The Huggards

Grandma Jo's Christmas Party

2010-12-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

Minute to Win It-Christmas Style

Our family party has had many themes throughout the years--this year it was Minute to Win It. We had several challenges. They were fun to participate in and even more fun to watch everyone else. We ALWAYS have fun together, no matter what!

Face the Cookie
Jingle in the Trunk
Ruldoph Nose
Kleenex Pull
Stack the Golf Balls
M & M munch
Elephant March
Balloon Air Blow
Christmas NUT Stack
Ping Pong Ball launch

We had great food and then of course PRESENTS! Grandma Jo got all the little kids a bike like toy. They had so much fun scooting those things around the gym at the Jr. High. There is also a ramp that they got flying down it. It was the perfect place to play on them. Bailey got Loopz. It is a game based on memory. Yep, you guessed it-she beats me every time.
We had a talent show. Bailey and Wade played Christmas songs on the piano. Bailey also played the recorder that we learned in school. Chase is pretty cute when he sings "I'm getting nuttin for Christmas" but he decided having everyone watch him was just too much.
The night ended with a very competitive basketball game. We have some great ball players in the family.
It was a GREAT party!

Christmas Morning

2010-12-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning came VERY early this year, in fact, I'm not sure we had a Christmas night where we slept at all. At 11:00 (yes p.m.) Bailey and Wade woke up and saw that Santa had indeed been to our house. Well they thought they had slept an entire night, not just an entire hour, and were extremely mad when I told them to go back to bed. Well they sat in their rooms and cried and tried to sleep for and every 10 minutes asked if it had been long enough. Finally I figured we were all awake so what the heck! At midnight we started rippin' open those presents. It is so much fun to see the excitement on those kids' faces. I loved every part of it. Bailey's favorite things were a puppy purse and a camel pack. Wade loved his lava lamp and his baseball bag. All Chase needed were his Mickey Mouse and his pillow pet. They all got a wii, and were so excited about that. It has been a pretty cool morning!

Christmas Eve-Hansen Party

2010-12-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

It has been a tradition for 34 years to spend Christmas Eve in Elmo with my Grandma Hansen. When I was little, it was the most anticipated day of the year-even more so than Christmas Day. This party was always the most fun part of the holidays. We always had a talent show, Santa, leg wrestles, ham and chili, and of course a fun activity outside. We loved to ice skate on Grandpa's pond at the farm, or catch air while being pulled on a sled behind the truck (Kirk really shouldn't drive!), or sledding down Salt Lake Knoll. I always looked forward to the presents too. My grandma would always make something special for the girls. I have many handmade dolls that I treasure.

So this year was no exception. We went to Elmo for a Christmas Eve party. We ate chili and ham and homemade bread. We played fun games. Some differences this year were that instead of homemade presents, we had poopy "literally" white elephant gifts. And instead of playing in the snow (it was 50 degrees outside) we had to ice block down the hill instead. It was great fun to see everyone fly down the hill. There were some pretty awesome trains made. It felt like summer, but it was great weather for ice blocking.

Christmas Eve-Jeffs Party

2010-12-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

This year for the party with the Jeffs family, we went Christmas caroling. Lee hooked up a wagon, and with all the great grand kids, it quickly was filled up. We enjoyed the ride around town singing songs and filling the town with Christmas spirit. It is fun to see all of my cousins and their families. We wish you a merry Christmas!

Snow Day!

2010-12-25T18:55:00.000-08:00

It definitely looks like Christmas after this last snow storm. It snowed 18 inches in one day, and school closed on Wednesday. I couldn't get my kids to come inside. They LOVE to play in the snow. It was dark and late and James just kept pulling them around on the sleds out back. Chase is relieved that it snowed, because Santa can pull his sleigh much easier.

We also got to make snowmen. We made three: one was a cowgirl, one became a baseball player, and the third little one was a bow hunter.

We also have a friend with a great tubing hill. So we spent our snow day off of school sledding down the hill.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2010-12-12T17:55:00.000-08:00

We had our first of many Christmas parties this weekend. It was the annual Huggard party.

We drove up the night before. It's a tradition to drive through the lights up north. We loved the lights at Thanksgiving Point but we loved the live reindeer even more. We watched the two reindeer and even got to pet them!

The Huggard party was with Grandpa Huggard and his family. It was fun to see everyone. We played some games, and then the highlight of the party showed up--SANTA! Wade wanted a pillow pet, Chase said he wanted some legos and Bailey wanted a purse. They all got a present and a bag of candy. They all had big smiles.

After the party, we went ice skating at the outdoor rink in Midway. It was SO MUCH FUN! The weather was absolutely perfect! We had fun doing tricks, racing, playing tag, and line dancing on the ice.

Bailey skated like a pro. She enjoyed skating on one leg.

Wade was also amazing. He was doing all kinds of tricks, including full spins and jumps. I was surprised at how easy skating was for him.

Chase was skating pretty well by the time we left. He could do it all by himself.

Decorating the Tree

2010-11-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

MAKE EACH DAY YOUR OWN MASTERPIECE!

It's the little things that bring happiness-like decorating the Christmas tree. It was so fun to see the excitment of these three kids as they made our tree into their masterpiece.

How many people have to use 9 foot ladders to decorate the tree? James lives by the rule, "Don't short yourself in the land of the plenty!" That goes for our Christmas tree every year!

Posing for a picture with Santa!

The best gift ever, if being together!

Bailey made the formation, and Wade was the photgrapher!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

Turkey, trees, shopping at two o'clock in the morning, and toys down the toilet-that was our Thanksgiving!

After we got our tree and got off the mountain, Grandma Jo had gingerbread houses for us to make. They turned out so cute and each one was very unique. Wade put the frosting on, added the candy and then ate it right off. Bailey's was perfect, and Chase just enjoyed every minute of it.

All four families went up to Joes Valley together this year to cut down our trees. We found a tall, skinny one this year. After the gigantic tree last year, I got to pick a skinny one this year. Chase took the chain saw and took the first cut, then helped his dad bring it back to the truck.

On the way up the mountain, the kids took turns riding on the sled. This is ALWAYS fun, no matter what!

This is one of Wade's favorite thing in the whole world!

Aren't they such a cute bunch!

For Thanksgiving this year we went to Elmo to celebrate with the Hansens. All of my cousins were there except for Ty. It was great to see everyone. Our family grew by 4 this year, and they were all baby boys. We had a great dinner and played some very entertaining games. The men shot through quite a few shot gun shells.

Bailey got into a very exciting card game.

Chase colored a cute cup. He really had fun playing with Kade and all the other little kids.

Wade thinks Colton is the coolest kid ever. We were really excited to see Colton walk into Thanksgiving. He is a little stiff, but moving pretty good.

Turkey Winner!

2010-11-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Bailey won the basketball turkey shoot. She won out of all the fourth and fifth graders. She made the most baskets out of 10 shots. Way to go! She won a frozen turkey!
She also won the Hoop Shoot at shcool. She really loves basketball!
Keep shootin' Bailey!

Herding Cows

2010-11-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

Riding back to get the truck!

Bailey and Tylee

Oh, Oh, Oh, Stuck Like Glue-You and my baby are stuck like glue!

Me and Chase-We are best buds!

Head 'em up, move 'em out!

We love going on the desert to move cows, and this weekend turned out to be perfect! All we need is a few more horses. We love going down the river to Fuller's Bottom. Jana and Kyle had brought the cows down from the farm during the week. We took the cows from Hambrick Bottoms to the water trough near Fuller's Bottom. My kids loved every second of it. Wade was so excited that he didn't have to share his horse with anybody. Bailey was happy to run through the river and get us all wet. Chase was happy (until he got cold) and then was happy to be playing in the dirt with Kade. James was happy Chase got off so that he didn't have to ride double. I was just entirely happy to be on the desert. It is my favorite place in the entire world.

I bet I have ridden the trail down the river over 100 times. Riding that desert is my strongest and best memories of my dad. As we rode, it was funny to reminisce. I could think of a story for almost every bend in the trail, every tree, and even every bunch of tamaracks. My dad and I definitely had lots of unforgettable moments on that desert. The place where the dog ate the sandwiches, or where Jodi and I saw a porcupine. The sandy spot where Dolly would roll over every time we went through it. The place in the river where Jasa and my mom came close to drowning. The place in the river where my dad swam his horse for a mile and couldn't get out. The best spot to swim in the river, or the place where my dad packed all five girls across so that we didn't get wet. I could go on and on.

