Much has changed....

A new chapter begins!

Introducing....{Lola} Boards

I am so excited to introduce to you {Lola} Boards!

I have known Lisa for 10 years. She is one of my very best friends, even though she is young enough to be my daughter. We have worked together at J. Brooks and have had many wonderful opportunities together as we have traveled to jewelry shows and conventions. One of my favorite experiences has been working side by side with her on many events at the jewelry store. She is so very creative and I'm in awe at her wonderful abilities and exquisite taste. I have always told her that she needs to utilize the gifts that she has been blessed with and start her own business. She is so talented and I'm in awe at the outcome of whatever Lisa puts her hands on. It always seems to turn into a wonderful masterpiece.

Well, today she announced that she was accepted into the "Sweet Sadie" boutique in Day Break on April 30Th-May 1st!

Wow!! What an honor! So....here's Lisa's first official item. Not to worry, boards will be just the beginning......

Way to go Lis! So proud of my girl!!

Visit her blog at www.lolaboards.blogspot.com and don't forget to attend the "Sweet Sadie" boutique the end of April.

Happy Birthday My Landon!! A little walk down memory lane!!

Cutest boy ever!!

I'm sure that you didn't know, but this was the first night without you! I had cried so much that I had to take my contacts out. Shelby was smelling all of your clothes and Lex and Blake were upstairs watching basket ball thinking that we were psycho!! Teri was in the room with us too, FYI!!

Sweet!! All of my boys!!

Headed to the dreaded room with the two doorways. I like the new curb approach!!

I couldn't think of anything that you would like better than for me to catch up my blog. It is my only journal and Shelby is going to help me get it in a book and so all of these many hours won't be in vain. I hope that you have enjoyed some of the catch up and I will try to get it caught up by next week. I am so grateful for you and your amazing service to our Heavenly Father. I love your attitide and your hard work. I know that you work hard and play hard. I love your sweet testimony and can't wait to have you home with us again so soon! I try not to count the days because it will go so slow if I do but I know it's just a few short weeks and you'll be home with your momma!! Thank you Landon for being you. You bless our lives in so many ways and I am honored to be your mother.

I'll love you forever......

Mom

Don't you worry, I didn't forget Shelby!!!

Call us crazy, but we took this just in case......you never know!!

First Date

Silly...

She even packed him.....love her!!

Shelby has been an amazing girlfriend. She has been a great example and a wonderful support. We Love You!!

WE MISS BRAXTON!! and Blake & Em!!

We were so glad to have Blake, Em and Braxton move into our basement for a few months. It was so fun to have Braxton here with us all of the time. We loved hearing little, ok big loud sounds early each morning as he was downstairs eating his breakfast. We really loved coming home from the gym and having him in his high chair and oh so happy to see his grandpa. He really could care less about me, unfortunately!! Hopefully when he gets older he'll love his Grams!! We're glad that we had him all to ourselves for a few months. It was also nice to have Blake and Emily here, especially at Christmas. Emily could get away from the chaos and the all night parties, when she was ready and Blake could stay until the last one went home. That's the yellow personality in him. I'm not sure where he got it. HAHA!! I do know there are a lot of them in this family during the holidays. So fun!!

The Party Begins!!

We all look forward to this week! My brother Arch, Kiley and family come from California and we begin the party. It always consists of our family's traditions which started many years ago before any of our kids were even thought of. My mom let us play games, party and not clean for the whole holiday. Now that we have had to move the party to Sandy, we do the same routine but in several different locations. Cris hosts Christmas Eve. The acting of the Nativity is now our children and our children's children. The older ones get a little grumpy but the younger ones love it, just like the older one's once did. It's magic! Once the Nativity is complete, then comes the gift exchange from their cousins. Mom always makes everyone pajama pants and other wonderful items. We always watch "Luke 2". Then the siblings retire to a more quiet area of the house and we exchange our gifts. There are usually some tears shed as we love to give the emotional gifts that really touch the heart. The kids usually wonder in to feel the wonderful spirit of giving. Each year the pictures all look the same and so this year I got some shots of the people!! Oh how they love their grandma!

