GO BERNT'S

A-B-C & 1-2-3

2010-04-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

CUB COUNTS TO 10! from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB LOVES THE A-B-C! from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

EASTER

2010-04-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

CUB & HER EGGS from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

EASTER MORNING from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

Untitled from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB LOVES CAILLOU

2010-04-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

CUB LOVES CAILLOU from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

PREGNANCY AND A SICK KIDDO!

2010-04-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

SO, THIS TIME AROUND PREGNANCY HAS BEEN KICKING MY TRASH. BESIDES, CATCHING RANDOM COLDS AND FLUS HERE AND THERE, SINCE FINDING OUT I WAS PREGO, AT ABOUT 6 WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN NAUSEATED DAY AND NIGHT. SOMETIMES WORSE THEN OTHERS, BUT IT SEEMS CONSTANT. I HAD NOTHING LIKE THIS WITH HALLE AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE SAME...NOT SO MUCH! I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN MISERABLE BUT I JUST HAVEN'T FELT GOOD FOR MANY WEEKS NOW. MY 2ND TRI BEGINS THIS THURS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SUBSIDE...OTHER THAN THAT, PREGNANCY ROCKS...BUT, NAUSEA WILL ALWAYS STINK, RIGHT? THEN THIS PAST WEDNESDAY WAS UNPLEASANT TO SAY THE LEAST. HALLE AND I STARTED OFF THE DAY BY DOING OUR USUAL STUFF AROUND THE HOUSE AND THEN HEADED TO MY MOMS WORK TO TAKE HER SOME HOMEMADE COOKIES. WHILE WE WERE THERE, SHE PLAYED WITH ALL THE GIRLS AT HER WORK AND RAN AROUND CRAZY. AFTER THAT, WE WENT TO WALMART TO STOCK UP ON GROCERIES, AND SHE GOT A BIT ONRY NOT TO LONG INTO IT. I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST GETTING SICK OF THE CART SO I LET HER OUT TO RUN FOR A MINUTE BEFORE DRAGGING HER BACK IN IT. THEN SHE KEPT SAYING HER MOUTH HURT BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN IT. WE KEPT SHOPPING FAST TO GET DONE AND GET OUT OF THERE AND SHE GOT MORE ONRY AS TIME WENT ON. FINALLY IN THE CHECK OUT LINE ALMOST DONE CHECKING OUT AND SHE STARTS VOMITING OUT OF NOWHERE...AND IT WAS A TON OF VOMIT. WHILE TRYING TO CATCH IT IN MY HANDS, TAKING HER CLOTHES OFF, GETTING MY BAGS, AND PAYING....IT WAS A DISASTER. IT WAS EVERYWHERE AND IT WAS MORTIFYING AND SHE STARTED CRYING AND SAID SORRY MOM, I SORRY. SHE WAS SCARED TO DEATH. WE GOT HER OUT TO THE CAR AND UNPACKED THE SHOPPING CART AS FAST AS POSSIBLE JUST TO GET HOME. HALLE USUALLY VOMITS ONCE IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN DOESN'T SETTLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEVER MORE THAN ONCE. SO I WAS HOPING THAT WAS THE DEAL. WE GOT HOME AND SPENT THE NEXT 4.5 HOURS TRYING TO CATCH VOMIT, LAYING, ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR SO IF SHE MISSED IT WENT ON HARDWOOD, NOT CARPET. DRINKING PEDIALYTE, AND LAUNDRY FROM WHEN WE HAD TO CLEAN UP VOMIT....IT WAS HORRIBLE. I FELT SO BAD THAT SHE WAS SO SICK AND IT HIT OUT OF NOWHERE. SHE ACTUALLY THREW UP 9 TIMES IN THOSE 4.5 HOURS-HOWEVER, RIGHT BEFORE SHE THREW UP, SHE WOULD SAY HER MOUTH HURT SO I COULD GET HER SOMEWHERE TO DO IT INSTEAD OF ON A BED, OR THE CARPET, WHICH LEFT LITTLE MESSES, JUST LOTS OF LAUNDRY IN THE TOWEL DEPT....THEN AFTER THOSE MISERABLE 4.5 HOURS, SHE FINALLY STOPPED AND STOPPED FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. I PUT HER TO BED, SHE SLEPT AN HOUR, SAT UP IN BED AND DID IT AGAIN. HOPING WE WERE DONE WITH THIS, I PUT HER IN BED WITH ME AND JARED SLEPT DOWNSTAIRS. SHE THEN GOT THE FEVER...NOT FUN! HOWEVER, THE PUKING WAS DONE NOW. THE FEVER BROKE AFTER ABOUT 12 HOURS AND SHE WAS WELL ON HER WAY TO NORMAL AGAIN. IT WAS AWFUL AND IT IS SO HARD TO SEE KIDS SICK AND SO SAD AND LETHARGIC....I HATE IT! WE MADE IT THOUGH AND SHE WAS A TROOPER....THANK GOODNESS WE ARE DONE WITH THAT FOR NOW......

MAUI, HAWAII

2010-04-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

SO IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST POSTED....I'VE BEEN SO BUSY! THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE BEEN UP TO LATELY IS THAT JARED AND I GOT TO GO TO MAUI FOR A WEEK, JUST THE TWO OF US! WE HAD A SPLENDID TIME AND IT WAS AMAZING! THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL MOTHER FOR TAKING THE WEEK OFF TO SPEND IT WITH HALLE KAY-SHE DID AMAZING AND HALLE HAD THE BEST TIME EVER..ALSO, THANKS TO GRUMPY AND NAISY BERNT ALONG WITH AUNT BOO FOR TAKING HER A COUPLE HOURS HERE AND THERE TO PLAY WITH HER AND HAVE FUN! WHILE IN HAWAII, JARED AND I GOT TO GO SNORKELING AND KAYAKING-WE EVEN GOT UP CLOSE TO A REEF SHARK AND SOME HUGE MONSTER TURTLES (LIKE THE ONES ON FINDING NEMO!) THEN WE HAD SOME GREAT MEALS AND SOME GREAT WEATHER. WE SPENT ALOT OF TIME ON OUR HOTELS PRIVATE BEACH BEING SPOILED BY THE WORKERS WHO WOULD BRING AROUND FRESH PINEAPPLE, CHAIRS, TOWELS, UMBRELLAS, AND COLD WATER OUT OF THE BLUE TO SPOIL US ROTTEN...THEY EVEN GAVE US SUNSCREEN. WE ALSO MET UP WITH A CUTE COUPLE THERE FROM TEXAS, THEY WILL BE LIFELONG FRIENDS...THEY WERE SO MUCH FUN TO GET TO KNOW. THEY ALSO HAD A RENTAL CAR AND SO ONE DAY WE WENT AND EXPLORED THE ISLAND WITH THEM...SO FUN! WE GOT TO GO ON A SPLENDID WHALE WATCHING TOUR-AMAZING! THOSE ANIMALS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! THEN I DID THE SPA WITH ANDREA (TEXAS GIRL) WHILE JARED SNORKELED WITH JOSH(TEXAS BOY)! THEN THE FINAL DAY, WE GOT AN EARLY FLIGHT TO HONOLULU AND GOT A RENTAL CAR. WE WENT TO THE DOLE FRUIT PLANTATION, WE EVEN GOT FRESH PINEAPPLE SHAKES, DELISH! WENT TO PEARL HARBOR, WHICH WAS SIMPLY AMAZING, AND WENT ON THE TEMPLE GROUNDS OF THE TEMPLE, BEAUTIFUL! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT GETAWAY JUST THE TWO OF US BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE ONE RUNNING AROUND AND CAN'T DO IT FOR A BIT. ALTHOUGH, WE DID MISS OUR LITTLE HALLE MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF... BESIDES THE NAUSEA AND NOT EATING TO MUCH YET, I FELT OKAY...PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER, JUST ME AND JARED WAYNE! THANKS TO ALL THAT HELPED US SO WE COULD GO!( AND, BY THE WAY, YOU WILL NOTICE MY HAIR IS SHORT. RIGHT BEFORE OUR TRIP I WENT TO SLC WITH MY MOM-IN-LAW TO HER HAIRDRESSER AND CUT OFF 13 INCHES....DONATED IT TO LOCKS OF LOVE....LOVE SHORT HAIR, ESPECIALLY WITH A KIDDO AND ONE ON THE WAY!)

THE VIEW OUTSIDE OUR HOTEL, PRICELESS!

ANOTHER VIEW OUT OF OUR HOTEL! BEAUTIFUL!

ONE OF OUR MANY TRIPS TO THE BEACH, HEY JARED!

JARED PLAYING IN THE OCEAN!

JARED AND I ON THE WHALE WATCHING TOUR!

JUST GOT DONE SNORKELING AND KAYAKING!

AT DINNER WITH OUR TEXAS FRIENDS!

ANDREIA AND JOSH WAGGONER, OUR TEXAS FRIENDS! SO CUTE!

ONE OF THE MANY AMAZING SUNSETS WE WITNESSED ON THE ISLAND!

DINNER WITH THE WAGGONERS ON OUR LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS A DANCE HERE TOO! I GOT PULLED ON STAGE BY THE SINGER AND INTRODUCES AS THE "2010 HONKEY TONK MAUI QUEEN!" NICE! PREGO AND ALL. MUCH BETTER WHEN ANDREIA GOT PULLED UP TO DANCE WITH ME.

JARED AT PEARL HARBOR.

THE ENTRANCE OF PEARL HARBOR, THOUGHT THIS WAS AMAZING!

OUR RENTAL CAR, OK, NOT REALLY-I WISH! CUTEST CAR I HAVE EVER SEEN! TOTALLY WANT ONE!

LEAVING THE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION!

JARED AND I OUTSIDE THE HAWAII TEMPLE, AMAZING!

BABY NO. 2 IS ON THE WAY!

2010-02-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

SO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE FOUND OUT WE ARE EXPECTING BABY NO. 2 IN OCTOBER! WE ARE STOKED. STILL WAY TO EARLY TO FIND OUT THE GENDER, HAVEN'T EVEN GONE TO THE DR YET. WE ABSOLUTELY CAN'T WAIT THOUGH. HALLE DOESN'T QUITE GRASP THE CONCEPT OF A BABY IN MOMMY'S BELLY AND GETS FREAKED OUT IF YOU SAY THERE IS ONE HIBERNATING IN MY TUMMY. HOWEVER, THIS PAST WEEK SHE CARRIES A LITTLE DOLL AROUND AND CALLS IT HER LITTLE SIS! OH NO, HOPE SHE ISN'T SCARRED FOR LIFE IF IT IS A BOY! ALL IS WELL, BEEN A BIT NAUSEATED, HOWEVER WITH HALLE THAT SUBSIDED FAST SO IM HOPING FOR THAT OUTCOME AGAIN. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED AND HAD TO SHARE THE NEWS. AFTER THE DR APPT IM SURE I WILL KNOW MORE BUT FOR NOW, I AM ONLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS. OCTOBER, IT WON'T COME FAST ENOUGH!

I FEEL LIKE I AM SINKING-BUT I FEEL OKAY ABOUT IT!

2010-02-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I GOT CALLED AS THE YOUNG WOMEN CAMP ADVISOR FOR GIRL'S CAMP THIS UPCOMING SUMMER, YES I AM STILL THE SECRETARY OF YW IN OUR WARD TOO. HOWEVER, I AM STOKED. IF YOU KNOW ME, I HATE CAMPING. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT YW CAMP THAT IS HARD NOT JUST TO PLAY AND ENJOY. I LOVED GIRLS CAMP WHEN I WAS IN YW AND ALWAYS ANTICIPATED THE DAY THAT I MAY GET CALLED TO DO CAMP. I AM NERVOUS BUT IT IS STILL A WAYS AWAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO ENJOY A WEEK UP IN CABINS WITH THE YW IN OUR WARD. WITHOUT BEING MOM OR WIFE FOR JUST A WEEK, I LOVE BEING MOTHER AND WIFE BUT IT WILL BE A NICE BREAK. I AM EXCITED AND I HOPE I COME UP WITH SOME FUN STUFF. IF NOT, I GUESS I WILL FALL FLAT ON MY FACE AND THEY WILL REGRET ASKING ME TO TAKE THIS CALLING. BUT FOR THE TIME BEING, I CAN'T WAIT AND GIRL'S CAMP-HERE I COME!

ANOTHER CUB MOMENT

2010-02-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

WE GOT THIS ONE THIS MORNING!

I HOPE SHE DOESNT TRY TO GET OUT!

CUB LOVES TO CLIMB from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB IN THE CAR TODAY!

2010-02-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

CUB IN THE CAR from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

PINK EYE + CROUP IN 2-YEAR-OLD=AWFUL!

2010-01-24T14:50:00.000-08:00

THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST. IT ALL STARTED LAST SUNDAY WHEN I FOUND A LUMP IN HALLE'S NECK (KNOWING SHE HAD 2 COLDS LAST MONTH...)I FREAKED OUT. I TOOK HER IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS JUST A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE BUT IT WAS A BIT SCARY, THIS IS WHEN THEY PUT A SHOT IN IT WITH SOME ANTIBIOTIC TO KILL SOME OF THE INFECTION IN IT AND ALSO TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE SWELLING-SCARY AND HALLE WAS IN A BIT OF PAIN, SHE WAS A TROOPER. THAT NIGHT, WE WATCHED A LITTLE BOY FROM THE WARD-OVERNIGHT. HE WAS A GREAT KID AND ALTHOUGH HE IS ONLY 3-THEIR IS SO MUCH HE COULD DO WHICH WAS NICE. THEN OUR WEEK WENT ON. WEDNESDAY AFTER HALLE'S NAP, SHE WOKE UP TO A RED EYE WITH GREEN OOZING OUT OF THE CORNER, I JUST KNEW IT HAD TO PINK EYE. ONCE AGAIN, I CALLED THE DR. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE AND THEY WOULD CALL IN SOME EYE DROPS FOR HER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THOUGHT I WOULD GET THOSE INTO THE EYE OF A 2-YEAR OLD 4 TIMES A DAY-MISERABLE! BUT WE DID IT. THEN SHE ALSO HAD A BIT OF A RUNNY NOSE AND A LITTLE COUGH. THURSDAY, IS WHEN IT HIT. WE PUT HER TO BED AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AT 4AM. SHE WAS WHEEZING AND RASPY SO BAD SHE SOUNDED LIKE DARTH VADER...IT SCARED ME TO DEATH! JARED WOKE UP AND HELPED ME PUT HER IN THE TUB. ALTHOUGH SHE SOUNDED AWFUL-SHE WAS STILL HERSELF. WANTED TO PLAY, WATCH CARTOONS, YOU NAME IT. SO WE LET HER DO THIS FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AND THEN DECIDED TO LAY HER DOWN AGAIN, THINKING SHE JUST HAD A BAD CHEST COLD. I STARTED THE HUMIDIFIER, GAVE HER SOME MOTRIN AND WE ALL SACKED OUT FOR ABOUT 2 MORE HOURS. THAT MORNING NO RELIEF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DR AND WAS TO GET HER READY AND TAKE HER IN. WE DID JUST THAT. WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE FOUND OUT HALLE HAD CROUP. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD AND THE BARKING SEAL COUGH-LET ME TELL YOU IS JUST THAT. THERE IS NO MISTAKEN IT. THEY GAVE HER A STEROID ORALLY FOR THE VOICEBOX AND WINDPIPE SWELLING TO HELP TAKE IT DOWN FASTER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, THEY GAVE HER A BREATHING TREATMENT-IT BLEW STEAM IN HER FACE FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN. SHE THREW A FIT THE ENTIRE TIME. WE HAVE TAUGHT HER STEAM IS HOT AND SHE WON'T GO NEAR IT AND NOW I WAS EXPECTED TO HOLD IT IN HER FACE, NOT! NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE GOT THROUGH IT AND SHE CRIED SO HARD AND LONG SHE PUT HERSELF TO SLEEP. THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND NIGHTS COULD BE HARD SO GET PREPARED THE DR SAID. HALLE HAS BEEN A TROOPER AND DONE VERY WELL. ALSO, THE EYE THING-NOT PINK EYE, JUST PART OF THE VIRUS SHE HAS. SO THANK GOODNESS NO MORE TRAUMATIZING EYE DROPS FOR HER. SHE IS GETTING BETTER SLOWLY AND STILL SOUNDS BAD BUT DAY BY DAY WE SEE IMPROVEMENT. SHE HAS BEEN COUPED UP IN THE HOUSE SINCE FRIDAY WITH HER MAMA AND IS BORED OUT OF HER MIND SO WE HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON AND WE CAN GET SOME NORMALCY AROUND OUR PLACE. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE HOME WITH HER, I WATCHED THE CHARITY EVENT FOR HAITI ON TV. THAT IS DEVASTATING! I LOOK AT SOME OF THE KIDS DYING OF BROKEN LEGS OR SIMPLE THINGS BECAUSE THEIR IS NOONE THERE TO HELP FIX THEM. WHAT A SHAME! IT MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSING WITH OUR DAUGHTER. LET ALONE, IN HAITI, THEY CAN'T FIND FOOD OR WATER, BUT THE MEDICAL CARE IS OUTRAGEOUSLY SAD. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR DR'S, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, AND THE FACT WE ARE A BLOCK AWAY FROM OURS AND THEY COULD GET HALLE IN AND TREAT HER SO FAST. REALLY PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSINGS: NOT JUST FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, HEALTH, EVERYDAY THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT AMAZING DR'S WHO DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP US WHEN IN NEED. WE LOVE THEM!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

THIS NEW YEARS, WE WENT UP TO THE BERNT'S CABIN IN LAVA WITH MY FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP THERE AS USUAL, AND THANKS TO THE BERNT'S FOR LETTING US BORROW IT. WE WENT UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING JUST IN TIME FOR DINNER AND CHRIS AND JARED TO GET OUR TRUCK UNSTUCK, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN TIL THE NEXT MORNING BUT WE HAD A FUN NIGHT. WE THEN WENT TO SLEEP AND WOKE UP AND DID SLEDDING, EATING, SNOWMACHINING AND HALLE GOT TO RIDE THE KITTY KAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GOT THERE. HALLE THEN WENT BACK FOR A NAP, WHILE THE MEN BURNED SOME WINTER SLASH PILES AND MY MOM AND I PLAYED ON THE SNOWMACHINES AND KEPT TAKING TURNS CHECKING ON HALLE. THAT EVENING EVERYONE STARTED TO SHOW UP. BY THE TIME WE ATE DINNER, GOT EVERYONE UNPACKED AND RELAXED. WE PUT ALL THE KIDS TO BED AND GOT TO PLAY A FUN GAME WITH ALL THE ADULTS, IT WAS A BLAST. THEN WE DID WHITE ELEPHANT GIFTS WHICH AS ALWAYS, WAS A TON OF FUN! TRYING TO STAY AWAKE TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR, THAT'S SAD THAT WE ARE SO OLD IT IS HARD TO STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT....BUT WE DID IT! AT 12:01 WE KISSED EACH OTHER GOOD NIGHT, WITH OUR EYES HALF SHUT! THE NEXT DAY, IT SNOWED A TON AND WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ALL DAY, BETWEEN THAT AND WATCHING FOOTBALL AND EATING, WHATS A BETTER WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR. WE HAD DINNER AND DID GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER THIS DAY. THEN SANTA SHOWED UP TO SURPRISE THE KIDS-THEY LOVED IT. THE NEXT DAY WE GOT UP AND CLEANED AND WENT HOME. THANKS AGAIN BERNTS FOR THE FACILITY! ALSO, THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR WORK AND GETTING ALL OF US THERE. WE LOVED IT AND HAD A BLAST WITH EVERYONE! (PS KEEP GOING, THERE IS ANOTHER POST.)

PAPA CHRIS HELPING HALLE TO GET STARTED. THANKS PAPA FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY (AND EFFORT) YOU PUT INTO THIS LITTLE THING. THE KIDDOS LOVED IT TONS-WHAT A HIT!

HERE IS HALLE DRIVING THE KITTY CAT, ALL BY HERSELF-SHE LOVES IT!

HALLE AND NANA HANGING OUT IN THE SNOW WITH JARED~

MOM AND CHRIS CHILLING AT THE CABIN....

THIS POST WOULDN'T BE NEARLY AS COOL WITHOUT THIS PICTURE OF MICHAEL. WHEN PLAYING THE GAME THIS IS WHAT HE CHOSE TO GO THROUGH. ARE COURTESY OF MCKAY-NICE GUYS! MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ENJOYED SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE SOON ON YOUR MISSION! WE LOVE YOU!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

2010-01-07T13:11:00.001-08:00

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.

OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.

HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SICK AND NO FUN!

2009-12-09T21:42:00.001-08:00

HALLE HAS HAD A BAD COLD FOR THE PAST 6 DAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE HOUSE-HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PLAY. SHE EVEN SLEPT WITH ME FOR 4 NIGHTS WHILE JARED SLEPT IN THE BED DOWNSTAIRS. THE WHOLE TIME SHE WAS SICK-SHE ACTED JUST FINE. EVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE. SHE WOKE UP THURSDAY A BIT HOARSE AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST FROM DRY AIR. WE WENT OUT AND GOT A HUMIDIFIER AND THEN IT HIT-RUNNY NOSE, COUGH, RUNNY EYES, YOU NAME IT-ALL EXCEPT A FEVER! SHE WAS A TROOPER. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH JUICE AND CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP I HOPE NOT TO SEE EITHER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND SLOWLY SOUNDING BETTER, BUT WHAT A BUG! NOT FUN! WE HAVE WATCHED FROSTY THE SNOWMAND AND PLAYED WITH MY XMAS WINDOW STICKERS UNTIL I CAN'T WASH OFF ANOTHER FINGERPRINT OFF MY WINDOW. ALSO, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AMOUNT OF BATHS SHE HAD. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT! WHAT A LONG WEEK WE HAD THOUGH!

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

2009-12-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS ALOT OF FUN! ANYWAYS, WE SPENT THIS YEAR, AT MY PARENTS AND JARED'S PARENTS AND THEN JUST HANGING OUT. ON THANKSGIVING WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT JAREDS EATING THANKSGIVING DINNER OF TURKEY AND ALL THE FURNISHING-SO GOOD. THEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND ATE SOME THERE. WE PLAYED GAMES, THE WII, TALKED, ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY, SAW ALL OUR FAMILIES, PLAYED GAMES-YOU NAME IT. OVER ALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND FEEL SO BLESSED. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALL OUR FRIENDS AND THE BLESSING WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS! AS ALWAYS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ATE TO MUCH. THE WEEKEND ENDED WITH ANNA, NIKI, AND I SHOPPING EARLY MORNIGN SALES THE DAY AFTER-WHICH WAS A RIOT! THEN WE TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THEIR DADDIES AND NIKI AND I WENT AND WATCHED, THE NEW MOON-CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT SHOW OR EDWARD! LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE LIGHT PARADE HERE IN POCATELLO AND HAD A GOOD TIME. THE FOLLOWING DAY OF COURSE WE WENT TO SODA AND CUT DOWN OUR OWN XMAS TREES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR-SO FUN! WE FOUND SOME GOOD TREES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT! BUSY WEEKEND~

KIM AND JOHN GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING LUNCH~

TREG AND HIS WIFE, TIFFANY~ JUST CHILLING

KEN GETTING READY TO CARVE THE BIRD....

JARED AND I GETTING READY TO EAT!

THE BIRD-WHAT A GREAT PIC, HUH? JARED MADE THE BIRD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

TIFFANY, KIM, AND I IN OUR NEW APRONS FROM RENAE! WE EVEN GAVE OURSELVES NAMES, HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF THEM NOW

TREVOR AND HALLE AT THE LIGHT PARADE....

NANNA, HALLE, AND I HANGING OUT!

JARED AND HALLE ON OUR HIKE UP THE MTN TO GET OUR TREE!

HALLE IS BORROWING THIS HORSE FROM GRMA NAISY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT-SHE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN NOSE DIVES WHEN SHE GETS GOING FAST ENOUGH! (JUST LOVED THE PIC!)

MY BABY IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD!

2009-11-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

MY TIME HAS FLOWN-WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR HALLE'S BIRTHDAY. WE DID FAMILY STUFF ON SATURDAY AND A PARTY ON HER BIRTHDAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO A KNOCK-OFF BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP HERE IN OUR MALL. HALLE GOT TO MAKE HER OWN STUFFED ANIMAL AND STUFF IT AND ALL-SHE SEEMED TO LOVE IT. FROM THERE, WE WENT TO BAJIO FOR LUNCH WITH AUNT NIKI, UNCLE TROY, AND CUZZY TREVOR SINCE TROY HAD TO WORK ON SUNDAY. HALLE HAD ALOT OF FUN, THEN WENT HOME AND TOOK QUITE A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT AND VISITED GRANDMA AND GRUMPY SINCE GRANDMA HAS BEEN SICK HALLE HAS MISSED SEEING HER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SUNDAY SHE WORE A NEW DRESS FROM GRMA NAISY AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME TOOK A 3 HOUR NAP, AND THEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SNACKS. THE THEME OF HER PARTY WAS HAPPY FEET AND IT WAS FUN. THOSE WHO CAME WERE: NANA AND PAPA TORGESEN, GRUMPY AND GRMA NAISY BERNT, AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR, UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT BOO, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S. WE OPENED GIFTS, ATE, WATCHED A VIDEO OF HALLE OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND JUST HUNG-OUT. IT WAS PRETTY RELAXED AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THAT NIGHT I HAD A BREAKDOWN AND CRIED FOR A BIT SINCE MY BABY IS GROWING UP SO FAST AND LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS DAILY. THE NEXT EVENING PAPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL CAME IN TO DROP OFF A GIFT AND STAYED FOR DINNER WITH US AND AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR. IT WAS A FUN NIGHT TO BE TOGETHER. ALL IN ALL HALLE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALOT OF FUN AND TURNED OUT GREAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE-WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! PS..THANKS FOR ALL THE GIFTS-SHE MADE OUT WELL! THEY'LL KEEP HER BUSY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!