It is days like these that I really miss my dad. It was a great day, but it would have been better to hear his laugh (I won't ever forget his laugh). I really love my dad. I really love and cherish all the time that we spent together.

Haunted Corn Maze!

2010-11-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

Wade and Chase thought sliding down the hay slides was a lot more fun than being chased by chainsaws through the corn.

Waiting to go in--when Wade and Chase still liked clowns.

This year we experienced everything Halloween in Sevier County had to offer. We did the pumpkin patch, the haunted library, the highschool carnival, and the magic show. Our favorite was the Haunted Corn Maze. It was quite a fright in the middle of the dark corn maze when all kinds of spooky people came out of the corn. Me and the boys made our way out pretty quickly; we didn't want to spend too much time in the maze with the haunts. James and Bailey were a little more brave. It was pretty funny to watch Bailey run out of the maze as fast as she could with the chain saw guy right behind her. I think she got a pretty good scare.

Arghh, Mateys!

2010-11-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

We spent Halloween in Castle Dale this year! We started off the day with a trip to the grocery store carnival. The kids came home with all kinds of treats. Then we had a party at Jasa's house. We played games, frosted cookies, told spooky stories, and had a great time. We went to the trunk or treat and also went door to door for more treats. It was a great day!

The whole family dressed up like pirates this year. James was the deck hand. He didn't make it to full pirate status.

Grandma Jo had the best costume of all. She was a hippie. The funny thing is, she was exactly how she dressed back in the day!

Walk the Plank!

AArrggh!

Give me the treasure!

Happy Halloween!

Carvin' Pumpkins

2010-10-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

These simple traditions are oh so great. You can never grow too old to enjoy carving pumpkins.

Haulin' Hay

2010-10-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

There is just something about hay and work and farms that is down right FUN! I can't explain it! It isn't fun to to do houseWORK, it isn't fun to do yardWORK, but it is fun to haul hay! It's fun to climb on the stack when it's done and it's fun to ride on the stack back home. I'ts even fun to see if your strong enough to throw the bale of hay where it needs to go.

We spent the day Saturday getting enough hay to last us through the winter. Bailey drove the truck for the first time. She drove, the boys rolled the bales over to the trailer, I did my best to get them on the trailer and James did a whole lot of work.

Colton

2010-10-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Last month we had a terrible accident happen in our family. Colton was at the farm when he was run over with a truck. He was life flighted to Primary Children's where we found out both femurs were broke. Even though it will be tough for the next couple months, he will recover just fine. It missed his growth plates and his hips. We are so thankful. He has two metal rods in both legs that start at his knees and run up to the top of each femur.

So nothing keeps him down. Jodi found him a Jazzi motor scooter and Wade was glad to go along for a ride. Keep smilin' Colton, we love you!

Red Ribbon Week

2010-10-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Red Ribbon Week was last week at school. My kids had a blast dressing up for all of the different days. Their favorite was Red Day. It was a contest to see who had on the most red. My kids found everything from red shoe laces to red ties to red bands for their wrists to red hair. I think they even found their red underwear. They were definitely covered in red.

Ice Blocking

2010-10-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ice Blockin!

Tarzan!

2010-10-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Fall break + Family + Fun = TARZAN!!!

Grandma Jo took all the family to Tuachan in St. George to see Tarzan! It was the most amazing show that I have ever seen. There were apes swinging right over our heads. The actors were in the air more than they were on the stage. There were huge butterflies and acrobats. We even got to shake hands with the apes when the show was over. The kids were mezmerized the entire show.
We stayed the night and played with the cousins the next day. My kids just cry whenever we have to leave them.

Football Season!

2010-10-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Wade played football and soccer this year. His loved playing defense and pulling the flags off of the other team. He was quite a little player.

Bailey

2010-10-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

So Bailey is 10 years old! How fast time flies. Bailey is such a great example of me and our family. She is so positive! She has a great attitude about life. She tries hard in everything that she does. She is friendly and smart and just plain AMAZING. I look at her every day and think how lucky that I am to have such a great daughter. I am blessed to have her!

Bailey is so talented. Everything that she tries, she succeeds in. First of all, and most importantly, she is so smart. She is top of her class. She reads on a 9th grade reading level and she loves to write. She just finished an 11 chapter novel that she wrote. She loves to read! She can memorize anything. She has the potentail to be and do anything in her life. Her dream right now is to be a vet. I remember when Bailey was little in Green River and how she knew her alphabet and their sounds before her second birthday. I remember when she turned two how she wrote the word mom and dad with magnetic letters on the fridge. She has always surprised me.

Bailey is very athletic. She played on an all-star Babe Ruth Softball team. Her team went to Regionals. She was the pitcher for her city team. She plays soccer and is the all star goalie. Her city team won first in the tournament. She loves volleyball, but her favorite sport is Basketball. Bailey is also quite a swimmer. She was on the swim team this summer. She is very good at sports.

Bailey is also musical. She is great on the piano and she has a gorgeous voice. The primary has commented on how pretty her voice is.

Bailey also loves to dance and do gymnastics. She loves doing backflips on the trampoline.

Bailey is amazing with animals. She loves horses. She loves doing the barrels, and she is the super fast at tying goats. At the last horse show, she brought home four trophies. I love to watch her show her horse and run the barrels.

Bailey is great with her brothers, and they adore her. She can make any game fun. Bailey loves the water and the boat. Bailey loves to hunt, camp, ride four wheelers, and fish (although Bailey always seems to be the first one swimming in the lake when the fishing isn't so great).

Bailey has no fear. She will jump off the tallest cliff or slide down the biggest rock. The only things that scare her are snakes and shots.

Bailey loves the color blue, Carrie Underwood, ice cream, and steak and potatoes.

Bailey's personality attracts people to her. She is fun and nice and energetic. She is a great kid and I am proud of all she does. I am especially lucky to get to be her teacher in 4th grade this year. I know she will always do her best and do great things. I love you!

Bowling

2010-10-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Grandpa and Grandma Huggard came down for Bailey's Birthday. They took us bowling for her birthday. We all had a good time watching the kids' expressions after they bowled. They are sure fun! I am sure Grandma Huggard won the game, but Chase will tell you that he did. We all laughed and had a great time. It was especially funny when I rolled the ball, it hit a stray pin that was laying down in the middle of the lane, and that pin shot back and I got a strike!

Bailey is 10

2010-10-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

For Bailey's 10th Birthday, we had the Amazing Race-South Sevier. Three different teams met at our house for the starting line. James drove one team (camoflauge), I drove the Blue Peace team and Grandma Jo took the Rainbow Peace team in her car (Thanks MOM!). The teams raced throughout South Sevier looking for clues and performing challenges. They had to eat baby food, sing to the city workers, run the barrels on a stick horses, shoot baskets, carry ping pong balls on spoons, and buy things at the grocery store. We sure got a lot of crazy looks from the townspeople. The teams were very competitive! They were really racing! Even though I told the drivers to obey the speed limit, I am sure they didn't (No, James, you can't pass us on Main Street). The kids had fun, but were exhausted when we made it to the finish line. All the teams came in very close, Bailey's team won. It had Savanna, Yates, and Kaetz on it. All the kids thought it was the best party ever. We opened presents. Bailey got a lot of money, she thinks she will buy an ipod with it. We gave her a bike. It was blue, her favorite color. She made her own cake this year. It has a Amazing Race path made out of candy. It was a great day. I love you Bailey!

Pickin' Pumpkins

2010-10-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

Part of the fun of the Pumpkin Patch in Central are the rides. We got to go on a train ride. It is really a tractor pulling a few homemade carts around. I thought it was just a little scary doing doughnuts in the middle of the main oiled road, but the kids liked it.

At the Pumpkin Patch, they had free "homemade" rides. The kids got in this thing, put on a seat belt, then they spun around and around. They said it was lots of fun. Bailey couldn't get enough. Chase was so proud of himself for being so brave. Wade did it, but wasn't sure his stomach liked it much. I was just gald that they stayed in the seat belts.

