Winter Fun!

Last Friday Cannon & I picked up Brandon from work had a yummy dinner at Chili's and then headed to Temple Square to see all the lights! This is the first time we have taken Cannon, all the other years stuff has come up, or I haven't wanted to take him out in the cold or whatever reason. But this year we finally made it! Cannon LOVED the lights and all the "Jesus'". We took him into the visitors center and he immediately recognized the statue was that of our Savior. His favorite part was looking at all the different manger scenes back by the Church Office building. He kept pointing to the babies saying, "that Jesus mom, yeah that Jesus." He was so sweet and it reminded me of how sweet the Holidays are with kids. He also loved the Temple and kept pointing at it saying, "that beedeful" (beautiful), such precious moments from my sweet Cannon! Those are the times parenting is all worth it!

We couldn't leave with out enjoying some delicious hot chocolate from the Nauvoo Cafe and a little caroling to accompany our beverage! It was such a fun night and I am so glad that I have such sweet boys to share this time of year with!

On a side note, this is Cannon after today's snow fall! He helped Brandon shovel last night so all day today he was wanting to go outside and play in the snow! I finally caved and decided to shovel while he played!

At least someone enjoys the snow! Look at this kid, too cute!

If only he was a little stronger, he could have really helped!

The Adventures of the Human Cannon Ball!

I am going to write a book called The Adventures of the Human Cannon Ball! It will be a Children's book full of bright animated pictures and lively characters, not to mention a lot of SASS and mischief! Like my life! My child, like any 2 year old I am sure, provides a plethora of stories everyday! So if you are interested in buying my book, please leave me a comment so I can reserve you a copy, as I am sure it will be a BEST SELLER!

Here is a preview of just what will be in my book! Just so you know, it has nothing to do with my parenting skills (yeah right), it is 100% Cannon and his lack of listening and behavior skills!

OK, I know this has already been posted, but seriously, how can it not make to the book?!

Yes, he colored all over himself and multiple other things including the couch, the TV, the wall, the blinds, his basketball hoop and of course a little bit on his paper! This however was ALL done on his fathers time, and most of it came out. It too will be in the book!

That is gum, all unwrapped and strategically placed in a row! I don't even know how got my purse to get the gum but alas he did, and it was a BRAND NEW pack!

This was my fault! I was running downstairs on the treadmill and he was watching a movie, or so I thought. When I cam upstairs I found this, a big grin on Cannon's face and he said "mom, want eggs? I want eggs yeah!"Cleaning that up will make any prego chic throw up!

Another coloring adventure! I swear to you the makers are put WAY up high, I will never know where he finds some things!

That is just a sample of the things you will find. I was scanning through some old posts and honestly I can't believe this child is still alive after some of the things he has done. But, he is cute and he sure provides a lot of entertainment for us and hopefully those of you who read our blog! Oh Cannon my Cannon, what an adventure you are!

Brandon's Best Day EVER!

I realize I am way late in posting this but it was the
BEST DAY
of Brandon's life so I couldn't just let it disappear into the depth of the memory card!

The day before the big game, Brandon received a phone call from one his good friends inviting us to the BYU -UTAH game, like a giddy little school girl he gladly accepted. It was an awesome day! We headed down to P-town for some delicious pizza and pasta at our favorite Idaho Falls joint, now found in Provo, CRAIGO'S! Loaded up on the all you can eat and then headed to Lavell Edwards Stadium where we were swimming in a sea of blue and a little red! We had great seats in the North End Zone! I even worked it with a UTE fan sitting next to me and he bought me a soda! I know, how awesome am I, really how awesome was the UTE fan to have done that. He was a nice a guy and just before the end of the game, while UTAH was still leading, he leaned over to me and said "I am conceding right now, I am not sure we are going to win this." Sure enough minutes later the beloved cougs came through with a touch down for the WIN!

Thanks to our AWESOME friends, the Selman's, for the invite! We love you guys!

The Selman's!

It was a bit chilly, but a good win will warm anybody up! Look at Brandon's smile, doesn't he look like a little kid at Christmas time?!