HALLE IN HER NEW DRESS-GETTING READY FOR CHURCH!

LATELY HALLE ENJOYS SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD FRIDGE-ADORABLE!

HERE IS SOME OF THE DECOR~

THANKS NANA FOR THE AWESOME CAKE. I HELPED MY MOM (OKAY NOT MUCH) SHE DID THIS ADORABLE CAKE-WITHOUT A PAN OR ANYTHING! THANKS NANA IT WAS PERFECT AND SO YUMMY TOO!

TREVOR AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT!

FAMILY PHOTO SHOT~

HALLE SITTING IN HER NEW DOLL BASSINET-IT WAS HILARIOUS! GO FISHER PRICE THAT THING DIDN'T EVEN BEND!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER EVERYONE LEFT AND HALLE COULD ACTUALLY CALM DOWN AND SEE EVERYTHING SHE GOT~IF IT WENT ON AS CLOTHING, IT WAS ON AND IF SHE COULD PLAY WITH IT~SHE WAS PLAYING! IT WAS SO CUTE AND SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!

THIS IS THE NIGHT PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL CAME OVER-WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM!

TOUGH WEEK AHEAD!

2009-11-07T20:04:00.001-08:00

SO, IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WEEK FOR ME. MY BABY IS TURNING 2 NEXT SUNDAY AND I AM ALREADY SAD ABOUT IT. HAPPY IN SOME WAYS BUT SAD IN A BUNCH OF WAYS ALSO. I AM SO PROUD OF HER AND EVERYTHING SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND IS ACCOMPLISHING DAILY. HOWEVER, SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY INDEPENDENT AND THE OLDER SHE GETS THE WORSE IT GETS AND IT MAKES ME SAD TO REALIZE SHE DOESN'T NEED MOMMY IN AS MANY WAYS AS SHE USE TOO.

TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE THE MOST:

1. SHE CAN TALK PRETTY GOOD. (AT LEAST, I UNDERSTAND HER.)

2. SHE CAN USE THE POTTY IF WE DON'T WAIT TO LONG.

3. SHE IS VERY PLAYFUL AND FUN-LOVING.

4. SHE LIKES TO DO WHAT MOMMY AND DADDY DO.

5. SHE LOVES WATCHING POOH WITH DADDY.

6. SHE HAS FRIENDS AND LOVES TO PLAY WITH THEM.

7. SHE LIKES TO PLAY WITH MOMMY.

8. SHE LIKES TO SING WITH MOMMY.

9. SHE LIKES TO BE IN HER "PRINCESS" PANTIES.

10. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND!

TOP TEN THINGS I DON'T LOVE.

1. SHE IS TURNING TWO AND TRIES TO PUSH LIMITS ONCE IN AWHILE.

2. SHE LIKES TO THROW THINGS.

3. SHE DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES YET, SO PUNISHING ISN'T WORKING TO WELL YET.

4. SHE LIKES TODO THINGS HERSELF.
5. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, SHE LIKES TO PUT HER "PANTIES" ON BY HERSELF.

6. SHE DOESN'T LOVE TO CUDDLE OR ROCK ANYMORE.

7. SHE THROWS TANTRUMS.

8. HER NAPS ARE GROWING SHORTER AND SHORTER.

9. SHE LIKES TO FLUSH WASHCLOTHS DOWN THE TOILET.

10. SHE LOVES NURSERY AND BEING WITHOUT MOMMY.

SO, ALL IN ALL-HALLE IS A DELIGHTFUL FUN LITTLE GIRL. SHE IS OUR PRIDE AND JOY. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE MOST PART, I GET TO STAY HOME WITH HER AND PLAY WITH HER AND TEACH HER THINGS. HOWEVER, IT IS FUN TO SEE HER EXPLORE THE WORLD AND THE THINGS AROUND HER. ALSO, IT IS SAD THAT SHE IS PERFECTLY HAPPY WITHOUT MOM EVEN AROUND, WHERE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER SHE HAD TO SEE OR HEAR MOM AT ALL TIMES. IT IS FUN TO SEE THE LIFE SHE IS STARTING TO LIVE AND SEE THE CHOICES SHE IS STARTING TO MAKE. SHE DOES HAVE SOME TERRIBLE TWO SIDE EFFECTS BUT SHE IS GETTING BETTER. SAD TO SAY, SHE KNOWS WHAT TIME OUT MEANS. SHE IS FUN, OUTGOING, AND FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE. SHE LIKES TO LAUGH, SING, DANCE, READ, HOP, KICK LEAVES AND SOCCER BALLS, GO ON WALKS, SLIDE AT THE PARK, PICNICS, RUNNING ERRANDS AND JUST PLAYING. I AM SAD TO KNOW 2 YEARS ARE OVER BUT EXCITED FOR THE MANY MORE TO COME.

I LOVE YOU HALLE KAY!

YOUR MOM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-11-01T19:12:00.001-08:00

SO I HAVE WANTED TO POST A COUPLE THINGS LATELY AND JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES FOR ME, WHICH HE DID AND I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO BLOGGING SO THERE ARE GONNA BE A COUPLE POSTS ALL IN ONE. ENJOY AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET TO BORED! A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OUR FRIENDS THE COOKS, HAD A HALLOWEEN PARTY. MY MOTHER GRACIOUSLY TOOK HALLE FOR THE NIGHT AND AWAY WE WENT. WE HAD A FUN TIME DRESSING UP, EATING FOOD, PLAYING GAMES, AND GETTING TO KNOW SOME OTHER COOL COUPLES. WE HAD A TON OF FUN HAVING A NIGHT AWAY TOGETHER AND THANKS TO THE COOKS FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

HERE WE ARE DRESSED UP: JARED IS A BASEBALL PLAYER, I AM A SOCCER PLAYER! (THANKS KIM FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR CLOTHES!)

A COUPLE NIGHTS LATER WE GOT TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY TO PAINT PUMPKINS..WE THOUGHT PAINTING WOULD BE EASIER AND CLEANER THAN CARVING WITH THE KIDDOS, AND THEY LOVED IT. WE HAD TONS OF FUN!

NIKI AND HALLE PAINTING AWAY WHILE PAPA CHRIS LOOKS ON!

JARED STEALING A HUG FROM MOM-IN-LAW! THEY JUST LOVE EACH OTHER TO DEATH!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVY PAINTING...

HALLE LOVED THIS...SHE LOVES PUMPKINS AND TO PAINT THEM WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR HER!

OF COURSE, JARED DID NOTRE DAME. IT ACTUALLY WAS AWESOME, PROBABLY THE BEST ONE DONE THAT NIGHT!

THIS IS MINE...CANDY CORN...THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA!

HALLE DID A MULTI-COLORED ONE. HERS WAS BEAUTIFUL! WAY TO GO CUB!

THE NEXT WEEKEND, NIKI AND I TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THE ZOO BOO HERE AT ROSS PARK ZOO. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE KIDDOS DRESSED IN THEIR COSTUMES. IT WAS A COLD DAY. BUT THE KIDS ENJOYED GETTING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING. WE HAD HOT DOGS, CIDER, GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS, AND THERE WAS GAMES AND MUCH MORE. THERE WERE LEAVES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY IN AND FIND PRIZES IN. TREVOR LOVED IT, HALLE WAS HESITANT BUT THEN ENJOYED IT. WHAT A FUN DAY!

NIKI AND THE KIDDOS HEADING TO THE ZOO BOO!

THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE~THEY WEREN'T BIG FANS OF IT!

HERE IS HALLE JUMPING IN THE BIG THING OF LEAVES!~

JARED AND I DRESSED UP, HE IS ONCE AGAIN A BASEBALL PLAYER. THIS TIME I WAS A RODEO QUEEN-OR SOMETHING! I HAD TO GET THIS OUTFIT AT THE DI-IT WAS $6 AND A MUST AND I HAD TO WEAR THE UGLY THING. SO I AM WHATEVER YOU THINK I AM!

THE KIDDOS:
TREVOR: UPS MAN-HALLE: PIG-
JANEY AND JENNA: BALLERINA'S

HALLE AND I TRUNK-OR-TREATING AT NANNA'S CHURCH~

THE KIDDO'S WITH NANNA. THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KIDDOS AROUND MY MOM'S HOUSE WE DID THE TRUNK OR TREAT AT HER CHURCH. WE LOVED IT! THEY GOT TONS OF CANDY, THEY GOT TO GO OUT WHEN IT WAS STILL LIGHT AND NOT TO COLD YET-OK NOT FREEZING YET! AND THEN THEY WERE READY TO GO TO NANNA'S FOR GAMES AND FOOD...GREAT IDEA AND WE WERE IN PARTYING BY 6:30! LOVED IT!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW MY MOTHER IT MAKES THIS PIC EVEN BETTER. SHE WOULD DIE IF SHE SAW IT ON HERE=WHICH SHE WILL BUT OH WELL! SHE HOSTS A ROCKING HALLOWEEN PARTY EVERY YEAR. WITH PIZZA, FOOD, TREATS, YOU NAME IT. THIS YEAR WE PLAYED A DOUGHNUT GAME AND CHUBBY BUNNY WITH MARSHMALLOWS. WE HAD TONS OF FUN AND WE ARE GREATFUL FOR HER AND PAPA HAVING SUCH FUN TIMES AND ALWAYS BEING A GREAT HOST AND HOSTESS! THANKS YOU GUYS WE HAD A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN WITH YOU! LOVE YA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA BOB!

2009-10-19T13:12:00.001-07:00

IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A TRADITION THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO THROW MY GRANDPA A BIRTHDAY PARTY BEFORE HE HEADS OUT TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER. THIS YEAR, MY SISTER HOSTED IT AT HER HOUSE. AS MANY OF YOU READERS KNOW, I LOVE MY DAD'S FATHER, BOB. HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST GRANDPA'S AROUND AND I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE WITH HIM-DUE TO THE FACT HE IS A YOUNG GRANDPA AND THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVED CLOSE WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. WELL, HE TURNED 76 THIS PAST WEEK. MY SISTER'S FAMILY AND MY FAMILY INVITED MY DAD AND KAREN, AND GRMA AND GRPA OVER LAST NIGHT FOR A LITTLE SHINDIG. JARED AND TROY MADE DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN, POTATOES, AND COBBLER. IT WAS AMAZING AND GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE. MY GRANDPA LOVES HIS BIRTHDAY AND IS KICKING RIGHT ALONG. HE IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM AGE BUT HE IS STILL DOING PRETTY GOOD. I AM GLAD WE COULD ALL GET TOGETHER BEFORE THEY LEAVE ONE LAST TIME. HE LOVED IT AND SO DID WE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA WE LOVE YOU~

(SORRY FORGOT THE CAMERA BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

EXCITING STUFF! (LONG POST!)

2009-10-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST MONDAY WE GOT BACK FROM MAINE AND LET ME JUST SAY, WE LOVED IT! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO WARM COMPARED TO THE SNOW IDAHO RECEIVED. HOWEVER, I AM GLAD TO BE HOME ALSO. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, AFTER THE APPLE PICKING WE PROCEEDED TO GO SHOPPING THE FOLLOWING DAY IN KITTERING-GREAT PLACE AND WONDERFUL OUTLETS-US GIRLS WENT CRAZY WHILE THE MEN STAYED BEHIND TO WATCH SOME NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL. THAT NIGHT, GRUMPY AND GRANDMA TOOK THE KIDS AND WE ADULTS, WENT ON A DATE TO A GREAT PASTA PLACE. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT INTO BOSTON AND IT WAS A GREAT DAY. STEPHANIE, JARED, AND I WENT TO A BOSTON RED SOX GAME, AND WE WON! IT WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND SO FUN. THE KIDS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT WITH GRUMPY AND GRMA AT THE HOTEL. LATER THAT NIGHT, JARED, HALLE, AND I WENT OUT TO THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND IT WAS FABULOUS AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO OUR HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT AND CHILLED. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WE WENT ON A DUCK TOUR-WHICH IS A TOUR ON LAND AND IN THE WATER-GREAT FUN AND WE GOT TO SEE A TON OF BOSTON. THEN WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT AND TO OUR SURPRISE WE ALL GOT ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT-HALLELUJAH! WE HAD A NON STOP FLIGHT FOR 5.5 HOURS THAT WAS A BIT SCARY FOR ME WONDERING IF HALLE WOULD BE AS GOOD AS ON THE WAY DOWN AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE SLEPT 4 HRS AND WAS GREAT THE REST OF THE TIME. WE HAD A GREAT TRIP AND HOPE TO GO VISIT MAINE AGAIN SOON!

THESE 2 GIRLS LOVED EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TRIP. THEY WERE AND ARE BFF'S!

JARED, HALLE, AND I THE NIGHT WE GOT TO MAINE. LOOKING GOOD-NOT MUCH SLEEP!

SOME OF THE BOATS OUTSIDE OUR RESTAURANT..

THE PLACE WE WENT TO GO APPLE PICKING.

ME, HALLE, EVA, AND STEPHANIE GOIN TO PICK APPLES!

HALLE ENJOYIN SOME OF HER FINDS!

THESE TWO CUTIES HELD HANDS THE WHOLE TIME...

HALLE'S FIRST TIME TO THE ATLANTIC, SHE EVEN GOT TO TOUCH IT!

WE ATE AT A RESTAURANT ON THE OCEAN FRONT AND HALLE LOVED THIS LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE!

REAL LIVE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE!

AT FENWAY PARK TO WATCH BOSTON RED SOX VS. CLEVELAND INDIANS....BOSTON WON!

SOME BOSTON SOX PLAYERS! WE WERE 7TH ROW RIGHT BEHIND BOSTON DUGOUT-SWEET!

JARED, STEPH, AND I AT THE GAME.

HANGING OUT FOR OUR DUCK RIDE (NO PIX OF THE RIDE, MY BATTERY DIED-OH NUTS!)

I LOVED BOSTON! BEAUTIFUL!

BOSTON COMMONS!

HELLO FROM PORTLAND MAINE!(SORRY SUCH A LONG POST)

2009-10-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

YES THAT IS RIGHT! JARED, HALLE AND I, ALONG WITH HIS PARENTS VENTURED OUT TO MAINE TO VISIT WITH JAREDS SIS AND FAMILY. AND SO FAR, IT HAS BEEN A COMPLETE BLAST. WE LEFT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8 PM TO MAKE THE CAR JOURNEY TO SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT AND I ADMIT, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH FOR THIS JOURNEY WITH HALLE. SHE CAN'T EVEN SIT ON MY LAP FOR 1 HOUR IN SACRAMENT MEETING LET ALONE FOR A 4.5 HOUR PLANE RIDE TO NYC AND 3 HOUR LAYOVER BEFORE THE ONE HOUR TRIP ONTO MAINE. YES, I WAS HORRIFIED. I HAD TALKED TO EVERYONE IN THE BOOK ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH A KID ON A PLANE RIDE, WHAT DRUGS TO GIVE THEM TO SLEEP IF NEEDED, AND WHEN TO BREAK DOWN AS A MOM AND CRY MYSELF IF IT IS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND I HAVE NO WAY OFF. WE GOT INTO THE AIRPORT WITH HALLE HAVING ONLY SLEPT ABOUT 20 MIN ON THE ENTIRE RIDE DOWN TO SLC-I WAS SO EXCITED SINCE THE FLIGHT LEFT AT MIDNIGHT MAYBE WOULD BE TIRED ENOUGH TO SLEEP THE WHOLE WAY. AS SOON AS I HIT THE AIRPORT I GAVE HER SOME ANTIHISTAMINE SINCE IN ST GEORGE WHEN SHE HAD ALLERGIES IT KNOCKED HER OUT, YES I DID DRUG MY KID-HORRIBLE RIGHT? WELL, THEN I WAS EATING MY WORDS, IT DID THE EXACT OPPOSITE. HOWEVER, HALLE WAS UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. SHE WAS AWAKE ABOUT AN 1.5 HOURS AND ONLY CRIED MAYBE 2 TIMES FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN SHE WENT OUT. THANK GOODNESS FOR POOH ON DVD, ELMO BOOKS, AND PLAYING ON THE EATING TRAY. WE THEN MADE IT TO NYC AIPORT AT ABOUT 6 AM EASTERN TIME (4AM OUR TIME) AND OFF THE PLANE WE WENT, NOW HALLE WAS AWAKE....STINK BOMB.

WE RAN AROUND THE AIRPORT AND HAD BREAKFAST AND BY THIS TIME SLEEP DEPRIVATION WAS KICKING IN FOR JARED, HALLE, AND I SINCE NONE OF US HAD GOTTEN THAT MUCH AND I ONLY HAD ABOUT 1.5 HOURS ALL NIGHT-MY PATIENCE WAS RUNNING SLIM. THEN TO OUR SURPRISE HALLE BENT DOWN IN THE JFK AIRPORT AND PEED OUT HER DIAPER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIRPORT ON THE CARPET-AS STEPHANIE SAYS-PAR FOR THE COURSE. HILARIOUS! THEN AFTER A CHANGE OF CLOTHES, WE WERE OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS ONLY A 1 HR FLIGHT TO MAINE AND IT WAS A DINKY PLANE. FOR THIS REASON WE PUT ONE CARRY ON IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE PLANE. I DIDNT REALIZE UNTIL TAKE OFF THAT IT HAD HALLES SIPPIES AND BLANKET IN IT-NOW I WAS TERRIFIED. HOWEVER, THIS TRIP WAS NOT FULL SO HALLE AND I GOT FRONT ROW SEATS WITH TONS OF LEG ROOM AND HER OWN CHAIR-SO NICE! HALLE STOOD AND PLAYED ON THE FLOOR BY ME MOST OF THE FLIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO OCCUPY HER WITH PRETZELS AND COOKIES WITH APPLE JUICE-ENDED UP WITH ANOTHER CHANGE OF CLOTHES ON HER-WE MADE IT! SO EXHAUSTED.

WHEN WE GOT INTO MAINE WE WENT AND HAD A GOOD LUNCH AT A PLACE CALLED BIG SKY. WE THEN WENT HOME AND GOT IN A GOOD NAP. THEN WE WENT TO TOWN AND SAW THE OCEAN WITH BOATS AND HAD A GREAT PIZZA DINNER. THEN HOME FOR HOMEMADE MILKSHAKES AND TUBBIES FOR THE KIDDOS. HALLE AND EVA ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME TOGETHER. AFTER THAT ONTO BED. TODAY WE WOKE UP, ATE STICKY BUNS, AND WERE OFF TO PICK APPLES AT A REAL APPLE FARM-WHAT A GREAT TIME. LOVE MAINE. GRUMPY, STEPH, EVA, JARED, HALLE AND, AND I WERE OFF. WE DRANK CIDER AND GOT TO TAKE PIX WITH SOME PUMPKINS FOR SALE AND THEN GOT TO GET OUR APPLES, IT WAS SO FUN AND THE KIDS ENJOYED IT SO MUCH-HALLE HAD A BLAST. WE THEN WENT TO SOME LIGHTHOUSES AND HAD LUNCH AT A PLACE AT TWOLIGHTS LIGHTHOUSE. AND, WE WENT OUT AND HALLE TOUCHED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. ON THE WAY HOME, WE SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES. THEN THE PARENTS WENT TO A GREAT PASTA JOINT FOR DINNER WHILE GRUMPY AND GRANDMA STAYED AND PLAYED WITH THE KIDDOS. THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE GETAWAY-THANKS GRUMPY AND GRMA. ALL IN ALL, THIS TRIP HAS BEEN PURE ENJOYMENT. WE HAVE HAD A BLAST. THANKS JOHN, STEPH, AND EVA FOR YOU HOSPITALITY-WE LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE DAYS FULL OF FUN THINGS TO DO SO I WILL BLOG SOON AND I WILL DOWNLOAD PICS WHEN I GET HOME. TALK TO YOU SOON!

JUST COULDN'T RESIST!

2009-09-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

GRANDMA BERNT BOUGHT THE GIRLS ALL TUTU'S TO PLAY IN. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION THIS IS HOW HALLE HAS GONE DOWN FOR HER NAP. SHE LOVES THAT THING!

BERNT CAMPING TRIP IN HEISE!

2009-09-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

SO I AM JUST A BIT LATE WITH THIS POST BUT I HAVE HAD ALOT GOING ON AND HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO DO IT UNTIL NOW. THE END OF AUGUST, WE WENT TO HEISE CAMPING WITH THE BERNT CLAN. STEPHANIE AND JOHN, WITH EVA, WERE UP SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GET AWAY. WE GOT TO USE MY SISTERS TRAILER, THANK YOU WE LOVED IT. AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS, THE BOYS GOLFED, WE HAD THE OLYMPICS, THE KIDS WATCHED MOVIES IN GRMA AND GRUMPY'S TRAILER, WE PLAYED MINI GOLF, WENT SWIMMING (IN WHICH HALLE LOVED THE SLIDE....) AND JUST HUNG OUT. IT WAS SO FUN, THANKS BERNTS FOR TAKING US. HALLE DID BURN HER FOOT ON A LANTERN AND THAT WAS BAD-NO SLEEPING ONE NIGHT, THEN SHE SLAMMED HER FINGERS IN THE DOOR, WHICH SOMEHOW MADE HER PUKE, AND JARED WHO IS ALLERGIC TO BEES, GOT STUNG BY ONE WITHOUT HIS EPIPEN. THAT WAS IT IN A NUTSHELL, BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND MADE MANY GREAT MEMORIES. HOWEVER, THE BEST WAS THE COOKOFF WHICH NOONE WON, SINCE GRAMA COULDN'T VOTE FOR ONE, AND THE KIDS BATHING IN A BOWL OUTSIDE THE TRAILER. LOVED IT. ( SORRY DIDN'T TAKE MANY PHOTOS, CAMERA WAS ALWAYS IN THE TRAILER...) THANKS AGAIN, WE HAD A BLAST WITH THE FAMILY AND IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND TIME ALL TOGETHER!

THE CLAN JUST CHILLIN!

ANNIE AND STEPH JUST BEING GRUMPY-HAHA!!

FAMILY PHOTO, HALLE IS EATING A MOUTH FULL OF CHOCOLATE PRETZELS, WOWWEE!

MENDENHALL REUNION!

2009-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE GOT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MENDENHALL REUNION IN PALISADES AT CALAMITY CAMPGROUND. I WAS A BIT NERVOUS SINCE IT WAS HALLE'S FIRST CAMPING EXCURSION BUT SHE DID GREAT, (BESIDES THE ONE TIME SHE RAN ON THE TRAIL AKA ROAD AND ALMOST GOT PLOWED-OK NOT REALLY BUT SHE DID RUN IN THE ROAD AND SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!) MY DAD AND KARED, NIKI AND HER CLAN, ME AND MY CLAN, MY COUSIN WOODY, TODD AND KIM, DEON, AND GRPA AND GRMA M WERE THERE. IT WAS A 3 DAY EXCURSION OF FUN. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST CONVERSATIONS, AMAZING FOOD, AND JUST TONS OF FUN ON THE BOAT. THIS YEAR, IT WAS SO COLD, RAINED ALOT, HAILED ALOT, AND WAS FLAT OUT COLD. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T DAMPEN US, WE STILL HAD TONS OF FUN. WATERSKIING WASN'T THE BEST THIS YEAR SINCE THE WATER WAS A BIT ROUGH, BUT IT MADE FOR GREAT TUBE RIDING. WE MADE SNOW CONES, WENT ON WALKS, SLEPT IN, TOOK NAPS,WATCHED A MOVIE, FISHED, ATE, TALKED, WENT ON THE BOAT...YOU NAME IT. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLANNING SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND. WE LOVED IT! WE ARE SAD THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, SINCE IT IS GETTING HARDER ON GRPA AND GRMA BUT WE HAVE HAD THE GREATEST PAST SUMMERS WITH EVERYONE AND ARE SO GREATFUL FOR THE TIMES WE HAD TO CHERISH! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

HALLE IS PLAYING WITH "UNCLE TOY'S" FISHING GEAR, SHE LOVED IT!

HERE IS HALLE AND I PLAYING WHILE TREVY IS FISHING. ACTUALLY I AM JUST TRYING TO KEEP HALLE OUT OF THE WATER BY DISTRACTION. SHE LOVES THE WATER SO MUCH!

NIKI AND I TUBING WITH HALLE AND TREVOR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. THANKS DAD FOR THE NICE RIDE! WE HAD TONS OF FUN! (SO DID THE KIDDOS!) AFTER THIS, JARED TOOK HALLE AND THEY HAD A BLAST TOO!

JARED AND HALLE TUBING-THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN!

JARED AND HALLE CHILLING ON THE BOAT WHILE I WAS IN THE WATER!

NIKI, KAREN, AND THE KIDDOS CHILLING ON THE BOAT!

PAPA TAB LET HALLE "HELP" DRIVE US TO THE SHORE! SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SO BIG AND DID SUCH A GOOD JOB!

IN THIS PICTURE, HALLE LOOKS HOMELESS-SAD! ACTUALLY SHE LOVED THAT LIFE JACKET AND THE ZIPPER ON IT-SHE WOULDN'T MOVE!

BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF PALISADES IN THE MORNING WITH STEAM!

THE MORNING AFTER ALL THE FUN IN THE WATER, THE BOYS AND NIKI, GOT UP FOR AN EARLY FISHING TRIP. HALLE AND I SLEPT IN UNTIL ABOUT 9. I THOUGHT IT WAS TO COLD FOR HER, AND SHE WAS EXHAUSTED. BUT THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME!

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS UNTIL.....