It was fun to watch the kids look at ALL the pumpkins and decide on their favorites. Wade had to find the biggest one! Bailey wanted a tall skinny one. Chase was content with any of them. We came home with a trunk full of pumpkins and a few squash.

Biking at Fish Lake

2010-10-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to ride our bikes along the trails at Fish Lake for a long time, and Fall time was a great time to do it. We all rode on the trail that follows the bank of the lake. The colors of fall were amazing. We had a picnic and thankfully had all of our fun before the rain came. It was a great day.

Soccer Season!

2010-10-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

ALL of my kids got to play soccer this year! Chase was finally old enough, and he was so excited. I coached Chase's team. They were so cute. We were just happy when the kids were kicking the ball in the right direction. Chase liked being goalie. He was also quite a player. Just like in everything he does, he sure had determined looks on his face when he kicked the ball down the field.

Wade moved on to the next division, so he was the youngest player on the team. He did very well. Wade doesn't like to play goalie or defender. He likes to be on the go, all of the time! He runs for a full hour and doesn't get tired. He is a really great player. Soccer is one of his talents.

Bailey has always loved soccer. Ever since her team won a soccer championship in Nephi, soccer has been one of her loves. She loves being goalie and she is an amzing goalie. At her age, the kids have super poweful kickers, but she stops them all. The 4th/5th graders had a tournament and she didn't let one person score during the entire tournament. We got all kinds of comments after the game about how talented she was. It was pretty exciting. I get a little nervous when there are penalty kicks right at her, but she deflects them no problem. Their team was the champions! Way to go!

2010-10-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

Shane drew a moose tag, and nothing could have made James happier (unless of course he drew it himself). More tags drawn means more missed work, more being in the mountains, and this time more horse riding.

James has always wanted to take horses into the back country of the Uintahs. I guess he can mark that off of his bucket list. He and Shane went several miles up into the tops of the Uintah mountains. They rode to Red Castle, which is the setting of the book Return to Red Castle (one of my favorites). They saw a lot of great country, but no big bull moose. I think maybe they don't get any the first week so they have a reason to keep going back.

So while James was gone, of course I went to Emery County. I think hanging out with my mom and my sisters is the very best company around. We all have such a great bond! We went on the mountain for a picnic. Wade walked up the hill and found a perfect arrow head right off. I can't believe it. I've searched my whole life and never found one, and he seems to find one every time we go anywhere. Chase thinks Kade is his very best buddy and can't see why Kade can't come and play every day after school. Bailey loves to play with Devin, Colton, and Tylee. It was a nice weekend.

One Last Camp-Out

2010-09-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

Labor Day and camping just go together. We spent 4 days up Huntington Canyon with everyone we love. All the Jeffs were there and Grandma and Grandpa Huggard came for the weekend too. All of those little kids absolutely love playing together. They are such great pals. Grandma Huggard had some fun crafts for the kids to do. They stayed so busy that they were sound asleep before we got out of the camp site to go home on Monday afternoon. Isn't it great that our best friends are our family members. I really love spending time with these great people.

Cousins!

2010-08-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

We got to watch the Willsons for the weekend, while their parents played in Vegas. Our kids really enjoy having cousins stay over. We went on the mountain and while I helped James set up the trailer, they played. After a while, I decided I better go see where they went. I found them not by the lake, but in the lake. They had found an abandoned, old canoe. They then found some old logs that they used for oars and all 6 of them were floating near the middle of the lake. They were pretty proud of themselves. I on the other hand was a little concerned for the two little kids that don't know how to swim. They did make it back to the shore and all was well. It reminded me of the times Jodi and I would swim in the lakes above Joes Valley.

Pee Wee Horse Show

2010-08-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

Glenda's Pee Wee horse club is one of our favorite events of the year. My kids love going to practice every week and love the show at the end of the summer. They did super! Chase took second in Western Horsemanship. He had a mile wide smile for the judge. He also took second in the poles. He did every event by himself. No one led him around at all! He even trotted down and jumped off to pull the ribbon off the goat! Way to go Chase!

Wade did great. He went so fast in the poles and the keyhole. He was a little sad that he didn't get a trophy, but he won lots of second place ribbons too.

Bailey was the All Around Queen. I couldn't believe it!! She won halter, keyhole, poles, and the goat tie. She was amazing. She ran the timed events so fast and she tied the goat up like a professional. She won every event but 2! She deserves it after the bad year we had last year. She should be very proud!

Last Blast of the Summer

2010-08-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

We had to have one last blast of fun before school, so we took the family to Lagoon. The lines were short and my kids were tall enough for most rides, so it turned out to be great. It was so funny to watch the scared look on the kids' faces, yet how much they loved the ride when they got off. Bailey is a thrill seeker and loved it all, especially Wicked and Colossus. Wade is nervous, but likes it in the end and liked to ride The Rocket. Chase loved the bumper cars.

We spent the next day at Cowabunga Bay water park. It was fun. We spent half the day on the slides and then have the day in the lazy river.

Jana had her baby today, so we also got to end the trip with a quick trip to see Jess. He is the cutest little baby!!!

The Hunt is ON

2010-08-29T20:41:00.001-07:00

We have spent the last two weekends bow hunting. We had a great time camping on Cove Mountain. Wade is James' little hunting partner. He doesn't care how early or late James is going, he isn't missing out on any part of the hunt. On opening morning, Wade and James saw several BIG elk. Wade was excited. Chase on the other hand can't seem to stay very quiet, but he loves to hunt. Bailey and I are just happy to be in the mountains. The weather was great it was so nice not to have to be doing anything else. Bailey built a great swing in the tree. They all tried several attempts to trap a chipmunk (thank goodness none of them worked). We also got to spend some time in an old canoe that Bailey found on the shore. We didn't take in too much water. We had fun. The second weekend, we took the four wheelers over on the Pahvant Mountains. We rode from Richfield, over the mountain to Fillmore for lunch, and back home again. It was a long ride, but it was pretty. All we saw were a bunch of does.

1st Day of School

2010-08-29T20:36:00.001-07:00

I just can't believe summer is over. It was a great one! My kids have mixed feelings about school starting. I think Wade would be alright if school didn't exist, Bailey is so excited that she can't sleep, and Chase has no idea what is about to happen.

Bailey is starting 4th grade with ME as a teacher. She is such a good kid, I am glad I get to have her in my class. I know that she will keep me right on track.

Wade is in 2nd grade and his teacher is Mrs. Jones. He came home the first day really excited. He has great friends in his class.

Chase gets to go to Lisa for daycare in the morning (she is wonderful), and then he will be in kindergarten with Mrs. Winegar in the afternoon. He is just mad that he has to wait a week to start.

I am really glad to be back teaching. I really do love my job. It is also very nice to be right down the hall in case my kids need anything.

Hikin' the Slots

2010-08-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

James had to go to meetings in Cedar City so we joined him. We love Cedar for the motel swimming pool, the best shaved ice, and of course the ultimate cinnamon rolls. After the meetings were over, we ventured to Kanarraville Creek for a hike up the canyon. We started up the path and almost turned around because it was HOT and we weren't sure how far or what was up ahead, but we kept going. I am SO glad that we did! We found the most amazing slot canyon ever! It was one of those hikes that you MUST do!!! We hiked through narrow slot canyons that were filled with water. The water was freezing, but it felt good because of the heat. Around every turn, there was a surprise. The slot canyons narrowed and we saw beautiful waterfalls. At the first one, there was an old tree and a rope that we all climbed up (going up was the easy part, coming down was more challenging). Then up a little further, there was a water fall off a rock. The kids decided it looked like a great slide and slid off the rock into the water below. We hiked through yet another slot full of waist high water and came to one more waterfall. It was great!!! It is so fun to see that you don't need slides at seven peaks, you just need a creek and a slick rock. You don't need to go buy expensive necklaces, you just make them out of the reeds along the shore. You don't need to spend money to do the things that are the most fun, and doing them with the people I love make them even better.

Weekend in Wastach County

2010-08-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa invited us up for the rodeo. It was a great rodeo. My kids love watching the bulls. We even got to see sky divers and fireworks. The best part of the rodeo is when the announcer said Happy Birthday to Chase! The kids got to chase a money calf and ride stick horses in the middle of the rodeo. They got a little cowboy hat for participating.

