Here's to good friends and a wonderful daughter!

So..... Ray's been gone for almost 2 weeks now and let me tell you being a single parent definitely has its challenges. I feel for the parents whose spouses are overseas fighting for the freedoms and joys we have that we so often take for granted. I've needed a night out with the girls for a few days now. Not that I'm sick of my children...I truly cherish them and love them to pieces but let's be honest adult conversation definitely has it's perks. My sweet and wonderful daughter watched her brothers tonight so I could go out with two of my good friends. I'm really blessed to have a loving and responsible daughter. I must say though it's still a little weird for me to have a daughter that has reached that time in her life that she's of babysitting age...... it seems like yesterday she was in preschool..... so not fair. Anyway, it was a well needed and greatly appreciated gift that Breanna gave to me tonight. I'm so grateful for good friends. I really feel blessed to have so many great friends that would seriously drop anything and help me out. Yah for girlfriends and a great daughter :)

Gabrielle, Kristen and ME!


Awesome daughter!

I forgot to mention that I chopped 5 inches off of my hair today!!!

My little sis is a mommy!

My little sister Heather just had her baby this morning. I'm so excited for her and her husband Chris. It seems like yesterday that I had my first little baby. It's times like this I wish I lived back in Cali so I could be there to hold that sweet baby girl and be with my sister. She weighed in at 6lb. 8 oz. 19inches. They named her Paisley Eleanor...pretty huh.

Finally!!!

This post is mainly for Ray to see (he's still in Asia) that the valance has been hung...Yah!!!! I had this valance made over 6 months ago and embarrassingly enough I just hung it today. The Drapes next to it and the valances in the kitchen we hung right away but, for some reason we puttered out and never got to this one. My friend Melanie was over last week and said "Jenn, we need to hang your valance...I'll help you" and, so she did. She called this afternoon, came over and we hung it in about a hour. It sure is great to have good friends.

It was a Happy Halloween!

I can tell the kids had a great time tonight because they couldn't stop telling me how fun today was and they fell asleep as soon as their sweet little heads hit the pillow. I don't think they'd change a thing except for having their Dad here to celebrate with (he's in Asia for a couple of week). If you're reading this we miss you! Hugs and Kisses to you XXXOXOXOOOO. Every year we have a Halloween potluck block party and then we break out into groups for trick or treating. We had a great turn out and the kids had a blast playing football.
Braden was the cutest thing tonight. He was so excited about everything and was loving everyone's decorations. Whenever he would see something scary he would screech (loudly) and cover his eyes.... he really was the cutest little spider. Breanna headed out with some of our friends for a girls trick or treating night. Me and my friend Jill took out a large group of boys trick or treating. It was a lot of fun and we have WAY TO MUCH CANDY. I think I'm going to head over to a local orthodontist who buys the candy for 2$ a pound and sends it to the troops oversees...... good cause and A LOT less left around to eat :) I hope everyone else had a Happy Halloween.

Brett and some of his friends trick or treating


Breanna, Sam, Jamie and McCAll trick or treating


Braden loved this house it was seriously well decorated with scary stuff and he couldn't get enough. It took me a good 10 minutes to get him to walk away.


Braden in his Limo


Braden and Carson

Brett and Kaden

Brett fueling up for some more football

Blake with his best buddy Ian.

Braden hanging out with the big kids and Daisy the dog that if he could he would bring home with him. He LOVES dogs and me and Brett are allergice...poor guy:(

Bre as Raggedy Ann

It wouldn't be a block party without football :)

Carving Pumpkins

Tonight me and the kids carved our pumpkins. It wasn't the same without Ray though, he is definitely better at it than me. He's WAY more creative when it comes to drawing and carving. Brett and Bre worked together and did a great job. Me and Blake worked together... Blake was very focused and knew exactly what he wanted and was great at giving me his detailed instructions. Braden...well he loved playing in all of the pumpkin guts :). He is fascinated by all the Halloween traditions and costumes. It's so fun to see him get excited over everything and a bit scared too. Last night we had a trunk or treat at our church and there were some pretty scary creatures there that made Braden run to me and duck for cover. Too cute. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!


Bre decided using plastic gloves were
the way to go...Good thinking Bre

Braden is loving it!


ooie gooie pumpkin guts


More oooie gooie pumpkin guts :)

The kids are just getting started!


Me and Blake's Pumpkin


Bre and Brett's Pumpkin

Trip Home :)

This past weekend I went back home for 4 days to see my family and attend my little sister Heather's baby shower. It was really great to see my family and have fun with them. Being together really helps you remember how great it is to be a family and to be close with one another. I can honestly say we all get along great and love to be together. Ray being the stud that he is held down the fort so I could go. It was hard for him given that he was working from home and several unexpected things came up that made life a little bit harder for him seemed to arise. He was a trooper and pulled through and was able to have some great quality time with the kiddos before he left for China and Malaysia for two weeks this past Sunday.

Trip to Utah

Last week we heading up to Utah for General Conference for our church. We wanted Breanna and Brett to be able to attend in person since they are old enough (you have to be at least 8 to attend). They really thought it was great and were impressed with everything and best of all they could feel the spirit that is there. We got to get together with our friends the Freezes, Lindsey's and Shattuck. It was so great to reconnect with them and see our #1 babysitter Lizzie. All in all it was a great trip. We hit the Grand Canyon on our way up and Bryce Canyon and Zions National Park on the way home. Can I just say how magnificent these places are.....how can people not believe in a God when you see his wondrous creations?? The kids loved all the National Parks. I think their favorite was Zions.... on the last stop @ the park there was a river and lets just say they were very wet on the bus ride back to the car :)

Breanna playing in the water @ Zion's


Braden taking a rest stop @ Bryce Canyon


Braden loved this little area it's hard to see but he has a stick in his hand. He spent 10 minutes playing with that stick and throwing it in the water and retrieving it....so cute.


Blake playing in the water @ Zion's


Brett on his rock @ Zion's

Brett, Natalie, Breanna and Meghan @ General COnference.

Me and the kids on top of the conference center...Ray's taking the picture :)

This is Lizzie with the kids. She was the kids babysitter for the whole 6 years we lived in Hollister, CA she is absolutely the BEST. She's part of the family.

This is what Ray does when I am not looking.....goes out on a ledge at the Grand Canyon and has Breanna take a picture of him....can you say heart attack!

The family @ the Grand Canyon!