2009-07-26T16:34:00.001-07:00

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

2009-07-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

SORRY IN ADVANCE THAT I HAVE NOT BLOGGED FOR AWHILE. IT HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY AROUND OUR HOUSE AND I HAVEN'T HAD TIME. (BESIDES, JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES-SO I GUESS IT WASN'T ALL MY FAULT!) ALSO, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A LONG CATCH UP POST, JUST BE WARNED. WE HAVE BEEN DOING NON-STOP WORK IN OUR BACK YARD TO GET IT FINISHED AND IT HAS TAKEN ALOT OF TIME. JARED GOT THE RETAINING WALL WITH THE RAILROAD TIES IN AND ALSO THE GARDEN AND I GOT TO HELP HIM LOAD BEHIND IT WITH ROCK FOR REINFORCEMENT. (OK-MAYBE NOT "GOT TO", HAD TO BECAUSE I FELT BAD FOR HIM.) IT WAS HARD AND TOOK ALOT OF TIME BESIDES THE FACT, IT WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES THAT DAY AND SMOLTERING. BUT, WE DID IT AND IT LOOKS NICE. THEN JARED GOT THE OTHER RETAINING WALL OF BRICK DONE, I RE-DID THE WALKING PATH ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND OVER THE 24 OF JULY-OUR FAMILIES CAME AND HELPED LAY THE SOD-ALMOST HAD ENOUGH BUT NOT QUITE! THANKS EVERYONE-YOU DID A GREAT JOB! NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE PROJECT TO UNDERTAKE BUT IT IS ALMOST DONE. WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH HOW IT IS LOOKING THUS FAR!

HERE IS THE GRAVEL TO PUT BEHIND THE RETAINING WALL YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT! DOESN'T LOOK BAD BUT IT IS LONG AND DEEP!

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE BEEN SLOWLY STARTING TO POTTY TRAIN HALLE. I KNOW SHE IS STILL YOUNG BUT I WANT HER TO GET IT! SO, NO DIAPERS! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RUN HER TO THE "DORA POTTY" DURING THE DAY WHEN I HEAR HER GRUNTING OR JUST RANDOMLY TO SEE IF SHE'LL USE IT. IT HAS WORKED PRETTY GOOD BUT NOTHING TO CONSISTANT ON HER OR MY PART. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TUB, I HEARD GRUNTING, AND GRABBED HER TO PUT HER ON THE SEAT, AND..........TOO LATE! (THE FOLLOWING IS GRAPHIC!)

YES, GROSS! ABSOLUTELY FLOATING TURD BALLS IN THE TUBBY!

THEN, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME, WE ARE GETTING IT!

YOU CAN'T SEE IT ALL-BUT YOU GET THE GIST! YEAH

WE THEN TOOK THE KIDS TO ROSS PARK TO SPLASH AROUND ONE DAY, OF COURSE JARED HAD TO WORK SO THAT STUNK BUT UNCLE TROY, AUNT "ICKY" AND "KAY-KAY" AKA TREVOR GOT TO COME WITH US! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND THE KIDS LOVED THE KID POOL AND TOYS! SO FUN, THANKS FOR COMING~

TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE TIRE SWING IN THE KIDS POOL-THEY LOVED IT. WHAT A NICE DAY! WE WENT ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY SO WE GOT IN CHEAPER. THE KIDS BOTH WON A FREE HOT DOG AND WE GOT SOME FUN TOYS-WHAT A GOOD DAY TO GO!

HALLE KAY PLAYING WITH UNCLE TROY! SHE HAS A CRUSH ON HIM AND LIGHTS UP WHEN YOU SAY OR MENTION HIS NAME, LET ALONE WHEN SHE SAYS IT!

THIS IS A RANDOM PICTURE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SO CUTE. HALLE WAS ALL READY FOR BED AND GETTING SLEEPY AND I NOTICED THIS....SHE HAD MY OVEN MITTS ON HER FEET WALKING AROUND. IT WAS SO CUTE! WHAT A GIRL AND A FETISH WITH "SHOES!

GRANDMA AND GRUMPY GOT OUT THE BIG WATER TOY THIS PAST WEEKEND SINCE EVERYONE CAME TO PLAY. HALLE HATED IT LAST YEAR AND WOULDN'T KEEP OUT THIS YEAR, SHE LOVED IT AND IT WAS SO FUN!

HERE IS HALLE LOVING THE WATER!

THEN CAME THE SOD AND A GREAT BIG THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING. THEY GOT IT DONE IN NO TIME AND IT LOOKS GREAT-COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EVERYONE! THANKS, KEN, CHRIS, TREG, JOHN, AND TROY (WELL, HE CAME LATE DUE TO HIS AC BREAKING BUT HAD FULL INTENTIONS OF COMING TO HELP!)

NANNA AND HALLE PLAYING AND EATING RAMEN WHILE I TOOK PIX AND THE MEN WORKED! THANKS NANNA FOR PLAYING!

HERE IS JARED, JOHN, CHRIS, AND TREG AT WORK! GO BOYS!

HERE IS GRUMPY, PAPA, AND JARED WORKING HARD IN THE HEAT!

THEN CAME THE 24TH OF JULY PARADE! THIS IS ACTUALLY BEEN THE FIRST PARADE THAT HALLE GOT INTO. GRUMPY WAS IN THE PARADE AND SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT! SHE LOVED IT, BUT WAS WAY HOT WHEN IT WAS ALL DONE SO BACK TO GRUMPY AND GRANDMA'S TO THE BIG WATER TOY!

HALLE AND I ENJOYING THE PARADE!

SINCE THE PARADE'S ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE L AND K, JARED GETS TO COME OUT FOR THEM, THAT IS FUN! WHAT IS GRANDMA DOING?

AUNT NIKI, TREVY, AND NANNA AT THE PARADE!

GRUMPY'S FLOAT IN THE PARADE!

AND I MUST ADD, THE FLOAT IS THE MULE! THIS LITTLE THING IS A MUST. WE HAVE HAD IT AT OUR HOUSE WHILE REMODELING THE BACK YARD AND HALLE WENT ON A RIDE NIGHTLY WITH JARED ON IT. THEN IT WENT TO GRUMPY'S AND HE WOULD COME GET HER NIGHTLY TO GO ON IT. NOW IT IS BACK AT THE CABIN AND HALLE IS DEVASTATED! SHE LOVES THAT MULE MORE THAN ANYTHING!(OR IS IT THE PEOPLE SHE GOES WITH? EITHER WAY, SHE LOVES IT!)

ALL IN ALL SUPER BUSY AND HAVING A TON OF FUN!

CONTINUATION OF PRIOR POST....

2009-07-23T21:18:00.001-07:00

WE GOT TO ATTEND MY STEP MOTHER'S FAMILY REUNION THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING IN ROBIN AT HER MOTHER'S HOME. IT WAS A GOOD TIME AND REUNIONS ARE FUN NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW-HALLE HAD A BLAST PLAYING IN THE WATER, THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS, AND ITS NICE BEING WITH FAMILY. I WAS ADOPTED BY KAREN'S SISTER ANNETTE FOR A GAME-IN WHICH WE WON-TOTALLY CHEATED BUT GOT 2ND! SO FUN! WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

HALLE CHILLING WITH HER SHIRT OFF SINCE IT WAS SOAKING WET FROM THE POOL! GETTING IN THE POOL FULLY CLOTHED-IS THAT BAD? ONLY WHEN YOU DON'T BRING OTHER CLOTHES SINCE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WATER WILL BE INVOLVED, HALLE COULD CARE LESS IF SHE WAS DRESSED, MORE COMFY NUDE

LOTS OF KAREN'S FAMILY!

THEN ONTO SCOUT MTN WITH CHRIS, MOM, TROY, NIKI, AND TREVOR FOR A SPUR OF THE MOMENT WEINIE ROAST. SO FUN TO GO OUT THERE-REMINDS ME OF SODA! SO RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL!

HERE IS HALLE WHEN GETTING TO SCOUT MTN-SHE IS ADORABLE IN THIS PICTURE I THINK!

HALLE AND TREVY IN THE DIRT! OF COURSE WHERE ELSE WOULD THEY BE!

JARED AND HALLE HANGING OUT!

NANNA AND PAPA TAKING THE KIDDOS TO WASH UP AFTER EATING DINNER! SUCH A CUTE LITTLE CLAN!

WE THOUGHT THIS WAS HILARIOUS! PAPA PUT HALLE IN THE TRUNK OF HIS CAR TO PLAY AROUND AND SHE LOVED IT! SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT, SHE WAS HAVING TO MUCH FUN!

YESTERDAY HALLE WANTED TO PLAY SO BAD, I BUILT HER A FORT AND SHE WAS IN HEAVEN! JUST ONE OF THE FUN THINGS WE DO WHILE DADDY IS AT WORK!

WE HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY AND LOVING THIS SUMMER. IT IS GOING SO FAST. ENJOY THE NEXT POST, IT IS NEW AS WELL! SORRY THEY ARE LONG BUT WHEN I GET TIME I GOT TO CATCH UP!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! AND OTHER RANDOM THINGS!!!

2009-07-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

(P.S. SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THIS POST, WILL BE LONG, THERE WAS ALOT FOR ME TO CATCH UP ON...)WE USUALLY SPEND THE 4TH OF JULY IN SODA. THEY HAVE SUCH A FUN SMALL TOWN CELEBRATION, THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT ALL YEAR. I ALSO, GET TO SEE OLD FRIENDS THAT I ONLY SEE THERE SINCE WE HAVE GRADUATED AND MOVED ON. IT WAS KIND OF SAD TO MISS IT, BUT WE DID GET TO GO TO BOISE. JAREDS PARENTS AND ALL OF US WENT DOWN TO SEE, HIS NIECE, ANNIE GET BAPTIZED AND BE THERE TO SUPPORT HER. WE WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY AND STAYED THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL. JARED WENT TO HIS BRO'S TO WATCH FIREWORKS WITH EVERYONE AND HALLE AND I WENT BACK TO GET READY FOR BED. I HAD A MISERABLE SORE THROAT, SO I WAS OKAY WITH GOING BACK. HOWEVER, THAT NIGHT, TREG HAD A FUN BBQ AT THE POOL. GREAT FOOD AND FUN! THE NEXT MORNING, THE 4TH, WE GOT UP WITH INTENTIONS OF GOING TO A PARADE IN BOISE, HOWEVER, IT WAS TO HOT AND WE WEREN'T SURE OF WHERE IT WAS AT. GRUMPY AND JARED WATCHED HALLE FOR A BIT WHILE THE REST OF US WENT SHOPPING. WHEN THE SHOPPING WAS DONE, WE GOT READY FOR THE BAPTISM AND WENT TO PANDA EXPRESS TO EAT BEFORE. HALLE HADN'T NAPPED AND FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR SO JARED ATE AND I SAT IN THE CAR WITH HER AND TRIED TO GET SOME SHUT EYE TOO. ALSO, I MUST NOTE, KIM AND I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION THAT DAY, AND LET ME TELL YOU, I JUST LOVE HER. THANK YOU KIM FOR BEING YOU AND BEING SO KIND AND CARING. I LOVE YOU. ANYWAYS, BACK TO THE STORY....THEN OFF TO THE BAPTISM. HALLE WAS EXHAUSTED AND SO WE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME RUNNING AROUND IN THE SUN OUTSIDE. WE CAUGHT THE POINT OF HER COMING OUT OF THE WATER AND WE WERE THERE FOR HER CONFIRMATION. VERY NICE BAPTISM ANNIE AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU. THEN, WE CAME CLEAR BACK TO POKY. WE WENT TO MY MOMS TO CELEBRATE WITH FOOD AND THE FIREWORKS. GREAT NIGHT AND HOLIDAY BUT TIME TO GET SOME SLEEP. HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT 4TH OF JULY AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIE DAILY FOR THE FIGHT OF FREEDOM HERE IN THE USA~

WE DID STOP AT SHOSHONE FALLS ON THE WAY DOWN, TO SHOW HALLE. WE ALSO COULDN'T BELIEVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN, HOW FULL IT WAS! BEAUTIFUL!

HALLE AND DADA AT SHOSHONE FALLS!

HALLE FINALLY AT THE CAMPER IN BOISE TO SEE GRUMPY AND GRANDMA AT THEIR CAMPGROUND. SHE DID BIG GRINS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND OF COURSE, IT MAKES ME MELT! LOVE IT!

ANNIE AND TREG AT THE BBQ ON FRIDAY. THANKS TREG, SUCH GOOD FUN AND FOOD!

LOVE THIS PICTURE OF KIM AND JOHN-AREN'T THEY ADORABLE?

HALLE, JARED, AND BRIDGET IN THE KIDDIE POOL. IT WAS ONLY 2 FT DEEP AND HALLE LOVED TO WALK IN IT! SHE LOVES THE WATER THIS YEAR, YEAH!

HERE IS ANNIE AND TREG AFTER THE CONFIRMATION AND BAPTISM!

FAMILY PHOTO AT THE BAPTISM: TOP ROW: L TO R: JARED, KEN, RENAE, TREG, (TREGS FIANCE') TIFFANY, KIM, AND JOHN

BOTTOM ROW: L TO R: ME WITH BRIDGET, HALLE HANGING OUT, AND TIFFANY'S SON, COLE

STEVEN, CHRIS, MOM, HALLE, AND JARED WAITING FOR THE FIREWORKS, "THE BIGGEST SHOW IN IDAHO", IT DIDN'T START UNTIL LATER DUE TO THE WEATHER, AND IT WAS FREEZING. YES HALLE IS IN A HUGE FLEECE BLANKET ON THE 4TH OF JULY!

MCKAY, JENNA, ANNA, JANEY, NIKI, AND TROY WITH TREVY, WAITING FOR THE FUN TO BEGIN. GRPA TOM JUST CHILLING IN THE BACKGROUND!

THEN, LAST WEEK ON TUESDAY, HALLE AND I WENT TO LAVE SWIMMING WITH TREVY, NIKI, NANA, AND NANA'S FRIENDS. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THE KIDS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT. WE STAYED FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS, AND OF COURSE I GOT BAKED. WITH HALLE LAUGHING THOUGH, TOTALLY WORTH IT! THANKS FOR TAKING US TO PLAY. WE ENJJOYED IT ALOT! THEN JUST FUN WITH SPAGHETTI, AND YES POTTY TRAINING TIME...I HAVEN'T REALLY STARTED YET, TO IN DEPTH. HOWEVER, IT IS GOING TO BE HERE SHORTLY! SHE PICKED OUT HER DORA CHAIR-WE'LL SEE IF THAT HELPS AT ALL!NIKI, TREVY, HALLE AND I AT LAVA!

NIKI, TREVY, AND NANA GETTING READY TO GO SWIMMING!

LOOK AT THE SPAGHETTI MESS.....LOVED IT. I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS MESS TO SHOW HALLE IN THE FUTURE, HOW SHE USE TO EAT. LOVE IT!

HALLE'S NEW DORA CHAIR TO START POTTY TRAINING HER SHORTLY!

HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY JARED!

2009-06-24T10:07:00.001-07:00

YESTERDAY WAS JARED'S BIRTHDAY...AND OF COURSE IT IS THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR TO HIM. NOT CHRISTMAS OR EASTER, HIS BIRTHDAY. IT MAKES IT FUN FOR ALL OF US SINCE TO MOST PEOPLE BIRTHDAYS ARE JUST ANOTHER DAY WHEN YOU GET OLD! TODAY WE GOT TO GO TO L AND K AND ENJOY A BIRTHDAY LUNCH WITH JARED FROM WINGERS. THEN I CAME HOME AND PUT HALLE TO BED. TO MY SURPRISE JARED CAME HOME AT 3:30 TO ENJOY SOME OF HIS BIRTHDAY AT HOME. HE DID IT WHILE WATCHING ESPN AND NAPPING. SAD THAT WE COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE BUT HALLE WAS NAPPING AND I WAS NOT ABOUT TO WAKE HER UP. WE THEN WENT TO PEANUT PARK WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR CAKE, ICE CREAM, AND OF COURSE, SOME GIFTS. ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GREAT DAY AND JARED SAID HE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE THE BEST!
JARED THE BIRTHDAY BOY! TREVOR DUDLEY AND HIS SON CARTER (IN THE BACKGROUND!) SO GLAD THEY COULD COME BUT BRIT WE MISSED YOU!

HERE IS THE CAKE. I WAS IMPRESSED...I SAW THIS CAKE IN A COOKBOOK AND THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECT SINCE JARED IS A FISHERMAN. I THINK IT TURNED OUT ALRIGHT AND OF COURSE FOR JARED, IT WAS FUNFETTI CAKE!

NANNA PLAYING WITH HALLE AND FEEDING HER CAKE AND ICE CREAM! LOVE YOU NANNA!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVOR CAME. WE ARE GLAD EVEN THOUGH TROY HAD TO WORK HE MADE IT TO SOME OF THE FESTIVITIES.

JARED, HALLE, AND I POSING FOR THE CAMERA!

KIM AND JOHN ENJOYING THEIR CAKE.

RENAE AND KEN WERE THERE. KEN HAD TO LEAVE SINCE HE HAD A MTG BUT THANKS FOR COMING!

MIKE AND JEN HIGBEE AND THEIR DAUGHTER, KATHRYN PLAYING WITH CARTER. SO GLAD THEY COULD COME. THEY ARE MOVING BACK TO BOISE ON MONDAY AND WE ARE SO SAD. HOWEVER, THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY AND SEE THEM OVER THE PAST LITTLE WHILE. WE WILL MISS YOU GUYS LOTS!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AND OTHER STUFF!

2009-06-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

LATELY, IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT GOING ON. OUR FRIENDS, THE HIGBEE'S HAVE BEEN UP FROM BOISE FOR AWHILE FOR MIKE TO DO AN INTERNSHIP AT FORT HALL, THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH JEN'S PARENTS AND WE HAVE ENJOYED HANGING OUT WITH THEM. THE CADYS, JARED'S BEST FRIEND MIKE, AND HIS WIFE ANGELA WERE UP FROM FLORIDA FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM TOO. THE DUDLEY'S AND MARSHALLS WERE AROUND TO PLAY ALSO, AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. I HAVEN'T TAKEN A LOT OF PICTURES SO THIS WILL JUST BE A BLOG...BORING SOME MAY SAY! WE HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED WITH THE SAME OLD SUMMER STUFF-WORKING ON THE YARD, HELPING FARM IN SODA, SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY, AND JUST OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PAST COUPLE WEEKENDS HANGING OUT WITH AUNT NIKI AND TREVY AS WELL AS NANA. WE WENT TO THE FAMILY LIVING FUN DAY LAST WEEKEND AND THAT WAS ALOT OF FUN FOR THE KIDS. IT HAS BEEN RAINING A TON SO ANYTHING TO GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE WHEN IT'S NICE FOR A BIT, HAS BEEN IDEAL. THEY ENJOYED JUST WALKING AROUND ROSS PARK SEEING BOOTHS, KIDS, FOOD, ETC...NIKI AND I ENJOYED GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR FREE ALSO. THIS PAST WEEKEND STARTED WITH JARED, TROY, MY STEP-DAD, AND MICHAEL TORGESEN HELPING WITH OUR GARDEN. YES, WE FINALLY GOT THE RAILROAD TIES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. WE ABOUT GAVE UP AND THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED-YIPPEE! THEY PUT THAT TOGETHER AND I WENT TO LUNCH WITH HAILEY DYE, BRITNEY OFISA, AND HEATHER JENKS SINCE HEATHER MOVED YESTERDAY. WE WILL MISS HER AND WISH HER FAMILY TONS OF LUCK. THEN FRIDAY NIGHT, NIKI AND I ALONG WITH OUR FAMILIES, HAD MY DAD AND KAREN, AND MY GRPA BOB TO NIKI'S FOR FATHER'S DAY DINNER. GOOD FOOD AND FUN WITH GOOD CONVERSATION-WE HAD A GREAT TIME. SATURDAY, WE WENT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET WITH NIKI, TREVY, AND NANA AND JUST HUNG OUT-THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY BUT NO RAIN. WE THEN WALKED AROUND SHOPS IN OLD TOWN POCATELLO AND JUST PLAYED, SO FUN! THEN NANA CAME AND HELPED ME MAKE HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP AND THAT WAS FUN AND TURNED OUT SO YUMMY. WE THEN WENT TO THE RIVERFEST HERE ON THE GREENWAY AND LISTENED TO BANDS AND JUST WALKED AROUND, MOST THE BOOTHS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS WEREN'T UP DUE TO THE WEATHER BUT IT WAS STILL FUN. WE THEN CAME HOME AND JARED AND I WATCHED THE MOVIE, "TAKEN" AFTER HALLE WENT TO BED. WE HAD A FUN DATE NIGHT AND IT WAS A GREAT MOVIE.

TODAY, WE GOT TO CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY. THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO ALL THE FATHER'S OUT THERE, WE LOVE YOU! I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL THE MEN IN MY LIFE AND ALL THE IMPORTANT LESSONS THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME. I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR INFLUENCE. ESPECIALLY, MY HUSBAND. HE IS A GREAT PERSON, A WONDERFUL FATHER, AND AN OUTSTANDING HUSBAND. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR HIM AND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR HALLE AND I. HE IS A GREAT PROVIDER, CARE TAKER, AND LISTENER, AND I AM SO GREATFUL FOR HIM. I LOVE YOU JARED! WE SPENT THE EVENING WITH HIS PARENTS AND SISTER KIM, AND HUSBAND JOHN AT THE BERNT'S HAVING A BBQ. IT WAS GREAT AND WE HAD A GOOD FATHER'S DAY!

OTHER THAN THAT AND BEING BUSY, NOT A WHOLE LOT HAS BEEN GOING ON. WE DID FIND OUT JARED HAS AN EYE INFECTION WHICH ISN'T FUN AND DUE TO LASIK SURGERY LAST YEAR, HAS LOST SOME SIGHT IN HIS RIGHT EYE AND WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO SURGERY AGAIN SOON. THEY ONLY PAY FOR IT WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF SURGERY-WE ARE GOING ON A YEAR SO IT WILL BE SOON. HOWEVER, WE ARE THANKFUL HE IS OK AND NOTHING MAJOR IS WRONG, AND HE WILL GET BETTER.

WELL, THATS A LONG POST, SO HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL FOR EVERYONE.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY AGAIN TO ALL THOSE MEN OUT THER!

WE LOVE YOU!

CUB AND FAMILY

2009-06-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

THIS EVENING CUB AND I WENT FOR A MULE RIDE UP TO MY PARENTS HOUSE DOWN THE ROAD. GOING ON THE MULE IS HER FAVORITE THING. WE TOOK A COUPLE OF PICTURES WHILE WE WERE UP THERE.

STILL GETTING USED TO THE WHOLE SMILING THING.

WE PICKED A FLOWER AND PUT IT IN CUBS HAIR, IT DIDN'T STAY THERE LONG BUT WE ALL GOT TO SMELL IT.

HALLE GETS A LITTLE EXCITED SOMETIMES AND TAKES OF IN A DEAD SPRINT TO CATCH US. ITS FUN TO WATCH BECAUSE HER BUTT MOVES MORE THAN HER LEGS DO.

WE TRIED TO GET HER TO DO BIG GRINS, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT.

CUB GETS A KISS, DO I HAVE TO HAVE PIG TAILS TO GET ONE OF THOSE?

MOM AND RUFUS PUT A LOT OF TIME IN THE BACKYARD GARDEN THIS SPRING, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

GRUMPY LOVES HIS POND, A LOT, IT WAS COOL BECAUSE GRUMPY WAS SHOWING CUB WHERE ALL THE FISH WERE AND WHAT A FISH WAS. I THINK SHE FIGURED IT OUT TOWARDS THE END.

HALLE AND THE BERNT FAMILY SAY-

1. WE LOVE YOU ALL!

2. NOTRE DAME IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD!

3. DON'T TAKE ANY WOODEN NICKELS!

JUST KEEPING BUSY!

2009-06-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

SUMMER IS ALWAYS BUSY FOR US AND THIS YEAR IT SEEMS TO BE NO DIFFERENT AS OF YET. JARED AND I HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT IN THE YARD, ALOT WITH HIS FRIENDS THAT COME HOME FOR A COUPLE WEEKS EACH SUMMER, AND JUST BEING TOGETHER AS FAMILY. THIS PAST WEEKEND WAS A BLAST. THANKS TO NANNA AND PAPPA FOR WATCHING HALLE FOR HER 1ST OVERNIGHTER AWAY FROM HOME, NANNA SAID SHE DID VERY WELL-WHAT A RELIEF. JARED AND I WENT TO SUN VALLEY FOR THE KENNY LOGGINS CONCERT FOLLOWED BY A NIGHT AWAY WHICH WE BOTH NEEDED BADLY. WE LEFT SAT MORNING AND GOT TO SUN VALLEY AND PLAYED AROUND FOR THE AFTERNOON, CHECKED IN OUR HOTEL, THE SUN VALLEY LODGE, WENT TO DINNER, AND THEN TO THE CONCERT. IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE SHOW! I KNOW HE IS OLD AND I LOVE HIM TO DEATH-WE HAD TONS OF FUN! AFTERWARDS, WE WENT TO OUR HOTEL FOR RELAXATION AND NITE-NITE. I ENDED UP GETTING SICK WITH STREP AND A BUG AND SO NEEDLESS TO SAY DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP AWAY AND ENDED UP COMING HOME EARLIER THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BUT IT WAS STILL A BLAST!! THANKS FOR THE GIFT JARED-LOVED IT AND LOVED BEING WITH JUST YOU! I LOVE YOU!

(DIDN'T GET LOTS OF PIX SINCE WE WEREN'T TO HAVE OUR CAMERA IN THE CONCERT, HOWEVER; JARED SNUCK A FEW!)