And of course you can't leave the game without a picture of the fans rushing the field, I only wish I would have waited, you couldn't even see the grass!

One last thing! GO COUGARS!
and don't leave me a post about the "classless Max Hall" he is a BYU idol in my house to a certain someone, and no amount of arguing will change his mind!

Today!

Today Cannon woke up at 6 am and never went back to sleep!

Today we watched Happy Feet 3 times!

Today Cannon peed all over his sheets!

Today I found shredded cheese all over my kitchen floor!

Today Cannon would not take a nap!

Today my Christmas Tree is mostly barren thanks to Cannon!

Today EVERY ONE of Cannons diapers has had a pleasant little surprise!

Today I finally felt food enough to go to do something!
So I braved the cold, my 2 year old and COSTCO! I have a love hate relationship with COSTCO because it has tons of good deals but no matter when you go it is PACKED! Today it was 12:30 and I couldn't even find a parking spot, I almost turned around and went home. If we didn't need diapers (again, any tricks on potty training a stubborn boy?) I wouldn't have gone in. But I did and I am glad I did because TODAY someone needed a friend.

After Cannon and I had finished our adventure in the warehouse we headed for the promised pizza and a soda. As usual there was NOWHERE to sit, especially with a cart and a toddler in tow! But I noticed an older gentleman sitting at table all alone eating his DELICIOUS COSTCO hot dog and enjoying his icy cold beverage. I kindly asked him if he would mind if we shared his table because trying to feed Cannon pizza in the car would have been an absolute nightmare! He replied, "no, not at all please take a seat. " We began talking a bit and he was playing with Cannon. He told me he had 25 grandchildren! Can you imagine?! Then he told me he had 9 kids! I commended him on what an accomplishment that was, because I am questioning my ability to have 2! He reassured me that 2 is sometimes easier than 1. He was such a nice gentleman, but he seemed a little down to me. Which, rightfully he was. He began to tell me about his wife who is currently at The Huntsman Cancer Center undergoing her FOURTH round of Chemotherapy and who has lost her hair FOUR times! She has Leukemia. He sounded optimistic about her prognosis but said it had been a battle of a year. He had not been to see her today and had just spoken to her on the phone where she said she had a "good night" and actually got some sleep. We visited a while longer and as we were getting up to leave, he kindly said to me, "Thank you for the visit I really enjoyed it and needed a chat." Right then I thought to myself, Today was not so bad!

Today I have a capable and able body!

Today I have a warm home & a fridge full of food (that can be found on the kitchen floor)!

Today I have a warm bed to sleep in!

Today I have an abundance of luxuries (like Happy Feet)!

Today I have a beautiful Christmas Tree that I can enjoy in my own home everyday!

Today I have a sweet little baby, who give me sweet little surprises everyday!

And TODAY I was able to be a friend to someone that was in need, when really he made me realize that TODAY was not so bad!

These are a few of my favorite things!

As we start out the month of December and begin the long awaited countdown to Christmas I thought I would start by remembering just why this month is so important. Here is my Christmas countdown of 25 things I LOVE about this time of year!

1. Christmas Lights
2. Temple Square
3. Shopping
4. Parties
5. Hot Chocolate
6. Decorating
7. The Smell of Christmas Trees
8. Presents
9. Service
10. The Birth of our Savior
11. Food
12. Family Time
13. An Occasional Snow Storm
14. Christmas Movies (The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story)
15. Traditions (PJ's on Christmas Eve)
16. Christmas Hymns
17. Egg Nog
18. Cannon's Excitement about EVERYTHING!
19. Blessings! Realizing just how fortunate I am, and how truly blessed my family and I are.
20. The Christmas Story (How humbling it is!)
21. Snow men
22. Sledding
23. Sweaters (whoever invented those was a genius)
24. The Anticipation on Christmas Eve
25. My Testimony and the strength it draws each year at this time. Confirming to me that the Gospel is true and that the true meaning of Christmas is to reflect on our Savior and the wonderful blessing he is to us all!

