love grandma and grandpas house. I have now been in the family for 7 years and I can truly say that I have grown to adore and love this amazing lady more than I thought possible. She has raised an awesome man whom is the man that he is today because of what she taught him at an early age. He loves the Lord as she does and honors his priesthood in which blesses the lives of our children and generations to come. She is a generous, willing woman who will outstretch a hand to anyone in need. She never speaks ill of others and loves all she comes in contact with unconditionally. She has taught me lessons of prayer and hope and that nothing is impossible. Mom, I know that I have much to learn in this life but I am so grateful for the example that you are to me, which inspires me to be a better woman everyday. Not a day goes by that I stop to thank my Heavenly Father for the one of the beautiful mothers he placed in my life. I love you. Happy Birthday!

Salt Lake Racin'

We went up to Salt Lake for the weekend. We spent time with family. The cousins love spending time with Grandpa and this weekend they found all of his old wheelies and track. They played race cars all morning. He is such a great grandpa and Dad. We are so lucky to have him in our lives.

Room Make-over!!

This past two weeks I started to make over the kids rooms. MaKenna and Hunter were in the same room and it was time to put the girls in their room and Hunter in his own. I had envisioned how I wanted the rooms to look for at least a year now and had bought all the comforters, shelves and toy bins over 8 months ago as I found the different things on clearance. I was so lucky to find all the matching things over a period of time from different stores too. They turned out soo cute and I was so proud of myself because I rarely can come up with cute decorating ideas that trun out.

It's A Boy!!

Our good friends the Clyde's had a boy! If you know the Clydes, you know that they have all girls...3 to be exact. We were so excited when we got the news last night at midnight that at 11:59:58 they had a boy. His name is Elijah Richard and he weighed 6lbs 10oz and 19 1/2 inches long. I took balloons over to their house this morning and then went shopping. I couldn't help myself...I had to go and get him some blue outfits. We took them over this evening and saw him in all his cuteness. Congratulations Steven and Amy!!!! He is sooooo Cute!!!!

Bloggin the Log

Bloggin' the "Log"

Well there is always a story behind it all.....we went snowmobiling with some of our friends up at Kolob and then we went to their cabin for dinner. It was a blast. I have not been snowmobiling for at least a year and I was sure to not fit into my snow suit that I have had since I was 16 but life is great sometimes because I didn't even have to hold my breath while I zipped it up. Hooray! It was a beautiful day and we just played and enjoyed the snow. We packed in Subways and had some cocoa. We decided to make a fire at the cabin because it was so cold however we did not stay long enough to really get to enjoy it. Then Brian really had to go if you know what I mean...you know. Well the water was not on and we were not about to turn it on, so our good friend Nibs put a Lin's sack around the toilet seat so that Brian could take care of business. Well little did we all know that Brian planned on packing it out too. He tied his little sack of poo to the snowmobile and we took it all the way home. Yes, it was swinging in the wind or should I say snow. I guess the lesson for the day is....If you pack it in, you should pack it out!!!! Thanks guys we had a great time with you!

Search and Rescue

I can't help but take the time to write a thing or two about my amazing husband. This weekend really helped me to see some fantastic qualities about him. I have seen them before but sometimes I just get so wrapped up with the ho and hum of taking care of the kids I forget to stop and acknowledge the wonderful man he is. This past ten days(off and on) Brian has spent a lot of time to help search for a missing woman. As most people know he serves on the Search and Rescue team down here in Washington County. He is on two of the teams, the high angle(rock climbing) and the ground team. He has gone on many searches and most of them are a sacrifice because it is never good timing for what is happening with the family when the search gets paged out. He has had to leave during parties, family functions, date nights and in the middle of the night too. This is a calling only for those that are truly committed, and supported by their wives too. This is not possible without both parties being fully committed. I must admit that it is really hard sometimes to support a search but the happiness of a lost person being found or the closure that it can bring family members of a body being found and recovered is really satisfying to the team. This weekend the search was on the news and in papers around the state as a lot of searches are but this search was really long and they would not have recovered her body had they not had the volunteers of the Search and Rescue teams. Brian was so passionate about helping and he got calls from the Sgt. to do specific climbs and hikes. He was a trooper and I truly saw the light in his eyes through helping someone else in need. Even though it is difficult to have him gone, it is a good feeling to know that he was a part in helping this family have closure. Brian you are amazing and I love you. Also an article was written in the Spectrum about the team....

Search and Rescue(The Spectrum Editorial)

Many people simply don't understand the training and commitment that comes with keeping the public safe. For their efforts on a daily basis, we owe a great debt to police and sheriff's officers and firefighters.
There is another group, however, that gets little recognition but plays a big part in helping people who are lost, stranded or injured in remote locations. They are the men and women of local search-and-rescue teams.
Unlike the full-time officers who they often work with side by side, search-and-rescue team members usually are volunteers who use their own equipment - usually at their own expense - and give their own time to help others.
In just the 10 days, for example, we've seen search-and-rescue teams attempt to locate an Ivins woman who disappeared from her home on New Year's Day. Team members from both Washington and Iron counties searched the Red Mountain area and other rugged areas in a successful attempt to find the woman.
They searched on foot, by air and via ATVs over rough terrain. They put themselves in danger, as these teams often do, for a person they had never before met.
Local law enforcement officers are almost universal in their praise for these volunteers. They point out the critical role that they serve in helping assist people in need. They also point out how, without these volunteer heroes, that the counties simply wouldn't be able to provide the kinds of service we currently receive, at least not without a greatly increased cost.
The work isn't easy. Many times, the team members have to deal with adverse weather conditions, dangerous terrain and with the possibility that their search will not result in a positive outcome for the family members of the missing person.
Yet the team members put aside thoughts of their own well-being to lend a hand and to provide some hope for both the stranded or missing person and that person's family members.
Many times, these team members are able to extract people from terrible situations. They are able to bring a loved one home to their families.
Too often, search-and-rescue teams' efforts go unnoticed. So we say "thank you" for all that you do. This region appreciates the service you provide.

This search was over really dangerous terrain and many times the guys had to be dropped off in the area of search by helicopter because it could not be reached on foot. One of the pictures is of the recovery on Sunday where they had to put every training they have ever had to use. The pulley system they had to use was over a 400 foot drop. And the other pics are of the same search but the woman had not yet been found.

New Years Fun

New Years

We went to Salt Lake to spend New Years with my family. We played games, shared memories and laughed. It was so fun to spend time together as a family. We watched the Utah game as a family while it blustered and stormed outside. I couldn't help but laugh when my 5 year old nephew walked in front of the tv and held his fists in the air and said "I BELIEVE UTAH, I BELIEVE!" He is such a young, cute fan. The boys went snowmobling on New years day and the girls went to lunch and shopping. MaKenna wanted to get her make-up done so we went to Dillards too.

This is What it is All About

I know that Christmas is over but I still wanted to post this picture. My dad is an incredible painter and he painted this statue. We were at their house this past New Years and as I looked at this statue it gave me a real sense of what Christmas is all about. I hope that you all had a Happy holiday season and I hope that your new year to come is filled with Joy.