out with the old in with the new

 I am now the proud owner of two white mini vans. yes, that is right.  I purchased a new van. Just like the old one it is white with gray interior.  However, it is much nicer than the old one.  It is a 2010 Chrysler town and country.  Landan is so disappointed in me.  He can't believe I would choose to buy a new vehicle and get another mini van.  Well, I will bear my testimony of minivans.  They are super convenient when you have kids.  They are cheaper than most SUV's and they get better gas mileage.  So there!!  We are trying to sell our old one.  So if you know anyone that wants a salvage title 2005 Saturn Relay with 138,000 miles on it and stained carpet, permenant marker on the seats and missing ceiling lights, send them our way.

 Trey, PJ and cousin Waylon, started playing basketball at the city.  It is a group for 3-5 year olds.  My boys think it is pretty awesome.

 Trey is showing some skill in basketball.

The Unified Special Olympics tournament was on Tuesday. Unified means that each team is made up of two special Olympic athletes and two non special Olympians (peers)  All of our teams did great.  The one I play on got the silver medal.

January

 We started the new year out with an awesome party!  which meant, I played with the kids while Landan watched the Jazz game and then I sent them to bed at 9 p.m.  They didn't know any better.

 PJ had  a field trip to the fire station.  The was a big deal because PJ is afraid of fire trucks.  He cried twice but other than that, he did great!!

 his cute little class

 My boys are really into playing in their band " the Utah Rocking Utes"  they recently competed in a  rock competition in my kitchen.  They were awesome!!  Thankfully, they were in the only participants.

 Trey went to the dentist.  He was the best kid ever!  I was so proud of him.  He actually fell asleep in the chair.  He had to get a mini root canal.  They gave him some amoxicillin in case his tooth got infected.  He took it and we soon found out he was allergic to it. He vomited several times, had breathing issues and broke out in big welts all over his body.  I hope this doesn't ruin future dentist visits.

Just going through my pictures.. It is hard to remember Addie this small!  What a cutie

Christmas

Christmas Eve, we have the tradition of eating German pancakes and bacon.  We also open their new pajamas in the morning because we have parties until late at night and usually at least one of my kids is a sleep before we get home.  They also wear them all day.  Right now they love it.  I am sure there will be a point when they don't want to wear them all day and everywhere we go.

 They are some pretty darn cute kids.

 After breakfast we went to see "the Muppets"  I thought it was too long, but kind of funny at times.

 We went to two parties.  The DeGraffenried and the Grandma Patty party.  They were both fun!  The kids were pretty tired and ready to go to sleep so Santa could come.  Christmas morning, the kids opened their presents left under the tree.  Once they were done I told them that Santa's biggest surprises they had to find.

 Trey found his in his bedroom.  The Arcade hoops.  He also got the orange cones you see by his bed.  He has already issues  citations to all have crossed the cones.

 Everyone is enjoying the basketball game. 

 PJ found his surprise in the toy room that said "PJ's mechanic shop"  He got this car that can be completely taken apart and then rebuilt.  He has already changed multiple tires, changed oil, rebuilt transmissions etc...

 Trey is also loving the car

 The kids got a cash register for their gas station.  They always play gas station in the little area under the stairs.  They pull up to the window in the little car and order diet cokes. 

 Addie's big surprise, the number one thing on her list was an orbeez foot spa.  I have to admit is pretty cool.  She loves it! Christmas day, all the grandmas, myself and Pj got foot massages from Addie.

 Addie was also thrilled to get a Justin Bieber shirt and leopard print purse.

 She also got Just Dance 3, We Cheer 2, and Sing it

and a new church dress...  We had a great Christmas!!

a whole bunch of craziness

Addie was in the nutcracker again this year.  She was a medium mouse.  Hopefully when she is in it again two years from now, she will get to be something different.

 After the Nutcracker, Addie and I rushed to the Heelis Party to see Santa.  She made it in the nick of time.

 We made our annual sugar cookies.  It is nice to know I can still decorate cookies better than 3 people in this world.