HERE IS OUR HOTEL OR, "THE SUN VALLEY LODGE!" SO OLD SCHOOL, LOVED IT!!

JARED AND I IN FRONT OF THE PAVILION WHERE THE CONCERT WAS!

OK-LOOK CLOSE AND YOU WILL SEE KENNY LOGGINS-HE IS THE HOTTIE! ALSO, LOOK EVEN CLOSER AND YOU WILL SEE ME IN A PURPLE HOODIE ON MY WAY TO TOUCH HIM......

JARED AND I DURING THE CONCERT, SO FUN!

WHAT CAN I SAY? THIS COUPLE WAS SO FUN. THEY WERE IN THERE 50'S AND THEY WERE FROM EAGLE, ID. WE GOT HIS NAME, IT WAS TOMMY AND WE NEVER GOT HERS. WE HAD RAN INTO THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES THE DAY OF THE CONCERT AND THEY EVEN TOOK OUR PICTURE FOR US, THEY WE ENDED UP SEEING THEM AT OUR HOTEL, AND THEN AGAIN AT THE CONCERT-THEIR SEATS WERE RIGHT NEXT TO OURS. THEY WERE THE NICEST, FUNNEST COUPLE EVER. THEY HAD BEEN DRINKING AND THEY WEREN'T HIDING ANYTHING. TOMMY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO THE STAGE WITH ME SO I COULD TOUCH KENNY LOGGINS! YES, THAT IS RIGHT I TOUCHED HIM-NEVER BEEN THAT CLOSE TO SUPER STAR! THEN THE REST OF THE NIGHT THEY DANCED WITH US AND GOOFED AT THE CONCERT, NICE PEOPLE!

FARMING FOR THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

2009-05-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

OUR MEMORIAL DAY IS GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE LAST COUPLE, WE WILL BE FARMING IN SODA. TODAY STARTED OFF THE WEEKEND WHEN WE LEFT TO SODA AT ABOUT 11:30 AND WE WERE FARMING UNTIL ABOUT 7:00 IS WHEN WE FINALLY GOT IN. HOWEVER, THE GIRLS DIDN'T FARM MUCH-WE GOT TO PLAY AND WATCH KIDDOS WHILE THE BOYS FARMED. IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE ARE GOING TO HELP AGAIN TOMORROW, AND ON MONDAY EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY IS GOING. IT IS KIND OF TRADITION NOW, THAT MEMORIAL DAY FARMING IS WHAT WE DO. WE HAD TONS OF FUN, GOT REALLY DIRTY, AND NOW WE ARE GONNA SLEEP LIKE CHAMPS!

HALLE, JARED, AND I DRIVING IN THE FARM TRUCK!

TREVOR AND HALLE HANGING OUT. NO, HALLE ISN'T SUN-BURNED ON HER CHEEKS! (SHE RUBBED LICORICE ON THEM!) CUTE BANDANA ALSO!

TREVOR IS ABOUT 5 MONTHS OLDER THAN HALLE, AND HE IS STARTING TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF BEING A BIG BROTHER, EVEN THOUGH HE ISN'T! WE ALL THINK IT IS SO CUTE HOW HE WATCHES AND HELPS HER EVERY MOVE, THIS PICTURE EXPLAINS IT ALL...AREN'T THEY JUST ADORABLE LITTLE FARMERS? THEY LOVE IT! CUTE COWBOY HAT, TREVY!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVY EATING LUNCH IN THE BACK OF THE FARM TRUCK!

WORKING ON THE YARD!

2009-05-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

SO, THE YARD IS SLOWLY A WORK IN PROGRESS BUT IT IS LOOKING BETTER. THE TREES AND STUMPS ARE NOW GONE THANKS TO JAREDS FRIENDS DAD...THANKS CAPTAIN! WE HAD SOME SOD LAID DOWN, AND ARE WAITING TO PLANT THE GARDEN. THIS IS WHAT THE YARD IS LOOKING LIKE NOW, AND YES, HALLE WON'T GET OF THE "MULE!" SHE LOVES RIDING IT WITH DADDY-HE TAKES HER ALL AROUND THE BLOCK, AND SHE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!

JARED AND HIS DIRT PILE. HERE IS WHERE THE GARDEN WILL BE SOON!

HALLE PLAYING WHERE THERE IS NOW SOD!

JARED AND HALLE CHILLING ON THE MULE!

JENN GRADUATES!!

2009-05-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

MY STEP SISTER JENN ALSO GRADUATED FROM THE U OF U LAST SATURDAY WITH A BACHELORS IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES. THIS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW SOME OF THE ROAD BUMPS SHE HAD ALONG THE WAY. WE WENT TO HER GRADUATION DOWN IN LOGAN AND THEN CHRIS AND MY MOM TOOK ALL OF US TO GOLDEN CORRAL FOR DINNER. SO FUN! JARED HAD TO WORK, SO HALLE AND I WENT WITH TROY AND NIKI! WE HAD TONS OF FUN! JENN WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS!

DONE AT LAST, WELL AT LEAST FOR NOW, UNLESS SHE GOES ONTO LAW SCHOOL! GO JENN!

WHAT A PRETTY GIRL! WE LOVE YOU!

MY BIRTHDAY AND MORE!

2009-05-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

LAST SUNDAY WAS MY 27TH BIRTHDAY! WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. WE WOKE UP AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME, GOT THE HOUSE READY, AND HAD ALOT OF FAMILY OVER FOR A BBQ AND CAKE AND ICE CREAM. THE OLDER I GET, THE LESS AND LESS MY BIRTHDAY'S SEEM LIKE SUCH A BIG DEAL. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LIKE THEM BUT THEY JUST CHANGE WHEN YOU GROW UP! MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY IS ON THE SAME DAY AND I WOULD RATHER CELEBRATE HERS-I GUESS THAT IS MY WAY OF TRYING TO AGE, IF I DON'T HAVE A BIRTHDAY, I NEVER GET OLDER, RIGHT? ANYWAYS, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE FESTIVITIES AND IT WAS ALOT OF FUN! THANKS EVERYONE!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRLS!

JARED AND I JUST HANGING OUT!

ANNA, NIKI, AND TREVY LIVING IT UP!

JEN, STEVEN, AND CHRIS

HALLE LOVES PARTIES AND WHEN COMPANY COMES OVER!

JENNA, JANIE, AND HALLE IN THERE HATS NANA BOUGHT THEM, TREVY DIDN'T WANT TO STAY DOWN FOR THE PIC, BUT HE IS CHILLING IN THE BACKGROUND! LOVE THESE KIDS!!

ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR!

2009-04-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO BLOG. WE HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY WITH THE NICE WEATHER HERE AND TRYING TO GET OUR YARD BACK TO NORMAL. TODAY THE STUMPS OF THE TREES WERE PULLED OUT. NOW, TOMORROW FORWARD WILL BE WORK, WORK, WORK! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN THIS YEAR AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR. I HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE BUT NOW THAT MY SIS IS HERE AND SHE WANTED TO GO, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN. WE SHOWED UP AND HAD A FREE LUNCH-YUMMY HOT DOGS! THEN WE WENT AROUND TO DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT WERE SELLING THINGS OR JUST GIVING ADVICE OR INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND KEEPING IT HEALTHY. IT WAS SUCH A NICE DAY AND WE HAD ALOT OF FUN. THANKS FOR PLAYING LINTVEDT'S! WE EVEN GOT A FREE FLOWER FOR GOING!

HERE IS HALLE, TREVOR, AND I WAITING IN LINE FOR LUNCH!

HALLE ENJOYING UNCLE TROY'S SHADES WITH AUNT "ICKY!" SHE IS SO STYLING!

UNCLE TROY AND AUNT NIKI. I HAD TO ADD THIS PICTURE, CUZ I SWEAR EVERY PICTURE I TAKE OF THEM WOULD BE SO CUTE EXCEPT NIKI'S EYES ARE CLOSED....

GOING TO THE TEMPLE!

2009-04-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

SO, TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY! THE WEATHER HAS BEEN FANTASTIC-I AM LOVING IT AND SO IS HALLE KAY. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS OFF WORK TODAY SO WE WENT WITH HIM, NIKI, AND COUSIN TREVY ON A WALK UP SCOUT MTN. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN EVEN THOUGH IN THE MEANTIME WE SPILLED A WHOLE THING OF NACHOS IN THE SEAT OF MY YUKON, THANKS FOR CLEANING IT UP NIKI. HOWEVER, IT SMELLS AWFUL. OH WELL! AFTER OUR WALK WE CAME HOME AND JARED HAD JUST GOT OFF WORK. HIM AND I WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND DID INITIATORY AND THEN WENT ON A DATE TO RUBY RIVER STEAK HOUSE. IT WAS AMAZING! THANKS NANA FOR WATCHING HALLE FOR US. THANKS JARED FOR AN AMAZING LITTLE GETAWAY, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN GOING TO THE TEMPLE AND DINNER WITH YOUR MAN AFTERWARDS! LOVE YA!

NO MORE TREES

2009-04-18T18:06:00.001-07:00

SINCE WE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE HAVE HAD A 7 TREES IN OUR BACKYARD THAT HAVE PRODUCED HUNDREDS OF BAGS OF NEEDLES. SINCE WE HAVE NOW DECIDED TO STAY IN THE HOUSE FOR A WHILE LONGER, WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR THE TREES TO GO SO OUR LAWN CAN GROW.

THE TREE ON THE RIGHT THAT HASN'T BEEN CUT DOWN YET WE LEFT THE TRUNK 8 FEET TALL SO WE CAN BUILD A KILLER TREE HOUSE FOR CUBBY.

THIS GUY THAT CUT DOWN THE TREES FOR US WAS PRETTY COOL. HE WOULD TASTE THE NEEDLES TO SEE THE EXACT SPECIES OF THE TREE, WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM DO IT I TOLD HIM HE WAS NUTS. HE DID A GOOD JOB AND NOW IT WILL BE OUR SPOT FOR A GARDEN.

DYEING EGGS WITH THE BERNT CLAN!

2009-04-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST FRIDAY, JAREDS BROTHER TREG AND HIS GIRLS CAME UP FOR EASTER. IT WAS FUN TO SEE THEM AND THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO DYE EGGS. WE ATE PIZZA FOR DINNER AND HAD A GOOD TIME CHILLING WITH EVERYONE. BY THE TIME THEY DYED EGGS, HALLE WAS HOME IN BED BUT JARED DID SNAP SOME OF THE FESTIVITIES. OH HOW HALL WOULD HAVE LOVED IT!

ANNIE, BRIDGET, AND COLE DYEING THEIR EGGS!]

MORE DYEING OF THE EGGS! THE KIDS HAD A BLAST! REMEMBER WHEN THE LITTLE THINGS USE TO MEAN SO MUCH MORE!

GRANDMA AND ANNIE DECORATING CUPCAKES FOR THE HARTLEY EASTER GET TOGETHER THE NEXT DAY! SO CUTE!

KIMBO AND JOHNNY BOY DECORATING THE EGGS~SO YUMMY!

I JUST LOVED THIS PICTURE OF BRIDGET WAITING FOR HER EGG SO PATIENTLY!

GRUMPY HANGING OUT AT THE COMPUTER~GOTTA LOVE IT!

I THOUGHT THIS PICTURE OF ANNIE AND JOHN WAS ADORABLE! THEY ARE BOTH CONCENTRATING SO HARD!

DYEING EASTER EGGS AND DINNER!

2009-04-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

LAST WEEK WE WENT OVER TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE TO DYE EGGS. WE FIGURED THE KIDS WOULD HAVE FUN TOGETHER. OH THEY DID AND SO DID THE ADULTS. MY SISTER MADE A WONDERFUL MEAL, SHE WENT ALL OUT. SHE MADE WONDERFUL PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIES WITH THE REAL PINEAPPLE, CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MAIN COURSE WAS CALLED. THE KIDS HAD A BLAST DYEING THE EGGS AND WE ALL HAD A GOOD TIME DANCING AROUND CRAZY TO MUSIC AND JUST HANNGING OUT. LOVED EVERY MINUTE. THANKS GUYS! (SORRY NO PIX, I TOOK SOME AND REALIZED I LEFT THE MEMORY CARD HOME!)

ORAL HERPES!!!

2009-04-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING JUST FROM READING THE CAPTION-GROSS! I KNOW! LAST SUNDAY NIGHT, HALLE DIDN'T SLEEP WELL AT ALL, SO I THOUGHT SHE WAS COMING DOWN WITH ANOTHER COLD. MONDAY SHE WAS CUDDLY AND REALLY WHINY ALL DAY LONG. I LAID HER DOWN FOR HER NAP AND AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR, SHE WOKE UP SCREAMING. I CHANGED HER DIAPER AND WAS GETTING READY TO CALL THE DR WHEN I SAW 2 WHITE SPOTS ON HER TONGUE. I CALLED THE DR AND THEY SAID TO BRING HER IN, IN A HALF HOUR. I TOOK HER IN, SHE HAD A LOW-GRADE FEVER, AND WAS STILL WHINY AND CRYING. THEY DIAGNOSED HER WITH ORAL HERPES..AKA..KIDS HERPES. I GUESS MANY PEOPLE CATCH IT BEFORE 2 YEARS OF AGE. SHE PROBABLY GOT IT SHARING TOYS IN CHURCH. THEY GAVE US A COMBO OF BENADRYL AND MOTRIN FOR HER TO SWALLOW FOR 5 DAYS-IT WOULDN'T TAKE IT AWAY BUT IT WOULD NUMB IT SO SHE COULD EAT. SHE HAD BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN SHE DIDN'T EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING UNTIL SHE HAD HER MEDICINE THAT AFTERNOON. WHAT IT IS, IS COLD SORES IN YOUR MOUTH AND THEY ARE BIG AND OUCH! NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAD A SLEEPLESS WEEK. JARED SLEPT ON THE COUCH DOWNSTAIRS TO GET SLEEP SO HE WAS WELL RESTED FOR WORK, AND HALLE SLEPT IN OUR BED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND LAST TIME EVER. FOR 4 DAYS, SHE WAS UP EVERY 1 TO THE MINUTE ALMOST. FINALLY, I CAN SAY, SHE IS BACK TO HERSELF, AND IT IS SO NICE. I JUST HATE WHEN SHE HURTS OR DOESN'T FEEL GOOD! LET ME JUST TELL YOU MOMS, I WOULD WISH THIS ON NOONE! IT IS HORRIBLE!

GIRL'S NIGHT!

2009-04-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

LAST NIGHT WAS SO MUCH FUN! WHILE JARED WAS AT THE PRIESTHOOD SESSION OF CONFERENCE WE GOT TOGETHER WITH MY MOM, NANNY, NIKI, AND TREVOR. WE MET UP AT PERKIN'S AND HAD DINNER TOGETHER. AFTER THAT, WE ALL CAME TO MY HOUSE TO EAT PIE FROM PERKINS AND PUT THE KIDDO'S DOWN FOR BED. THEN WE WATCHED "SEVEN POUNDS" WITH WILL SMITH. IT WAS THE BEST MOVIE IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I WATCHED IT WITH SOME FRIENDS, BUT I HAD TO WATCH IT WITH THEM. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. IT IS SO FUN THAT WE CAN ALL GET TOGETHER NOW FOR GIRL'S NIGHT. NIKI HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN UTAH, NANNY IN OREGON, PLUS WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ALL THE MEN ARE BUSY! IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT! WE LOVE ALL OF YOU GUYS AND ARE GLAD YOU CAME TO PLAY! (SORRY, I HAD TO USE THE BATTERIES OUT OF THE CAMERA FOR A REMOTE FOR THE MOVIE-NO PIX!)

CUB LIKES DOGGIES!!

2009-04-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

CUB HAS A THING FOR DOGS, ANYTHING WITH FUR SHE WILL CALL A "DOGGY."

THIS WEEKEND WE ARE TAKING CARE OF FRITZ, AKA, JUAN CARLOS FOR MY PARENTS WHO WENT DOWN TO SLC FOR CONFERENCE. JUST A COUPLE OF PIX THAT I TOOK THIS MORNING.

I HAD TO TEACH HER REAL QUICK THAT YOU DONT HIT THE DOG IN THE HEAD, YOU NEED TO PET THE "DOGGY."

TONYA WAS MAD THAT I TOOK THE PICTURES BEFORE SHE HAD HER HAIR DONE, CUB DIDNT CARE AT ALL.

TRYING TO GIVE JUAN CARLOS A KISS.

BROTHER EYRING!

2009-04-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

I JUST LOVE WATCHING CONFERENCE TWICE A YEAR. I AM THANKFUL AND WE ARE HONORED TO HEAR FROM OUR PROPHET AND LEADERS OF THE CHURCH. THEY MAKE EVERYTHING IN THIS HORRIBLE ECONOMY MAKE SENSE..(OK-AT LEAST BEARABLE!)I LOVE BRO. EYRING. HIS TALK MADE ME SOB LIKE A BABY BUT HE IS TRULY A GREAT MAN AND A GREAT EXAMPLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MANY MORE TALKS IN THE UPCOMING SESSIONS BUT I HAD TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE HOW MUCH I LOVE THE SPIRIT OF CONFERENCE AND THE FEELING I GET AFTER WATCHING SUCH GREAT MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CHURCH! AND, IT IS SO NICE JARED HAD THE DAY OFF SO WE COULD WATCH IT AS A FAMILY!

FAREWELL ER!

2009-04-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

I KNOW THIS POST ISN'T FOR EVERYONE. BUT, I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIE HARD FANS OF THE SHOW ER WHICH WILL BE SHOWING ITS SERIES FINALE TONIGHT. YEP, THAT IS RIGHT. IT IS DONE! THURSDAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME FOR ME. IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS AND I BELIEVE IN THAT WHOLE TIME THAT I ONLY MISSED MAYBE 5 EPISODES-DIE HARD FAN! I LOVE IT AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE SHOW ARE AMAZING ACTORS/ACTRESSES. THIS SHOW HAS BEEN AMAZING AND FOR SOME REASON, I FEEL LIKE I AM PART OF IT! I WILL MISS IT GREATLY! NOW, I HAVE TO START THE COUNTDOWN FOR THE NEXT BACHELOR! THANKS FOR HAVING THE PARTY TONIGHT LORI. IT WAS SO FUN TO GET TOGETHER WITH EVERYONE AND CRY TOGETHER! I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN SO SUCKED INTO A SHOW ON TV! SAD, I KNOW!

PS...I JUST HAVE TO ADD THIS, I LOVED THE FINALE AND WILL MISS ER SO MUCH! I CRIED LIKE A BABY! THERE WILL NEVER BE A SHOW ON TV LIKE IT AGAIN!

SPRING FAIR FUN IN THE SNOW!

2009-03-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

(READ DOWN, I JUST DID 3 POSTS TO GET CAUGHT UP ON WHAT I HAVE MISSED:)

SO I AM PRETTY JEALOUS ABOUT NOT GOING TO ARIZONA WITH JARED BUT THAT IS OK. THE TEMPS ARE IN THE 30'S AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREEZING~THAT IS IDAHO FOR YOU! WE WENT TO THE SPRING FAIR IN THE HOLT TONIGHT WITH TROY, NIKI, AND TREVOR. WE HAD A BLAST. HALLE LOVED IT AND THERE WAS SO MUCH FOR HER TO LOOK AT. WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THEM BEING SO CLOSE NOW! HALLE ALSO HAS A GREAT BUD SHE LOVES TO BE WITH! WE WENT AND ENJOYED SOME FAIR FOOD FOR DINNER AND JUST MINGLED AND SAW A BUNCH OF FRIENDS! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ALWAYS LOVE THIS FAIR! TO BAD IT IS SNOWING OUTSIDE, SUMMER HURRY PLEASE!!!

ST. GEORGE!

2009-03-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE WENT DOWN TO ST GEORGE FOR JARED'S COUSINS WEDDING. WE LEFT ON WEDNESDAY, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE THE SAME DAY OUR FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S WERE GOING DOWN WITH THEIR FAMILY TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THERE HOUSE. WE FOLLOWED THEM DOWN WEDNESDAY LEAVING AT 6 PM. WE STOPPED IN PROVO TO BIG UP BRITNEY DUDLEY'S LITTLE BRO AND EAT AND THEN OFF WE WERE. WE STOPPED ONE MORE TIME FOR GAS AND THAT WAS IT. HALLE WAS A CHAMP THE WHOLE WAY DOWN, NOT MUCH COMPLAINING. WE FINALLY ROLLED INTO ST. GEORGE AT ABOUT 2 AM AND WE WERE EXHAUSTED. WE STAYED THAT NIGHT WITH THE DUDLEY'S SINCE THEY GRACIOUSLY OFFERED, WE SAVED MONEY ON A HOTEL AND GOT TO BE WITH FRIENDS, WHAT A BONUS! WE THEN SPENT THE NEXT DAY PLAYING IN THE 80 DEGREE WEATHER, SWIMMING(WHICH HALLE HATED!), AND SHOPPING AND HANGING OUT. JARED AND THE FRIENDS GOT SOME GOLF IN. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THE DUDLEY'S AND BRIT'S FAMILY AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THEIR GENEROSITY TOWARDS US. THEY OFFERED TO LET US STAY THE NEXT NIGHT, AND WE DID. HOWEVER, THAT NIGHT HALLE GOT SICK AGAIN! I AM SICK OF COLDS! WE DID GO SHOPPING THE NEXT DAY AT THE OUTLETS AND PLAYED ALOT. WE HAD FUN! THE REST OF THE TIME, WE WENT TO THE WEDDING, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL. I DIDN'T ATTEND IT, SINCE HALLE DIDN'T FEEL TO HOT, BUT JARED SAID IT WAS WONDERFUL! THE REST OF THE TIME WAS SPENT PLAYING WITH THE BERNT'S AND WE HAD A BLAST. I DID GO SEE MY UNCLE DEON AND HIS CAR STORE WHILE JARED GOLFED ONE DAY AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIM AND CHAT FOR A BIT. OVERALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL TRIP AND IT WAS SAD HALLE WAS SICK. SHE WAS A TROOPER AND WE LOVED SPENDING TIME AS A FAMILY IN THE SUN! THURSDAY WE WERE TO GO TO THE SWEET 16 NCAA TOURNAMENT IN ARIZONA, JARED WILL GO WITH HIS MOM. HALLE AND I ARE GOING TO STAY HOME TO GET HER HEALTHY ONCE AND FOR ALL AND LET JARED ENJOY HIS TRIP. WE WILL MISS HIM BUT IT IS BEST THIS WAY, FOR HALLE! (SORRY NO PIX, COMPUTER STILL BEING STUPID!)

ST PATTY'S PARTY!!

2009-03-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

IT IS TRADITION TO CELEBERATE ST PATRICK'S DAY AT OUR HOUSE. WHY? NOTRE DAME FIGTIN' IRISH! WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT AND SO THIS IS ONE DAY SET ASIDE FOR FREAKISH FANS LIKE US THAT JUST HAVE TO CELEBRATE. WE DECK OUT THE HOUSE FOR THIS HOLIDAY AND COMPLETE OUR DECOR WITH A RUG COMING IN THE HOUSE WITH THE BIG "ND" SYMBOL ON IT. I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER GET HOOKED TO A FOOTBALL TEAM SO MUCH, BUT NOW I REALIZED I HAVE CROSSED THAT LINE TOO. WE HAD SOME FRIENDS AND THEIR KIDS COME OVER FOR A LITTLE PARTY. JARED DIDN'T FEEL GOOD (FOOD POISONING) AND SPEND MOST OF THE NIGHT LAYING DOWN ON THE BED. THE REST OF US HOWEVER ENJOYED SOME GOOD CONVO WHILE OUR KIDS PLAYED AND RAN AMUCK TOGETHER. DINNER THIS YEAR WAS LESS TRADITIONAL THAN OUR CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE LAST YEAR. WE HAD DELICIOUS HAMBURGERS, GREEN SALAD, A GREEN DRINK, AND FOR DESSERT, DIRT WITH MINT OREOS CRUSHED ON TOP. I GUESS THIS HOLIDAY IS NOT JUST AN EXCUSE, WE ACTUALLY ALWAYS HAVE A TON OF FUN. THANKS TO THOSE WHO CAME AND PLAYED WE ENJOYED OURSELVES, AND HOPE YOU DID ALSO. (PS...WE DID MISS THE HIGBEES AND THE ZIRKERS:) (PPS....SORRY SHALOAM I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF YOU!)

HERE ARE ALL THE GREEN DECORATIONS, I THINK IT WAS PRETTY CUTE!

HALLE AND JARED HANGING OUT, BEFORE HE FELT TO SICK!

ME AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT WAITING FOR OUR FRIENDS! NOTICE THE ND JERSEY! GO IRISH!~

BARRY AND HEATHER JENKS~DON'T KILL ME! THIS IS THE ONLY PICTURE I TOOK ALL NIGHT OF THEM! AT LEAST THE FOOD LOOKS YUMMY, RIGHT

SHALOAM AND BRITTNEY OFISA. SORRY SHALOAM, I DIDN'T TAKE MANY PIX THAT NIGHT, BUSY WITH THE KIDS~

CUB AND DINNER TALK

2009-03-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

CUB AND DINNER from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

WHY WE BUILD TEMPLES

2009-03-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

SICK, TEETHING, AND MISERABLE TO SAY THE LEAST!!

