And I Wonder Why I Don't Want To Go Back To Work

I've had the past 1.5 weeks off of work and it's been so fun. I've kept so busy doing lots of different things. Cleaning up Christmas stuff, shopping, New Years Party, New Years breakfast for the kids, dinner and movie with our friends, tending grandchildren, and most of all having fun sledding with them. I could really get used to not working. Here are just a few things I did on my time off.
Easton went sledding for his first time. He's 9 months old and loved it!!

Jared obviously is scared of going too fast..haha

The girls are just chillin. Adaline is almost 4 months old so she didn't sled but she came along to watch.

You'd think a 20 month old boy would be a little nervous going down by his self but not Colby.

Jared and Easton hitting the sledding trail

A grandma is never to old to enjoy some sledding

Makinley was always helping others pull their sleds up. She's quite the helper.

Lets go Daddy!! Faster!!

Adaline and her mommy

I have a new camera and I love it. I'm still learning things on it but it's much easier to understand than my other one. But I just love this picture of Easton all bundled up to go sledding. He is such a little butterball.

Kori had an opportunity to work a day for a previous employer so I got the opportunity to spend the day with Colby and Adaline. We played and played and read story after story. They sure keep you busy and on your toes all the time. I know why we all have our children when we are young!!

I was so thankful this little sweetheart took her bottle. I was a little worried about that since she's only had one or two previously. But she did great!! I love her smiley, sweet face.

Brayden and Dax weren't able to go with the rest of us on New Years Day sledding and so Papa and I took them yesterday up on the foothills of Timp. We took the 4 wheeler and our dog Izzy and we had a great time.

They're ready to go.....all buckled in and thinking about the fun they're going to have.

I'd get on the sled and I'd start laughing so hard. The boys were laughing so hard too and we'd scream for Papa to go faster.

We found an open field where no one had been in the snow. The boys had a great idea of making not a snowman but an "Elkman" Daxton and Papa are finding things to put on it.

Here's the final production. We had twigs for the antlers, my dark glasses for the eyes, my gloves for the hands and an orange for the mouth.

Look at his adorable freckles!!

They made snow angels in the fresh snow.

Izzy loved bouncing around in the snow. We loved being above all the yucky smog and up in the beautiful mountains.

The boys kept yelling "go faster Papa, go faster". They'd be giggling so loud and it just made me smile knowing how much fun they were having.

So now you know why I don't want to go back to work. My time off for Christmas break has been filled with so many fun times. Most of them spent with my great family. What would life be without them close by and being able to create so many memories.

Izzy's First Pheasant Hunt

Rog, Troy and Jared at Pigs Pheasant Farm Dec. 26,09

Oh, yes that says -12 degrees in Fayette, Ut. On the Saturday after Christmas Rog, me, Jared and Troy drove to Pigs Pheasant Farm. Roger got his yellow lab, Izzy, in the summer and has been dying to take her out in the fields to hunt. There aren't any fields left in our area to hunt because it's all posted no trespassing so you have to "pay" to hunt now. Kinda sad.

Izzy is resting up before the big hunt. She's in the truck and doesn't realize how cold it is outside.

Here we go. The owner walked us out to the fields where they had planted the pheasants.

Jared ended up with icicles hanging from his goatee. It was mighty cold but the boys and Roger were having a great time.

Roger is in his dream element. Just loving being outside with his boys and dog.

Jared was walking in the ditch to scare up the birds and fell. I couldn't resist getting his picture.

Get the bird Troy!! lol

Ready, aim, shoot!! These guys are pretty darn good bird hunters.

Poor birdy.

Izzy says "Are we all done yet? I'm cold and tired." We spent 3 hours in the cold, bitter weather but had the time of our lives.

I really didn't shoot anything. I was just the picture taker but had to prove I was there.

Me with Jared and Troy and Izzy. They shot 9 birds.

What a fun day we got to have with Jared and Troy. I'm so glad they love doing the things their dad loves. Now he has some companions to take with him. We can't wait to go again!!

Izzy didn't do too bad for her first hunt. She's only 7 months old. She retrieved great but had a harder time scaring up the birds.

A Fun Time For Shana's 29th Birthday

Shana celebrated her 29th birthday. Jared and Troys families all drove out with Rog and I to Shana and Jakes place. I love when we all get together. For some reason this night was particularly fun. We played games, the kids danced, we had a yummy spaghetti dinner and cake and ice cream. These pictures are just some of the fun things we did that night. The kids got kinda rowdy with their loud music and crazy dancing. Shana is showing off her knitted scarf we gave her.

Any chance I can get with this little cutie I cherish. I don't get to see her as often as the other kids.

When the cousins get together they have so much fun. The bigger boys love having the girls climb all over them. They're such good sports.

Just chillin at the Gardners

Daxton doing what he does best. A little break dancing. Colby does his best to keep up with him.

Easton is our little chub dub..he has the cutest personality.

I'm not sure if Shana is mad at the kids and screaming or just happy it's her 29th and not her 30th birthday..

Jake made her a yummy, yummy cake.

We got her a cute Pea Coat

It's hard to believe my daughter is 29 this year. I remember being that age. She's such a fun mommy to her kids and a wonderful wife to Jake. We're all blessed to have her in our lives.

Kori kissing her sweet Adaline. She's 3 1/2 months old now.

What a cute picture of Jared and Kristi. They just celebrated their 10th anniversary. Congrats to them!! That's a huge milestone nowadays. Love you guys!!