 We had our family pictures taken.  The DeGraffenried Family Photo. Pretty cool, I think.

Landan and I have our first updated picture together since 2002

 So I had a crazy experience with the Santaquin Church fire. I drove passed the morning we heard about the fire.  I happened to see that my dad was there.  So I decided to see if I could go in.  I walked in, no one said a word.  So I walked down the hall and up the stairs to where my dad and Bones were talking to the investigator, church architect and firemen.  The church architect handed me a flashlight and told me to look around.  I was horrified with what I saw.  I got out my camera and started taking pictures.  When I got home I wanted to show my local facebook friends that there was a lot of damage done to the church.  I had no idea my pics would spread so far and so fast.  I was contacted by the Santaquin paper who asked if they could use them on their website. After checking to make sure that was ok I gave my permission.  What I am extremely shocked about, however, was to see my pics on FOX 13 news.  I never gave permission to anyone.  They were just there with my name above the photos.  I was kind of freaked out that my pictures had traveled that far. So I found out the reason my pictures were so high in demand is because the media was not allowed in where I had been taking pictures.  Who knew my pictures would actually be the only ones out there?  I sure didn't.

It was horrifying to see.

Below is the link to the actual news broadcast that my photos were on.

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-arson-suspected-in-santaquin-lds-church-fire-20111215,0,571227.story

yep I turned 35 and stuff

 So here I am being all old and everything.  One day I will look back and say "remember when I thought 35 was old" I think I will post a picture every year so I could look back at the year before and say "what happened? I used to be much skinnier and have less wrinkles" unless I get botox and liposuction and then I will think there was a lot of improvement in my older years.  any way, it was a good birthday.  I was treated to diet cokes and other yummies.  I bought myself a new vacuum.  The best part of my birthday was finally getting my tax refund!  Wahoo!!

Thanksgiving was good!  We were thankful and ate a lot.  Friday we went to see "Arthur"  it was cute.  Saturday We went to see the town light parade.  It was cold and short. 

Now on to the crazy month of December..

Addie's gymnastics in house meet

Addie's team competed against each other so they could get an idea of what it is like to compete.  They didn't score them or anything but they went from apparatus to apparatus and did everything as if it was the real deal.   Addie did really well!  Of course my camera always decided to take the picture too late so I don't really have any great pics.

She was nervous all day.  After school she grabbed her beam and pulled it upstairs to the kitchen and googled level 4 beam routine and practiced over and over until she felt confident with it.  She is definitely self driven.

It will be fun to watch her compete.

winter is here

Halloween 2011

 Halloween time was fun and busy.  Here is a break down of the festivities.  3 class parties, 2 preschool trunk or treats, party at Grandma Patty's, trunk or treat at Grandma Carla's and trick or treating in the neighborhood.  I can't speak for my kids but I was tired.

My kids of course looked adorable.  Addie for the second year in a row was Princess Tiana.  Trey was a Santaquin main street construction worker and PJ was woody from toy story.

 At Grandma Patty's party Addie and Gracie volunteered to do the dishes.  Who is going to say no to that?

 Nephew Chad went as Michael Jackson.

 all the little ones at Grandma Carla's trunk or treat

 Trey is really into politics. Trey is standing over me right now as I write.  He requested that I tell you to "VOTE YES to prop 1&2 and vote for Carr, Payne and Wollebaek"  He also said don't forget to tell them "don't waste our investment"  He also wants you to know the he is running for City Council when he is 34 and his signs will say " Vote for Trey DeGraffenried Huff.  He is a good investment and a nice guy"

Addie and Trey both did well in the Reflections contest.  Trey placed 1st in dance choreography in the primary division and Addie placed first in dance choreography in the intermediate division.  they were both thrilled to get their trophies.  Trey said the best part was the trophy was a rectangular prism.

 Carlene finally had her baby.  Little Raquel was born on the 4th of November.  She is a cutie.  PJ wants to keep her.