And the homemade pajama pants that grandma makes

Never to big to enjoy the thrill that the holiday brings

What will the fabric look like this year? Will we really get them again? She's getting older, can she really make that many again?

When Riley's teacher asked who comes at Christmas, she replied," Cambria and Nicko",

(Arch's children)

Love the feeling in the air....

and we love eachother.....

We are so good. We've even made our children love each other!!

The Nativity in action...

Here's the grumpy older child..

He has to pretend that he hates it. He's much too old for this!

Elle finally got to be Mary and we had a number of canditates for Baby Jesus this year! Jace won!

The Sibling Gift Exchange

I gave mom and Kathleen calendars with lots of pictures of dad.

Christmas Morning......

The Party goes on and on and on.....

We retire to the living room for our quiet games......usually around 2:00 A.M.

Remember, babies are sleeping at these hours..... mommies can play!

Lots and lots of games of "Skum" to our family known as "Butthead"

Shelby fits just perfect and we hope that we get to keep her some day.

Santa got it right with the new Wii game, "Just Dance"

We were up most of the night playing games, eating, watching movies and eating some more. We're so tired that we can't keep our eyes open. At that point we go from the table to the living room where we play quiet games like "Scattergories." One night I asked why we just don't go to bed and play in the daytime when we're awake. Jessica reminded me that's the only time that they can all play because of all of the babies. It's true. We were blessed with 6 babies in our family last year and several of them are at my house during this week. We have each bedroom with the pack n plays and wall to wall bodies. It's truly a mess and I sometimes cheat a bit and do some clean up. I am quickly reminded by my kids that it's tradition and we get to have it be a mess. A big stretch for me but when I think back on how much it meant to me to have my "clean freak" mom live in a mess for a week, it helps me remember to enjoy the mess and cherish the fun. It all gets back together somehow and the walls of our home await the next time that we can all be together again. Hopefully, all in heaven some day where my mom and dad pray that there won't be any empty chairs! We miss our dad but know that he's happy watching us carry on the traditions of "Idaho Christmas's" past! We missed you too Landon and can't wait to see your cute face again real soon!!!

Braxton turns 1!!!

The Birthday Boy! Brax is going to love birthdays in this family. We have birthday week!!

A true Tracy, no hesitation at all! We love our food!

Jess, Elyse, and Jace

Oh, he's sharing with Grams! This is all that you need to know as to why the "mommies went wild." Oh, much better!!

Braxton's Grandma Susan made this for the party. They loved it! Well, most of them loved it!

Emily out did herself on Braxton's party! She worked so hard and I'm sure that someday when he looks at the pictures he will appreciate it more! All of the cousins and mom's came and as you can see, they all had a grand time. These pictures will explain the earlier post of "mommies gone wild"... maybe a break is needed sooner than we planned.

We love having a grandchild so much and it has been so much fun having Braxton every morning when we come home from the gym. We call it, Braxton for Breakfast!!

I can honestly say that I didn't plan on loving him so much, but it's the truth....grandchildren are grand!!

WE LOVE YOU BRAXTON!!

The Tree Goes Up!!

I've decided that I have never taken a picture of us putting up the tree. Why? Because by the time that I have helped decorate the 2 jewelry stores, I am not interested in doing my own. It usually is a hurried job, just trying to get another assignment done. That's kind of what happens when you work in retail. The holiday season is my best friend and my worst enemy. Doing the designer shows at J.Brooks takes several weeks preparing and decorating the stores. Then, hopefully we are very busy and oh so tired. Shopping at very late hours is a common routine for Lex and I.
This year, I had agreed to have the
progressive dinner dessert at my home. I was so glad that I did. It made me put more effort into my own home's decor and it was so beautiful. Lew is always willing to help and he definitely has the "touch of the master's hand." It was fun to have mom come and help and then we all went over and did her tree. I hope that I will always take the time to enjoy all aspects of the holiday season. I truly love it and am glad that we created a new experience.