Science Project

Time for child number 3 to start the science fair projects!  Thank goodness for the internet for ideas.  Tarin had a fun time working on this one.  It was simple concept but taught what was needed.  She learned about the scientific method, of course, but also how mints work.  The don't actually cool things down through temperature.  It was a good experiment.

Family Fun Night

We had a great time at the Fun Center in Sandy.  Rian's Orthodontist hosts a big activity like this 2 or 3 times a year.  Roller skates has been a long time gone in my history, so it was strange to get back on them and roller around.  A fun memorable night.

Another Cut

Someone else liked Tarin's results and wanted to cut her hair to be just like her.  So cute.  I was so sad to cut this, because I loved the length for curls...oh well.

The finished cut, now to style it and see if curls will fit.  

Frozen...Lake That Is

Every now and then we'd see specs of people out on the lake.  It was all white and surely had to be frozen over.  So instead of speculating, I decided to just check it out.  I was weary at first, but once I saw how solid the lake was, it wasn't a big deal.

I wanted to go really far out, but Trent was still worried about safety.  Of course you hear how every year someone falls in, but I think that is when it's thawing and people just aren't sure...Lately it's barely gotten about 32 degrees, so I wasn't too worried.  The kids loved it.

Once you swipe away the top inches of crunchy snow, you can see the ice.  You do see cracks now and then from the shifting pressures of movement. In these cracks, you can actually see (not in this pictures) the thickness of the ice.  It must be easily 6 inches or more thick!  It was really interesting.

 On the edges of the lake the ice was more exposed and the kids liked "ice skating" around.  Now our wonders were put to rest, the lake is frozen over and you can go out on it.  There was a group far off doing ice fishing, that would have been fun to see...

Time For A Change

Tarin has the most beautiful, golden brown, curly hair... I love it so much I never wanted to cut it.  But she never wants to style it or do anything with it, so it was time for a change.  Wish I had gotten a before picture with it curly.

BEFORE

AFTER

11 whole inches were cut off!!  It didn't look like that much, but sure sounds like a lot!

This is a picture of her bed head, but I like how it turned out!  And best of all, SHE likes how it turned out, and that's what matters most.

Ice Skating Lessons

For Tarin's Christmas present it was Ice Skating lessons and also her very own ice skates.  This class is a bit under her level, but it's a start and I hope she will push forward and learn what she can and continue to do well.

New Hobby

After being in AZ and seeing my brothers with guns, we decided it was time we joined in.  We had gotten a .9mm Smith and Wesson M&P hand gun.  Although I was initially excited to expound on this hobby, I think Trent is the one more into it.  It's very powerful and was fun to try it out at the shooting range.  

Of course no pictures of me unless I take them myself, but this was one of my target papers.  With the strong kick back, this was tough for a weakling like me to hold steady, so I think I did pretty good. :o)

Trent has surpassed my abilities with target practice.  I think he is taking this hobby and running with it.  Hope he stays safe.

Lowes Air Sports

While Trent was out of town with his dad and brother, we decided to cash in on our coupons from Halloween.  The kids had donated their candy to the troops and in return had received coupons to Lowes Air Sports.  It's really just a big gymnastic gym, but it was a lot of fun.

Jarom showing his air skills

Jarom doing a flip off the trampoline into the foam cubes

Raegan run/jumping through the obstacles

We had to get a picture together...Rian didn't want to come.

Tarin rock climbing with Jarom throwing cubes at her

Jarom swinging toward Raegan who is attempting the rock wall.

We all loved the swings.

Manly Weekend

Trent spent the weekend with his dad and brother Troy down in St. George and Mesquite doing a little male bonding.  The boys just spent their days golfing and hanging out.  I was jealous of the warmth they got to enjoy...oh well, at least I have conditioned Trent enough to send at least one picture. :o)

Savior Of The World

 This year will be our second year doing this.  Thank you to Gma and Gpa Wardwell for this tradition.  I absolutely love this play.  And this picture below I swiped from the internet is my favorite scene of the entire play...when Christ is born and all the angels are not only above but all around surrounding the Savior of the World.  I cry every year and it leaves a lasting impression.  Also a big Thank You to Troy and Kristin for watching Ammon.  The rest of our kids were able to come this year.

