The cousin Christmas party

Grandma had a little get together for the cousins. It was such a fun party, as usual the kids got VERY spoiled. It was really great to see everyone!





Katie did such a great job with Addison, she played with her almost the entire time. I almost felt like I needed to pay her for taking such good care of her when I was helping with dinner!! She is going to make an excellent babysitter!

Grandma and Grandpa Redmons house!

We had a rare opportunity to get a family picture with all eight of my siblings. Addison is the only kid in the picture because I had already put her to bed when we decided to take a family picture and my dad said "you better go get her, she can't be the only one not it it"......so she didn't really want me to put her down. I didn't notice this when we took the picture but we are all sitting in order, from oldest to youngest. (Mom and Dad are in the front, second row from the right: Travis, Tracy, Me, Tina back row from the right: Tim, Todd, Tony and Taylor. It was so cool to get a picture with everyone!
Then we lined up the grand kids for a quick picture...never easy. Also in order from oldest to youngest: Isak, Peyton, Colter, Olivia, Isabel, Addison, and Ava......with little Thayne arriving any moment!! (My oldest sister is due anytime)
Fun in the TUB.....wow what a full tub it is!
Now the babies turn......wait aren't we missing one?
Oh there she is, aren't they soooooo adorable?


After arriving back from California at about 9:00 a.m. my sweet sister came and took my kiddies for us so we could get some sleep. Wow did we need that! The next morning we were off to Wyoming for my family's gift exchange. We have had a big prime rib dinner for two years now (a tradition I really hope we keep doing YUM YUM:). We stayed for a few days, Peyton and Colter got to help grandpa feed the horses with his back hoe (sp?), and they had so much fun playing with their cousins! The adults had fun playing Guesstures, Pirates Dice, Uno, Guitar Hero, and Dance Revolution. It was fun catching up with everyone. We were going to leave Sunday afternoon, but the roads were closed so we all stayed another night. My dad was grinning from ear to ear;)

Christmas morning is finally here!!

OOOOH I am so excited I can hardly stand it!
HE CAME! HE CAME!!!
Look he left me a note, it said thanks for the map it really helped me find my way around!
Looks like he almost wiped out all of the cookies!
A "POBO" STICK!!

I just want to know what all of the excitement is all about.......

A gun with animals on it!Wow a remote control Monster Truck!!

And last but not least "a motorcycle.....just what I wanted"!!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve we did our normal tradition, opened up new jammies for everyone (Tim gets a 10 on picking mine out this year....not to big or to small;) We sang a few carols, had egg nogg and hot coco, and them Tim and Peyton got in the hot-tub for a quick soak......that last one isn't really a tradition we will be keeping up on (especially out here in Utah). After that Peyton got chocolate milk and a plate full of cookies ready for Santa. Then at the last minute he got his map out (that grandma and grandpa gave him from his pirates treasure chest) and set it by the cookies and informed us that his map was for Santa "to help him find his way around". Which I thought was a terrific idea since Santa had to find him all of the way out here in California! Hello, why didn't I think of that? Peyton was so excited when we put him to bed. Tim had told him that unless he stays in bed and goes to sleep Santa wouldn't come.......we didn't hear a peep out of him once we had him tucked in:)

Addison meets Santa, Peyton tells him at the last minute that what he really wants for Christmas is a remote control Monster Truck (like the kid at the park)!!
Making cookies with Mama "K"

Grandpa coming in to cause a little trouble;)
This is the annual Hunter gingerbread house....isn't it cute?!

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas! It began with driving out to California.......we decided that driving through the night was going to be easier with the kids. So we took off at about 8:00p.m. on the 17th. Yes worked out very nicely for the kids, not so nicely for the parents (especially Tim). It was a pretty good trip until we reached Donners. Wow did it turn ugly fast. The chain law was in effect and since we didn't have the truck Tim got to chain us up at about 3:00 in the morning and -2 degrees. Note to self: let the guys on the side of the road who do this all winter long just do their thing, even more so if you are half asleep! Anyways because of that our trip slowed down a bit 30mph to be exact for about oh 30ish miles. UUUUGGGGGH!