2009-03-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

LATELY OUR HOUSE HAS NOT BEEN TO MUCH FUN TO BE AROUND. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE HAVE CAUGHT A CYCLE IN THE WICKED COLD THAT IS GOING AROUND AND WHEN ONE OF US FINALLY KICK IT-SOMEONE ELSE GETS IT. HALLE HAS HAD IT FOR QUITE A WHILE AND IS NOW FACING A TERRIBLE BARKING COUGH AND HAS HAD SOME VERY SLEEPLESS MISERABLE NIGHTS FOR ALL INVOLVED. SHE IS ALSO GETTING HER TOP TWO MOLARS AND ONE OF HER CANINE TEETH ON BOTTOM AND THOSE ARE CAUSING QUITE A BIT OF PAIN IN HER LITTLE MOUTH. ALL I CAN SAY, THANK GOODNESS FOR MOTRIN. I ALSO HAD HER WEENED OFF THE BOTTLE COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND AFTER ONE SLEEPLESS NIGHT I GAVE IN. IT WAS A COMFORT TO HER AND AT THAT POINT, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER ANYTHING SHE WANTED. THE PA I WORK FOR TODAY CHECKED HER EARS FOR AN EAR INFECTION, JUST IN CASE. THEY LOOKED FINE AND SO DID HER THROAT. I GUESS THE COUGH THAT IS GOING AROUND CAN TAKE UP TO SEVEN WEEKS TO GET RID OF SO WATCH OUT. SHE DID REALLY GOOD TODAY AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING BACK TO HERSELF AGAIN SO WE WILL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED. BUT, JARED HAS A SORE THROAT TONIGHT. OH NO! I BETTER KEEP THESE TWO SEPERATED AND THE HOUSE CLOROXED. OTHER THAN THAT, (ON A POSITIVE NOTE) WE HAD THE DUDLEY'S AND THE WILDE'S AND THEIR FAMILIES OVER FOR HAMBURGERS AND MILKSHAKES THE OTHER NIGHT. WE HAD A BLAST, THEY ARE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE AND AWESOME FRIENDS. WE LOVE THEM! THANKS FOR COMING TO PLAY!(SORRY NO PICTURES THIS TIME....)

FEEDING THE DUCKS AND RANDOM HALLE PIX!

2009-03-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

TODAY NIKI AND I TOOK THE KIDS ON A WALK OUT BY THE DUCKS. IT WAS SUCH A NICE MORNING AND WE WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE THE STORMS CAME AGAIN. WE ALWAYS LOVE A GOOD LONG WALK OUTSIDE. WE FED THE DUCKS SOME CORN POPS THAT TREVY SPILLED IN THE CAR, AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE TOOK THE KIDS TO A PARK NEARBY FOR A PICNIC. BY THIS TIME, THE WINDS HAD PICKED UP AND IT WAS A BIT COLD AND ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS PLAY ANYWAYS. NIKI AND I ATE AND THEN TOOK THE KIDDIES HOME FOR LUNCH AND NAP TIME. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THEM SO CLOSE AND THANKFUL THE KIDS LOVE HANGING OUT SO MUCH. THANKS FOR PLAYING!

HERE IS TREVOR, HALLE, AND MERLIN ENJOYING THE DUCKS!

TREVOR LOOKS A LITTLE NERVOUS....

HALLE LOOKS SCARED OUT OF HER MIND....

I SWEAR, THIS DUCK WAS GETTING READY TO EAT US FOR LUNCH!

WE HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY RANDOM TUBBY PIX FOR AWHILE, AND JARED FELT THE NEED TO TONIGHT. WOW, COMPARING THESE TO OLD PICTURES, SHE IS GROWING UP SO FAST....ENJOY!

JARED TRIED TO DO THE FOHAWK LIKE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER. HER HAIR IS TO LONG, IT JUST FALLS OVER! YAY! KEEP GROWING~

LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL, BIG, BLUE EYES!

WE HAVE BEEN SO BUSY!

2009-03-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

SORRY IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO POST, BUT OUR LIFE HAS BEEN BUSY LATELY. TWO WEEKENDS AGO WE WENT TO UTAH TO HELP MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY. THEY ALREADY LIVED HERE, BUT ALL THERE STUFF WAS IN STORAGE IN UTAH. WE WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND HELPED. IT WAS GREAT WEATHER AND ACTUALLY QUITE FUN TO BE HONEST. JARED HAD TO WORK, BUT HALLE AND I WENT TO HELP. THAT NIGHT, WE WENT TO DINNER AND THEY GOT ALL OF US ROOMS TO STAY IN. THE NEXT DAY WE CAME HOME AND HELPED THEM MOVE IT IN.. EXTREMELY SORE AFTER THAT ONE.

STARTING THE ROAD TRIP, I ACTUALLY DROVE, NIKI SAT IN THE BACK WITH THE KIDS, AND TROY SLEPT UP FRONT! GOOD KIDS-LOVE THEM!

DON'T FORGET MERLIN. HE ACTUALLY RAN AWAY AT THE HOTEL THAT NIGHT. I RAN OUTSIDE TO FIND HIM. AS I WALKED UP TO PERFECT STRANGERS IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE IT WAS PITCH BLACK, THEY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS. THEN I ROUNDED A CORNER AND FELL ON THE ICE. I AM SURE WATCHING IT WAS PRICELESS, HOWEVER; MY HIP WASN'T PRETTY AFTER THAT ONE.

HALLE'S SLEEPING ACCOMODATIONS-SHE LOVED IT! WE ENJOYED OUR FIRST GIRL'S NIGHT AWAY FROM HOME. MANY MORE TO COME!

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HOTEL ROOM WAS NICE AND FUN. HOWEVER, HALLE GETS TO WATCH HER SHOWS, HENCE MICKEY ON THE TV. OH WELL!
IT WAS A LONG TRIP HOME, CARAVANING WITH THE UHAULS!

THIS PAST WEEKEND. MY STEP BROTHERS AND SISTERS SUFFERED A GREAT TRAGEDY. THEIR STEP FATHER WAS KILLED TRAGICALLY IN AN AVALANCHE IN ALPINE WYOMING. HE DIED ALONG WITH 2 OTHER FRIENDS, ONE MORE WENT BUT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT. LAST NIGHT WAS THE VIEWING AND WE WENT TO SHOW OUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. THEN COME TO FIND OUT, MY 4TH GRADE TEACHER, MRS. PAM CARTWRIGHT, HAS BEEN SICK FOR A LONG TIME AND PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY ON MONDAY. I WILL BE GOING UP TO HER VIEWING ON FRIDAY WITH MY MOM AND STEP-FATHER. SO, THAT HAS KEPT US VERY BUSY ALSO. WHAT A TRAGEDY FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY! OTHER THAN THAT, JUST BUSY!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! (A BIT LATE!)

2009-02-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

THIS PAST FRIDAY, JARED AND I GOT TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY! HE HAD TO DO THE CLOCK AT THE ISU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME SATURDAY-SO WE DID OUT CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY INSTEAD. MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND TOOK HALLE SO SHE COULD PLAY WITH TREVOR AND OFF WE WENT. WE WENT AND SAW THE MOVIE, "HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU," WAY CUTE! FOLLOWED WITH DINNER AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE-WHERE WE RAN INTO SOME OF OUR FRIENDS, THE DUDLEYS, AND CHATTED FOR A BIT. THEN WE WENT AND PICKED UP HALLE AND BROUGHT HER HOME TO BED. WE LET THAT ALL SETTLE AND THEN MADE CHOCOLATE FONDUE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE PIECES, STRAWBERRIES, AND MARSHMALLOWS. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! THANKS NIKI AND FAM FOR WATCHING HALLE SO WE COULD GO HAVE FUN! ALSO, THANKS SO MUCH JARED! IT IS SO FUN WHEN WE GET TO GO OUT THE TWO OF US! I AM GLAD THAT I GOT TO BE YOUR VALENTINE! I LOVE YOU!

HERE IS JARED ENJOYING OUR FONDUE! IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE CANDLE LIGHT BUT JARED COULDN'T SEE!

OUR LITTLE FONDUE POT AND PLATE OF FUN THINGS! (NICE BABY OUTLET COVER PICTURED IN THERE TOO!)

ON SATURDAY, MY FAMILY WENT TO THE AUCTION HERE IN POKY. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND MY STEP-FATHER LOVE IT. THIS TIME JARED, HALLE, AND I WENT ALONG. IT WAS FUN (SO WHITE TRASH, BUT FUN!) WE THEN WENT TO LUNCH AND CAME HOME FOR HALLE'S NAP. JARED HAD TO DO THE GAME SO HE LEFT AND I WAS HOME WITH HALLE AND TREVOR. HIS PARENTS WENT ON THEIR DATE, SO WE HAD HIM FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING, IT WAS SO FUN! LATER, TREVOR DUDLEY CAME OVER TO WATCH THE NBA SLAM DUNK CONTEST WITH HIS SON CARTER, BRITNEY WENT BACK TO WORK TONIGHT AND SO THEY CAME AND VISITED. I GOT TO HOLD CARTER ALL NIGHT...NOTHING LIKE A SWEET, SMELLY GOOD LITTLE ONE TO CUDDLE WITH!
THEN ON SUNDAY, WE WENT TO CHURCH AND WE THEN WENT WITH PAPA, NANNA, GIGI, AND TREVOR TO FEED THE DUCKS AGAIN-SHE LOVES TO QUACK AT THE DUCKS...SO CUTE! WE HAVE JUST BEEN BUSY AND HAVING TONS OF FUN!

I JUST COULDN'T RESIST TAKING PICTURES OF HALLE IN HER VALENTINE'S OUTFIT. IT WAS CHERRIES AND THE SHIRT SAID SWEET!! SO STINKING CUTE AND LOOK AT THE CHEESE ON THAT FACE! SHE IS SUCH A HAPPY LITTLE GIRL! WE LOVE YOU HALLE KAY! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

VALENTINE'S GIFT FROM GRANNY BERNT

2009-02-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

GRANDMA BERNT GAVE HALLE CUB A DANCING VALENTINES GIFT. WHEN THERE IS MUSIC PLAYING, CUB IS DANCING!

CUB'S VALENTINES DANCE from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB'S VALENTINES DANCE II from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

FEEDING THE DUCKS!

2009-02-08T22:25:00.000-08:00

TODAY AFTER CHURCH, NANNA AND PAPA CALLED AND ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HALLE TO THE PARK TO FEED THE DUCKS! IT WAS CHILLY BUT WE KNEW HALLE WOULD LOVE IT! ON SUNDAYS, IT IS NICE TO GET HER OUT OF THE HOUSE AFTER HER NAP! SHE LOVED IT-THE DUCKS PRACTICALLY COME RIGHT UP TO YOU FOR FOOD. THANKS PAPA FOR BRINGING POPCORN AND BREAD TO FEED THEM. WE LOVED GOING AND HAD TONS OF FUN! LET'S GO AGAIN SOON!

(FYI:READ DOWN AFTER THIS POST, THERE ARE 2 MORE NEW ONES!)

THE DUCKS COMING TO EAT!

HALLE LOVING THE DUCKS-THEY CAME UP TO HER PRETTY CLOSE!

MY LITTLE FAMILY PICTURE-I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE ALL LOOKING AT THE CAMERA AT THE SAME TIME!

NANNA, HALLE, AND PAPA PLAYING TOGETHER! HALLE LOVED IT!!

SUCH A CUTE PICTURE, PAPA PUSHING HALLE! SHE LOVES TALKING TO HIM! *SHE IS SHOWING HIM THE DUCKS! THANKS FOR INVITING US- WE LOVED IT!

TAKING COUSIN TREVY ON A WALK!

2009-02-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

LAST NIGHT WE WATCHED TREVOR WHILE NIKI AND TROY WENT OUT WITH NANNA AND PAPA FOR A PARTY SINCE THEY GOT THEIR NEW HOME. WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH TREVOR. WHEN UNCLE BEAR GOT HOME WE TOOK THEM ON A WALK. THEY ENJOYED GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A BIT AND IT MADE IT FUNNER FOR THEM TO HAVE EACH OTHER! WE LOVE WHEN YOU COME PLAY TREVY! IT HAS BEEN NICE HAVING TREVY AROUND FOR HALLE TO PLAY WITH~

HALLE AND TREVY HANGING OUT IN THEIR WARM CLOTHES-HAD TO POST THIS PICTURE-ADORABLE!

TORGESEN CLAN AT THE CABIN!

2009-02-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

LAST WEEKEND WAS SO MUCH FUN. THE BERNTS GRACIOUSLY LET MY FAMILY BORROW THE CABIN ONCE A YEAR TO GO PLAY-IT USUALLY FALLS ON SUPERBOWL WEEKEND. THIS TIME, MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY AND MY LITTLE FAMILY WENT UP ON THURSDAY NIGHT. WE GOT THERE JUST IN TIME TO EAT DINNER, HANGOUT AS GROWN-UPS AND GO TO BED. THE NEXT MORNING WE MADE BREAKFAST AND TOOK TURNS WATCHING KIDS AND PLAYING OUTSIDE ON THE SNOWMACHINES. WE THEN ATE LUNCH, BAKED COOKIES AND HAD GREAT CONVERSATION IN FRONT OF THE FIREPLACE WHILE ENJOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. TREVOR AND HALLE COULD HAVE PLAYED FOREVER, THEY LOVE TO BE TOGETHER, AND LOVE BEING AT THE CABIN. THAT EVENING OUR DAD AND HIS WIFE KAREN CAME UP FOR DINNER AND TO WATCH SOME OF THE JAZZ GAME. IT WAS GREAT. ON SATURDAY MY ENTIRE FAMILY CAME UP AND PLAYED. WE ATE CHILI DOGS AND SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON ON SNOWMACHINES OR SLEDDING. IT WAS SO FUN-THE KIDS LOVED IT!! WE ENJOY DOING THIS EVERY YEAR AND ARE THANKFUL THE BERNT'S LET US PLAY AT THEIR CABIN. IT TRULY IS BEAUTIFUL UP THERE AND A NICE PLACE FOR SOME QUALITY FAMILY TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN!
THAT NEW LITTLE CAR IN THE BACKGROUND WAS A GIFT. WE THOUGHT THAT THIS PICTURE WAS ADORABLE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE KIDDO'S ARE FIXING SOMETHING TOGETHER AND THEN WILL JUMP IN THERE "COUPE" AND GO HOME!

NIKI AND I ENJOYING A RIDE. WE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES AND GREAT CONVO'S UP THERE. NOTHING LIKE QUALITY TIME WITH A SISTER! LOVE YOU TONS, NIKI!

JARED AND CUBBY ON A RIDE-HALLE LOVED IT-(ALTHOUGH HER FACE LOOKS OTHERWISE!)

TREVY AND HALLE TAKING A TUBBY IN THE IRON WATER-LOVED IT!

AFTER TUBBY TIME, WE MADE THEM A FORT AND THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN!

WHEN NANNA AND PAPA SHOWED UP-THE KIDS WERE ECSTATIC. MOM HAD AN ABSCESSED TOOTH AND DEMANDED SHE COME PLAY ANYWAYS, LOVE YOU MOM! YOU ARE A TROOPER AND WE'RE GLAD YOU CAME!

ME, MOM, AND CHRIS REVVING UP FOR OUR RIDE! NICE SNOW GEAR-SEXY!TROY AND TREVY ENJOYING IT!JENNA AND HALLE PLAYING IN THE SNOW TOGETHER! SUCH A NICE, SUNNY, WEEKEND!

HALLE WAS LIKE A STARFISH-SHE LOVED THIS AND THEN JUST BEING PULLED AROUND IN THE SUN!

HALLE AND NANNA ENJOYING A RIDE. I DROVE-NANNA WAS ON HYDROCODONE FOR HER TOOTH-THAT COULD'VE BEEN BAD!

THIS IS CHRIS AND THE BOYS STARTING THE SLED.

HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY! THANKS JARED! LOVE YOU!

2009-01-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

SO IN A PREVIOUS POST, I TALKED ABOUT IT BEING OUR ANNIVERSARY...NOW I AM FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO POSTING IT. OUR ANNIVERSARY WAS LAST WEDNESDAY. JARED HAS NEVER BOUGHT ME FLOWERS BEFORE AND SHOWED UP HOME FROM WORK TO GO TO LOGAN, WITH A DOZEN ROSES AND WATER LILY'S. BEAUTIFUL COMBO! IT WAS ALL I COULD DO NOT TO CRY-I LOVED THEM AND IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME BABE! THEN WE WERE OFF TO THE ANNIVERSARY INN, IN LOGAN. WE MADE IT THERE AND CHECKED IN JUST IN TIME TO GO TO DINNER AT THE OLIVE GARDEN. DINNER WAS SCRUMPTIOUS AND WE HAD GREAT CONVERSATION. THEN WE WENT HOME, PUT HALLE TO BED AND ENJOYED THE REST OF THE EVENING. OUR HOTEL WAS SO MUCH FUN, IT WAS THE LAKE POWELL ROOM. JARED BOUGHT THE MOVIE PACKAGE SO WE GOT 2 MOVIES, POPCORN, AND EACH GOT A DRINK AND TREAT OF OUR CHOICE. WE HAD FUN! THE NEXT MORNING THEY BROUGHT US CROISSANTS AND YOGURT AND GRANOLA PARFAIT-SO WONDERFUL. WE CHECKED OUT, WENT SHOPPING AROUND LOGAN, STOPPED AT THE PEPPERIDGE FARM STORE FOR SOME COOKIES AND THEN HEADED HOME IN TIME FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO MY SIS-IN-LAWS BRIDAL SHOWER. WE HAD A MARVELOUS TIME AND I LOVED GOING OUT AND SPENDING THE EVENING AS SOMETHING SPECIAL. ALTHOUGH, HALLE WAS WITH US, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD IT ANY OTHER WAY. SHE WAS SO GOOD AND FUN TO BRING ALONG! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN 4 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN THE BEST 4 OF MY LIFE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE ANNIVERSARIES AND MEMORIES! THANK YOU JARED-I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING!

HERE ARE MY BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, I LOVE YOU BABE!

HERE IS A PICTURE OF OUR BED AND SOME OF THE ROCK DECOR IN THE ROOM!

HERE IS THE VIEW FROM OUR BED. ISN'T THE LOG RAILING AND THE MASSIVE TV AMAZING? LOVED IT!

HERE IS THE FISH TANK OVER THE GINORMOUS TUBBY! IT WAS AMAZING-SO FUN TO WATCH THE FISHIES!

WE HAD TO GET A PICTURE OF THE RUNT WE TOOK WITH US~ HALLE KAY WE LOVE YOU!

THE BERNT GIRLS!

2009-01-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

TODAY RENAE TOOK, STEPHANIE AND HER DAUGHTER, EVA; KIM AND JOHN, AND HALLE AND I TO LUNCH AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE. IT WAS SO GOOD AND SO FUN TO BE THERE WITH THE BERNT GIRLS. THEN WHEN WE FINISHED, HALLE AND I WENT TO HELP MY SIS WITH HER NEW HOUSE. FOLLOWING THIS, KIM AND JOHN, STEPHANIE AND I WENT TO SEE THE MOVIE, BRIDE WARS. LET ME TELL YOU, GOOD SHOW-FUNNY SHOW! I LOVE SOME CHICK FLICKS. THANK YOU JARED FOR TAKING HALLE AND LETTING ME GO PLAY-I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH! AFTER THE MOVIE, I TOOK STEPHANIE UP TO THE BERNTS, WHERE HER AND EVA ARE STAYING TONIGHT. STEPHANIE AND I STAYED OUT IN MY CAR FOR A GOOD 1.5 HOURS TALKING AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT. STEPHANIE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON AND I WISH THAT EVERYONE REALLY GOT TO KNOW YOU. YOU ARE A GREAT SIS-IN-LAW AND IT WAS SO GOOD TALKING TO YOU! I HAVEN'T OPENED UP LIKE THAT IN QUITE SOMETIME. YOU ARE SO EASY TO TALK TO AND SUCH A GOOD LISTENER. I LOVED FINDING THINGS OUT ABOUT YOU AND WHAT MAKES YOU THE PERSON YOU ARE! I LOVE BEING ABLE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT LIFE AND THE THINGS THAT FILL IT WITH HAPPINESS, AND SOMETIMES SADNESS! YOU ARE THE BEST AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR A GREAT DAY!

P.S. STEPH THIS IS FOR YOU! I LOVE BEARS....GUMMI BEARS? PANDA BEARS? HAHA!

BERNT STYLE BOWLING!

2009-01-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

LAST SATURDAY IN ANTICIPATION FOR STEPHANIE AND HER FAMILY TO SHOW UP FROM MAINE, THE REST OF THE BERNT'S WENT BOWLING. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN. NOW, THAT HALLE CAN WALK THOUGH, THAT IS ALL SHE WANTS TO DO. SHE HAS ANTS IN HER PANTS CONSTANTLY AND SITTING JUST ISN'T WHAT SHE DOES ANYMORE. WE TOOK TURNS WALKING AROUND WITH HER WHILE OTHERS BOWLED. IT ENDED UP BEING A GOOD NIGHT OUT WITH THE FAMILY!

JOHN AND KIM, THE HAPPY NEW COUPLE. AREN'T THEY JUST ADORABLE?

HERE IS JARED AND HALLE DANCING!

HERE IS ANNIE BOWLING AND MOST OF THE CREW JUST HANGING OUT IN THE BACKGROUND~SO FUN!

HALLE AND I JUST CHILLIN!

CUB SLEDDING

2009-01-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE WENT UP TO THE CABIN WITH THE WHOLE BERNT CLAN, ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN TOGETHER, HERE ARE A COUPLE OF VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF THE HAPPENINGS.

CUB 4 from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB 3 from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

BRIDGE AND TREGGY FRESH, BRIDGET IS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES, WE GOT LUCKY ON THIS ONE.

REPH AND RUFUS

COUPLE OF NOTES FOR THIS PICTURE-
1. THE WATER LOOKS GROSS, IT ISN'T ANY BODY FLUIDS, ITS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY CALL CABIN WATER (CLAY AND WATER MIXED).
2. FIRST TIME THAT THE COUSINS TOOK A TUBBY WITH EACH OTHER.

THIS IS SMITH CANYON RD. WHERE CUB AND JARED WENT ON A LITTLE SLEIGH RIDE.
FAMILY PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL

CUB ACTUALLY LOVED GOING ON THE BIG SLEDS, SHE WOULD START DANCING IN THE SEAT THE MINUTE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE IT THE GAS.

HAPPY 4TH ANNIVERSARY JARED!

2009-01-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JARED! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN FOUR YEARS TODAY. I REMEMBER GOING TO THE LOGAN TEMPLE AND BEING MARRIED FOR ALL ETERNITY! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR YOU! YOU ARE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND AND AN OUTSTANDING FATHER AND YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. I LOVE EVERY MINUTE THAT I HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU FOR ETERNITY! YOU HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE IN SO MANY WAYS AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME. WE HAVE DONE SO MANY THINGS IN THE LITTLE TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER. JUST TO NAME A FEW, BEEN MARRIED, MOVED TWICE, HAD A BABY, MANY VACATIONS, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. WE ARE GOING TO LOGAN TONIGHT TO THE ANNIVERSARY INN, COURTESY OF JARED AND WE ARE GOING TO PLAY HARD. HALLE KAY GETS TO COME TO AND THAT WILL BE FUN! SO, THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR THE TRIP, LET'S GO PLAY HARD!

A LIST OF THE TOP 4 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU:

1. YOU ARE A GREAT HUSBAND AND FATHER, AND SAY "I LOVE YOU", EVERYDAY!

2. YOU LOVE THE GOSPEL AND OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

3. YOU ARE VERY COURTEOUS TO THOSE AROUND YOU.

4. YOU MAKE ME SMILE EVERYDAY AND MAKE LIFE WORTHWHILE!

ONCE AGAIN, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I LOVE YOU!

SODA SPRINGS POKER RUN

2009-01-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

THIS PAST SATURDAY, BIG CHRIS AND STEVE-O HEARD ABOUT A SLEDDING TRIP THAT THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS WAS PUTTING ON FOR A FUND RAISER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE TO GO, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK AND I'M IN. IT WAS ACTUALLY A PRETTY COOL SET UP, THEY CALL IT A POKER RUN. YOU HAVE FIVE STATIONS AND YOU GET TO DRAW A CARD AT EACH STATION AND THE PERSON WITH THE BEST HAND WINS. I ALMOST HAD A FLUSH, 4 HEARTS AND A DIAMOND, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN THE WINNERS BRACKET. WELL, THESE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES FROM THIS WEEKENDS TRIP, I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO GO AGAIN.

BIG CHRIS AT OUR SECOND POKER STOP.

THIS IS STEVE-O, HE HASN'T BEEN SLEDDING THAT MANY TIMES BEFORE, DIDN'T TAKE HIM LONG AND HE WAS A PRO.

FATHER AND SON

TWO THINGS TO LOOK AT IN THIS PICTURE.

1. IF I WOULD HAVE WRECKED, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FOUND, CAMO ISN'T THE BEST TO WEAR WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

2. LOOK AT THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND ME, IT WAS LIKE THIS THE WHOLE TIME. BIG OPEN VALLEYS THAT TOOK YOU EVERYWHERE.

THESE ARE OUR POKER FACES, CAN YOU TELL THAT WE DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING.

THIS IS THE WHOLE CREW, CHRIS'S BROTHER GREG WAS THE ONE THAT INVITED US TO COME, IT WAS FUN TO SLED WITH ALL THE GUYS.

CUB

2009-01-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

CUB 1 from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB 2 from JARED BERNT on Vimeo.

CUB WALKING

2009-01-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

CUB CAME DOWN TO L&K TO HANG OUT WHILE TONYA WENT TO WORK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. SHE WAS WALKING ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO I GRABBED MY CELL PHONE AND LET HER GO. WE WILL GET BETTER VIDEO LATER.

YAY FOR HALLE! (AND RANDOM OTHER LITTLE THINGS!)

