Sledding and such

I have some of the most amazing people in my life. I look around and realize that these people are in my life for a reason. This past year I really learned how to let go of the hurt and accept love from those around me. My step dad Wally is one of these amazing people. He and my mom were married when I was 4 years old up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Ever since then he has treated me like nothing less than his daughter. Although they were divorced when I was about 10 Wally continued to see me and has supported me through every decision in my life. Around Christmas Rory, the kids, and I went to see Wally and his family. While there, Wally invited Rory and I to go with him to the Jazz game in a couple weeks. His friends dad is Phil Johnson, the assistant coach for the Utah Jazz. Last Wed. my mom came over and watched the kids so Rory and I could meet Wally for dinner and the game. It was so fun! We were in row 12 and sat right next to Phil Johnson's wife. The face value on our tickets was $154 a ticket and we got them for free. It was such a fun game and I am so glad he invited us to go with him.

Wally

Rory and I enjoying our seats

Today we headed up Huntington Canyon and took the kids sledding. It was such a beautiful day we had to take advantage of it. We invited Shawn and Stacy Addley, some friends we made here in Wellington and Connor invited Chet. We had such a great time. The kids went down the hill about a hundred times and then we had hot chocolate with marshmallows. It was so great to enjoy the beautiful day and the canyon was absolutely gorgeous.

Kadee had so much fun, she giggled the whole time


Connor made me nervous, he flew down that hill!


Kinlee's first sledding trip

Happy New Year!

I guess I'm weird, but I always look forward to the possibilities of the new year. I always make resolutions, and this year is no exception. I am so excited for the new year and can't wait for all the fun things we have planned.


This last week we went on our annual after Christmas mini-vaca to Salt Lake. Saturday night Rory and Con went the Jazz game while Kadence, Kinlee, and I played games at my Uncle DR's house. Sunday we checked into our hotel and pretty much just swam all day long. The kids had a blast and even Kinlee enjoyed the water. Monday we went shopping, to a movie, and got Kin's ears pierced, they look so stinkin cute!!! She did so good, she didn't cry at all, except when I hit her head on one of the racks, ya I'm a great mom. She has her first ear infection, so she has been pretty miserable with that, but is finally starting to feel better.


Rory, Kin, and Kadee relaxing in the hot tub

Connor playing in the pool



Kinlee with one of her cute pierced ears



I've been thinking lately how so many things in life are out of our control. For example, when we were trying to get pregnant with Connor it took us 11 months, Kadence it only took us a month, and Kinlee it took us 7 months. Every time was so different and yet looking back I realize why it worked out the way it did. I understand that while so many things are out of our control, we have control over so many other things. Our attitudes, our relationships, and our careers. I was in a class last night and we talked a lot about our attitudes. One of the quotes the instructor read said that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. This is so true, it made me take a step back and realize that many times my attitude is holding me back. It controls my relationships, my career, and everything else in my life. I hope that with this realization I can learn to have a more positive outlook on life and embrace the things and people that matter most. That is my most important resolution.

Top 5 of 2010

Wow, what an amazing year it's been. Here's a recap of our top 5 happenings of 2010:

5. Kadence turned 4 years old in February. We can no longer call her "Kadee" and she is so stinkin smart. She has really been working hard on recognizing upper and lower case letters and loves to do sight words with Connor. She also loves to draw, write and color, and always has a pen or crayon in her hand. She started gymnastics this year (to go along with her 2nd year of dance) so she is a super busy girl. She has made lots of friends in preschool and I am going to miss her so much next fall when she goes to Kindergarten. Her favorite Christmas present this year was her Barbie Jeep and when we asked her why we celebrate Christmas she said because it's Santa's birthday!

4. Connor started Kindergarten!!! I can't believe my baby is in elementary school. It seems like just yesterday he was taking his first steps. He loves school and is doing so well. He is in the accelerated reader program and his teacher says he is one of the smartest students in her class. He played flag football this year for the first time and loved it. He is really into sports, especially basketball and football, and can't wait to play basketball in January. He likes to go across the street to Grandpa Denny's and play basketball after school. Connor's favorite present this year was his Wii and when we asked him why we celebrate Christmas he said, "because that's Heavenly Father's birthday."

3. Rory drew out for 2 awesome hunts. One was in Wyoming hunting Elk and the other was in Colorado hunting deer. He was gone A LOT for these hunts but had a really good time with his dad and his brother Kyle. He also started working part time at the hospital and so he works 2 weekends a month at the hospital. He is still the drug court tracker for Carbon County and is an active member of the SWAT team. Rory's favorite Christmas present was his Linkin Park concert tickets that his super sweet wife gave him.

2. I had my first preschool graduation and started teaching my second year of preschool after only a month of maternity leave. It was really hard to go back with Kinlee being so young, but I am finally back in my groove and am loving the kids I teach. Some of my favorite things we did this year was our camping trip in the Spring and our trip to Mesquite for Easter. I love Wellington Days and had so much fun helping Debbie announce the parade. Although it doesn't sound like we did much this year, I wouldn't change a thing. I love the day to day life with my family and have tried to remember that "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." My favorite present this year was my new HD video camera and my jewelry armoire. I've been asking for an armoire for 4 years, so I'm glad Rory finally got the hint!

1. The top experience that happened to us in 2010 was the birth of our little angel, Kinlee. She was born Aug. 15 and has added a lot of excitement to our house. She is a terrible sleeper and has a temper like you wouldn't believe, but we wouldn't trade her for anything. She is already trying to sit up and loves blowing spit bubbles. Her laugh is infectious and the kids love to smother her with hugs and kisses. We are so glad that we got to welcome the final addition to our family and are so blessed to have her. Kinlee's favorite present this year was from grandma Debbie and grandpa Derk. It is an aquarium that projects pictures onto the ceiling, it amazes her.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Growing Like Weeds

Wow! Where has November gone?! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner. This past week Connor had his Grandparents Program at school and Kadence had her Thanksgiving Program at Preschool. They both did so great and I am so proud of them. Connor had a speaking part in the Kindergarten program ("Hello, we are cold & hungry. We have traveled far."). Kadence said she is Thankful for sleepovers at her grandma's and got to sing some songs like Pink, I'm glad I'm not a Turkey, & I'm a little Turkey, to name a few.

Rory returned home from his Colorado hunt without a deer. He waited 15 years for this particular hunt, and felt bad coming away empty handed, but didn't want to shoot a small buck.

Kinlee had rice cereal for the first time and is getting so big. She is rolling over, laughing, cooing, and much more alert. I can't believe how big my baby is already!!

Our Thanksgiving was delicious as always. We ate with the Branch family this year and had our meal at the Wellington Stake Center. It was great because the kids could play basketball and wall ball in the gym. Rory's cousins brought a projection screen and set up the X Box and the adults stayed in the multipurpose room and played games. We ate until we thought we would explode, then Rory, Connor, and Kadence went to grandma Archie's and ate some more (Kinlee was fussy so her and I stayed home). That night a whole bunch of us girls went for hot cocoa and shopping at midnight. It was crazy, but so much fun. Candee, Erin Marchello, and I were giggling like school girls. Things are a lot funnier at 2 in the morning!

I am so thankful for my family. I am so blessed to have a great husband, kids, grandparents, mom, in laws, and friends. I love this time of year because it really makes us reflect on the important things in life.


Kadence in her Turkey hat at our Preschool Program


Connor with Nana and Grandma at his grandparents program


Connor feeding Kinlee her first bite of rice cereal

November Happenings

Our November has been pretty uneventful. Rory went hunting at the first of the month to Wyoming. He shot an elk and had lots of fun. This last week he went with Kyle to Colorado to hunt deer. Kyle got a buck and they are headed back in a couple days to see if Rory can get one.

Rory's Elk

Connor got a Citizenship Award for being a great student and had his picture in the paper for Red Ribbon Week, Kadee had Sparky the Fire Dog come visit her at school and won a backpack full of school supplies, & Kinlee turned 3 months old today. I was released as 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. This is the first time in 6 years that I don't have some sort of calling. It is weird, but also nice to go to church and not have any responsibilities.

Kinlee, 3 months old

One of my very favorite things about being a mom happens first thing in the morning. My kids usually wake up around the same time, they all come to my bed, and we lay there together, watch cartoons, and talk. I love that they still want to cuddle with me and we have some very interesting conversations. We laugh a lot and I know that these days won't last forever so I try to cherish every minute.

Snuggling in mom & dad's bed

Happy Halloween!!

For Halloween we went to our wards annual Trunk or Treat. I made Taco Soup, but there were so many delicious soups there that I didn't even try it. It was raining like crazy, so we left Kinlee with Debbie since Trunk or Treat is usually in the parking lot. They decided to have it inside the church so we paraded from room to room and collected candy. Afterward we went around Debbie's neighborhood and finally headed home. We had so much fun and I am really looking forward to the holidays.

My Handsome SWAT Guy

My Cute Little Kitty

My Adorable Scarecrow


Side note: Kadee has decided she wants to go by her full name, Kadence. I was telling Connor that we really need to try and remember to call her Kadence instead of Kadee. He thought for a minute and then excitedly said, "Ok, you can call me Chuck then!"

Grandma's Pumpkin Patch

I feel like all I have time for these days are quick updates. As I have mentioned before, this is my journal, so I feel it's important to update, but have a hard time finding the time. Kadee is in dance twice a week and gymnastics once a week, Connor just finished up flag football, and we all know how demanding newborn babies are. Hopefully one day soon I will feel like myself again and will rejoin the blogging world. For now this is it!

Debbie planted pumpkins in her garden this year and invited all the kids up to pick their own pumpkin. Well, we happened to go up in the middle of a massive rain storm so we pretty much grabbed our pumpkins and ran. We then headed to Kyle and Candee's to celebrate Landon's 4th birthday. The kids carved their pumpkins and then we had delicious cake and Landon opened presents. Kinlee had so much fun laying on the floor talking to MyKella. She would smile and coo at her like crazy. Connor and Kadee had so much fun and love spending time with their cousins.

Connor's Pumpkin was as big as him!

Kadee knew which one she wanted for a week before we actually picked them.

Kinlee laughing at Kella.

The next day a missionary from Fruita, CO came with 20 of his young men to visit the wonderful town of Wellington. He served his mission here in 1998 and spent a lot of time with Rory's family. It was really fun getting to know him and hear his mission stories. Debbie served sloppy joes and then had a fireside in her basement. We didn't get to stay since we already had plans to go to Orangeville, but it was a fun quick visit. Lucky (the missionary) told us that the first week he was transferred to Wellington he went with Debbie to drag Rory out of some girls house. It turns out it was my house, and I don't even remember it. I thought that was kind of a fun story, since Rory and I are now married with 3 kids, it is so crazy how life turns out.

We finally made it to Orangeville to take a picture of all the Curtis grandkids. There are 8 living and 1 who returned to his Heavenly Father shortly after he was born. I haven't talked about him much, but that baby has changed my whole life and has made me appreciate my babies so much more. He was due the same day as Kinlee and was born a few days after her. Jesse & Chancie had to say goodbye right after he was born and I admire their strength. I am so grateful that I am sealed to my family forever and that nothing can break that bond. I don't really know why I felt I should write the experience down, but I felt that I should, so there it is.

The Curtis Grandkids.