What a difference a year makes!!

Jarin has had three wrestling matches this year he won one, lost one and tonight he got his very first pin in a match. The boy almost had him pinned but Jarin used some very smart wrestling moves and got him down and pinned him in 40 seconds. It was very fun to see. He has improved a ton since last year.

On a side note--I have been accepted into the University of Utah masters/licensure program. I now get to add college courses to my schedule. But it was exciting to know that I could make it into a program even if it is at the U.

Happy thirteenth Birthday to Allison on November 23rd. I have blogging issues so I wanted to get this post up and wish my sweet teenage baby girl happy birthday. I may have pictures of her birthday(which is tomorrow) up someday but here are a few to remind us all that Allison is a fun-loving, happy, crazy girl who loves puppies, babies, music, art, her friends and having fun with her family. We love you Allison!!!

We have been doing a wall of gratitude (which jarin changed to the door of gratitude) ever night before scriptures. This has been a fun bonding activity with our family and has helped us remember to be thankful for all the little things in our lives as well as the big things.

Finally some new pictures.

Allison went on a super fun totally awsome activity with the young women. They went to a cabin and played guitar hero beatles all night. When I say all night that is what I mean. The only sleep she got was on the way home. Here she she is the next night. She is not sure she will ever stay up all night again.

Ashley turning seven. What a sweetie she is.

Allison and Ashley playing with "benaroos".

Here is her birthday cake. She wanted to make it on her own. She put too much Pam in the pan so it sunk but it was yummy. She decorated it with princess decorations. There are crowns, glass slippers, poison apples, and pearls.

Birthday Princess Ashley

Halloween with a zombie lady, a scarey orange witch and the grim reaper. Jason was not sure who he was or what it did but he knew he was something scarey and he loved that. He hated the hood over his face though.

Jason earned his bear. Here he is doing a cub scout cheer after. The theme was jungle safari--can you tell?

Happy Be-lated Birthday Ashley

I took pictures of my babies birthday and I will post them as soon as I can get Jarin to help me.(It has turned into a long and complicated process with my little old camera) But she had a great birthday even though we did not get to go to the zoo because it snowed. I can't believe my baby is seven.

Here is Roxi. Gotta love a dogs big, cold, wet nose.(unless you are not a dog person)

Here is a little collage I made playing on picasa. We have been taking turns having parent/teacher conferences and sickness. I forgot how crazy paper work is in the special education field. I do still love my job. The kids are great and the program is well run. Things are running smoothly at work. Home on the other hand is not so smooth. What is more important dusting, laundry or homework? If you said it depends on the day you'd be right.

We had regional stake conference today. When it was over we thought we would take a little drive and get some pictures of the family. We came across this cute little pond up by the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. There were some crazy ducks at this little pond. They tried to be all tough, but then they met Jason and decided to get the heck out of there.

Hey did anyone see where those ducks went?

It is hard to get a picture of Jason holding still. But he makes the other kids have great smiles on their faces.

We went to the zoo for the members halloween crafty fun day(not on Sunday, it was over UEA). The line for that was huge so we just looked around the zoo. Which one is the real monkey?