2009-01-11T21:01:00.001-08:00

THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE MARKED A HUGE "JOB WELL DONE", IN MY BOOK. HALLE IS FINALLY WALKING. IT HAS TAKEN HER QUITE AWHILE. SHE WAS VERY CONTENT JUST CRAWLING AND SHE WOULD WALK IF SHE COULD HAVE ONE LITTLE FINGER ON SOMETHING FOR SECURITY BUT THE MINUTE SHE LET GO, BOOM! DOWN SHE WENT. IT HAS BEEN SO FUN WATCHING HER OVERCOME THIS OBSTACLE AND TEACH HERSELF THAT SHE CAN DO IT. ALSO, IT IS AMAZING WATCHING HER LEARN THAT SHE CAN HAVE FAITH IN HERSELF AND TEACH HERSELF HOW TO DO THINGS. SHE IS WALKING PRETTY GOOD BUT IS STILL WOBBLY AND INSECURE SOMETIMES...BUT THAT WILL TAKE TIME. WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER AND HAPPY TO WATCH HER PROGRESS! WE LOVE YOU HALLE GIRL!!

NOT THE BEST PICTURE, YOU DON'T GET THE GIST OF HER WALKING BUT, THIS IS WHAT I CAN SHOW YA FOR NOW! YAY! YOU GO HALLE GIRL!

ALSO, YESTERDAY HALLE AND I WENT WITH MY SIS, NIKI AND HER SON TREVOR TO IDAHO FALLS. WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM. WE WENT AND FOUND ME A NEW KITCHEN TABLE (I WILL TAKE PIX OF IT ONCE I GET IT!), THEN WE SHOPPED, ATE LUNCH, GOT THE KIDS A MILKSHAKE, AND JUST TALKED WHILE THE KIDS PLAYED. THEY DID SO GOOD IN THE CAR AND SHOPPING. IT HELPS, THAT THEY LOVE PLAYING TOGETHER ALSO-THAT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR NIKI AND I TO HANGOUT TOO. THANKS FOR COMING TO PLAY, WE HAD A VERY FUN TIME WITH YOU!

HERE IS HALLE GIRL WAITING FOR AUNT NIKI TO GIVE HER SOME MILK SHAKE-SHE LOVES GOING TO IDAHO FALLS SHOPPING!

THIS IS COUSIN TREVY WHOM WE ADORE! HALLE AND HIM HAVE BECOME VERY CLOSE SINCE HE MOVED HERE IN OCTOBER. THEY LOVE SEEING EACH OTHER AND WATCHING HIM DO THINGS (SINCE HE IS 6 MONTHS OLDER THAN HER) MOTIVATES HER TO DO/LEARN THINGS. CUTE PICTURE TREVY! THANKS FOR COMING TO PLAY!

AND, LAST BUT NO LEAST, I HAD TO ADD THIS PICTURE. HALLE WOULD NOT STAND STILL TODAY BEFORE CHURCH SO I COULD GET A PICTURE OF HER IN HER NEW DRESS FROM GRMA BERNT BUT I DID GET THIS CHEESY GRIN AND I COULDN'T RESIST! THE DRESS WAS ADORABLE AND NOTICE: 2 PIGGY TAILS-YAY! FOR MORE HAIR! ALSO, I HAVE DISCOVERED AT CHURCH, HALLE HAS ANTS IN HER PANTS, SHE NEVER QUITS MOVING (NOR DOES ANYONE ELSE HER AGE-SO IT'S NOT JUST HER!) BUT THAT DOES MAKE GOING TO SACRAMENT QUITE A CHORE FOR JARED AND I SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, WE WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING!

LOOK AT THAT CHEESER-I JUST WANT TO HUG HER AND KISS HER TO PIECES! LOVE YOU HALLE GIRL!

IT IS AMAZING HOW FAST THEY GROW UP. HALLE IS THE CENTER OF OUR LITTLE UNIVERSE. SHE GIVES HUGS AND KISSES, PUTS HER HAND ON HER HEAD FOR" I'M CONFUSED", EATS, DRINKS, DANCES, AND MAKES US LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY. SHE IS SAYING SOME WORDS LIKE DADA, AND DOGGIE, AND AN OCCASIONAL DIFFERENT ACTUAL WORD. WE ARE SAD TO SEE HER WALKING-THIS MEANS SHE IS GROWING UP, BUT HAPPY TO KNOW SHE IS MOTIVATED AND CAN TEACH HERSELF NEW THINGS. THE BIGGEST THING I BELIEVE FOR HER THROUGHOUT THE REST OF HER LIFE, IS BEING SURE OF HERSELF AND BELIEVING IN HERSELF, AND SHE IS SHOWING US NOW AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE, SHE IS! WE LOVE OUR LITTLE CUBBY AND SHE MEANS THE WORLD TO US! CONGRATS ON YOUR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR, AND ON THE MANY MORE YOU WILL HAVE! LOVE, MOM

PARTY LIKE IT'S 2009!

2009-01-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

THIS YEAR FOR NEW YEAR'S WE HAD ALOT OF FUN. ALMOST ALL OF JARED'S FRIENDS HAVE MOVED AWAY FOR COLLEGE AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. THIS YEAR WE HAD A GET TOGETHER AND IT WAS FUN. ALL OF US, (THE DUDLEY'S, MENNEAR'S, CADY'S, MARSHALL'S, CASEY AND HIS LITTLE GIRLIE FRIEND LYNDLY, AND US-WITH HALLE) MET UP AT THE NEW PLACE IN TOWN-RUBY TUESDAY FOR DINNER! WE HAD TONS OF CONVERSATION AND CATCHING UP AND ALTHOUGH WE WERE THE ONLY ONE'S THAT BROUGHT OUR DAUGHTER, SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL AND ENJOYED BEING OUT WITH ALL THE ADULTS. AFTER DINNER WE CAME HOME AND HUNG-OUT IN THE BASEMENT SINCE HALLE WAS ASLEEP UPSTAIRS. WE PLAYED A TRIVIA GAME WITH EVERYONE, WATCHED SOME TV, DID SOME CATCHING UP AND I PLAYED WITH DUDLEY'S 2 WK OLD SON. WHO MIGHT I ADD IS ADORABLE! WE HAD A GOOD TIME. WE WERE ALL SO STUFFED FROM DINNER THAT WE DIDN'T EAT MANY OF THE TREATS WE BOUGHT AND WE ALSO FORGOT THE MARTINELLI'S JUICE IN THE FRIDGE. WE HAD FUN AND WILL HAVE THEM OVER AGAIN LATER IN THE WEEK TO EAT ALL THIS FOOD AND DRINKS! (SORRY I FORGOT MY CAMERA SO THERE ARE NO PIX!) WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE! WE CAN'T WAIT TO ALL GET TOGETHER AGAIN AND HANG-OUT! WE LOVE YOU GUYS, AND HOPE YOU HAD FUN!

FUN, FAMILY, AND CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

SO, I HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF THIS POST BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG ONE, SO BEAR WITH ME. WE HAD A SUPER BUSY FUN-FILLED WEEK AND I HAVE TO GET IT ALL ON HERE. LAST FRIDAY WE TOOK OFF TO SALT LAKE WITH KIM-JARED'S SIS, AND HER FIANCEE, JOHN. WE LEFT IN THE YUKON, IN THE BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS TO MEET JARED'S FAMILY DOWN THERE, STAY AT THE KIMBALL, SHOP, AND LOOK AT THE TEMPLE LIGHTS. DRIVING ALONG, THE ROADS WERE JUST FINE. WHEN WE HIT LAYTON, THERE WERE PILE-UPS, SNOW, WIND, ICE, AND A YUKON GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 32 MILES AN HR. IT WAS HORRIBLE WEATHER BUT WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT, AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. WE WENT TO LUNCH AT PF CHANGS, FOLLOWED BY SHOPPING AT GATEWAY MALL, WHICH HALLE LOVED-EVEN IN THE SNOW, AND THEN MEETING TREG AND HIS GIRLS AT THE HOTEL. WE ATE DINNER IN THE HOTEL ROOM AND THEN BRAVED THE SNOW FOR THE TEMPLE-JARED STAYED AND WATCHED HALLE SINCE IT WAS LATE, SHE WAS TIRED, AND IT WAS SNOWING-I WENT THOUGH AND HAD A GREAT TIME. THANKS FOR BATHING HALLE AND PUTTING HER TO BED. THE NEXT DAY, WE WOKE UP, ATE BREAKFAST AND THEN HEADED HOME TO GO TO NANNA AND PAPA'S PARTY...

HALLE, JARED, AND I BEFORE WE DECIDED SHE SHOULDN'T GO LOOK AT THE LIGHTS AT THE TEMPLE, I THINK THE PICTURE TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD~ THANKS GRMA BERNT FOR THE ONE PIECE SNOWSUIT-LOVE IT~

KIM AND I FREEZING AT THE TEMPLE WITH A SNOWFLAKE RIGHT IN BETWEEN MY EYES!

ALL THE GIRLS AT THE TEMPLE: BRIDGET, TIFFANY, ME, KIM, ANNIE, AND GRMA BERNT
SOME OF THE LIGHTS AT TEMPLE SQUARE

ONCE WE GOT HOME WE WERE A BIT TO LATE, TO MEET THE FAMILY FOR LASER TAG SO WE WENT TO NANA'S. HER AND GIGI WER WATCHING THE KIDS WHILE THE ADULTS WENT TO PLAY TAG....WITH 4 KIDS, WE JUST HELPED OUT. ONCE THE ADULTS GOT HOME WE ENJOYED, PRIME RIB DINNER, A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE, OPENING GIFTS FROM PAPA AND NANA, AND THEN LISTENED TO HALLE. SHE WAS ONRY AND HAD SOME GREEN BOOGIES SO I NEW A COLD WAS ON THE WAY....UH-OH! JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. NANA SNUGGLED HER ALL NIGHT AND HALLE AND NANA ENJOYED IT. SANTA CAME, SCARED HALLE TO TEARS AND SHAKING BUT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMED TO LOVE HIM, ESPECIALLY THE ADULTS! THE WHOLE FAM WAS TOGETHER AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THANKS FOR THE AMAZING DINNER AND EVERYTHING ELSE!
SANTA, HALLE AND I~ YOU CAN TELL SHE WASN'T A HUGE FAN!

ALL THE GIRLS IN THERE NEW JAMMIES~HALLE, JENNA, AND JANIE
TREVY, SANTA, AND AUNTIE NIKI! TREVY LOVED SANTA!

THE NEXT DAY WE WOKE UP AND WENT TO CHURCH, HALLE HAD ENOUGH BY THE TIME YW HIT. JARED BROUGHT HER HOME AND PUT HER TO BED SO I COULD HELP WITH THE LESSON. LATER IN THE DAY OUR FRIENDS, THE HIGBEE'S WERE UP WITH THEIR FAM FROM BOISE, THEY STOPPED BY FOR A BIT, AND IT WAS SO GREAT TO SEE THEM AND THERE NEW LITTLE BABY, KATE! WE LOVE YOU GUYS! THANKS FOR STOPPING IN!LATER THAT DAY WE CARAVANED WITH MY SIS AND HER FAMILY DOWN TO LAVA, FOR DINNER WITH GRPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL. WE SHOWED UP AND HAD A DELICIOUS HALIBUT DINNER, EXCHANGED GIFTS, ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S COMPANY, RELAXED, AND FINISHED THE NIGHT OFF WITH MY FAVE, COOL WHIP DELIGHT! SO YUMMY, THANKS TO THEM FOR HAVING US AND EVERYTHING ELSE! HALLE WAS STILL MOODY AND ONRY-YUCKY COLD!

JARED, HALLE AND I AT PAPA TAB'S~HALLE JUST WANTS TO OPEN THE GIFTS-CAN YOU TELL? I WONDER WHERE SHE GETS THAT?
PAPA TAB, NIKI, TROY, AND TREVOR

PAPA TAB, TREVOR, HALLE, NIKI AND I

JARED AND TROY TRYING TO LOOK COOL IN THERE NEW CARHARTT'S-PRICELESS~

ON MONDAY, WE WENT ABOUT OUR USUAL BUSINESS, BUT JARED DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK WHICH WAS NICE. WE WERE SUPPOSE TO HOOK UP WITH HIGBEES FOR LUNCH AT OUR FAVE SPOT, EL HERADERRO- BUT THEY WERE SNOWED IN AT THEIR PARENTS. WE JUST HUNG OUT AND RELAXED AT HOME AND LATER ATTENDED THE MERRILL/HARTLEY CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE BERNTS HOUSE. WE MET UP FOR A NICE HAM DINNER, FOLLOWED BY A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THE GRANDKIDS PUT TOGETHER AND PLANNED OF THE NATIVITY, HAD GREAT COMPANY, SANTA CAME AGAIN-SCARED HALLE TO DEATH A SECOND TIME- WE OPENED SOME GIFTS AND THEN THEY ALL PLAYED GUITAR HERO. HALLE WAS STILL WHINY AND NOT HER BEST SO HER AND I CAME HOME AND PUT HER TO BED. WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH ALL THE FAMILY AND LOVED DINNER AND SEEING EVERYONE! THANKS BERNTS!

JARED AND HIS BROTHER TREG JUST HANGING OUT~

HALLE AND BRIDGET PLAYING, TANDI WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON...

LILLY AS MARY, AND BODEN AS JOSEPH IN THE PLAY-ADORABLE KIDS!

IS IT OBVIOUS HALLE WASN'T THRILLED WITH SANTA, LESLEY SAID I WOULD LOVE THIS PICTURE, SAD BUT TRUE~

ALL OF THE KIDS AND TREG AND STACEY ROCKING OUT TO ROCK BAND!

ON WEDNESDAY, CHRISTMAS EVE, JARED WAS AT WORK MOST OF THE DAY. HALLE AND I WENT AND DID SOME SHOPPING WITH AUNT NIKI AT THE MALL AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO GO TO LUNCH WITH HER AND TREVOR. AFTER SHOPPING, I CALLED THE DR FOR HALLE. I THOUGHT A DREADED EAR INFECTION WAS COMING. THEY SO NICELY GOT US IN THAT AFTERNOON AND SAID HER EARS LOOKED FINE BUT SHE HAD A SINUS INFECTION AND ON TOP OF THAT SHE IS GETTING 2 TEETH. SHE IS CLINGY AND MISERABLE, AND IN SO MUCH PAIN IT IS SAD. LATER THAT EVENING HER AND I RAN TO FINISH UP SOME SHOPPING. THEN WE WENT HOME AND THE BERNT'S CAME DOWN AND WE ALL OPENED OUR PJS TOGETHER. THEN WE PUT HALLE TO BED AND I FILLED STOCKINGS AND WE PUT TOGETHER HALLES TOYS-SO FUN TO BE PARENTS THIS TIME OF YEAR! WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!

HALLE, ME, JOHN, KIM, BRIDGET, TREG, AND ANNIE IN OUR NEW JAMMIES!

BRIDGET, HALLE, AND ANNIE IN THEIR JAMMIES, LOVE THESE GIRLIES!

ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE WOKE UP AND DID GIFTS AT OUR HOUSE. HALLE LOVED HER TOYS AND JARED AND I LOVED WATCHING HER. WE TAPED IT ON THE VIDEOCAMERA SO THERE ARE NO PIX BUT IT WAS ADORABLE! THEN WE GOT READY AND WENT TO BERNT'S FOR BREAKFAST AND DID GIFTS. IT WAS GREAT AND THEN HALLE WAS READY FOR A NAP! WE CAME HOME AND GOT HER DOWN AND THEN I FELL ASLEEP. JARED STAYED UP WITH HIS FAM FOR A BIT. THEN HE CAME HOME AND WE SPENT THE DAY TOGETHER-RELAXING AND PLAYING WITH HALLE! IT WAS GREAT! HOWEVER, CAN I JUST TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT FELL ON XMAS WAS RIDICULOUS-JARED STAYED OUTSIDE OFF AND ON ALL DAY SNOW BLOWING. THERE WAS 7 INCHES THAT DAY, IT NEVER LET UP. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BUT ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE I HAVE SEEN THAT MUCH SNOW. WE COULDN'T REALLY DO MUCH OUTSIDE BUT JUST HANGING OUT WAS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER! AND EVEN THOUGH HALLE WAS SICK, SHE WAS A TROOPER AND SEEMED TO HAVE FUN! WE HAD TONS OF FUN SEEING OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND SHARING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THEM. WHAT A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

GOING TO SODA AND WATCHING BABY TREVOR!

2008-12-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

TODAY WE WENT WITH JARED TO SODA AND THEN ONTO LAVA TO DO SOME CARPET MEASURES. THIS WAY WE COULD PLAY TOO AND HAVE SOME GOOD FAMILY TIME. WHILE IN SODA, WE HAD TO STOP BY THE FARM AND GET THE FOUR-WHEELER. HALLE WAS SO GOOD AND SHE LOVED GETTING OUT OF THE TRUCK FOR A BREATHER AND A COUPLE OF PICTURES. WE HAD FUN GOING WITH JARED AND I HOPE HE WILL TAKE US SOME OTHER TIME!

HALLE AND I HANGING OUT IN SODA WAITING FOR PAPA! HALLE LOVED IT!

HALLE AND PAPA JUST CHILLING!

THEN TONIGHT, MY SISTER, NIKI AND HER HUSBAND TROY, THAT NOW LIVE HERE, WENT ON THERE 1ST DATE IN ALMOST 18 MONTHS. LIVING IN UTAH AND HAVING NO ONE TO HELP OUT WITH TREVOR AND THEN HOW THERE SCHEDULES CLASHED DIDN'T MAKE IT EASY TO GO OUT ALTHOUGH THEY WANTED TO BADLY. JARED AND I TOOK TREVY TONIGHT. HALLE AND HIM HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME PLAYING TOGETHER AND WE FED THEM SPAGHETTI AND GARLIC BREAD, WHICH SOON COVERED OUR WHOLE KITCHEN FLOOR. WE BATHED THEM TOGETHER, WHICH THEY LOVED I MIGHT ADD, AND THEN TROY AND NIKI CAME. WHAT A FUN FAMILY FILLED DAY TOGETHER!

HERE IS OUR 1ST EXPERIENCE WITH 2 KIDS IN THE TUB AND I HAVE TO SAY IT WENT WELL, THEY LOVED IT! I JUST HAD TO POST THIS PIC. YOU TWO, THANK ME LATER! HAHA!

I COULDN'T GET A PIC FROM THE FRONT AFTER THEIR TUBBY, THEY WERE HAVING TO MUCH FUN SO THIS ONE WILL JUST HAVE TO DO...LOVE THOSE BUMBS! AND YES, TREVOR CLOTHES LOOK A LITTLE SNUG BECAUSE THEY ARE HALLES AND SHE IS 6 MONTHS YOUNGER, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PANTS FIT LENGTHWISE...SHE IS SO LONG! WE LOVE YOU TREVY AND HAD TONS OF FUN! CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY AGAIN SOON!

WHAT A BUSY, FUN-FILLED WEEK!

2008-12-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

I WILL WARN YOU RIGHT UP FRONT, THIS WILL BE A LONG POST. THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY BUSY, AND MY COMPUTER HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, SO IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO POST. I HAVE GOT A LOT TO CATCH UP ON, AND I BETTER DO IT WHILE MY COMPUTER AND HALLE ALLOW...RIGHT? ON MONDAY, MY FRIEND'S GRAND-DAUGHTER WAS UP FROM BOISE AND SHE HAD SOMETHING TO DO AND ASKED IF WE COULD WATCH THE LITTLE ONE, NAMED CJ. SHE IS ALMOST 4 AND IS AN ADORABLE GIRL. HER AND HALLE HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER PLAYING, EATING CHICKEN NUGGETS AND SALAD, OREOS AND MILK, AND THEN WATCHING KUNG FU PANDA. SHE WAS FUN TO WATCH AND WE ENJOYED HAVING HER OVER!HERE IS CJ, GETTING READY TO PLAY CATCH WITH JARED~

TUESDAY NIGHT, WE ENDED UP PUTTING HALLE TO BED AND THEN PUTTING UP OUR CHRISTMAS TREE. HALLE WOULD HAVE HAD A BLAST BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG THE TREE WOULD BE STANDING WITH HER AWAKE, SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR SHE CAN BE THE TREE HELPER. WHILE I DECORATED THE TREE, JARED WENT AROUND PUTTING "MONEY SAVER" LIGHTBULBS IN ALL THE LIGHTS IN OUR HOUSE. WE HAD A FUN NIGHT DOING THIS WHILE LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC. IT WAS ACTUALLY RELAXING SINCE I LOVE TO DECORATE THE TREE!

THE LIGHTS, THIS IS THE WORST JOB EVER BUT SO PRETTY WHEN IT IS DONE. I SHOULD REALLY LEARN TO PUT THEM AWAY BETTER AT THE END OF THE SEASON!

HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT, WE GOT THIS TREE WITH OUR HANDS AND A CHAINSAW AND IT WAS FREE! GOOD TREE PICKING JARED- I DON'T THINK IT LOOKS HALF BAD!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAS PORTNEUF EMPLOYEE'S NIGHT AT THE FESTIVAL OF TREES, SO JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO IT. SINCE I AM AN EMPLOYEE, WE GOT SOME TREATS IN THE BASEMENT, AWAY FROM EVERYONE AND GOT TO ENJOY LISTENING TO HOLIDAY MUSIC, WE ALSO PUT IN FOR RAFFLES-BUT OUR LUCK, NO WINNERS DARNIT! WE THEN MET NIKI AND TROY AND TREVOR UPSTAIRS AND ROAMED AROUND THE TREES! THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL BUT THERE WAS NO ROOM, THE PLACE WAS PACKED. IT WAS FUN BUT NEXT YEAR, THEY SHOULD DO IT MORE SPREAD OUT SO YOU CAN HAVE ROOM TO BREATH, OH WELL! WE HAD FUN AND IT WAS FREE! HALLE LOVED ALL THE LIGHTS AND PEOPLE!

HALLE CHILLING IN HER STROLLER WHILE WE ATE AND TALKED. WHAT A GOOD GIRL!

HERE WE ARE HANGING OUT AT THE FESTIVAL~

TROY, TREVOR, AND NIKI LOVED THE FESTIVAL ALSO. WE LOVED HAVING THEM COME WITH US! TREVY HAD A DOUBLE EAR INFECTION THAT HE WAS JUST GETTING RID OF, HE WAS SUCH A TROOPER AND SUCH A GOOD BOY! WE LOVE THEM!

THURSDAY WAS FOLLOWED UP WITH A BABY SHOWER FOR ONE OF MY FRIEND HEATHER JENKS. WE HAD IT AT MY HOUSE AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE ALOT OF FUN. ALL THE MOMS IN OUR PLAY GROUP CAME OVER AND BROUGHT SNACKS. WE TALKED, SNACKED AND HEATHER OPENED GIFTS FOR HER BABY CLARA~IT WAS SO FUN AND WE WISH HER LUCK! WE LOVE YOU HEATHER!

HEATHER, OPENING ONE OF HER GIFTS!

THEN TO END THE WEEK, HALLE WAS ONRY ON FRIDAY AND HAD A LONG DAY AND JARED HUNG UP LIGHTS OUTSIDE. HALLE SLEPT ALOT THAT DAY AND I KNEW SHE DIDN'T FEEL TO HOT! THAT NIGHT, I NOTICED SHE HAD A SLIGHT FEVER AND WAS NEEDY SO I THOUGHT IT MUST BE A TOOTH COMING IN. WE WENT TO THE WARD PARTY AND WATCHED THE PRIMARY ACT OUT THE NATIVITY-THEY DID GREAT AND ATE A WONDERFUL DINNER. AFTER WE CAME HOME AND PUT HALLE TO BED. ON SATURDAY WE WERE TO GO TO BOISE TO STAY WITH JARED'S BRO-TREG AND HIS GIRLS. OUR FRIENDS, THE HIGBEE'S WERE BLESSING THEIR BABY ON SUNDAY DOWN THERE AND WE WERE INVITED. HALLE WOKE UP TO A RASH ALL OVER HER BODY, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HER BUT IT LOOKED BAD AND THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE HAD A FEVER SO I WAS A BIT NERVOUS TO GO TO BOISE BUT WE WENT, BECAUSE SHE FELT FINE, AND THE RASH WASN'T BOTHERING HER AND HER FEVER WAS GONE. SO WE HEADED TO BOISE. WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE WENT TO OLD NAVY AND GOT SOME KILLER DEALS ON SOME CLOTHES FOR HALLE AND THEN WE WENT TO DINNER WITH HIGBEE'S AND SOME OF THERE OTHER FRIENDS AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY. WE HAD A BLAST. AFTER DINNER, WE WENT HOME TO PUT HALLE DOWN. IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, NEEDLESS TO SAY. WE WOKE UP TO GET READY FOR CHURCH AND HALLE VOMITED OUT OF NO WHERE. THEN SHE ACTED FINE SO WE WENT TO CHURCH TO THE WONDERFUL BLESSING. AFTER CHURCH WE WENT TO A BRUNCH AT HIGBEE'S AND THEN BACK TO TREG'S TO PACK TO COME HOME. HALLE SEEMED OK BUT VERY TIRED. I CALLED THE PEDIATRICIAN ON CALL JUST TO SEE WHAT TO DO AND HE SAID SHE WAS REACTING TO HER FIRST MMR SHOT, AND THAT SHE WOULD BE FINE. IT IS A LIVE VIRUS AND HER IMMUNE SYSTEM WAS TRYING TO FIGHT IT OFF, WHICH, IS WHAT THEY LIKE TO SEE. ON TOP OF IT ALL, SHE RUBBED HER EYE SO HARD THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE BROKE A BLOOD VESSEL IN IT AND IT LOOKED SORE AND GROSS. SHE LOOKED AND PROBABLY FELT ROUGH, HOWEVER, SHE WAS STILL SUCH A GOOD LITTLE GIRL. WE HAD TONS OF FUN BUT IT WAS VERY EVENTFUL! WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND~

HERE IS HALLE ON THE WAY HOME FROM BOISE, SHE WAS SO GOOD IN THE CAR. SHE EITHER SLEPT OR PLAYED. HERE SHE IS WAKING UP. WHAT A TROOPER!

