2014- A Year in Review, Children's Interview

We had a lot of fun celebrating on New Year's Eve. We invited the missionaries over as well as Juan, Noah and Bean's little friend. Every year I hang six countdown balloons on the window and every hour starting at 6 pm the children take turns popping a balloon. In the balloon there is a simple activity. Some of them include: Eat whipping cream straight from the can, call your grandparents, have a thumb war, have a hot cocoa bar etc. The kids always love doing this! For dinner we had pizza, wings, spinach artichoke dip, 7-layer bean dip and a veggie tray with dip. The missionaries have strict rules so they left a little bit after 8:00. However, we had such a fun time playing minute to win it games with them. It was so much fun and seriously funny to watch! At one point Chief brought down his scriptures, the picture book of The Book of Mormon. One of the missionaries read him a little story out of it. Bean and her friend played Just Dance for a little bit. That's quite the workout! We ate and ate and laughed and laughed. It was relaxing and so much fun. At midnight the children were all armed with my pots and pans and when the clock struck 12 they ran around the house and outside banging the pots and pans to ring in the new year. It was hilarious! It reminded me of ringing in the new year with my own father. He would always stay up with me and run out banging pots and pans. Such a fun memory! On a side note our little lady decided to wake up at midnight and help ring in the new year! I didn't mind one bit, she is a doll and oh so sweet. She went back down around 12:30. Oh how I love her! We have had a great 2014 and look forward to 2015!!!

Happy New Year!

Granny

Favorite TV Show: Pawn Shop Show

My Favorite Thing about School is: Going to practice sports after school

The thing I am best at is: Football

If I could change my name it would be: Tyrone Oneil

My Favorite Color is: Green, Red and Black

My Favorite toy is: IPhone

When I grow up I want to be: In the Military

I like to take these to bed with me at night: My music, random junk and my pocket knife.

My Favorite Season of the year is Fall, because it is my birthday and basketball and football

A Food I really like is: Chicken Wings

My Favorite animal is: Salt Water Crocodile

My Favorite Sport is: Football

My Best Friend is: Juan

My Favorite Holiday is: Thanksgiving

My Favorite Thing to do All Year was: High Adventure, Scouts

Goose

Favorite TV Show:American Restoration

My Favorite Thing about School is: Friends

The thing I am best at is: Basketball

If I could change my name it would be:Monta Ballalis

My Favorite Color is: Orange and Red

My Favorite toy is: IPod

When I grow up I want to be:An NBA Player

My Favorite Book is: Maze Runner

I like to take these to bed with me at night: Candy

My Favorite Season of the year is: Summer

A Food I really like is: Chicken Adobo

My Favorite animal is: Shark

My Favorite Sport is:Basketball

My Best Friend is:Matt

My Favorite Holiday is:Christmas

My Favorite Thing to do All Year was:Scout Camp

Bean

Favorite TV Show: I didn't do it

My Favorite Thing about School is:Art class and Heim Time where I can Read

The thing I am best at is: Reading

If I could change my name it would be:Mya

My Favorite Color is: Orange, Blue and Green

My Favorite toy is:Lego Friends

When I grow up I want to be: A Vet

My Favorite Book is: The Land of Stories

I like to take these to bed with me at night: A Fuzzy Blanket

My Favorite Movie is: Malificient and Annie

My Favorite Season of the year is: Summer and Fall

A Food I really like is: Cheese Pizza

My Favorite animal is:Dog, Horse and Dolphin

My Favorite Sport is:Basketball

My Best Friend is: Ella and Mya

My Favorite Holiday is: My Birthday, Valentines Day and Christmas

My Favorite Thing to do All Year: When we went and visited cousins in Utah

Chief

Favorite TV Show:Batman

My Favorite Thing about School is: Free Play and Playing Games

The thing I am best at is:Jumping on Couches

If I could change my name it would be: Dragon

My Favorite Color is:Pink

My Favorite toy is: Remote Control Car

When I grow up I want to be: BIG

My Favorite Book is:The Napping House

I like to take these to bed with me at night:Books

My Favorite Movie is: Batman

My Favorite Season of the year is: Summer and Fall

A Food I really like is: Chicken Wings

My Favorite animal is: Zebra

My Favorite Sport is: Football

My Best Friend is:Carson, Cooper and Brayden

My Favorite Holiday is: Easter

My Favorite Thing to do All Year: When I played Outside

New Home 2014

I don't think I ever blogged about this. I meant to, but never got around to it. Wanted to get it in before the new year! After Jeremy graduated from school we opened our business and weren't quite sure on the area that we wanted to buy house. However, we were outgrowing our 1000 square foot apartment that we lived in during law school and we needed to find a place ASAP and weren't quite ready to buy. Graduating from school, opening a business, adopting 2 babies equals NO MONEY for a down payment. Fast forward, through a series of little miracles (thank you Eliza) we found a home and they were willing to rent it to us for a few years. We moved into Cottonwood. We loved the house, we loved the area and loved the schools. The best part is it is only minutes from our church which makes it awesome for how often we are there. We also liked it because Juan who lived in our old neighborhood is still really close and we are close enough to go and get him since he practically lives here anyway. Or so it seems. One of the reasons we knew we couldn't move far is because we can't leave Juan. He truly is like another member of our family. Well a few years passed and we were ready to start looking for our "dream" home. We got all of our ducks in a row and our down payment saved up. We got pre-approved for our home loan and started looking for homes. We wanted a home with land, a wooded backyard, a nice kitchen, a pantry, good storage space, a garage that I can park my Suburban in, a home that wasn't too big (because I don't want to clean it) and most of all we don't want to be house poor. We actually found several homes that met our criteria. Then one day our landlord out of the blue said they were thinking of maybe selling the home and asked if we were interested.  It is a beautiful home that we have fallen in love with. Jer and I prayed about if we should buy the home we had been renting. Without a doubt we knew that it was the right home for our little family. So in November of 2014 we bought our dream home! No it isn't on several acres, with a wooded lot, a walk in pantry or huge closets. However, it is perfectly wonderful for our family and none of that "extra" stuff really matters in the long run. The 2107 square feet are perfect and it really helps me to keep down the junk and clutter and keep things simple. We are thrilled to live here and love the area. We are forever grateful for our wonderful landlords the Corra's who put so much work into this home. We look forward to making many more memories here. Here's to the third home we have owned!!! It feels so good to be homeowners again!!!

Post Overload!

 I am trying to catch up the blog before the end of the year and I think I finally got it up to date.You will have to keep clicking on older posts to see everything.

Hunter's Creek Hike

Today was gorgeous! So we ditched all responsibilities around the house like laundry and scrubbing bathrooms and went hiking. You have to take advantage of this weather when it chooses to present itself! We found a new place called Hunter's Creek. We loved it and can't wait to go back in the summer when everything is green. It was 53 degrees and felt so good for my body and mind to be out hiking with the children.