Thanksgiving Point Dance Competition

Peyton is in her 3rd year of dance. We felt that she needed a little more of a challenge than what she had been getting the last 2 years, so we decided to move her to a different dance company closer to our house and put her on a competition team. Let me tell you, it is like night and day the difference in what she has learned and how she is dancing this year then in the previous 2 years. Maybe it is because she is older or because she is on a competition team or maybe both. But this year she has had to learn 2 dances and think she is pretty darn good to remember both and dance as good as she does for only being 5.

Yesterday, February 27th, Peyton had her first dance competition of the year. The competition was at Thanksgiving Point and she was so excited to dance on stage. The performing on stage in front of tons of people has always been her favorite part of dance. I think she is crazy! I have never been to excited to get up in front of a lot of people. She did great with both of her dances especially for it being such a long day between getting her hair and make-up all done, arriving an hour before she was scheduled to dance, and the 2 hour wait in between dances. She started to get a little antsy in between the dances and just kept telling me that she just wanted to dance again. But again, for only being 5 I think she did awesome. Peyton even told me that she wants to do a solo and dance on stage by herself. CrAaAaAzY!!! The rest of her team all did great too. Her team took 2nd in both dance categories.

She has 5 competitions this year. I know, we will be busy. Her next one is on Saturday, March 20 at Timpview High School in Provo. The next weekend we will be at another one in sunny St. George. I am getting excited for that one! I can't wait to get in the warm weather.

I just did video while she was dancing and didn't think to have praper take pictures. I will try to get pictures of her dancing at the next competition.


Peyton in her "Dog Pound" Jazz costume


Peyton and her friend/neighbor Marisa


Peyton in her "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" Ballet/Lyrical costume (she was so tired of me taking pictures, can you tell?)

Valentine's Weekend

Since my birthday is so close to Valentine's Day we usually kind of combine the 2 especially as far as gifts go. Bradyn usually spoils me for my birthday which is so unecessary that I don't feel like I need a Valentine's gift to. This year for my birthday he gave me a really nice therapeutic saddle pad and blanket and since neither of us need anything we just decided to spend time together and spoil the kids instead. On Saturday we loaded up all 4 horses in our new trailer and went riding at the Bluffdale arena. Here a couple pictures of the girls riding.


Peyton on Rummy and Raylee on DJ


Peyton, Raylee and Shayne

On Valentine's Day I made breakfast and we mostly just hung around the house and worked (of course). I did house chores and Bradyn worked on the fence. Later that afternoon we took the kids to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. It was good and a ton of food. We had to bring half of it home with us. When we got home, Bradyn's parents were here waiting for us to drop off valentine's gifts for the kids. And then we spent the rest of the night watching the olympics.

Hope everybody else had a great Valentine's Day!

My 30th Birthday

This last Friday, February 12th I turned the big 30! Since about my 28th birthday, my 30th was one that I had been dreading. I even woke up in tears on Friday when I realized it was really here and actually saw the number 30. I think the hardest part is comparing myself to people on TV. For example, especially in the olympics. They say athletes that are still competing in their 30's are old or are retiring after this year. You never see contestants on the Miss America Pageant in their 30's. Well there goes my big dream of being Miss America, LOL. And now watching Survivor. Most of the competitors are in their 20's with the exception of a few oldies, but they are still great. Look at Tom. I have a goal that that's how I want to be. Right now I feel like I am still in my 20's. I don't feel old and I hope to stay that way for a long time. I feel healthy, I try to eat right for the most part (although I still like my sweets from time to time), I am trying to work out regularly (which is kind of hard sometimes with my schedule and kids) and I take my vitamins regularly. I feel very blessed with my life. I have wonderful family and friends, an awesome husband that would do anything for me, the 2 most amazing, adorable and smart kids who are my life, and I have 2 great jobs that allow me to spend more valuable time with my kids. We may not have it all but we have all the luxuries that we need to keep us happy.