The next day, Chase got another birthday! We had cake and went fishing at Mill Hollow. It was a lot of fun and we caught quite a few fish. Even if they were tiny, at least we were catching some.

On the ride to the lake, Grandma and Grandpa showed my kids the money rock!!! Yes, there was all kinds of coins hidden on and around the rock. You should have seen their eyes light up at the sight of all the money. They came home with pockets full!

Chase's Birthday

2010-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Chase had a Monster Truck birthday party this year. And he got in invite friends this year. He was so excited about the whole thing. When the kids got there, we had all of them make their own monster truck. We made them out of boxes, spray painted them and then every kid made a license plate and put stickers on. They loved running around the track that we made in our yard.

We then pretended the chocolate doughnuts were tires and tried eating them off the string without any hands. They were pretty funny.

We played Smash Time, Red Rover, Hot Hot Wheel and threw beanbags in the tires. Chase loved opening his presents. He knows now that he is totally rich because Grandma Jo gave him a whole bunch of one dollar bills. He got a motorcycle bike and he thinks it is the best. He has been on it ever since

His day ended with watching Toy Story 3 at the theater. He had a fun day, and he knows now that he is 5, he can go to kindergarten and he can't wait.

Emery County Fair

2010-08-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

We don't miss out on a thing! We made it to the Emery County Fair. All the kids got to go repelling. Chase was so excited until he got to the top and looked down. He did it though. They said he was the youngest one to try it! They got to rock climb, play in the home run derby, do the dizzy spin thing, you name it-they did it. Wade came home with a pen that shocks you (it really shocks). He was quite proud of it. We watched a magic show and Bailey got to be the assistant. I am glad she assisted with the knot and rope trick, not the trick where he cuts your head off. She cut the rope several times and it always ended up back together. We also went to Kelsey's party at the pool. The adults all did a train down the slide. The teenage lifegaurd at the bottom didn't quite know how to tell us not to do that again. It was a fun day!

Butch Cassidy Rodeo

2010-08-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

My kids love to go to Junction and be in the Little Buckaroo Rodeo. All three of them rode sheep this year. They all roped and Bailey rode a steer again. She stayed on all the way across the arena. They all came home with a new belt buckle. Way to go cowboys!

Fishing in the Boulders

2010-08-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

One good thing comes out of moving around so much. We meet some really great people and make some really great friends. The Whickers from Mona are some awesome people. Wade will always put Coleman on the top of his list of friends. So when they called to have a camp out together, we were ready. It was supposed to be just the boys--Wade, Coleman, Jarrett and James--but Chase and Bailey didn't want to be left out! James took all the kids and for the first time in 10 years I had a night without anyone home! They had a great time. Besides being rained on, and having to say goodbye, everyone had fun! They all caught some pretty great fish! We are so thankful for great friends!

CHASE

2010-07-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

So my little guy is turning 5! I seriously can't believe how big he is! He is starting kindergarten and just growing up way too fast!!! Chase is such a sweetie. He is one that always says "Thank you" to everything that you do. He is the one that is so glad to see you after you've been gone (even if it is only for 1/2 hour). He gives the best hugs and the best kisses.

Chase is a fun kid. He is very friendly and loves to play--with anyone. His very best friends are Bailey and Wade. Chase loves the fact that he is big enough to play all the sports that his brother and sister are playing. He is so excited for his chance at soccer this year. Chase is a little athlete. He did really well in wrestling this year and is really tough! He also LOVES baseball. He has quite the determined faces when he hits and runs the bases.

Chase is a wild man in the water. He does flips off the diving board and absolutely loves to swim. He also likes to build things. He wears his tool belt and finds nails to create things. Chase loves to ride horses. His favorite horse is Blaze. He is so proud as he trots around the barrels all by himself. He is quite the little cowboy.

Chase loves hotdogs, laser tag, and sleeping at motels, and riding his bike. He loves playing with his cousins and Carrie Underwood. He likes being snuggled and he has some pretty crazy dance moves. He loves his family and for some reason he wants hair just like his Grandpa Huggard (bald). Chase is our little ray of sunshine. He makes us smile!! I love you Chase--Happy Birthday!

A Splash and A Rattle

2010-07-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

So we headed out for another great adventure. This time we explored Bullion Canyon by Marysvale. We took the four wheelers up the mountain and found a trail head for a waterfall. We hiked up to a 70 foot waterfall. It was amazing! We all loved standing by it and getting soaked. Bailey got really soaked when she fell all the way in!

Next we found all kinds of remains from the miners that were the first settlers of that valley. It was neat to see the old cabins and mining equipment.

My kids just can't stay out of the water, so while James tried to strike it rich gold panning, the kids swam in the creek. The water was ice cold but that doesn't bother them. They found an old board and tried surfing down the creek.

On the way back I stopped my wheeler to look at the deer on the side of the road. When I looked back, Bailey was as white as a ghost and a huge snake was slithering across the road. It was such a long snake that it took up almost the entire road. Bailey drove up by me all in a panic because right as she was coming down the road, the snake came out. She said it had its head picked up off the road and she knew that it was going to jump up and bite her. I was a little amused and told her it was just a water snake and I drove back to take a better look. When I got there, I not only saw all the rattles, but I heard them too! No wonder Bailey was so spooked! Rattlesnakes give me the creeps too! This is one trip I know she won't forget.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

2010-07-25T17:38:00.003-07:00

Some of the Great Grand-kids!

This is all of my cousins-we are just missing Buck!

My Grandpa Hansen turned 82 on Friday. We all went to Elmo to celebrate! If you want to know the secret to life, take a look at my Grandma and Grandpa Hansen. They truly love each other! They are always thinking about others! They don't sweat the small stuff. They love life and they are always doing something. I hope when I turn 82 I am as healthy and happy as these two great heroes.

3 on 3 Basketball

2010-07-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Both Wade and Bailey were on a team for the Monroe 3 on 3 tournament. They thought they were pretty cool to be playing in the middle of the night in the middle of the road with their friends. Bailey's team named themselves The HOT TOMALES! Bailey's group got pretty competitive and there were a few girls on another team that must have thought we were playing football instead of basketball. Thank goodness for dads--James doesn't like anything to happen to his little girl and had to yell at the other coach. Bailey did come home with quite a few bruises where the other girl had been grabbing her and pinching her. Bailey is determined to win next year just to show those girls who is better!

Wade's team was THE HEAT! They were so much fun to watch. Those boys might not have been the champions, but they were definitely the cutest ones. They thought they were so big to be the ones playing instead of watching. Wade is a pretty good little player. He really enjoyed it!

Regionals

2010-07-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Bailey's Extreme team made it to Regionals. They only won one game while they were there, but it was a neat experience to go. They had to play teams from Nevada and California. They had a banquet one night and all the teams said a cheer. This pictures is when Bailey represented her team on stage for one of the games.

State Softball & Lake Powell

2010-07-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

Bailey's EXTREME team went to the state tournament in Kanab. They did well against the southern Utah teams but not so well against teams like West Valley. It was fun and Kanab was a fun place to have it-- other than the heat! We got to swim ALOT in between games.

After the tournament we decided that since we were so close, we had to go to Lake Powell. The water was great! The rocks are great to jump off of! The fishing was great! I think if we lived closer, we would spend all our time there. It was a great day other that the 5 minutes the wind and rain kicked up. All three kids were out on the tube when the wind made some pretty big waves. The tube went right over the top of Wade and the kids kept drifting farther and farther away from the boat. It was definitely a memory maker.

We stopped by Glen Canyon Dam. We were all amazed. Wade wasn't too sure he wanted to be a builder anymore if he had to build bridges and dams in canyons as steep as those.

Having a Blast-4th of July

2010-07-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

We started off our week of the fourth fun with a dip in Deer Creek Resivoir. We took the Huggards out on the lake. Grandpa Huggard showed up in his levis, but he was the first to jump on the jumbo dog (I think this was the first time I have been around Don and water that he didn't fall in). We had a great time in the lake and surprisingly there were not too many boats. The water was cold, but that didn't seem to bother anyone.

Then we went to STADIUM of FIRE!!!! Bailey thinks Carrie Underwood is the best singer EVER and Chase is determined that he is going to marry her, so we decided this was the year to go. My kids were so excited to be there. Just doing "the wave" around the stadium and the 3D glasses were neat for them. Wade loved the fighter planes that soared over our heads. Bailey knew every word to every song that Carrie Underwood sang. Chase did the wildest dances ever during her songs, and we all absolutely loved the fireworks. The only dissappointment was that Chase had expected to get up on the stage with Carrie and give her a kiss. That just didn't work out.
The next day was Grandma Huggard's 4th of July party! We always have fun at the Huggards. Grandma always has creative crafts for the kids to make and we have fun playing games on the lawn. This year we had a pretty competitive game of kick ball between the boys and the girls. Grandpa sprinted a little too fast and hurt is leg, we hope he gets better soon

I would make a bet that Don Huggard has more hats collected than anyone else in the world, and my kids are the lucky ones to start inheriting the hats. We found some pretty OLD and pretty funny hats. Bailey actually found one from the 70's that said "Bailey's on the front. James found his favorite "Where's the Beef." This is a picture of Chase with one of his favorites.
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This year we made it to Central's town party. We ate and did all kinds of races. The kids did foot races, three legged races and sack races. They won quarters for each race and then bought ice cream with their quarters. Wade ran in every race whether it was 7 year olds, 17 year olds, or 77 year olds--Derek and him ran them all!Then to top off the wild weekend we went camping with the Jeffs clan up Huntington Canyon. Bailey can think of some great games and all the cousins play. They love hanging out with their cousins!!! I had classes I had to take so for the rest of the week my kids got to play and swim and play some more. The never stopped from sun up to way past sunset.

Summer Days

2010-07-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

The BEST thing about this summer is that my three kids have discovered that their best friends are each other. They have played all summer together and have been pretty creative in what they play.

One day they found some beakers and created all kinds of interesting and very messy potions. Some they drank themselves, and some they tried to get me to taste first. All of the potions were colorful and I am pretty sure the one I tried might have had rabbit food in it!?!

Then one day I hadn't seen them for a VERY long time. I did find this on my counter. There were several baggies with an odd assortment of things inside. They were all labled and Chase accidentally told me they were "evidence." They were spies for quite some time that day. They even each had their own spy book to write everything down in.

Then one day they discovered the irrigation ditch across the street. Boy did they have fun!! They only lost one shoe that day!

We have loved hopping on the wheelers and heading out from our house to discover new things. We have found lots of caves and lots of petroglyphs and all three of them love to hike all the way up to the top of every hill, every mountain, and every rock we see.

One silly thing these three came up with was to be hooked together and believe it or not, they stayed that way for hours! I made them unhook to get in the tub, but they got back together and even slept the night that way. I heard so much giggling as they tried to jump on the tramp that way. They always ended up in a big heap. Aren't they super cute!

Of course summer nights have got to be spent sleeping out under the stars on the tramp. We didn't do much of this in Mona, so it was been really fun here in Central. It is great to hear made of stories from my kids and even greater watching for shooting stars and hearing the wishes they make.

So I don't know where this game came from, but I had to take a picture of it. I was doing yard work when they came outside like this! Aren't you scared!!! They even had wounds painted on them from the fights they had been in.

Isn't being a kid great!!!

Yuba!

2010-06-27T17:22:00.001-07:00

We spent the day with the the Nortons and Grandma Jo at Yuba Lake. It was AWESOME! We got to try out our new "Jumbo Dog." Bailey loved it. She sat on the back and bounced everyone else. She rode with one hand and then no hands. She is our wild child in the water. Wade walked up and down the shoreline and found treasures. He found a perfect arrowhead. He was so enthralled with hunting arrowheads that we came home with a baggie full of chipings and broken arrowheads. Chase loved jumping off the dock and playing with his dolphin. We had a lot of fun. It was especially fun to watch Grandma on the jumbo dog and it wasn't quite so fun with James at the wheel while Bailey, Jasa and I were on it. When we wrecked, we hit the water pretty hard. It was a great day and none of us wanted to go home (except maybe little Bodee)!

Swim Meet

2010-06-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Bailey was in her first swim meet on Saturday. She did really well. She came home with a 2nd, 5th, 3rd and 4th place ribbons. Her favorite event is the back stroke! She also raced in freestyle, breaststroke, and a relay.

CHASE

2010-06-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

Chase has found out how much fun riding bikes is. We took off his training wheels and away he went. I just wish the road we live on had a slower speed limit. My kids are really growing up!

Wrapping up Baseball Season

2010-06-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Chase played T Ball on the Gray Bees. He always has the most serious faces when he swings and runs. He was just happy as could be to be on the field, whether he got the ball or not.

Wade played on the Black Bee team. He loved to hit the ball FAR! He is a little hustler and he has a great arm. I think we will be playing alot more baseball with him as he gets older.

Bailey has been playing on two teams. She played on a city team which quite frankly was not very good! We moved her up with the 4-6th graders and she was one of the pitchers for her team. She consistently threw strikes. We were really proud of her. She also played on an EXTREME traveling softball team. She is the youngest and so she isn't playing her favorite positions, but she is having fun and learning tons. We are heading to Kanab for the state tournament in a couple weeks.

Ready, Aim, Fire!

2010-06-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of our favorite things are Sunday afternoons, smores, and shooting contests. Our family eats our share of hotdogs and marshmallows. We have a great time having contests to see who is the best shot. Bailey and Wade are usually neck and neck and then they usually do that small act of kindness and hit one of Chase's targets so that he is tricked into believing he is the winner too! Whatever we do, we sure have fun together.

I love my DAD!

2010-06-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

These cute little boys want to be just like their dad. They decided to try on some of his clothes. There are so many many ways that they really are like their dad. They are a couple of cuties. I am thankful for their dad and hope they grow up to be just like him!

This is what you get!?!

2010-06-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

So this is what I get for not having any grass. My sweet little nephews visited us the other day. I set up the pool (on the sidewalk) and then went to get some things done. When I walked back around the house, this is what I saw. Oh boy, were they having fun!!! There was not one clean spot on them (except for the little white spot where their swimming suits went). Anyway, this is what they looked like when my sister came by to pick them up. And when we told them we were going to spray them off to get cleaned up, they took their suits off. I don't know how many cars drove by, but they definitely got quite a show!

Aloha

2010-06-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

James and I just experienced one of the best weeks of our lives! We are celebrating 15 years together this year, so we left the kiddos home and flew to Hawaii for the week. It is one amazingly beautiful place!! And we found a new passion--snorkeling!

We spent the first few days in Oahu. We got to see Pearl Harbor, swim on the North Shore, watch the sunset on Waikiki Beach and our favorite was swim with the sea turtles. I wish I had some good pictures, because I just can't describe how incredibly awesome it was to snorkel next to these creatures. The water is so blue and so clear that while snorkeling out in the ocean you could see EVERYTHING below you. At one point we found 6 sea turtles. They weren't bothered by us at all. They would swim to the top of the water, and we were inches away from them. It was also fun to feed the fish and have hundreds of them swimming around us. We snorkeled at other beaches in Oahu, but this was our favorite. Oahu had incredible beaches, we escpecially loved the water hitting the rocks and watching water shoot out of the blow holes.

We then flew to The Big Island. There were a lot less people and even more beauty. We were able to witness an active volcano. We watched the flumes come out the top and then went down by the ocean and watched the lava flowing off the mountain. Lava had just come and covered the road a month ago. It was quite amazing.

Snorkeling on the Big Island was even better than Oahu. We found a guy off the side of the road one day renting a kayak, so we hopped in. We paddled out in the ocean and were surrounded by at least 35 wild spinner dolphins. They circled our boat, swam underneath us and did amazing acrobat tricks out of the water. We jumped in the ocean with them. Although we only got about 10 feet from them, they were still awesome to swim with. They would swim under us and we sat and watched them for quite a while. We also found a reef with such an abundance of fish. The fish were the neatest and brightest colors I have ever seen.

Another highlight of the trip was walking through the rain forests. There was so much GREEN. The plants were amazing and the waterfalls were amazing. Lets just say, it was totally amazing. We found some caves which were lava tubes in the midst of the rain forest. They were interesting caves because the roots of the trees and bushes above the ground were growing through the cave ceiling.