Because we were leaving so late at night, and the weather wasn't supposed to be good. We decided not to call Tim's parents to let them know we were coming so they wouldn't worry about us all night. (We did tell his brother and my family;). So when we finally arrived to Cali we sent Peyton in to say hello to Grandma and Grandpa........it was such a great surprise! It was so good to see them!

Hmmmm what do I want for Christmas!

Santa called Peyton the other night! He asked him if he was being a good boy, if he has been listening to his parents and taking care of his little sister. Then he asked him what he wanted for Christmas.......a pobo stick, and a gun with animals on it!?! Then Peyton had a few questions for Santa. Where is Mrs. Santa Claus? Where are your reindeer? Oh and by the way I am going to be in California this year so be sure to make a note! It was so cute and Peyton was so excited to talk to Santa!!

Peas in a Pod

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, Tina, Ava, Peyton, Addison and I drove to Wyoming to see Tim, Katy, and Isabel. We just had to get a few more photos of them all together. It is always the hugest photo shoot when they all get together. My dad was taking pictures of us taking their pictures....it was hilarious. Here are a few.....and I mean just a few!

Our Thanksgiving!

This year we went to my sister Tracy's house for Thanksgiving. I am kind of bummed that because we were so busy with all of the cooking I didn't get any photos of our day. But our meal was awesome! My favorite was the mashed potatoes (my mother-in-laws famous recipe:). The people we shared the food with were; mom, dad, Tracy, Cody, Tina, Ava, Jake, Tony, Katlyn, Todd, Taylor and my four. Tracy and Cody have just finished their new home and it looks beautiful, it was a great day. But the best part of Thanksgiving is taking a good look at your life and thinking about all you have to be thankful for. So here is my list......and why.

• My Wonderful Husband! He has a great sense of humor, he can look at any situation and find something funny about it. He is an awesome morning person, (which since I am not, comes in very handy when Peyton wakes up at 5 a.m.). He is very supportive in everything I do, whether it is the latest exercise program I am attempting or going with me to church-not because it is necessarily where he wants to spend his Sunday-but because he knows that I will need help with the kids and I hate sitting alone. He is such a hard worker, he recently started his own painting business and I am so amazed at how great he is doing. He is the worlds best dad, Peyton adores him and Addison just gets the biggest grin on her face when she sees him. Another thing I really love about him is how big his heart is when it comes to children. It doesn't matter whose child it is, it could be some kid on a tv show that needs a new kidney or something like that and he just gets so emotional, it is so cute....one of my favorite things (hope I am not in trouble for mentioning that;) Tim and I have been married almost 7 years and I love him more now than ever.
• My Kids! They are the light of my day and I didn't honestly know the happiness that children would bring to my life. I wondered how I could love another child as much as I loved Peyton, but like magic they arrive and you can't imagine life with out them. I hope with all my heart that I can be a good mother.
• Last but not least My Faith! I am so thankful for the peace and hope it gives me. The knowledge of who I am, where I came from, and where I am going. I am thankful that my parents tried their best to instill in each of us a strong sense of a belief in God. One of my favorite quotes is "We are not human beings on a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings on a human experience"

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9553295834

If you would like to see the Kelly family busting some holiday moves check out the link above;-)

HOWWWWW!

This is what Peyton learned about in Preschool on Friday. He came out with his drum and with a mean look on his face said HOWWWW! He has been having a lot of fun learning about why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

Peyton went to Wyoming with us for my sisters shower. He had a camp-out with Grandpa (until about 2:00 a.m.) in the living room. These were pictures of them trying to make a tent. Saturday while the girls were having the party, he got to work with Grandpa in his skid-loader, rode the 4 wheeler, and saw his horses. Before we left Grandpa said "oh wait, I didn't pay you for helping me work today" he took out a dollar bill and handed it to Peyton. Peyton seeing that he had a dollar bill in both hands grabbed them both and said "THANKS, I'll keep it forever and ever".