Rog is the best Papa anyone could ask for. He never hesitates to watch his sweethearts. They adore him too.

Troy doing what he does best. hahaha.. What a cute little family. Colby wanted to keep dancing, he was having so much fun.

Colby on the drive out to Shana's place.

Presley and her daddy. They sure adore each other.

Before we drove out to Shana and Jakes we stopped by Jareds place. I have a new camera and I was testing it out. I figured I couldn't get a cuter picture than this to try my new camera on. Gentry, Easton and Makinley are so excited for Christmas. Thanks to my kids and grandkids for all the fun times we have together. Life couldn't be better when you are surrounded by those you love.

Best Friends Forever

This night will be one I will never forget. Last evening our best friends all congregated at Mike and Teresa's new home for our Christmas party. We had a wonderful soup in bread bowl and salad dinner. We played games and laughed our heads off until 1am!! I haven't laughed so hard in so long so it was so nice to get out and relax and have such a fun time with the worlds best friends. How blessed Roger and I are to have Steve and Deb, Lora and Scott and Mike and Teresa to hang out with. We all enjoy the exact same things and are so much alike.
When we arrived Debbie said that Steve was coming from St. George and would just be meeting us there so while we were waiting for him we were walking around looking at Mike and Teresa's new home. Debbie and I were looking out the window on the top floor and all of a sudden we hear this very loud noise and I see a helicopter landing in the street right in front of their home. Well, what we didn't know was that Debbie and Steve had planned Santa's arrival in the helicopter. I yelled "why is Life Flight landing in front of your home? And what's going on" We ran down the stairs and opened the front door and Santa Claus hopped out of the helicopter with a bag full of goodies for us. How many people can say they have friends who give their friends a ride in a helicopter?
This is what we saw when we opened the front door. It was so surreal. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Roger and I are getting ready to take off with Chad, Steve and Debbie's soninlaw. He's the instructor at the helicopter school. My heart was racing so fast because I swore I would never do this.

We were all screaming and yelling. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what in the world was going on at the Eastman's home.

Mike, Steve (Santa), Scott and Rog. What a fun bunch of guys!! Love them to death.

Steve and Debbie had planned this whole deal. They are co-owners in a helicopter school. We've been best friends with them for 26 years now.

I couldn't resist giving Santa a big kiss

He made such a cute Santa Claus.

Mike and Teresa were the host of the party. They have a brand new beautiful home.

I've been best friends with Lora for 21 years now. She married Scott last April while we were in Hawaii. It's so wonderful to see her so happy. He fits right in with all of us and we love them both so much. I couldn't ask for better friends. Teresa, Deb and Lora. BFF

Just wanted to show you our best side. (unfortunately my butt's the biggest) oh well. Always has been and always will be. lol Love ya girls!!

What a fun time we had!! Thank you so much Steve and Deb! The whole Santa/Helicopter thing made our whole night. I can't wait to get together again. Next time it will be a game of Twister for sure!!

Random thoughts on another sleepless night

I'll start with the blessing of our 8th grandbaby, Adaline. What a fun night we had as her aunts, uncles and cousins and grandpa and grandma gathered to hear her priesthood blessing and be given a name. Troy did such a nice job. I love to see my sons honor their priesthood and what an honor it is for me when I've also been able to have a blessing by them.

Grandma and Grandpa love her so much.
Adaline is very blessed to come to a home where her parents and her big brother Colby love her so much.

Here she is all dolled up. She's 2 1/2 months old now. She loves to smile and giggle and is a great eater. She's growing so fast.

Grandma loves her sweet Adaline. I pray Heavenly Father watches over her and that she will always be healthy and strong.

It's now midnight Nov. 23. It's quite the habit now of being awake all hours of the night if I don't take something to help me sleep. I lay in bed thinking of so many things. I've been having a lot of pain issues for the past 6 to 8 weeks so I toss and turn trying to get comfortable. 6 weeks ago I started having a lot of pain in my hands. Almost arthritic like pain. I went to the doctor and she did some basic blood tests which didn't show anything. A few days after that I was at the gym and noticed a lot of pin like tingling going up my left leg. And then from there it progressed over the next few days to both my legs, up to my knees, hands , arms and numbing in my feet. My doctor referred me to a neurologist and I've been seeing her a couple of times now. I"ve had a brain MRI checking for MS and that came back with no lesions which was good. I had a neck MRI to check for a spinal impingement but other than some neck herniations etc. that was ok also. I"ve had a nerve conductive test on all my extremities and that's been ok. At 11am today I'm having a spinal tap. Spinal taps show a multitude of things if you have MS, Lymes disease, an infection, etc. I'm praying and praying that they find somthing out with this test. I"ve had so much blood drawn lately checking for everything. I'm so blessed to have a doctor who seems to really care and wants to find a reason for all of these symptoms too. I"m thankful for a loving husband who worries about me even though I keep telling him I"ll be ok. He gave me such a nice blessing and I'm so appreciative of the priesthood.

I keep telling myself I can't let this get me down. It's ski season coming up and I need to be up on that mountain. So until we find a diagnosis I'll just keep on keepin on..

I am so thankful this holiday season for my husband, my family, friends, job, the gospel, our home, my freedoms and for the men and women who give their time and lives for it etc. During all of this economic mess our country is in I have thought so many times how blessed I am to work where I do and the same with Rog. Even though we've been affected by company cut backs etc. we are still employed.

I will end this post now since I have to get up at 4:30am for work. At least I'm off at 10:30 which then I'll head to the "big"hospital for my spinal tap.

Good night...