Yes, becuase of all the vines growing on the trees, we just couldn't help being Tarzan! And yes, it really works. We had the best time--even the food was great. We enjoyed stopping along the road side and buying local fruit (our favorites are lychee and apple bannanas). Malasadas are scrumptious and James thought the pig at the luau was pretty tasty. I spent a great week in a great place with a great guy!

Fun in the Sun

2010-05-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

We had to get out of the WIND! I have never seen such strong winds as I have here in Central. We went to St. George with Jasa, Jana, their families and my mom. We had a great time at laser tag. It was the Huggards vs everyone else. Is there any question on who won? We did-of course:) We swam at the motel and spent the next day hanging out on the beach and swimming in the lake. My mom brought cake and ice cream for my birthday and the kids totally enjoyed every minute of their day (except the car ride home). The water was ICE cold. It made my feet hurt to wade through it, but that doesn't seem to bother kids. We found some great rocks to jump off. Bailey and Wade both took the icy plunge. Chase was content swimming with a duck. It was a ton of fun!

The Hunt Never Ends

2010-05-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

So whenever we can squeeze in a hunting trip, we do. We have seen lots and lots of turkeys, just not Toms. We sure have fun on our hikes and see lots of other wildlife. I sure have 3 little camo cuties!

The End!

2010-05-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

So it officially marks the last day of school around here when everyone hops on their bikes at 7:00 in the morning and rides to school in Monroe. It is a 6 mile ride and WOW there were quite a few kids riding down the road. The cops came to escort the event. I think it is a great way to end the school year.

Wade's Tooth

2010-05-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

So after YEARS of anticipation, Wade finally lost his first tooth. Yes he is done with first grade, and his teeth are just barely falling out. He went to church on Sunday and told everyone how his dad had kicked him and his tooth fell out. The story was true. During a wrestling match between him and his dad, James' foot struck Wade in the mouth. Then there was a little panic because we couldn't find the tooth--but there it was, stuck on James' sock. It is amazing how something SO SMALL could be the source of such happiness.

We're #1

2010-05-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

So here are the cutest baseball players ever! They all love it. Bailey decided a couple weeks ago that she wanted to be a pitcher. She started practicing and starts as her teams pitcher. She is only 9 and plays in the 12 year old league. She doesn't let things bother her, except when she gets her friends out. During our game on Thursday, she had no walks and quite a few strike outs! Wade loves to field ANY ball that is hit--and sometimes gets annoyed that he can't run ALL the way around the bases when he hits. And then there is our T-ball slugger Chase. We love watching T Ball just to see the determined look on Chase's face when he hits the ball and then runs around the bases.

Chase's Hero

2010-05-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

So this is a picuture of my Grandpa Hansen with Chase. Chase has his hat on, and he thinks he is so cool! My grandma and grandpa are such amazing people. If you want to know the secret to life--visit them for a while. They are truly happy and they are always on the go, even at age 82. It was great to have them stop for a visit on their way to Mesquite!

Play Ball!

2010-05-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would vent my frustration that always comes about during the month of May. I do this to myself, but ALL we do is baseball, baseball, and of course lots of softball. Between my three kids we have 5 practices and at least 6 games every week!!! AHHHHH! They absolutely love it, but I am definitely looking forward to my week of peace in Hawaii!

AGAIN!

2010-05-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, here we are again, digging trenches for yet another sprinkling system. This is the fourth sprinkling system we have installed. You would think we would get a little wiser over the years and purchase a home that has the landscape finished, but no. I really can't wait to have grass, because I have so MUCH DUST in my house.

Time Flies!

2010-05-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Where did the last four years go?!? My sweet little guy graduated from preschool and I don't know if I am very happy about that. It seems like just yesterday that Bailey was graduating from preschool in Mona and now she is done with third grade. It really is a strange to think that all my kids will be in school next year. I am so thankful for my three little sweethearts, they are such great kids.

So this is Chase in his program with Mrs. Carma. He was super cute. After years of debate, he will be going to kindergarten next year. I hope that is the right decision. We sure love this little guy and all his loves that he shares with our family.

A Celebration Weekend

2010-05-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

There was quite a bit of partying going on in Emery County this weekend! Jana had a birthday, Tylee had a birthday, Bodee was blessed on Sunday and it just happened to fall on Mother's Day. We took our boat down for the celebration. I am pretty sure the water would have put anyone into quick hypothermia, but the boat ride was a blast. This was the maiden voyage and we had to see if the boat would float. We had a great time, even though we came home sunburned.

Bodee is such a cute little thing. Jared blessed him on Sunday. Our family has way to many little kids to have a quiet Sunday meeting, so yes, we did cause a little raucus in the middle of Sacrament meeting. The speakers just commented that it was nice to hear real life going on. We then got together for dinner afterward and played a great game of soccer.

I am so thankful for the mom in my life. She is the most amazing person in the world. She is always thinking of others and always has so much fun! I really admire her and how she lives her life. I am also so thankful for Carol. She is such a sweet Grandma and I am thankful that my kids are blessed to have her in their lives. I am truly surrounded by amazing people!

My New Adventure

2010-05-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

So after weeks of anticipation, I got a call saying I got an elementary job in the district!!!! I am SO EXCITED! I will be teaching 4th grade in Monroe. 4th grade is the one grade that I haven't taught, so now I can truly say that I have done it all. Bailey just happens to be going into 4th grade next year, so she will be in my class. I really hope that works out OK. Anyway, now I know how I will be spending my summer--making plans for next year. It is just really amazing how Heavenly Father looks out for me. Things always seem to work out as long as you trust in Him. I am so thankful for the years I was able to stay home with my little kids and now I am so excited to be working! I really do love to Teach! I am a little nervous but oh so EXCITED!!!

Wild TURKEY Chase!

2010-05-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, my 9 year old daughter has a turkey tag! She is so excited! Bailey and her dad have been all over the mountains this weekend hunting for the BIG ONE. James had all the kids Friday morning hunting the mountains in Marsvale while I went to work. It was snowy and 19 degrees outside, so I was glad I had to work that morning. I think my boys must have got pretty cold because the next day, they stayed home with me and let Bailey and James go alone. So while we spent the day at Kade's birthday party, Bailey looks like she just played in the mud. They did see LOTS of hens, but no toms. She is a little discouraged, but she is not giving up. We have baseball every night this week, so I guess we will see if she finds a tom next weekend.

Motorcycles

2010-05-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

When you have little boys, I guess you've got to have little motorcycles. We found some training wheels to go on the motorcycle and now Chase is crusin' around all over too. It is a good thing that we haven't planted our pasture in the back because it has become the race track. All my boys want to do is ride motorcycles and play baseball!

Kids and Tractors

2010-04-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

So we decided we had better stay home one weekend. I think this is the first weekend we haven't gone somewhere since the first of the year. We rented an excavator and boy did the kids have fun. James had to put some culverts in down at our little farm. Every one of my kids absolutely LOVED running the controls. So the job took a little longer than it should have, but we had fun. There is a slow running canal that goes through our field. The kids made up a game that it was "The Witches' Swamp!" They found moss and skulls and all sorts of things in the swamp. They even found worms. Chase was so excited because now he had his very own pet--a worm.

When we came home to do more digging, we had surprise visitors. Jasa, Jana and Grandma Jo decided to drive over for a hot dog roast. Our kids played and played and played some more. When it was time for them to go home, we just couldn't say good bye--SO, yes the sleep over began. Kade, Kelsey, and Tylee got to stay the night. All 6 kids stayed outside and played in the dirt until I made them come in at 9:30. I'm not sure why it was called a sleep over. I am pretty sure I didn't sleep much, but I am very thankful for these sweet little neices and nephews. We LOVE them!

Campin' Out in Moab!

2010-04-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

It was our annual campout with the crew from Mona. I am so glad that we are continuing on this tradition, even though we no longer live in Mona. We have a great group of friends that love to camp! This year we went to Moab. We camped near Dead Horse Point. The weather was great, the hikes were great, and the company was awesome.

One day we went into Arches. We hiked around and our favorite arch (like always) was Sand Dune Arch. The kids loved playing in the sand and jumping off rocks into the sand. Wade--our little climber--found a way up on top of the arch. We ended this day with fried ice cream in Moab and then night games around the camp fire. Of course you can't go camping with this crew without being "schnurrred!"

The next day we found some amazing rocks. We found parts of arrow heads and we all found a bag full of "Moki Marbles." They were rocks that were shaped in a perfect ball.We also went for a ride over the slick rock. No, we didn't have a jeep, just the dodge, but that didn't stop us. We ended up at Gemini Bridges. It was a lot of fun!

I think Kemri will always and forever be Bailey's Best Friend. It was fun to see that even after a years time that they were still so close. We are so thankful for the great people that we have met along our way. They are great examples to us and we will forever be friends.

Easter!!!

2010-04-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Easter has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday! Rain or shine, wind or snow--we go camping! There has not been a time in my 33 years that I haven't gone down on the desert with Grandma Hansen and the rest of the crew. This year we camped near the dinosaur quarry. The weather was great except for a little wind-which didn't bother anyone. My kids LOVE playing with their cousins on the rocks and in the dirt.

We always have an easter egg hunt. There are literally hundreds of eggs scattered throughout the rocks and trees.

This year the weather was perfect for kite flying. We all had the kites up in the air within seconds.
The Easter Bunny came while the kids were sleeping, even though Wade was sure he was going to stay up and listen for him. The kids' baskets were overflowing with goodies. They enjoyed their cars and their rockets that he left behind. That Easter Bunny gets trickier every year hiding their eggs. There is still one of Bailey's eggs somewhere hidden in a rock, because no one could find it. The next best thing to painting eggs, is rolling eggs. We found a hill and we rolled (or threw) all the eggs down to the bottom of the hill. Then we ran and found the ones that weren't broken too bad and threw them again.

We can't go to Easter without all the 4-wheelers. We have quite a caravan of wheelers when we all go for a ride. It is great fun to ride to indian writings, and geo-caches. Wade loves to ride is motorcycle and Bailey has tons of fun on her 4 wheeler.

One great part about Easter is sitting around the camp fire. The kids thought they needed their own fire this year and made one up on a rock--KIDS ONLY! When Sunday afternoon rolled around, nobody wanted to load up and come home. We all had a great time. We have such a fun family and I love spending Easter with them. It's one tradition that I hope never ends.

Painting Eggs

2010-04-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

There is always such anticipation to paint eggs at our house. Even I still LOVE it. When we are done we have some pretty creative egg masterpieces. Some are always cracked (Wade thought the cracked ones looked like lava), some always get eyes and resemble animals, and my little boys' hands always end up more colorful then the eggs.

Bunnies and Chicks and Treats, Oh my!!

2010-04-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

The town was having an egg hunt, so we went over dreaming of baskets full of treats and eggs to bring home. We did get a basket of treats and then they said that the bunnies and chicks were next. In my head I am pleading, "Please no--don't catch one!" Chase's group went first and he came back empty handed. Then Wade's group went, and he came back with the biggest grin ever and a little rabbit in his arms. After Bailey's group went, she caught a baby chick. So now at our home we have a bunny, chicks, a turtle, horses, calves and a cat!

It's The Simple Things!

2010-03-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

My motto is to "Enjoy the Ride!" Isn't it great that it doesn't take much to really enjoy the day. For us pure enjoyment came from a grandma's birthday cake and a few bikes. Grandma Huggard had a birthday so we spent the weekend in Midway. My kids love birthdays! Grandma had a easter egg treasure hunt waiting and then the kids hid eggs for us to find. James and I had mile wide grins as we found the eggs. The eggs were actually hid so well that we would be looking for years, but they were so excited that they would give really good hints as we passed by each egg location. What cute kids we have! Then my kids drew a town on the driveway with chalk. It was complete with a jail for speeding bike riders, a gas station, and a hospital. The head on wrecks became quite fierce and James had to become the EMT rescuer with the dolly. They really enjoyed that ride!

A New Addition

2010-03-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

Our family got a new horse this weekend! We haven't agreed on a name yet, but the kids are thrilled. It is a super sweet horse that they all can ride. I can't wait to take my little cowboys (and cowgirl) on some great rides this summer.

Under Water Egg Hunt

2010-03-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is one egg hunt that we have never done before. It was in the water. Even though there were a lot of people there, it was still a fun experience to hunt for eggs on and underneath the water. The kids came home with treats, prizes, and big smiles.

The DUNES

2010-03-23T18:24:00.001-07:00

A three day weekend and a whole lot of spring fever took our family south! We ended up at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab. We had an awesome time. The dunes were way fun and there were only a few other four wheelers out there. We pretty much had the whole thing to ourselves. Our little "Dune Princess" Bailey was a little reckless on her four wheeler--she has absolutely no fear in life! Wade and Chase loved riding the dunes. They said some parts were like a buckin' bull ride and others like a roller coaster. We found some great trails to ride and we even got to hike through slot canyons. For me, nothing beats campin' out with my little buckaroos.

Dad

2010-03-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

It is my dad's birthday today, and I have really been thinking about him. He would be 57 today. He passed away almost 2 years ago, and you would think over time, it would get easier, but I miss him just as much. What a great dad he was. We had SO MUCH FUN with him. It didn't matter if we were hauling hay or dancin' together at the rodeos, we were always laughing. He ALWAYS believed that me and my sisters could do anything (looking back alot of these things we did were crazy). He helped make me who I am today and I think the hardest part about not having him around is what a big loss it is for my kids. I sure wish they had Grandpa Jay to visit. I wish they too could sit on the tractor with him and plow or race their horse through the river to get the biggest splash.

Thanks Dad for all the memories. I could write a book about all the things we did together. I really miss you-Love ya!

WADE

2010-03-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that Wade is 7! What happiness Wade has brought into our home for 7 years! Wade is such a great kid. We are so grateful for him. Our home is definitely not the same when Wade is not around (quieter for sure!).

Wade loves to be on the go. He lives season to season--sports season that is. He LOVES soccer and he is a great little player. He loves everything about soccer except being the goalie. That isn't enough action for him. After soccer season he can't wait for basketball to start, and then he anticipates the beginning of baseball season. Wade loves to camp. If you ask him what we wants to do for vacation, he always responds with camping. He loves to hunt with his dad. He is always on the look out for the big buck. He is a great shot with his bow and with his BB gun. He likes to go in the backyard and shoot at whatever he sees.

Wade is our tease. He loves to sneak into his dad's bed and tickle his dad's feet. He always likes to tease someone and his laugh is very contagious.

Wade is our DEEP thinker. He thinks and worries about things that have never crossed my mind. He thinks about how to escape our house in a fire, how to ask his wife to marry him, how airplanes fly, and when he will die and where heaven is. But, because he thinks so much, he is also such a sweetie. He is great with little kids. He always thinks of others and comes up with the most thoughtful presents for all of us.

Wade is doing great in school! He is such a smartie. He also has started piano lessons and is doing really well.

Wade likes green, spaghetti, summer, playing cars, cheetahs, and Taylor Swift. He doesn't like dictation at school, going to bed, or riding the bus.

Wade is an all around great and amazing kid. He is so much fun to be with and makes us smile. I love this little guy and I know that he will do great things in his life.

Happy Birthday Wade!

2010-03-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

For Wade's 7th birthday we rented the pool in Richfield. It was the easiest birthday party that I have ever done. Wade's friends and cousins all came to swim. The kids had a great time.

After swimming we had cake! Wade helped make his cake this year and was very proud of it. He didn't want to eat it, he just wanted to look at it. It was just like Christmas for Wade. He was so excited about all the things that he got. Wade has made some really great friends here in Central.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Cave of 100 (we counted 30 ) Hands

2010-02-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

We had to get out of the house! We didn't care where, but you know there are only 52 Saturdays in a year and we intend to not waste any! We went to Freemont Indian State Park. We had a good time climbing in pit houses and grinding up corn. There was definitely no crowd to get through this time of year, but plenty of snow. We hiked on several trails. James would go first and the rest of us would try to stay in his footprints so that snow didn't fill our shoes. We saw lots of indian writings and found 100 Hand cave. Our scientific kid Bailey made sure to let us know that there were only 30 hands on the cave wall--not 100. It was great to get outside, even if the temperature was only 35 degrees.

