The New Year's Resolutions Have Begun

Part of our New Year's resolution, exercise together twice a week and swim once a week. And maybe Stef, Mandy, and me will pose for a picture like this soon.....yea, right!

Remember when we felt that free to pose in a bathing suit....No I don't, either.

Bailey and Kelsee - cute models.

Kelsee stayed along the edge of the pool, even though it was really shallow. She's still a little afraid and Mandy is VERY overprotective. We were teasing her about it.

The kids pool takes up three-quarters of the place with lots of fun slides and water falls. I was so afraid of getting my camera wet and staying covered with my towel that these pictures aren't the best.

Kelsee has this thing about posing - when you want to take her picture, she just freezes the way she is at that moment, it cracks me up.

Logan wasn't afraid to pose....but the adults threatened my life if I took pictures of them.

Well, our New Year's resolutions have begun! Stefany, Mandy, and me decided to get some exercise (no saying of the bad word...DIET....) and have some fun as well. We've got this old exercise "walking" tape that is for women over 40 (they are trying to cut me some slack) and we did the 30 minute work-out twice this week and lived, then went swimming. We have that beautiful fitness center just a block away, and you don't have to join and pay a yearly fee if you don't want. You can just "pay as you go". It's such a nice facility. They have exercise machines (all the latest) an inside track, the pool (beautiful kids pool and lap pool for adults). It was a lot of fun, even though it was pouring snow when we came outside. I got a couple of cute pictures of Stef and Mandy, but they threatened me with my life if I posted them. Now me on the other hand, I would have loved to have my picture in a swimming suit posted here, but it's not HALLOWEEN yet. I wouldn't want to scare someone.

We had a good time and really got some good exercise. I can't believe how out of shape we are. We SAT and watched (hahahaha) a couple of tapes we were trying to work up to and I thought, right, I'll be able to do THAT. One baby step at a time, right? Anyway, we are off to a good start.

Nothing much else has happened in the last two weeks. It's been a slow-starting year, with very weird weather. We've had a couple of days of wind blowing that nearly took our heads off, a couple days of snow, and some beautiful sunny "warm" days. I think the weather this year doesn't know what it wants to do. I prefer the cold, sunny days, but also like the snow more than I used to since I don't have to drive to work in it anymore.

LaRay and I went shopping last Saturday, to spend our gift certificates from the Hospital at the Layton Mall. Since we were in Layton, we visited Julie and saw her new house. It's beautiful. I can't believe I forgot my camera so I could get some pictures for you. I'm not used to taking it everywhere I go - thinking ahead for the BLOG. hahahaha

Everyone is well (for a change) and happy. My wrist is feeling better, but LaRay and I still have sciatica (complain, complain, complain). If dad could only hear us complain......we obviously don't have his ability to "suffer in silence". Oh well. I hope you are all well and getting a grip on your resolutions. We love and miss you. Have a good week. Make a comment if you want to, I love hearing from everybody. Love, Helen

It's a New Year--Unbelievable!

Krissy and Niki got some money from their Grandpa Bob, so they decided to use it at "Build-A-Bear". They got to go through the process of "building" and choosing everything for the bear they wanted. They choose outfits for them and push on the pedals to help the ladies fill them with "fluff". They can make them as soft and gooshy or as firm as they want them. What an idea! They had a blast.

They make a big deal of each customer choosing the heart for their bear (they do a dance with the heart, etc) After the bears are stuffed, the hearts are sewn inside.

The bears have been stuffed and now have to have a bath to make sure they are clean to go home.

After they get all put together, before they dress them, they have to be blown dry from their bath. If you look closely, you can see the fur being blown from the yellow "blowdryers".

Krissy chose a Kong bear, complete with fatigues and dog (monkey, I guess) tags. They even got birth certificates stating the date of birth, name, etc. Really cute.

Niki's bear was a "special addition" that won't be around forever. I LOVED the shoes (check out the bunny slippers and clogs).

The girls were so proud of their finished products and happily posed by the tree.

LaRay and Kerry are doing their best impression of Vanna White.

Short by one sister . . . and we feel it.

Kay didn't want his picture taken, but we made him. And Shadow was guarding him.

Let's get this party started. . . Happy New Year.

Hailey and Bailey (notice Bailey's teeth - or lack of them. She keeps pulling them out).

I love being a mom.

Mother and daughter hug.

What is there to eat, Stef? (Scott's new haircut....brrrr).

Official party queen.

Triplets, plus one.

Logan, Cameron, Grammy, and Cedes playing "Trouble".

These guys are "Clue"-less.

Hailey just missed it. . . she fell asleep at 11:30.

Happy 2006!

This year's gotta be better than last.......

I'm laughing now, but wait until I have to clean up this mess.

Kelsee was still awake and having fun.

Cameron, too.

Well, I can't believe the week has flown by, but it's a new year. We've had a lot of fun this week and done lots of fun things. During the week, I went over the visit the Barbre's and I got to meet Krissy and Niki's newest addition to the family - Their "Build-A-Bears". LaRay kept calling them "Stuff-A-Bear", but Krissy corrected her every time, "Build-A-Bear" grandma! They were really cute (her and the bears). Kerry had pictures of the whole process, I just couldn't put them all on the blog. It's sure fascinating though, and the girls had a blast. (Why can't we think up such brilliant ideas to rake in some cash?)

Kay had a tough Christmas weekend - he was really sick, but I got his picture anyway. Shadow is by his side all the time when he is home, but it's funny when he's sick, she like "guards" him. I know that dog knows me, but still barks like I'm trying to kill his darling owner everytime I step in the house. (He'd probably let me kill LaRay - but I could not harm a hair of Kay's head or he'd tear my throat out. He's small, but tough). Kay's feeling a little better now, but we all know what a bad disease that is. FLU! I hate it. LaRay and Kerry posed by the tree in the "cowboy room". Their house looked so pretty and all decorated for Christmas. With my tiny tree and no room for anything, it's a real difference to see a real house with regular decorations. hahahahahaha

My family had a New Year's Eve Party at Stef's house. We just played games, pigged out, and laughed. We played Trouble, Clue, Malarky (Grammy is the BEST liar), the kids version of Outburst, and Guestures. Sarah was definitely the best at Guestures, but I have to admit, that group playing Clue needed to get one - we laughed our heads off over their stupid mistakes. The boys even got a few hands of poker in (they wouldn't let me play, cuz I beat them - told them its cuz I pay my tithing). hahaha

We did our "midnight" thing with party horns and confettii and had a great time. It's always nice to be together. I hope you all have a great New Year and are able to keep all the resolutions you have made. I have only made two or three and hopefully, I'll be able to keep them. I love and miss you all. I'm grateful we have such a close family. Love, Helen xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox