Dinosaur Park Field Trip

Lauren's Kindergarten class had their field trip to the Ogden Dinosaur Park, today, so I went along as a chaperone. She had a few minutes of doing arts and crafts and then was free to roam the park. She and the other kids spent much of their time at the playgrounds.
Lauren and her friend Gracie
Many of the kids from Lauren's bus stop:
Thank goodness the weather cooperated!

I'm an Aunt, again!

Charlotte Elizabeth Boyd was born on March 16th, weighing 8lbs 13 oz and was 20" long. She is healthy and beautiful and is going by the nickname of "Charley". We are all so excited to be able to meet her after Charley and her family move to San Diego next month.

Big sister Vivi and Charley:
Once again, the Schamal girls out-number the boys and all is right with the world.:)

Congratulations Heather, Justin and Vivi! We are so happy for you!

Hardware Ranch

A couple of weeks ago we decided to head up to Logan to a place called Hardware Ranch where you can take a sleigh ride to feed the elk that come down from the mountain in the Winter. We have been talking about doing it since last year and we were finally able to find some time to go and do it.

Waiting for Dad to return from purchasing the tickets:


Every Winter, the Elk come down from the mountain to where it is warmer and to forage for food. In order to keep the Elk out of the villages nearby, Utah's DNR built this ranch to keep the Elk at a slightly higher elevation and to entice them to stay higher, they provide food for them. It is free range and the Elk can come and go, they just can't go lower than the ranch for their and the residents' safety.

The day we were there, they estimated that there were about 500 Elk present:

Ignore the fact that LC's eyes are closed and once again refer to my complaint that it is virtually impossible to get a decent picture of all three that look good without taking a dozen shots and looking like a crazy person to the rest of the people on the sleigh. I will take what I can get:
Our horses, Ruby and Rita:
Before heading home:

Happy 11th Birthday, Wyatt!

Poor Wyatt didn't get to have a day off for his birthday like Henry did. In fact, he had to be at school early since he is now on Student Council. He said that he had a really good day, though, which in the end is all that matters.

Love you, Wy-guy!!

Happy 8th Birthday, Henry!

Henry's birthday fell on Martin Luther King Day so he was lucky to have the day off. He chose to go bowling and then have Olive Garden for dinner. It was a very fun day.

Love you, Hankster!

Here's To 2011...

On January 1, 2010, I wrote:

"I will admit to being very happy that 2009 is over. A year like that is something I never want to have to live through, again. The challenges were difficult, painful, stressful. But, the year also showed me that I am a much stronger person than I ever gave myself credit for. So, I am grateful for that discovery.

I am so hopeful for 2010...hope for health....happiness...contentment."

Looking back on 2010, I can post almost the exact same thing, unfortunately. The year didn't go quite as I had planned and for the first 9 months of 2010, it was as stressful as 2009.

However, the last few months definitely helped to close the year out on a very high note and gives me such a renewed hope for 2011.

Like I told Forrest yesterday, only good things are ahead for us from here on out.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!

Another Christmas has passed and it was soooo much fun.

On Christmas Eve, we started a new tradition and went to see a movie in the afternoon. I dragged everybody to see Tangled, which Forrest and Lauren had already seen--but didn't mind seeing, again-- and Henry who had no interest in seeing it. Wyatt was willing to do whatever, God bless him.LOL What a cute movie!! Absolutely loved it and I do believe that I heard Henry giggle a time or ten.

We then came home and had a dinner of just "finger foods" that we could munch on while watching "Elf" and "Fred Clause". :
Lauren and Henry decided that they wanted to sleep together downstairs in the basement, so I pulled out the sofa bed for them and they snuggled in for the night.:
SANTA WAS HERE!!!:
SNUGGIES!!!:
A much needed wine opener!:
Oscar Boxers:
Presents from Granny, Nana & Papa, and Aunt Heather and Uncle JJ. Thank you so much!!!:
Lauren got a Bitty Baby American Girl doll with some matching pj's that she immediately had to change into:
And then she did a fashion show for us wearing her new princess hat, her Halloween costume, and some new jewelry all while walking her new Go-Go Walking Puppy:
I hope everyone out there had as wonderful a Christmas as we did.<3