I received many calls, text messages, and messages sent on facebook from family and friends wishing me a Happy Birthday. Thank you, it meant so much to hear from everybody! My mom and dad sent me a beautiful gerber daisy bouquet with 2 balloons (for the kids of course) to brighten my day. The night before my birthday Bradyn asked if I wanted to go bowling on my birthday and take Peyton and he would line up a sitter for Houston. I thought it was just going to be the 3 of us until we showed up at the bowling alley and all our friends were there waiting for us. It was a great surprise! I had so much fun. Thanks to Haylee for giving Bradyn the idea and for doing most of the planning. Thanks Bradyn for getting me there without giving away the big secret. And thanks to everybody that came. I hope you all had as much fun as I did. It made turning 30 just a little bit easier!

Best Friends

So my parents gave the kids a corgi pup for Christmas, her name is Sage. Let me tell you, I forgot how much work a puppy is between the potty training and the chewing on everything stage. But we have enjoyed having her when she is not in trouble. She is so dang cute, great with the kids and her ears are now standing up. Both Peyton and Houston really like her and both like to play with her but because Peyton is 5 and Houston only 19 months, Peyton has a lot of things going on all the time and Houston has nothing else better to do than follow Sage around and she has nothing else better to do than to follow him around. They have become best buds! It is so funny to watch them. He loves to feed her treats, play catch with her, they enjoy just laying down by each other, and Houston even enjoys a drink out of her water dish now and again and in return he lets her have a drink out of his sippy cup. I think when it comes down to it Sage is definately Houston's dog. But don't tell Peyton that, she will tell you no that Sage is hers and Houston's dog.


Sage now with her ears standing up


Houston feeding Sage a treat. She takes them so gently from his hands.


Feeding her another treat


Houston playing catch with Sage


Now trying to get the ball from Sage

Enjoying The Snow!!!

The kids have really enjoyed the snow this year, especially Peyton. She seems to play in almost everyday. And it's a good thing because it sure seems to be sticking around our house this year since it has been so cold. It has finally warmed up a little so the snow is now slowly melting, well at least until we get another storm. These pictures were taken a few weeks ago. Peyton had a sleepover at our house with her cousin Raylee after we had a NFL playoff party. The next day it was warm outside so the kids wanted to go out and enjoy the sunshine.


Houston trying to figure out Peyton's old trike


Raylee


Sage and Peyton


Raylee pulling Houston around on the sled


Sage before her ears started to stand up


Bradyn and Houston warming up Peyton's 4-wheeler


Peyton and Raylee taking as spin on the 4-wheeler

Sledding and Brent's Birthday

It was Bradyn's dads birthday on December 30th and to celebrate we went sledding with Bradyn's family at the splash park in Riverton or Herriman (not sure which it is) yesterday. The kids all had a blast. Peyton is fearless and just kept going up and down the hill. She was taking her tube over jumps, into the willows and was riding it with no hands. Houston even had fun. He rode the big hill with me and Bradyn on the sled and then went on a smaller hill on the tube all by himself. He liked the tube so much that he almost fell asleep on it.

After sledding we all went back to Brent and ReNae's house for chicken noodle soup and games. Hope you had a great birthday Brent! Thanks for having us all over.

Goofing Around The House

Now that Christmas is over we have just been relaxing and playing around the house. We enjoyed having my mom here for a few days after Christmas. We didn't do a whole lot. We went out to dinner for my Grandma Pat's birthday on Saturday night with her, my Uncle Mick, Aunt Laurie, cousin Calie, her little guy Jaren and Uncle Kim. On Sunday my mom and I went and got pedicures, Peyton played in the snow, Bradyn pulled her and the neighbor Marisa on the sled behind the 4-wheeler and then Bradyn's parents, brother Shayne, wife Mandy and daughter Raylee came out to see our Christmas, eat pizza and play cards. Oh and Bradyn has been busy making jerkey with his new smoker. Monday we did a little shopping. And then today a little more shopping and then we took my mom to the airport this afternoon so she could head back to El Paso. I took my Christmas decorations down this afternoon and since I am off work this week I hope to organize and get the rest of our Christmas gifts put away.


Peyton loving the snow


Our new puppy Sage


Houston, Bradyn, Lefty, Marisa and Peyton


Bradyn and Houston


Peyton and Marisa


Houston and Peyton with Grandma Jill