HAPPY DECEMBER everyone and Merry Christmas!

Family Pics

**WARNING: LOTS OF PICTURES!**

I don't know why, but I am such a sucker for family pictures. Brandon thinks we get them way too often, but I like to remind him it is the only way we can "freeze" this time in our life. Brandon's cousin is a photographer (Kristy C Photo) and took these pics for us a few weeks a go. I think they turned out GREAT and I couldn't be happier with how handsome my fella's look. Thanks Kristy! I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do! :)

Here is my little Can-man straight out of a JC Penney catalog! Seriously he looks like a little model to me! So HANDSOME!

That's the cheese that wins it all!

That's the "I did something I shouldn't have, when are you going to catch on" look!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his face in this pic.
This is his new trick, to kiss you and look at the camera. So funny!

Getting a good grip before going in for the kiss to dad! Sometimes his kisses are a bit intense!

Yet another priceless face! Seriously where did this kid come from?!

The Fam!

These are some of my favorites, they just capture a father and a son being young together!

Ahh...True Love! Me and my honey!

This is my absolute FAVORITE family picture...

She also did a session with my dad and the family. Here are a few.

This is Cannon and his cousin Sawyer, they are the BEST of friends! They were headed off for some mischief and laughing when she took this pic! They are so cute!

Cannon being his bossy self and dragging Sawyer along. "C'mon Seeyar"


All the grandsons
(Sawyer, Cannon and baby Wyat)

Family, the meaning of it all!

And finally....yet another reason to get family pictures...

Yes, that is a baby behind that glare and it is ours! Baby ball #2 will be joining us in June (just in time for Brandon to start traveling again :)) and we couldn't be more excited. We had our first doctors appointment yesterday and everything looks GREAT! The heartbeat is strong and the baby was moving around quite a bit. We are just over 10 weeks and are counting down the next 30! So, coming June 2010...more family pics! :)

ELLEN!

Since I have been "enjoying" the life of a stay at home mom I have found that two things are happening!

1) I find myself cleaning ALL day EVERY day and still unable to keep up with Hurricane Cannon

2) Wasting WAY TOO much time watching senseless, needless hours of television.

However, there is one show that has become a bit of a guilty pleasure and I don't really feel bad about neglecting all my other duties when it is on. I am so weird to even be writing this I know, but in a day when so many need so much I can't help but feel some level of gratitude to this person and her show. It is ELLEN. I know what you are thinking, "really, why are you even watching that show?" Well let me tell you! I didn't set out to watch it, in fact I was almost against it for reasons unknown to me, it was just on after one of those ridiculous soap operas and ever since then I have been hooked! This show gives away more "things" than I have ever seen! I want to go to a taping just because I know I wouldn't leave empty handed! Seriously! Today she gave away like her 100th car to this poor mom who's car would smoke every time she turned it on. Yesterday she gave away a trip just because some people played a game, and they didn't even win. Last week she had a "cash gun" and shot hundreds of dollars out of it multiple times during the show. She regularly gives away play stations, wii's, blue ray players, appliances, gift cards, cosmetics, really you name it she is giving it. Her show is fun, light and entertaining. She always has dancers on, kid inventions, the FUNNIEST YouTube videos you have ever seen and so much more. So if you haven't checked out her show lately, give it a shot! I can almost promise you it will get a grin and a laugh out of anyone who watches it.

So, why do I write this blog??? Well I would like to think that if I had loads of money, I would do something similar with it. Just to see the joy that she brings to people by a simple gift is so awesome. I am not sure if I would be as giving but I would like to learn by example and do some good. I often wonder what I would be willing to sacrifice whether it be for my religion, my country, my family or anything else for that matter and sometimes my selfishness shines through as I draw a blank. If you hate that show, I am sorry you wasted your time reading this, but none the less I think there is a little something good that can come out of giving, after all ti's the season of thanks and giving! So to anyone who is willing to give countless amounts to charities or just the public need whether it be through time, money, service...THANK YOU!