Addison at 6 Months!

Well on the 17th Addison turned 6 months. She is also starting to cut two more bottom teeth! I felt them for the first time today. Hopefully they won't bother her so much now. Here are a few more pictures.......I love taking pictures of her!

A Child's Angel

This weekend we had a baby shower for my sister Tracy. We had a really fun time. Tina found this poem and we read it at the shower. I liked it so much I thought I would share!

A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God:"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

"But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy." "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy."

"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language that men talk?" "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?" "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly: "Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." "Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel...Mommy."

Author Unknown

)-:Long Lost Cousins:-(

Peyton and I have a lot of fun looking at our blog pictures. But I noticed that we are missing the whole Turner clan. They took off for Texas in 2004 just before I had Peyton (which I wasn't very happy about) and now they are in Virginia. When I moved out to California Sharon and Rob took me right in. Sharon and I became friends (probably because she felt so bad for me) and I fell in love with their kids. Tim and I spent a lot of time with them and have a lot of good memories those first few years we got married.

Colin was what about 2ish and Liam was only about 9 months. I remember what a little character Colin was, and such a womanizer. The first time I met Tims parents, Alanna made dinner for us and I sat right across from Colin who talked to me and asked me about my pony tail, my hair clips, my necklace, and everything else he could to make sure I was the center of attention.....I was dying. I was just wishin that this little kid would stop drawing so much attention to me I swear my face was red the whole time. When Tim and I got married I remember Colin being way beyond tired but he thought I looked so pretty in my dress and just wanted to dance with me like on Beauty and the Beast. I really miss him!

Liam was a little lion.....I remember him just roaring like a lion all of the time. He had so much energy......except when it came to auntie Tiffs back rubs, then he melted like butter. When I would be at their house at bed time I would go to their rooms and rub their backs. Liam has such a kind heart. I also remember him being my foot doctor a lot. He would get his little doctor kit and play with my feet forever.....I loved it!

Brigit came along about the time Tim and I got married. She was just the sweetest little thing and I was so excited I had a little girl to buy for. She was so nurturing and took care of everyone. I remember her just always having to wear dresses. Everyday she would beg her mom to wear another dress.....it just killed Sharon.

Then to every ones surprise came Aislinn! She was just the icing on the cake. They moved away to Texas before I really got to know her but she was growing up tough and determined. I remember walking with her when she was just learning. I accidentally got in her way and she fell down......ooooooh the look she gave me. Like "how dare you" and she was only one!

The moral of this story is that I didn't want to forget all of the good memories that I have had with the Turners. I hope through me my kids will know them too......we miss you Turners!!

~Our Little Sweet Addison~

So these are the latest pictures of our sweet little girl. I know knock on wood.....that could change at any moment. But she has been the best little baby so far, if it wasn't for going up to Alaska I would be ready for another one;) She started cutting two bottom teeth at about 4 and a half months. She also rolled over for the first time on Nov 1st. Her latest trick is sitting up by herself. She has such a sweet little spirit, since the time she learned how to smile she has pretty much had a perma grin. I am so thankful she has come into our family.

Sisters!!

Getting in the mood of Thanksgiving and thinking about everything that I have to be thankful for, I first have to thank my parents for having so many kids. Growing up....we didn't always feel that way:) But now I have two sisters, two built in friends that are always here for me. They help and inspire me to be a better person. I am so glad they are a part of my life. Their love and support means a lot. Love ya Girls!

Photographer Peyton

All of these pictures were taken when Peyton had my camera and nobody really thought he knew what he was doing, so they played along and cheezed it up for the camera. You better watch out when Peyton has a camera.....you might be next;) I sure hope nobody gets mad at these pictures....what is the saying? Dance like nobody's watching-smile like you aren't really getting your picture taken. (ok so I made the last part up, it is a good one;)