Christmas In Arizona

Saturday, December 21st we were suppose to get an early start down to Arizona, but the weather had different plans.  It snowed pretty good which mean it wasn't wise to be on any roads.  Such a disappointment.

But Sunday morning we decided to go for it.  Roads were better...  So by 4am we were on the road heading south toward St. George, Las Vegas then over down to Phoenix area.  Past Vegas, was the Hoover Dam.  It had been awhile since I had been that way, so we stopped to check it out.

It a big drop, Ammon was a little paranoid someone would fall off it we lean too far for a look...just like his daddy :o)

This bridge is amazing.  The traffic use to go over the dam, but is now rerouted to this new bridge.

On the drive the kids did a great job.  We had games, scavenger hunt, travel tickets for snacks and of course movies to watch.

After stopping in Vegas for breakfast, Hoover Dam, and sack lunches in Kingman, AZ we made it to my parents' house by 5:30pm.  It was so nice an warm the kids played outside until the sun went down.

Next morning the kids helped pick more oranges to juice.  Love fresh orange juice!!  Also, they loved picking more grapefruit for breakfasts.

Later went to my brother Bens' house to let the kids hang out with their cousins.  Didn't catch everyone in this picture, but you get the idea. Reed, Lauren, Rian, Tatum, Paige and McKayla...the rest of my kids must have escaped the photo op.

Christmas Eve

The celebration was at my parents house.  Yes a lot of people to fit in, but it's good to be together doing the Christmas story.

Of course the Christmas PJs

Christmas day was very simple.  Since we drove, we had limited space in the van, so we were only able to bring one gift for Christmas morning...hence the reason the kids were anxious to get back home soon.  It was still fun with Gma and Gpa and with some of my other siblings coming over for breakfast.  Jarom was able to break out the 4 wheeler and drive around the pasture and of course Ammon loved collecting the chicken eggs daily...many times daily...

Next day my brothers got together to go shooting.  This was news to me...I had no idea how involved into guns my brothers were!  But it was awesome.  We drove about an hour in the direction of Florence, AZ and found great desert hills to shoot.  My oldest brother Scott is the most invested into guns, while he's gotten Tim and Ben into it as well.

Scott had an AR 15 that my kids were a bit weary to try...so was I, but we all LOVED it.

Jarom                                                                   Mom

Ammon also had his try on the .22 rifle

But he rather play with his twin cousin, Nixon.  These two seriously look and act the same...only Ammon is a bit taller but these are both crazy characters.

Rian, Tarin and Raegan trying out the .22 Rifle.  These were pretty cool too.

As Jarom was trying one of the guns, he had put his arm down on the table where a shell had just ejected from one of the .22 rifles and it was stinkin' hot!  Although he wasn't to happy he got burned, he was kind of proud of his branding...

My brothers thought it would be fun to have a little friendly competition between me and my older sister.  We were shooting 40 caliber hand guns and aimed for the flags.  I hit 3 and she was close with 2.  That had quite the power!!  It was such a rush.

Trent loved the thrill of the AR 15 -- we all did!

Kids all had their turn...at first they were a bit scared with the loudness, but soon realized it didn't have the kick back they thought it would...and they loved it!

The best thrill of all was learning about Tannerite.  A stable but explosive component that makes the target that much more exciting.  We'd found old trash (fire extinguishers, shot up propane tanks) and when tannerite was hit, the target was shot up into the air with a loud explosion.  Pretty cool.

My nieces, McKayla and Paige thought it was fun to pose with the hand guns.

Finally, that evening, the night before heading back to Utah, we needed to visit the Mesa Temple and see all the lights.

Rian was missing from this picture, because her and cousins Paige and McKayla went to see the movie Frozen with Aunt Karen and my brother Ben and their family.

 A beautiful night on the temple grounds.

Next day we were up early once again and headed out of warm AZ and back to snowy Utah.  We made it home by 2:30pm (skipped lunch and other site seeing) so the kids could enjoy "Christmas" at home.  They were excited to open up gifts and play the rest of the day in the snow.  Weird though, in the same day we were in 70 degree AZ and that evening sledding down the slopes in our neighborhood.  

It's good to be home.