HERE IS MY FRIEND, JEN HIGBEE, AND I. I LOVE HER TO DEATH AND MISS HER LIKE CRAZY! SHE IS A GREAT FRIEND AND IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE HER AND MEET HER ADORABLE BABY, KATHRYN LYNN!

WE ARE SO THANKFUL....THANKSGIVING!

2008-11-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

WE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING WITH GETTING OUR TREES, FOLLOWED BY A WONDERFUL DINNER AT MY MOM'S HOME. WE JUST WANT TO SAY HOW THANKFUL WE ARE FOR SUCH GOOD FAMILY AND FRIENDS....WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR SAVIOR AND HIS ATONEMENT....WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR HEALTH....AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON...HOWEVER, WE ARE TRULY GREATFUL FOR OUR OWN LITTLE FAMILY. WE HOPE THAT YOU AND YOURS HAD A GREAT, FUN, AND SAFE THANKSGIVING! WE ENJOYED OURS!

HERE IS SOME OF THE CLAN JUST CHILLING AFTER DINNER.

BESIDES OUR FAMILY ALL ABLE TO BE THERE, WE HAD NANNY HERE THIS YEAR. IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HER WITH US AND SPEND THE HOLIDAY WITH HER!

THIS IS OUR LITTLE NIECE, JENNA. SHE IS SUCH A FUN GIRL, WE JUST LOVE HER TO DEATH. I WAS GETTING A KICK OUT OF THIS LITTLE STUNT. SHE IS ALWAYS KEEPING OUR FAMILY LAUGHING AND OUR TOES. SHE USE TO BE THE ONLY GRAND CHILD AND NOW THAT THERE ARE 3, SHE DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION FROM EVERYONE, SO SHE TRIES TO MAKE HER OWN FUN-CREATIVE. I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING WHEN I LOOKED ON THE BACK DECK AND THIS IS WHAT I SAW, HER RESPONSE, "I AM A CAT, AND I AM HUNGRY!" WE LOVE YOU JENNA!

ANYWAYS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL!

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING IN SODA!

2008-11-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY EACH YEAR WE GET TOGETHER AND GO CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING AT WENDY'S PEAK OVER BY BANCROFT. LAST YEAR WE COULDN'T GO BECAUSE HALLE WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS OLD AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO RISK ANYTHING. ITS BEEN WAY TO LONG, WE LOVE TO GO GET OUR TREES.

JUST OVER MY (JARED) LEFT SHOULDER IS THE TREE THAT WE GOT, IT IS A LITTLE TALL.

WE LEAVE THE CHAIN SAWS TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M A BIG DEAL WHEN I GET TO USE A CHAIN SAW, ITS LIKE EATING A HOT DOG AT A BASEBALL GAME, YOU FEEL SOOOO MANLY!

THESE ARE THE COUSINS, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT,

JANIE, JENNA, HALLE, AND TREVOR.

THE TORGESEN CREW

MY TWO LOVES OF MY LIFE, DO YOU THINK THAT HALLE WAS COLD? NOPE!

CUBBY AND ME!!

GRANDPA TAB'S BIRTHDAY!

2008-11-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SUPRISE GET TOGETHER FOR MY DAD FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. I CALLED HIS WIFE, KAREN TO MAKE SURE THE NIGHT OF HIS BDAY WAS FREE AND THEN IT WENT FROM THERE. WE ENDED UP SHOWING UP AT HIS HOUSE RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT HOME FROM WORK. WE TOOK SOME DECORATIONS AND BALLOONS. HE STARTED CRYING WHEN HE SAW THAT WE HAD COME TO SURPRISE HIM, HE WASN'T EXPECTING IT SINCE THE NIGHT BEFORE WE CALLED TO WISH HIM HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINCE WE WOULD BE BUSY ON HIS BIRTHDAY~SNEAKY! ANYWAYS, WE HAD A WONDERFUL MEAL THAT KAREN MADE TOPPED OFF WITH OPENING HIS GIFT, SOME OF HIS FAVE CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE THAT I THREW TOGETHER, AND THEN PLAYED WITH HALLE AND JUST HUNG OUT! DAD, WE HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD TIME, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BLAST. WE LOVE YOU GRANDPA TAB!

THIS IS MY DAD AND STEP-MOM. I KNOW SHE WOULD DIE IF SHE SAW THIS PICTURE ON HERE. SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SENTANCE THAT'S WHAT THE FACE IS-THAT SHE IS PULLING!

THIS IS JUST ME AND MY DAD! I LOVE YOU DAD!

THIS IS MY DAD, HALLE, JARED AND I. MY DAD JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF HALLE, HE LOVES WHEN SHE COMES TO VISIT!

HALLE'S 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!

2008-11-16T19:43:00.000-08:00

AFTER MANY DAYS OF PLANNING HALLE'S PARTY, LIKE ANY FIRST TIME MOM, YOU WANT IT TO GO PERFECT, AS IF SHE WILL REMEMBER, RIGHT? WELL, I WILL! I WANTED TO GO WITH A LADYBUG THEME, KNOWING IT WAS NOVEMBER THAT WAS NOT A VERY GOOD IDEA. HOWEVER, I THINK WE PULLED IT OFF. I DID HOMEMADE LADYBUG INVITATIONS AND THANK-YOU CARDS, I ALSO MADE LADYBUG CUPCAKES, AND HALLE HER OWN LITTLE LADYBUG CAKE-THANK YOU AUNT NIKI FOR HELPING US WITH THESE-I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT ALL BY MYSELF. (WE LOVE YOU!) WE STARTED THE DAY BY LETTING HALLE LOUNGE IN HER COMFIES FOR A BIT FOLLOWED BY A HOMEMADE WAFFLE FOR BREAKFAST WITH MILK. SHE ATE IT UP, THE WAFFLES WERE COURTESY FROM HER DAD-WHO EVEN GROUND THE WHEAT THAT WAS IN THEM! THEN WE WENT AND PICKED UP HER BALLOON BOUQUET AND SOME ICE CREAM-WHICH WE FORGOT TO EVEN GET OUT OF THE FREEZER FOR THE PARTY-OOPS! THEN JARED WAS TO WORK UNTIL NOON BUT SOMEHOW GRANDMA BERNT AND BRAD WORKED IT OUT SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TOO. (THANKS GUYS THAT WAS GREAT! THE REST OF THE DAY WAS ABOUT HALLE.. FIRST, WE TOOK HER TO GET HER FIRST HAPPY MEAL WHICH CONSISTED OF CHICKEN NUGGETS, APPLES, AND MILK..AND JARED AND I GOT SOME LUNCH AND WENT TO PEANUT PARK FOR A PICNIC. FOR NOVEMBER, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND HALLE ENJOYED IT THOROUGHLY. I HAVE TO THANK MY FRIEND HEATHER FOR THE HAPPY MEAL IDEA, SHE DID IT WITH HER SON ON THE 12TH FOR HIS 1ST BDAY AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA!!!

HERE IS HALLE ENJOYING HER MCNUGGETS. YES, THEY ARE COVERED IN LEAVES AND SHE IS ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF IT!

CHEESER!~ SHE IS SO HAPPY TO BE OUTSIDE AT THE PARK-SHE REALLY DID HAVE A LOT OF FUN!

AFTER HER PICNIC SHE WAS EXHAUSTED. WE BROUGHT HER HOME AND PLAYED WITH SOME OF HER NEW TOYS AND THEN PUT HER DOWN FOR A NAP. WE WANTED HER GOOD AND RESTED FOR HER PARTY. JARED AND I GOT TO DECORATE WHILE SHE NAPPED. WHEN SHE GOT UP, WE PUT HER IN HER BIRTHDAY GIRL OUTFIT AND THE PARTY WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. WE OPENED GIFTS, HAD PIZZA, WATCHED A 1ST YEAR VIDEO OF HALLE'S LIFE THAT JARED PUT TOGETHER....HE DID AN AMAZING JOB AND EVERYONE LAUGHED OR CRIED. YOU ARE GREAT JARED. THEN WE HAD CUPCAKES AND FINISHED BY SINGING HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HALLE DIGGING IN HER CAKE. SHE SEEMED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME!

HERE IS SOME OF THE LADYBUG DECOR!

THESE ARE ALL OF THE CUPCAKES AND HER CAKE IS THE LITTLE ONE IN THE BACK ON HER OWN LITTLE PLATE!

AFTER THE PARTY, DUDLEY'S STAYED AND TALKED FOR A BIT. ALSO, MY SIS AND HER FAM STAYED IN OUR BASEMENT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME! WHAT A FUN MEMORY! WE LOVE HALLE SO MUCH AND HOPE SHE ENJOYED HERSELF AND REMEMBERS THIS DAY WAS ALL ABOUT HER. THANKS FOR COMING EVERYONE AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOURSELF!

HERE IS HALLE AND I OPENING A GIFT!

HERE SHE IS ATTEMPTING TO BLOW OUT HER CANDLES, MOM HAD TO HELP A BIT!

DAD AND MOM ENJOYING WATCHING HALLE CHOW DOWN ON CAKE!

EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED, YES I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ALL GOT STILL FOR A PICTURE, PRETTY IMPRESSIVE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE KAY!!
THIS IS A SHOUT OUT FOR UNCLE JOHN, AUNTIE REF, AND SHMEEVA...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADORABLE DRESS, EVERYONE LOVED IT AT CHURCH! SO SAD THAT YOU COULDN'T BE AT THE PARTY! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU SOON!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE KAY!

2008-11-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

SO, YOUR 1ST BIRTHDAY IS FASTLY APPROACHING AND WILL BE HERE IN 2 DAYS. WOW! WHERE HAS THE LAST YEAR GONE. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BIRTH ALOT TODAY SINCE IT WAS THIS THURSDAY YOU WERE BORN LAST YEAR NOT THE RIGHT DATE, BUT ON THIS DAY. REMINISCING JUST KEEPS HAPPENING TODAY IF I AM NOT EVEN DOING IT ON PURPOSE. I REMEMBER FINDING OUT WHEN I WAS FIRST PREGNANT-I WAS SO SCARED. I FELT TRULY EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE. THROUGHOUT MY PREGNANCY I WAS VERY SCARED TO DELIVER AND THAT STAYED ON MY MIND ALOT. AND NOW, YOU ARE HERE AND HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE AWHILE AND YOUR FATHER AND I GET TO ENJOY YOUR PRESENCE DAILY. YOU HAVE TRULY MADE US THE HAPPIEST PARENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT EITHER OF US WERE CAPABLE OF THIS KIND OF LOVE...IT IS SO DEEP! YOU TRULY MAKE US LAUGH, CRY, SMILE, GET FRUSTRATED, YOU NAME IT. IT IS SO WORTH IT. YOU HAVE STARTED TRYING TO WALK ON YOUR OWN-THIS IS FUN TO WATCH BUT HARD BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS MOVING AND ON THE GO, HOWEVER; WE WOULD HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY.

WE LOOK BACK AT WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED OUR LITTLE FAMILY...WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE A DIAPER, MAKE A COLD GO AWAY, CALM YOU DOWN AT NIGHT, GIVE YOU A BATH, YOU NAME IT. NOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE COME QUITE A WAYS IN THE PARENTING DEPARTMENT. AND YOU, WHEN YOU GOT HERE, YOU WERE QUITE HELPLESS-LIKE ALL BABIES. AND NOW, YOU MOVE, TALK( YOU THINK YOU ARE SAYING REAL WORDS), CRAWL, STAND, EAT, GET MAD, LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY, ENTERTAIN YOURSELF...YOU DO SO MUCH. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE ALL MADE IT DOES SEEM LIKE YOU JOINED US A YEAR AGO-ANY OTHER WAY, IT FEELS LIKE YOU WERE BORN YESTERDAY.

YOUR FATHER AND I OFTEN ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE DID BEFORE WE HAD YOU. YOU ARE SIMPLY OUR LIFE NOW. WHEN YOU ARE SICK-WE WISH IT WAS US, WHEN YOU ARE HURT OR MAD-WE WISH IT WAS US, WHEN YOUR TIRED-WE BETTER FIND SOMETHING TO DO WHILE YOU NAP. YOU NAME IT-KIDS CHANGE YOUR LIFE ENTIRELY BUT IT IS FOR THE BEST. YOU TRULY HAVE BLESSED OUR LIVES IN SO MANY WAYS AND WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE GROWING FAST, IT IS STILL NICE THAT WE CAN CUDDLE AND THAT YOU STILL NEED US FOR SOME THINGS BECAUSE WE BOTH LIKE FEELING NEEDED BY YOU, AND HOPE THAT NEVER CHANGES.

AS YOUR BIRTHDAY IS COMING, WE HOPE IT IS WONDERFUL. YOU PROBABLY WON'T REMEMBER ALOT SO WE WILL TAKE PICTURES. JUST KNOW, YOUR FATHER AND I ARE PROUD OF YOU FOR ALL YOU ACCOMPLISH AND YOU TRULY MAKE EACH AND EVERYDAY WORTH WHILE.

WE LOVE YOU HALLE KAY! HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY!

LOVE, MOMMY AND DADDY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2008-10-31T20:13:00.001-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN PEOPLE! WE WENT THE ROUNDS VISITING FAMILIES TODAY, AS I'M SURE YOU CAN TELL, I'M A NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PLAYER (WHICH I WILL BE NEXT YEAR AND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE) AND MY LITTLE HALLE IS A PINK BUNNY (TONYA WOULDN'T LET ME BUY THE NOTRE DAME CHEERLEADERS OUTFIT UNTIL A FUTURE HALLOWEEN), AND TONYA WAS A PUMPKIN.

LITTLE PIC OF THE FAMILY AT CARPET ONE.

GRANNY AND GRUMPY BERNT LOVE PINK BUNNIES!

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY COUSIN LESLIE'S LITTLE ONES, MARLEY, PIPER, AND BODEN AKA LITTLE BRISCOE.

AFTER VISITING WITH THE BERNTS, THE REAL PARTY STARTED AT BIG CHRIS AND MOM-IN-LAW'S HOUSE. THIS IS JENNA AND JANEY.

THE BEST FOR LAST IS LITTLE TREVOR AKA TACKLE, THAT IS HIS NEW NAME, EVERYBODY NEEDS A NICKNAME, ITS THE RULES.

JUST A FEW OF HALLE GIRL'S HAPPY FACES!

2008-10-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

OUR LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING SO FAST, SHE WILL BE 1 YEAR OLD IN 17 DAYS, TIME GOES BY SO FAST AND WE LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT. SHE KEEPS US ON OUR TOES NOW THAT SHE GETS AROUND AND GETS INTO EVERYTHING! WE WOULD HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY. LATELY, SHE IS GETTING SO MUCH PERSONALITY...IN THESE PIX, YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW MUCH!

HERE, SHE RIPPED OUT THE HAND TOWELS OF THE KITCHEN DRAWER WHILE I WAS MAKING CUPCAKES FOR WORK. SHE USE TO HATE THE FLASH ON THE CAMERA AND NOW WHEN IT GOES OFF, THIS IS THE FACE YOU GET....ADORABLE, IN MY OPINION!
HERE IS HALLE AND EVERYTHING OUT OF THE DRAWER, I JUST HAD TO WAIT AND WATCH IT WAS SO CUTE!

HERE IS HALLE BEFORE BED. WE JUST READ HER A STORY, HENCE THE BOOKS IN HER BED AND SHE WASN'T QUITE READY TO GO DOWN YET, SO WE PLAYED A BIT LONGER...JUST LOVE HER!

IN THE KITCHEN WITH THE BERNT'S

2008-10-25T20:27:00.001-07:00

TODAY I HAD THE DAY OFF OF WORK, IT HAS BEEN REALLY THE FIRST SATURDAY THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN HUNTING OR FISHING FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT DAY TO USE A LITTLE OF THE RED WHEAT THAT WE PICKED UP AND LEARN TO USE IT. ONE THING LEAD TO ANOTHER,AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

TONYA BUSTED OUT SOME COOKING SKILLS WITH HER FAMOUS SUGAR COOKIES AND A NEW LITTLE WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN RECIPE.

THEN SHE THREW A CHICKEN IN THE POT TO MAKE SOME CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES. SOOOOO GOOOOOD TO MY BELLY!!

FROM ABOUT 11:00 AM UNTIL 9:00PM I WORKED ON THE WHEAT BREAD. AFTER A COUPLE OF PHONES CALLS, AND A LITTLE INTERNET RESEARCH, I BAKED 3 LARGE AND 4 MINI LOAFS OF BREAD WHICH ARE PRETTY GOOD FOR A FIRST TIMER.
IN ALL I THINK WE STARTED THE DISHWASHER 3 TIMES, AND TONYA MOWED THE LAWN WHILE HER COOKIES WERE COOLING DOWN, IT WAS A BUSY DAY.

IT WOULDN'T BE A COMPLETE BLOG WITHOUT A PICTURE OF THE TWO LOVES OF MY LIFE THAT HELPED ME OUT.

BY THE WAY, UND KILLED UW 33-7 TO TOP OF A WONDERFUL DAY!! 5-2, THE IRISH ARE BACK!!

CARVING PUMPKINS WITH THE DUDLEY'S

2008-10-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

TONIGHT THE DUDLEY'S CAME OVER TO OUR HOUSE TO CARVE PUMPKINS, HALLE WANTED A LITTLE PART OF THE ACTION SINCE THIS IS HER FIRST ONE. JUST A COUPLE OF PICS OF THE HAPPENINGS.

CUB WAS INTERESTED IN THE SEEDS MORE THAN THE CARVINGS.

I HELPED HER LATER, I ACTUALLY BROKE THE PUMPKIN WHEN I WAS MAKING A STAR IN THE SIDE, I HOPE SHE WILL FORGIVE ME.

TREVOR DIDNT WANT TO GET ANY GUTS ON HIS SHIRT I GUESS. THE SLED TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOT AS SLIM AS WE USED TO BE.

TONYA AND I, AND YES I AM PUSHING OUT MY BELLY.

BRITTANY AND TREVOR AND BABY BEAU

NOT TO SHABBY. DUDLEY'S DID A MUMMY AND IT WAS SO CUTE!

THIS WAS THE BERNT'S FINAL PRODUCT, NOT BAD RIGHT!!

GIRL'S NITE FOR HEIDI'S 27TH BIRTHDAY!

2008-10-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY, WAS ONE OF MY FRIEND, HEIDI'S 27TH BIRTHDAY. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! IT WAS A SURPRISE PARTY THAT STARTED WITH DINNER AT BAJIO'S, THEN WE WENT TO HEIDI'S AND DID CAKE, HALLOWEEN CANDY, GIRL CHAT, AND AN ADORABLE HALLOWEEN CRAFT. THANKS TO JARED FOR TAKING HALLE, DESPITE SHE IS GETTING FOUR TEETH, TWO OF WHICH ARE MOLARS-THANKS HONEY! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN SEEING SOME OF MY PALS. LOVE YOU GUYS! HEIDI, I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS GREAT!

HERE IS ALL THE GIRLS AT BAJIO'S!

ME, MOHNA, KATIE, AND HEIDI EATING!

HEIDI, THE BDAY GIRL, AND I! I LOVE YOU HEIDI!

MOHNA AND I AT HEIDI'S DOING THE CRAFT!

KATIE AND I DOING OUR CRAFT! SO FUN AND CUTE!

FALL FUN FOR ALL OF US!

2008-10-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

SO, THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN WAY BUSY. ON SATURDAY, WE WENT DOWN BY JARED'S STORE AND TOOK HALLE TO THE ISU HOMECOMING PARADE. WE HAD FUN AND I THINK HALLE ENJOYED ALL THE PEOPLE THERE. IT IS USUALLY FREEZING BUT THIS YEAR WE JUST HAD TO WEAR HOODIES, SO NICE. LATER THAT DAY, HALLE AND I WENT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND AND IT WAS SO GOOD. JARED AND I THEN ATTENDED THE ADULT SESSION OF OUR STAKE CONFERENCE, NANNA TOOK HALLE, AND WE ENJOYED THAT TOGETHER-IT WAS GREAT. THANKS NANNA FOR HELPING US OUT. ON SUNDAY I WAS A BIT NERVOUS FOR HALLE'S 1ST CONFERENCE THAT SHE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE IN. WE SAT BY JARED'S MOM, SIS, GRMA, AND UNCLE AND SHE DID QUITE WELL. THEN LATER WE WENT TO THE BERNT'S FOR DINNER-WHICH WAS OH-SO-YUMMY LASAGNE. WE CAME HOME TOOK A NAP AND WENT TO CAKE AND ICE CREAM FOR JARED'S COUSIN. IT WAS GOOD. TODAY, WE HAD HALLE'S 11 MONTH PIX IN HER HALLOWEEN OUTFIT, SO CUTE! I WENT TO WORK AND THEN SOME FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER FOR DINNER AT TEXAS ROADHOUSE FOR JARED'S COUSINS BDAY! IT WAS SO GOOD AND GREAT FUN!! THANKS TO GRANDMA BERNT FOR WATCHING HALLE AND THANKS MERRILL'S FOR SO MUCH FUN. I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY THAT I FORGOT MY CAMERA BUT I STILL HAD TO BLOG ABOUT THIS....

COUSINS

2008-10-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

HALLE, ANNIE, AND BRIDGET

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT A CALL FROM MY MOM AND DADS HOUSE, I ANSWERED IT "YOOOOOO." THEN I HEARD ANNIE ON THE OTHER END, I DIDNT KNOW THAT ANNIE AND BRIDGET WERE GOING TO BE IN TOWN. I GUESS IT WAS A LAST SECOND DECISION LAST NIGHT. THIS IS 3 OF THE 4 LITTLE COUSINS THAT CAME DOWN TO VISIT TODAY, THE 4TH ANGEL IS IN MAINE.

MAMA AND ME!

2008-10-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

THIS SUNDAY BEFORE CHURCH, HALLE AND I WERE DRESSED IN THE SAME COLORS, SO I THOUGHT THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A CUTE PICTURE. THIS IS HER NEW DRESS FOR HER BIRTHDAY, JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLY. SHE LOOKED ADORABLE AND THE CHEESER-SO CUTE!

WHAT A FUN WEEKEND!

2008-10-12T19:00:00.001-07:00

WE HAD SUCH A GREAT FUN-FILLED WEEKEND. ON WEDNESDAY, OUR FRIENDS, THE HIGBEE'S CAME DOWN FROM BOISE FOR THE WEEKEND FOR SOME SCHOOL AND FAMILY STUFF. THEY CAME AND SPENT THE EVENING WITH US. WE HAD FUN TALKING ABOUT HER BABY THAT IS COMING IN JUST OVER A MONTH, WE HAD LOTS OF LAUGHS, FOOD, AND HOMEMADE SHAKES. WE MISS THEM BADLY BUT ARE GREATFUL WHEN WE GET TO HANG-OUT AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM. WE LOVE YOU GUYS!! ON THURSDAY, JARED AND MY STEP-DAD WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME IN MALAD, MY STEP-SISTERS HUSBAND IS THE COACH THERE. THEY HAD A GREAT TIME AND HALLE AND I HAD A LITTLE ALONE TIME WHICH WAS FUN. ON FRIDAY I THREW MY GRANDPA'S 75TH BDAY AT MY HOUSE WHICH WAS BUSY BUT TONS OF FUN. SATURDAY WE SPENT MOST THE AFTERNOON AT MY STEP-MOM'S MOM'S 90TH BDAY, IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND TIME WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY. SATURDAY NIGHT, OUR FRIENDS THE DUDLEY'S CAME OVER FOR MINI PIZZAS AND GOOD CONVO. WE WERE GOING TO WATCH A MOVIE BUT THE RED SOX GAME WENT TO LONG SO WE WILL DO THAT ANOTHER NIGHT. TODAY AFTER CHURCH, HALLE AND I TOOK A LONG NAP FOLLOWED WITH MY MOM AND NANNY COME TO DINNER AND THEN GOING TO VISIT GRUMPY AND GRANDMA BERNT. WHAT A BUSY FUN WEEKEND!

MORE BUCK PICKS

2008-10-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

THESE ARE A COUPLE OF ON SITE PICKS, IM 2-2 IN MY DEER HUNTS WITH MY GUN!

THIS IS A PICTURE WITH TAB A.K.A TABOSA AND I.

THIS IS TONYA'S COUSIN WOODY FROM BOISE, I FELT A LITTLE BAD THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HARVESTED A DEER YESTERDAY AND I LIVE SO CLOSE TO THE ACTION. I WASN'T PANNING ON TAKING MY GUN AND BRUSHING FOR THEM THE WHOLE DAY, IM GLAD I BROUGHT IT.

BIRTHDAYS, BUCKS, AND LOTS OF MEMORIES!

2008-10-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEKEND HAS BEEN SO CRAZY ALREADY AND IT IS ONLY FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS MORNING, JARED WENT DEER HUNTING WITH MY DAD, UNCLE TODD, AND HIS SONS, DARIK, AND KELLAN. THEY WENT UP TO MY UNCLE PETE'S PROPERTY ABOUT 40 MIN OUT OF SODA. JARED WAS GOING UP TO HELP BRUSH FOR THE REST OF THEM, THINKING HE WOULDN'T SHOOT TODAY SINCE HE WILL HAVE MANY MORE TIMES TO DO IT AND TODD'S SONS ARE ONLY UP FOR A COUPLE DAYS-HE WANTED TO HELP THEM GET THEIRS. WELL AFTER SITTING ON THE RIDGE, UNCLE TODD AND JARED HELPED BRUSH FOR THE OTHERS. AFTER THEY SAW THIS BUCK, THEY ALL TOOK A SHOT-NOTHING. THEN WAS JARED'S TURN-HE GOT IT. GO JARED! IT IS A GOOD SIZE BUCK TOO-CUBBY AND I ARE SO PROUD OF HIM! HE IS JARED THE "MIGHTY HUNTER!"