Just Like Dad!

2010-02-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

So it got really quiet for a moment in our house one morning, so I went in search of Chase. I found him in my bathroom. He had climbed up on the counter and found his dad's shaving cream. He had it all over his hands and face and he was going to shave because he wanted to be just like his dad. It was one of those moments where cuteness overruled the mess. I am just really thankful that he didn't cut himself.

Pinned!

2010-02-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

This is our family's first year doing wrestling. We figured that is our boys were going to wrestle all day at home, that they might as well learn the right way to do it. The South Sevier tournament was on Saturday. Both of our boys came home with medals. Way to go boys!

Chase has been practicing on every one of us at home. Trust me, when he gets you down, you can't get back up. Chase wrestled with the preschool crowd at 40 pounds and won every single match. He is a tough little stinker. He LOVES it. He won 1st place and won a gold medal.

Wade wrestled 1st grade at 47 pounds. He decided from the very first practice that wrestling wasn't his favorite, but he didn't quit. He would much rather be shooting hoops, kicking goals, hitting homers, or pretty much anything BUT wrestling. At the tournament, he won some matches and lost some, and came home with a third place medal. As for me, watching my kids wrestle is not for me. I would much rather sit through a baseball or basketball game. It causes way to much stress for this mom.

Bailey's 1st Date

2010-02-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

Bailey had a Daddy Daughter Date last night. It was a cowboy theme and that was right up our alley. They had a great time doing the Boot Scootin' Boogie. James said he had the prettiest date there. Bailey sure looked forward to this night for a long time, and I started thinking how much I wasn't looking forward to her getting any older.

Skating

2010-02-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

Elsinore has a skating rink and it is so much fun. Bailey is getting pretty good and can do some tricks. Wade runs as fast as he can and then wrecks when he wants to stop. Chase takes his scooter instead of roller skates and everyone out on the rink better watch out. He goes a hundred miles an hour and then suddenly jumps off. He is dangerous out there!

Jumpin' for Fun

2010-01-31T10:19:00.001-08:00

A big hill of red sand and my kids want roll down it, slide down it and JUMP down it. The contest became--THE LONGEST JUMP! Judging from the pictures, who do you think won? Can't you see all the air that I got!! We had great fun and the kids got some great exercise. Chase and Wade decided that the farther you run, the higher you jump, so they ended up running quite a distance before hitting the hill. Oh, and don't forget to check out the hot photographer on the rocks!

Fun in the Sun

2010-01-31T10:05:00.001-08:00

If anyone calls and asks, "Do you wanna go ...?" The Huggards just can't say no. So when the Nortons decided to go to St. George, we hopped in our truck and went too. There is nothing better for my kids than swimming in a motel-it wouldn't even matter where that motel was. Then the Nortons were no match for the Huggards in a laser tag challenge. We finished the day off with sand castles and sea shells at Sand Hollow.

She Shoots, She Scores!!!!!

2010-01-31T09:49:00.000-08:00

Bailey LOVES basketball and was very sad when the season came to an end. Bailey's team only lost one game the whole season. Bailey averaged about 16 points a game. You go girl!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa

2010-01-24T16:27:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Huggard turned 65 and my kids were excited to celebrate the day with him. It was his birthday, but they all got a new hat out of his collection. After we blew out the candles, we went to the Zermatt Resort to see the ice castles. It was fun to walk through all the icicles. When Chase grows up, he wants to have hair like Grandpa Huggards! He thinks it will sure be neat to have a circle on the top that has no hair. I'll have to remind him of that wish when he turns 40.

Happy Birthday Don!

Lessons Learned!

2010-01-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

We made it back to Elmo this weekend. Our van hasn't moved since Christmas Eve when we smashed into the big black cow, but we could see it in the light. It kind of made us sick to see $4,500 down the drain. Lessons learned-Don't take full coverage off your cars and always wear a seat belt--You just never know!

Frozen Waterfalls

2010-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Jeffs family is NEVER bored. Sunday afternoon we went to Joes Valley and hiked up to an amazingly beautiful frozen waterfall. It was huge. Jodi and I took our kids behind the waterfall while Grandma Jo stayed above and worried that we would slide off. It was such an awesome sight to be surrounded by ice. The kids then hiked down the stream and found frozen water to slide down. They were soaked by the time we got back to the trucks. We love being with cousins and we all slept at Jasa's one night and we ended up bringing cousins home with us to sleep over once again. We always have a GOOD time!

Ice Fishing

2010-01-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

We went ice fishing on Saturday at Millsite in Ferron. We cut a lot of holes in the ice, but didn't pull any fish out. That didn't bother any of us. All the kids had fun playing on the ice and no one fell in so we counted it as a success.

We also got to see my Uncle Ben. He was in the coal mine on New Years Eve when he slipped on a long wall shield and got all of his toes cut off of his left foot. My kids were pretty wide eyed as they looked at his foot and as he explained how he had a new measuring device "a foot and a half!" We are all really hoping and praying for him.

The Perfect Day--part 2

2010-01-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

We then went and played laser tag in St. George. The boys won the girls (the boys better watch out next time!) Then we topped the day off with custard from Nielson's (YUM!) And of course, I couldn't come to St. George without a quick stop to Tai Pan. It was The Perfect Day!

The PERFECT Day!

2010-01-10T16:41:00.001-08:00

For the first time in a very long time we had no plans for the weekend. We woke up and knew we couldn't sit home ALL day so we decided to go to St. George. We headed for Sand Hollow to check it out. We had never been there before, but after today we will surely be back. It was 50 degree weather and NO snow! Our kids played in the sand dunes forever. They did all kinds of tricks in the sand and explored and climbed the rocks by the lake. We had so much fun, none of us wanted to leave. The kids brought home sea shells and a whole bunch of sand. Sand in their hair (Chase actually looked like a red head), sand in their ears, sand down their pants, and pockets full of sand.

Splish! Splash!

2010-01-02T14:40:00.000-08:00

For our final day off we decided to go swimming at the pool in Richfield. We were the only ones there and even though the water was cold, we had lots of fun. Bailey, Wade and Chase have absolutely no fear in the water. Bailey had fun doing flips and diving off the board. Chase drank half the pool and loves to make big splashes. Wade's favorite thing was playing keep away with his Dad.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let is Snow!

2010-01-01T13:43:00.001-08:00

We have been sledding every day for the past week! Our kids just can't get enough. The field behind our house makes a perfect place to pull them around behind the four wheeler.

2010-01-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

Ice Skating
We went ice skating over the Christmas Break and had a ball. Bailey was getting really good by the time we left. Wade went all over the ice and Chase was The Wild Man on skates. They had walkers that little kids could hold on to. Chase got one and took off. He paid no attention to which way all the people were going, he just used those toe picks, ran as fast as he could go and slid until he stopped. We couldn't keep up with him.

2010-01-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

New Years Eve was definitely less stressful than Christmas Eve (we totaled our van)! We partied at our house and we all laughed so hard that our stomaches hurt! My mom, Jasa and Jana and thier families all came to Central to bring in the new year. We went bowling, played games and the kids all got a giant sleep over. We had THE BEST time! Next time you see James ask him about "Tunnel Vision!"

O Christmas Tree

2009-12-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

James lives by the motto "Don't short yourself in the land of plenty" and he definitely didn't go short this time. It is our annual tradition to go cut down our Christmas tree over the Thanksgiving break and so this year we headed up Monroe Mountain. When James spotted the perfect tree, I was expecting to cut the tree down and use just the top-but NO! This 13 foot high, 10 foot wide tree all went right through my front door. It took all we had just to stand it up. It really FILLED the room with Christmas cheer.

One BIG party!

2009-12-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

December has been one BIG party for our family. We have played hard all month long and really enjoyed each other and our amazing grandparents and cousins.
Happy Holidays!

Branding Cows

2009-06-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

It is that time again when the cows go on the mountain so, as tradition goes, we all headed to the farm to brand calves. My kids had a great time helping Kyle, and I had a hard time answering the questions about the hows and whys of making a bull calf into a steer. It was fun but just not the same without Dad. We always had fun branding calves with him.