Aryn the photographer!

Aryn got a digital camera for Christmas this year and she has been taking photos like crazy. We have a few dozen pictures of her posters of Edward (go figure) and a million of Durango. Tonight she took this picture from our deck, and I think it turned out really good. Who knows, maybe soon she'll be doing weddings!Durango, her favorite dog......

Aryn and her best friend Charlamane:

Flanger the cat:

Batman!

And me typing this blog!

Right now she says she will do any photo shoot in exchange for Edward paraphernalia!

Christmas, getting published, and a new school??

It's been awhile since I posted, so I guess it's time! First of all we had a great Christmas, the kids got everything they wanted and claim it was the best Christmas ever! Now that they are getting older, everything they want is more expensive, but they kept the lists short this year. We spent Christmas Eve at Clark's sister Abby's house where Santa visits every year. This year was great because he had the kids make pledges to their parents to do better this year! It was awesome! Here are the kids:

Aren't they sweet? Actually that's not a smile on Caleb's face, he's gritting his teeth trying to hold Aryn down, but I like to pretend....

This is Clark and Abby, and I think you can all tell they are related!

It's pretty blurry, but you get the point!

And here are some Christmas morning photos, see if you can guess who Aryn is obssessed with...

Caleb got his laptop

And Clark got, well, Ozzy! He was so surprized and excited...

And I think I take the same picture of my dad every Christmas morning!

This is one of my favorite pictures. It is some of my Christmas, and if you look really closely you'll notice a Garmin Forerunner to take on my runs and burn the calories after I eat BOTH boxes of chocolate....
Okay, so now that I have done my required Christmas post (even though it's really really late), here is the other news at our house. Caleb is going to get published! He wrote a short story last year, and his English teach found a publisher for it! The assignment was to read a book, and write a short story picking up after the story. He chose the book The Shining. It is called Five Days in Death, and of course I think it is awesome! His teacher is also looking into getting a paper he wrote on the book Ivanhoe published as a teacher's aid for teaching the book. The other Caleb news is that he got a letter inviting him to UCAS. UCAS is a high school which is held on the campus of UVU. It is accelerated and he would graduate with his high school diploma and his associates degree. They only invite 120 kids from the county, so we are really excited! Okay, enough about Caleb, on to Aryn. Well, all I can tell you is she is still obssessed with Twilight and Edward, and she's read all the books 3 times! It's crazy! But she has really brought her grades up at school, and we are so so proud of her!

Grandpa Bob

My Grandpa Bob passed away yesterday morning. He had been suffering quite sometime, and we all realize what a blessing it is that he is finally in a better place. I feel so lucky to have been his granddaughter, and I have so many great memories of growing up close to him. I love telling people who knew him that I am his granddaughter because they always have a story to tell about him. We will all miss him so much.

Ranting and the Nutcracker 5k

Alright, that's it! I will no longer invite people to run races with me! First I take Caleb to the Human Race, and he beats me, then I invite my best friend April to go to the Nutcracker 5k with me, and she places 3rd in her age group, AND SHE WAS WALKING!!! From now on, I'm doing them alone!

Other than that I had a great time at the race. Since it was the Nutcracker 5k, tutus were recommended, so I stayed up late making them for us. It was my first attempt, but they turned out o.k. and I got pictures this time!

This is me and April warming up before the race:

Here is April WALKING the race to finish 3rd in her age group......

So anyway, if any one cares how I did, I finished in 28:23 and missed 3rd place in my age group by 1 stinking minute!


Okay, this is a really funny story. So while we were walking into the building to get registered for the Nutcracker race, we started talking with some other people who were also going to the race. We were teasing them because they didn't have tutu's. So we convinced (and believe me it wasn't hard) this guy "Ballerina Dude" aka Brandon to put on April's tutu so we could take a picture. He was a great sport! Well, unfortunately his picture didn't make the cut for my blog :), or I was just too busy ranting about not placing, but a couple days later I recieved a comment from his girlfriend wondering where the picture was. She had found the link to my blog through her cousin's blog who it turns out is also my cousin! So I think we are second cousins? I don't know but I think it's awesome! It's such a small world!

Thanksgiving Day Human Race 5k

For the second year I ran the Human Race 5k in Draper. This year I talked Caleb into running with me. I don't know why I do this because I run all year, and he comes along, hasn't run since JUNE and beats me. Whatever!

Anyway, we didn't get any pictures, but Caleb's time was 26:34 and mine was 28:26. It was a nice flat course, and a cold rainy morning. There were almost 1900 runners and all the entry fees are donated to the Utah Food Bank. They raised almost $30,000! It's a great way to give back to the community, and burn some calories for that extra slice of pie later.....!

4-wheeling!

Since today was so beautiful, we decided to take the 4-wheelers out for the first time this year! So, we loaded everything up, minus one child who doesn't think hanging out with is parents is cool anymore, and headed up Diamond Fork. Since Clark spends so much time up there, he knows all the good 4 wheeling trails. We had a really good ride, and it makes me mad that we went all summer without taking them out!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Yep, it's true, my poor husband's birthday is on Halloween. I think it is almost as bad as having a birthday on Christmas! Every one is busy with trick or treating, and dressing up. But he's a good sport about it! I told him tonight that he never dresses up for Halloween, and Aryn came to me later and says Dad does too dress up! He dresses up like a birthday boy! I thought it was pretty cute.

So in honor of his birthday, here are some pictures of his favorite things:

Every one who knows Clark knows he LOVES steam engines. Working for the railroad runs pretty far back in his family, and Clark worked for Union Pacific railroad for a few years before we were married, and then he engineered the steam engine at the Heber Valley Railroad for a couple of years. He has a room dedicated to his trains, and sometimes, if we have been really good, me and the kids get to go in and see it!

Clark also loves the outdoors. He loves to go anywhere and camp. We have spent many weekends camping and fishing at Payson lake. But his favorite camping spots are Durango Colorado, and Chama New Mexico.

4 wheeling is also another love of Clark's. Although we have 4-wheelers, we don't get out on them nearly enough.

Clark is happiest when surrounded by his family.

So happy birthday sweetie! We love you! Oh, and enjoy your last year before you head over the other side of the hill!