HERE IS JARED'S COUSIN NATE AND HIS DAUGHTER LILY WITH NATE AND JARED'S BUCK THEY GOT TODAY. THESE ARE THE TWO THAT WENT BOWHUNTING ALL SEASON TOGETHER AND NEITHER GOT ANYTHING...WAITING PAID OFF! GO BOYS!

NATE AND HIS BUCK, AND JARED AND HIS! BOTH ARE A PRETTY DARN GOOD SIZE!

THEN THIS EVENING, I THREW GRANDPA BOB A LITTLE BIRTHDAY PARTY, HE LOVES HIS BIRTHDAY SO MUCH AND IT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL TO HIM. I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS GETTING THE HOUSE CLEAN AND ALL BY MYSELF SINCE JARED WAS GONE. HALLE LIKES TO HELP SO MUCH I USUALLY END UP PLAYING AND DON'T GET MUCH ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL NAP TIME. TODAY I HAD TOO, AND IT JUST HAPPENS THAT SHE TOOK 2 GREAT NAPS TODAY, SOMEONE WAS ON MY SIDE FOR SURE! I HUNG UP SOME DECORATIONS, BOUGHT THE STUFF FOR COBBLER AND THEN WAITED FOR EVERYONE TO SHOW UP. I INVITED 24 PEOPLE AND 24 PEOPLE SHOWED. IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND GRANDPA WAS SO ECSTATIC THAT SOMEONE DID THIS FOR HIM BEFORE HE LEFT TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND WE LOVE GRANDPA BOB SO MUCH!

HERE IS GRANDPA BOB AND I! I JUST LOVE THIS LITTLE MAN!

JARED WITH GRANDPA IN HIS PRINCE HAT. JARED GAVE HIM THE LIVER AND HEART FROM HIS DEER-GRANDPA LOVES THEM. HE LOVED THE GIFT!

THIS IS ALL THE KIDS AT THE PARTY! FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LEFT TO RIGHT:

GRANDMA BETH, GRANDPA BOB, HALLE AND I, ERICA AND CASH AND VANNA, JARED

THEN NATALIE, ON BOTTOM:

RUSS, DAWSON, ROGER, AND MITCHELL, NIKI WITH TREVY AND TROY, TY, THEN KELLAN AND DARIK SITTING~

NOT IN THE PICTURE: JOSH WASN'T THERE YET AND DAD AND KAREN AND UNCLE TODD AND AUNT KIM

TOMORROW IS MY STEP MOTHER'S MOMS BIRTHDAY IN MCCAMMON-WE WILL BE ON OUR WAY TO THAT TOO. WHAT A FUN WEEKEND, FULL OF FAMILY AND MEMORIES. WE LOVE IT!

GOING TO THE TEMPLE!

2008-10-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

THIS MONTH, OUR WARD HAS MANY TEMPLE ASSIGNMENTS AND JARED AND I GET TO DO 4 OF THEM , PLUS I GET TO GO WITH THE YW ONCE TO DO BAPTISMS. WE WILL BE VERY BUSY. HOWEVER, THERE IS A SENSE OF CALMNESS IN THE TEMPLE THAT SURPASSES ANY FEELING I HAVE EVER FELT. WE DID SEALINGS TODAY AND AT ONE POINT THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG I ALMOST CRIED OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE A TEMPLE SO CLOSE BY THAT WE CAN ATTEND SO OFTEN. WITH ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THIS WORLD, THAT IS ONE PLACE YOU CAN GO AND FOR A BRIEF SECOND HAVE SILENCE AND FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING GOING ON AROUND US. I LOVE IT THERE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME AT OUR SESSION TODAY. YES, IT IS HARD TO GET UP AND GET READY AND HAVE HALLE READY AND TO NANNA'S ON TIME AND GET TO THE TEMPLE BUT ONCE WE ARE THERE IT IS SO WORTH IT. WHAT A GREAT TRIP!

LUNCH WITH THE LADIES!

2008-10-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

TODAY HALLE AND I GOT TO GO HAVE LUNCH WITH SOME FRIENDS AT THIS LITTLE RESTAURANT "RED HOT ROASTERS." MANY OF YOU THAT LIVE IN POKY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW OF THIS PLACE. IT IS A LITTLE HOLE-IN-THE-WALL THAT MAKES THEIR OWN COFFEE AND HAS UNDENIABLE SOME OF THE BEST FOOD EVER. I ALWAYS HAVE THE CHICKEN RANCH WRAP WITH SOME DELECTABLE TOMATO BISQUE SOUP-WHICH IS I MUST SAY THE BEST SOUP IN THE WHOLE WORLD. I CAUGHT HALLE AND NANNY'S COLD AND THE SOUP WAS SO GOOD TO THE TASTE. I LOVE WHEN WE GO ON MONDAY'S TO LUNCH WITH OUR FRIENDS AND WE GET TO CATCH UP AND PLAY WHILE WE DO WHAT WOMEN DO BEST, EAT! LOVE YOU GIRLIES.

BUSY! BUSY!

2008-10-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEK OUR LITTLE FAMILY HAS BEEN SO BUSY. ON MONDAY NIGHT, WE WENT OUT FOR ICE CREAM FOR HOME EVENING AND THEN PLAYED WITH HALLE KAY. ON TUESDAY NIGHT, I HAD MUTUAL AND JARED STAYED HOME WITH HALLE. ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JARED WATCHED HALLE WHILE I GOT TO GO TO THE SHOW WITH MY MOTHER-IN-LAW AND SOME FRIENDS. WE WATCHED, " NIGHTS IN RODANTHE." NOT MY FAVORITE SHOW. IT WAS GOOD BUT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET INTO IT. BUT, I HAD A GREAT TIME BEING OUT WITH THE WOMEN AND HAVING NO RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A BIT. ON THURSDAY NIGHT WE WENT OUT WITH THE DUDLEY'S TO DINNER THEN HUNG OUT AT OUR HOUSE FOR A BIT SO HALLE COULD GO TO BED. THEN ON FRIDAY WE HAD TO RUN SOME FURNITURE TO ONE OF THE DR'S I WORK FOR, HE BOUGHT IT FROM US. THEN I WENT GROCERY SHOPPING IN COMPLETE SILENCE WHILE JARED WATCHED HALLE, SHOPPING WAS QUIET BUT NOT NEARLY AS ENTERTAINING FOR ME AS WHEN HALLE COMES ALONG. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE HAD THE DUDLEY'S OVER AND MADE A LITTLE PACKAGE FOR SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK. TONIGHT JARED HAS PRIESTHOOD SESSION OF CONFERENCE, AND I WILL HANGOUT WITH NANA AND GIGI AND HALLE. TOMORROW IS CONFERENCE AND THEN THE WEEK STARTS ALL OVER. ON TOP, OF NORMAL STUFF, WE HAVE A WARD ASSIGNMENT AT THE TEMPLE TUESDAY-BUSY! I PROBABLY WON'T KEEP UP ON THINGS AS WELL THIS MONTH, I AM SO BUSY I WON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. HALLE IS NOT SICK ANYMORE EITHER, GOOD THING!

TAG-WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

2008-10-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

THANKS BRIT! THIS IS A TAG ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, IF YOU HAVE DONE IT, HIGHLIGHT IT, IF NOT-DON'T. HAVE FUN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ME!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (Who hasn't?)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon -DOES RELAY FOR LIFE COUNT? IT SEEMED LIKE A MARATHON TO ME....
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset? BOTH
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise -2 OF THEM, LOVE IT!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community -THERE IS A LITTLE ONE IN LAVA, IF THAT COUNTS...
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing? does deep sea crabbing count? if so, yes!
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling -cancun on our honeymoon. disney's private island on our cruise
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie -a homemade one
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp -i want too. it interests me so much, go Anne Frank!
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London-in my friends picture
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life -don't know if i saved the little boy but i did cpr on him in the mall until the ambulance got there-i hope he lived. he was choking on an oversized jawbreaker
90. Sat on a jury -nope been on jury duty, but never had to go in...
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake -been there, but not swam there
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. I tag anyone who read this to the bottom, you are good, i would have got bored..

SPENT THE DAY IN SODA AT THE FARM!

2008-09-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE SPENT SATURDAY WITH THE FAMILY IN SODA AT THE FARM. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE WENT ON THE FOUR-WHEELERS, CAUGHT SOME SUCKERS, HAD A PICNIC, AND JUST HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS. WE ALSO CELEBRATED TROY, MY BRO-IN-LAWS, BIRTHDAY. WE ALWAYS ENJOY THE FARM THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT IS SO PEACEFUL AND AWAY FROM THE BUSY SHUFFLE OF THE NORMAL WORLD. THE SMELL IS FALL, THE TREES ARE CHANGING, AND YOU ARE AWAY FROM ALL OTHER HUMANITY-LEFT WITH ONLY THE ANIMALS. IT IS A GREAT TIME. JARED WAS ALREADY UP THERE WITH NATE HUNTING. SO WE MET UP WITH HIM AND GOT TO SPEND THE DAY WITH HIM ALSO. NATE CAME ALONG WHICH WAS FUN TOO-PROBABLY NOT SO MUCH FUN FOR HIM BUT WE ENJOYED HIS COMPANY!

HALLE AND I GOING ON A RIDE, SHE LOVES THE FOUR-WHEELER!

HERE IS THE WHOLE CLAN AT OUR PICNIC!

HERE IS HALLE AND DADDY! SHE LOVED HIS HAT, HOWEVER, SHE WILL NOT WEAR ANY OF HERS. MAYBE THE KEY IS, GIVE HER SOMEONE ELSE'S AND SHE THINKS IT IS COOL, SO IT STAYS ON!

HERE WE ARE AT THE FROG PROPERTY. WE TAUGHT HALLE TO POINT AT OUR FINGER AND CONNECT THEM AND IT IS ET. SHE DEMANDED DOING ET WITH THE FROG, AND SHE ACTUALLY PET IT AND HAD A GREAT TIME. I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WASN'T SCARED OF HIS SLIMY BODY AT ALL. I AM!

HERE IS CHRIS, NANA, AND NANNY AKA. GIGI AT THE FARM PROPERTY. GIGI HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE FARM AND SHE ENJOYED IT. WE LOVE HAVING HER SO CLOSE NOW!

PLAYING WITH TREVOR!

2008-09-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST FRIDAY HALLE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH MY NEPHEW TREVOR. HE IS SO STINKING CUTE. WE ONLY WATCHED HIM FOR A COUPLE HOURS BUT MAN-OH-MAN. HE IS SO FAST. HE IS ALL BOY, WANTS TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING. HE IS SUCH A GOOD KID AND HIM AND HALLE PLAY SO GOOD TOGETHER. NOW I HAVE REALIZED HOW HARD IT IS WHEN THEY START WALKING THOUGH. THEY ARE HAPPIER HOWEVER, MAMA IS SUPER BUSY INSTEAD OF JUST BUSY BUSY....WE HAD A GREAT TIME. WE PLAYED, THEY NAPPED TOGETHER, THEY ATE TOGETHER AND THEY LAUGHED TOGETHER. THEY HAD A GREAT TIME AND I LOVED IT TOO. NOW I KNOW, TWO KIDS IS JUST SCARY BUSY! WE HOPE WE CAN PLAY SOON AGAIN! WE LOVE YOU TREVY!

HERE THEY ARE PLAYING TOGETHER, AND TREVY EVEN TAUGHT HALLE HOW TO GET INTO A FEW THINGS....UH-OH!

HERE THEY ARE IN THE TOY BOX TOGETHER PLAYING. TREVY GOT IN AND OF COURSE HALLE HAD TO JOIN. NIKI AND I USE TO HAVE A STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE TOY BOX AND WE DID THIS SAME THING. KIDS WILL BE KIDS, RIGHT? LOOK AT TREVY'S FACE, NO TO HAPPY ONCE HALLE PLOPPED IN ON HIM.

HERE IS TREVY AND HALLE GETTING READY FOR THERE NAPPIN TOGETHER, SO CUTE!

NANNY IS HERE!

2008-09-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST SATURDAY MY MOTHER DROVE HOME FROM MY GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE IN OREGON. IF YOU READ MY POST A WK AGO, MY GRAND-FATHER RECENTLY PASSED AND MY MOM WENT DOWN TO SAY HER LAST GOODBYE AND THEN HELP MY GRANDMA CLEAN THINGS UP. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HER TO POCATELLO FOR AWHILE NOW, SINCE SHE CAN'T SEE ALL THAT WELL..DUE TO MY GRANDPA'S HEALTH AND OTHER THINGS THEY WERE UNABLE TO COME. HOWEVER, MY MOM WOULD NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER AND SHE IS MOVED UP TO POCATELLO NOW. HER HOUSE IN OREGON IS FOR SALE, AND WHEN IT SALES, SHE WILL GET A HOUSE OF HER OWN BUT UNTIL THEN SHE IS LIVING WITH CHRIS AND MY MOM. WE LOVE NANNY AND ARE SO GLAD SHE IS CLOSE TO FAMILY AT THIS TIME ESPECIALLY. NOW, WE KEEP TABS ON HER AND WE CAN HELP HER WHEN WE NEED TO. WE ARE SO GLAD SHE IS HERE TO STAY. WELCOME BACK, NANNY!

GIRL'S NIGHT OUT!

2008-09-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

LAST NIGHT ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD A "SENSE" FACIAL PARTY. IT WAS A BLAST. WE GOT TOGETHER AND DID FACIALS AND WHILE WE DID THEM WE RELAXED WITH CANDLES GOING, THE SMELL SO SOOTHING, AND I DIDN'T HAVE A WORRY IN THE WORLD. MY STEP-FATHER SO GRACIOUSLY WATCHED HALLE WHILE I WENT SO IT WAS NICE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A GIRL'S NIGHT OUT AGAIN. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND THANK YOU BRITNEY FOR HAVING IT AND INVITING ME. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GOOD FUN, GOOD COMPANY AND GOOD FOOD. WE HAD FRESH FRUIT AND IT WAS SCRUMPTIOUS. IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GET AWAY AND HAVE A GREAT, RELAXING TIME WITH EVERYONE. ALSO, THANKS JARED FOR LETTING ME TREAT MYSELF TO SOME OF THEIR FACIAL PRODUCTS. I LOVE YOU! WE MUST DO IT AGAIN SOON! WE HAD HEAD BANDS ON THAT WERE SO HOT AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA, DARNIT! NEXT TIME, OCEA, BRIT, BRANDI AND I WILL GET A GOOD ONE. LOVE YA GIRLS!

HALLE BEING HALLE!

2008-09-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY, HALLE AND I WERE PLAYING BEFORE DAD GOT HOME FROM WORK. I WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH HER BEFORE I HAD TO GO TO YOUNG WOMENS. WE WERE PLAYING WITH HER TOYS, SHE GOT A NEW TOY BOX-HER OTHER ONE GOT TO SMALL. SHE KEPT LOOKING AT THE TOY BOX ALL DAY AND WAS ACTUALLY SCARED OF IT AT FIRST. THEN, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE PIX, SHE WARMED RIGHT UP TO IT AND HAD TONS OF FUN. THIS IS WHAT MAKES HALLE, HALLE. HER FUN-LOVING PERSONALITY. KIDS MAKE THE WORLD GO AROUND AND THEY ALWAYS GIVE US A GOOD LAUGH!

THIS IS HER AT FIRST, SCARED TO DEATH. EATING HER LEI!

HERE SHE IS SLOWLY WARMING UP TO IT....

TA-DA! OVERCAME THAT FEAR REAL QUICK~ PRECIOUS!

A FUN FAMILY HOME EVENING NIGHT!

2008-09-15T19:47:00.001-07:00

SINCE IT IS NOW FEELING LIKE FALL OUTSIDE, THE LEAVES ARE CHANGING, THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, AND THE SMELL OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING IS CRISP AND IT IS SO COLD BUT YOU HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO SMELL IT, WE DECIDED WE WOULD MAKE SOME CARAMEL APPLES. I HAVE NEVER MADE THEM WITH THESE CARAMEL WRAPS, BUT IT WAS SUPER EASY AND THEY ARE SUPER GOOD. IT STARTED OUT WITH JARED AND HALLE READING, THEN WE WENT AND MOWED GRANDPA TOM'S LAWN FOR OUT LITTLE SERVICE, THEN WE CAME HOME AND MADE THESE! WHAT A FUN NIGHT FOR OUR LITTLE FAMILY!

HERE IS JARED READING WITH HALLE. SHE LOVES TO PLAY IN HER ROOM BY HERSELF AND READ ALONE FOR QUITE AWHILE..

TA-DA! HERE IS OUR OH-SO-YUMMY APPLES!!! WE FIGURED WITH THE CARAMEL AND ALL, THESE WERE ONLY ABOUT 50 CENTS A PIECE TO MAKE. THEY WERE CHEAP AND DELICIOUS! HALLE LIKED LICKING THE CARAMEL!

MY UNCLE DEON'S CONCERT~

2008-09-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

MY UNCLE DEON FROM ST. GEORGE (MY DADS BROTHER) LOVES MUSIC AND SINGING. HE WAS RAISED IN GRACE AND THIS PAST SATURDAY WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO HIS CONCERT IN GRACE AND WATCH HIM PERFORM. IT WAS HILARIOUS- AND HE IS AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMER. THE CONCERT WAS ENTITLED, "A NIGHT OF ROMANCE." WE WERE GOING TO HAVE NANNA BABYSIT, BUT DUE TO GRANDPA'S DEATH, SHE COULDN'T AND GRANDMA BERNT WAS IN MAINE SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD GO AT ALL. I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS PERFORMANCE HOWEVER, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN I WOULD GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN. I CALLED MY GOOD FRIEND LORI AND SHE WAS WILLING TO WATCH HALLE ON SHORT NOTICE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO WITH MY FAMILY AND OUR FRIEND TREVOR AND WATCH IT. THANKS SO MUCH TO LORI-WE LOVE YOU! BRITNEY, TREVOR'S WIFE, HAD TO WORK AND COULDN'T COME AND SO I ENJOYED THE EVENING WITH TWO MEN. IT WAS FUN AND WE HAD A GOOD TIME. (I WISH YOU COULD HAVE COME BRIT!) HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE FUN NIGHT WE HAD! WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH MY DAD'S FAMILY AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE THAT WENT THAT NIGHT TO SUPPORT DEON~ALSO, IT WAS GREAT TO GO AND GET MY MIND OFF THINGS FOR A MINUTE AND ENJOY A NIGHT OF ROMANCE WITH MY HUBBY~I LOVE YOU! JARED, GRANDPA BOB, UNCLE DEON, AND I

(NO I AM NOT PREGNANT, THE SHIRT JUST MAKES ME LOOK IT...)

NEW SUNDAY DRESS!

2008-09-14T20:08:00.001-07:00

I HAD TO POST THIS PICTURE. HALLE IS RUNNING OUT OF CHURCH DRESSES THAT ARE THE RIGHT SIZE, SO I HAD TO GO SHOPPING. ALONG MY TRAVELS, I RAN INTO THIS. LOOK HOW ADORABLE THE LADYBUG IS, IT EVEN HAS RHINESTONES ON IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CUTEST THING EVER AND IT HAPPENED TO BE ON SALE. THAT NEVER HAPPENS. GOOD DEAL AND TOTALLY ADORABLE! THE FACIAL EXPRESSION SHE IS PULLING SHOWS YOU HOW EXCITED SHE WAS TO WEAR IT TO CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME! GOTTA LOVE THEM!!

A TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDPA BILL. AKA GUIDO!

2008-09-13T09:00:00.001-07:00

OVER THE PAST MANY YEARS MY GRANDPA HAS HAD MANY HEALTH ISSUES RANGING FROM KIDNEY DIALYSIS TO DIABETES, YOU NAME IT-HE HAD IT AND DEALT WITH IT. GRANDPA BILL IS MY MOM'S STEP-FATHER BUT HAS BEEN HER STEP DAD SINCE SHE WAS 4 YEARS OLD. SO TO ALL OF US, HE IS OUR GRANDPA AND WE HAVE NEVER VIEWED HIM ANY OTHER WAY! HE WAS A ROCK. HE WAS REAL. HE WAS ONERY. HE WAS A BIG MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. HE HAD THE MOUTH OF A SAILOR AND THE ATTITUDE TO MATCH. HE MADE YOU LAUGH AND SOMETIMES CRY WITH THE THINGS HE SAID. HE WAS VERY INTELLIGENT AND WOULD PROVE ANYTHING ANYBODY SAID WRONG, NO MATTER HOW MUCH INFORMATION HE HAD TO FIND TO DO SO. HE WAS GUIDO! HE WAS AMAZING! HE WAS ONE WHO WOULD HOLD IN HIS LAUGH UNTIL HE COULDN'T ANYMORE AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE A FULL-BLOWN BELLY LAUGH. HIS SMILE WAS CONTAGIOUS. HE WAS GRANDPA!

LIKE I SAID, FOR THE LAST MANY YEARS HE HAS HAD ONGOING HEALTH PROBLEMS. HE REALLY HAS TAKEN THEM AND KEPT ON LIVING DESPITE THE FACT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER MOST OF THE TIME ,TO LET THE WILL OF LIVING GET IN THE WAY. ON TUESDAY HE WENT TO THE VA HOSPITAL TO DONATE BLOOD. HE FELL GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND ONE THING LEAD TO ANOTHER: GETTING A PARTIAL HIP REPLACEMENT, ETC. HE MADE IT THROUGH SURGERY AND THEN HE ASPIRATED AND QUIT BREATHING. LUCKILY, MY MOM AND STEPDAD WERE ABLE TO FLY DOWN FRIDAY, AND MY UNCLE BRAD, HIS SON, DROW FROM CALIFORNIA. THEY WERE ALL ABLE TO SAY THEIR GOOD-BYES. HEWILL BE MISSED GREATLY! DEATH IS ALWAYS HARD FOR THE FACT A LOVED ONE IS GONE, BUT IN HIS CASE I AM SURE HE IS LIVING HAPPILY, AND HAS A WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE NOW.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE MANY HOURS HE TALKED ABOUT GOLF, EDUCATION, HIS JOB, OUR BOYFRIENDS, OUR GRADES, AND JUST LIFE IN GENERAL WITH US FOR HOURS WHILE SMOKING HIS CIGAR ON THE DECK. HE HAD A LONG LISTENING EAR AND WOULD GIVE YOU HIS OPINION ON ANYTHING YOU SAID. I WON'T FORGET THAT HE CHERISHED THE PEOPLE AND THE FRIENDSHIPS HE MADE IN A WAY THAT I NEVER KNEW POSSIBLE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS CHAIR IN THEIR LIVING ROOM HE SAT IN FOR HOURS WHILE HOLDING HIS PILLOW AND WATCHING GOLF WITH THE DOGS. AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FAMILY REUNION WHERE ALL OUR FAMILY WAS ABLE TO GO TO OREGON AND ENJOY HIS COMPANY BEFORE HE REALLY GOT TO SICK.

I WILL TRY TO FORGET THE TIMES HE FARTED AND BLAMED IT ON THE DOGS. I WILL TRY TO FORGET HIS DRIVING AND THE SMALL TEMPER HE HAD WITH OREGON DRIVERS-HE WAS AN AWFUL DRIVER! WHEN YOU WENT WITH HIM, YOU JUST CLOSED YOUR EYES AND PRAYED YOU WOULD LIVE TO DESTINATION. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE STORY ABOUT MY MOTHER FLUNKING PE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS GAMBLING AND HOW MUCH HE LOVED IT. NO MATTER HOW BAD HE FELT, HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AND PLAY. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT MADE GRANDPA, GRANDPA!

HE PASSED AWAY ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2008.WE WILL ALL MISS HIM GREATLY. HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANYONE AND WE ALL KNEW THAT. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH MY GRANDMA NANNY RIGHT NOW AND TRYING TO GET HER MOVED BACK TO POCATELLO. SHE HASN'T LIVED FOR QUITE A WHILE EITHER, SINCE SHE WAS HIS CARETAKER. GUIDO AND NANNY WERE SO IN LOVE. THEY WOULD YELL AT EACH OTHER, TALK WITH EACH OTHER, AND SMIRK LITTLE GRINS BACK AND FORTH. THAT IS HOW WE KNEW THEY WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE TOGETHER. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS MIDNIGHT TRIPS TO THE FRIDGE WHEN NANNY WAS ASLEEP TO GET CHEESECAKE OR WHATEVER WAS IN THERE, SINCE HE HAD DIABETES AND NANNY WOULDN'T LET HIM HAVE ANY. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS FIRST WORDS TO US WHEN WE WALKED IN HIS HOME,"DON'T FEED THE DOGS CHOCOLATE." THOSE WERE HIS FIRST WORDS TO US SINCE CHILDHOOD AND HE STILL SAID THEM THE LAST TIME WE WENT AND SAW HIM. JARED WAS ONLY ABLE TO MEET HIM ONCE, AND HE IS A MAN THAT JARED TALKED ABOUT OVER AND OVER. HE REALLY TOUCHED HIS HEART IN THE ONE VISIT. THAT GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED AND TOUCHED OTHERS. AND I WILL NEVER, NEVER, FORGET HOW MUCH I LOVED HIM. HE WAS AND STILL IS A GREAT MAN. HE WILL LIVE ON WITH US FOREVER.

WE KNOW HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE, ENJOYING THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON BEFORE, ENJOYING HIS HEALTH, AND ENJOYING TRULY LIVING AGAIN.

MUCH LOVE, GRANDPA! WE WILL MISS YOU! NOW, GO GOLF!