Addictions

We got Ben Guitar Hero for the Wii and instead of him being the one to play it, it seems that I'm the one that's addicted to playing. So far I've beat the songs on easy and working on them on medium. I need to go and join a Guitar Hero Addict Anonymous or start my own group or something. All of you who play that or Rock Band are free to join!!

Grandpa Sexton

Ben's Grandpa Sexton (his mom's dad) passed away this past week on January 27th. He went quietly and peacefully in his sleep which is all anyone can ever ask for. We had the opportunity to go down to Salt Lake for the funeral and spend time with Grandma Sexton and the rest of the family. Grandpa Sexton has been a great person, very kind and very welcoming member of Ben's family. He's always made me feel at home and welcome and I will miss him terribly. My favorite memory of him will always be the day he sealed Ben, Savannah and myself to each other as an eternal family. We have been lucky and blessed through grandpa's callings and will see him again in the end. We love him and will always remember him. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Christmas in New York

So I warned everyone that I wouldn't be good at keeping the blog up but here's some catch ups. We spent about six weeks in New York incorporating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mailee's birthday and New Year's into one trip. The kids and I had a lot of fun (I wished I could stay longer) but the kids wanted to get back to be with daddy. I had a few blonde moments and forgot to take my camera with me when we went into the city so the Thanksgiving pics are the only city pics I have. Oh well. We had fun spending Christmas with my famiy. We went into Manhattan for Mailee's birthday and took the kids to the M&M store, a huge Toys R Us store (it is 4 floors with a full size ferris wheel inside the store, can you believe that!) and a martian them restaurant called Mars 2112. We went with my aunt, cousin, sister, brother in law and niece and nephew. I think we all had fun but were happy to leave. My brother in law's family throws a huge New Year's Eve party where they rent a hall, have a dj and catering. It was a lot of fun! The girls and I danced the whole night and were exhausted the next day. We left with my grandma in tow back home on the second and ran into a lot of bad weather. (By the way, avoid Nebraska when you can during winter!) We spent a couple of days in Colorado with my aunt and left to come home, of course we hit a blizzard in the mountains seeing as I LOVE snow so much! It has taken me nearly a month to recuperate from the trip and try to catch up on blogging. So, that was our trip to New York. I can't wait to go back but I'm flying next time!!
Here are some pics from Christmas and Mailee's birthday.

Bella decorating the tree

Bella and Mailee dancing while they decorate

Savannah and Mailee adding more

Savannah got the hat for Christmas and has yet to take it off

Movie night my nephew AJ laying on Savannah

My cousin Ariel made this cake for Mailee

Left to right: Mailee, Ariel, Savannah, my aunt Susy, my sister Christina, my sister Danielle, Bella, my grandma, my niece Anjelia

My brother Jon and his girlfriend Melissa and Mailee

My nephew AJ giving Mailee birthday hugs

We're Heere!

I can now say that I drove all the way to New York by myself! We left early Sunday morning from Colorado and got to New York 10pm eastern time. So really really good time! And that was with hitting horrible rain, sleet and snow in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The girls have been having a lot of fun playing (and fighting) with their cousins. We got up 4 in the morning to catch a train to the thanksgiving day parade and freeze our butts off to see my cousin march in the parade. The wait for the parade to start sucked because all the kids were whining and obviously cold but as soon as we started seeing things their faces were too cute for words. They were very excited and animated. My cousin Ariel was at the end of her row and like four feet from where we were standing. It was awesome!! First time ever Copiague High School band in the Macy's day parade. Though on the broadcast they said it like Copag. Oh well! We had a great time and no I probably would never bring them again. I'm getting way too old for this!

Care Bears

Copiague High School Marching Band
(but Ariel was the girl behind...my camera wasn't fast enough!)

Dora

back of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana's head

...stupid camera

cute Smurf

Papa Smurf and Smurfette

Mailee and NYC cop

(before parade started)

My sister Christina and nephew AJ

Isabella

Savannah

doesn't she look tired!

last and definitely not least, the best freakin' Santa I've ever seen in the parade

...and I've seen quite a few!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our Very Long Trip to New York!!

Hello all! We left Utah on Friday the 21st and made really good time. We got to Colorado in the afternoon and spent a couple of days there with my aunt Shelly, uncle Frank and young cousins Terren and Jayden. We got to take the kids to the park and saw Terren's play "Wagon Wheels West" twice!! He was very cute in it and the girls have been singing the soundtrack to it since!

Jayden (in black), Savannah and Terren (black hat) on death trap 1

Mailee playing peek-a-boo

Isabella and Terren on top of death trap 1

Jayden, Savannah and Terren

They really loved death trap 1

Savannah

Terren and I think Jayden on the left

Jayden, Savannah and random kids

Isabella

As you can see, there was the perfect weather and lots of kids who wanted to ride the death traps! Just kidding, it was great because my cousins are really more like the girls' cousins since they're closer in age. Well on to NY we go!!

First Snow

So I'm already behind on blogging...Oh well!

Last wednesday we woke up to our first snowfall.

Ben got a couple of pictures before taking the girls to school!

Mailee looks really excited, doesn't she!

It melted the next day and hasn't really snowed since but it's been really cold!