My oldest is 15 (3 months ago)

It didn't quite hit me that I had a fifteen year old until we let him drive for the first time! What a weird feeling to have your son drive you around, I'm not sure I like it!

Corbin turned 15 on the 5th of March, he loves to mountain bike so we went all out and bought him this....

A SWEET Schwinn beach crusier!

Ha, Ha Grandma and Grandpa Kerby had just purchased these SWEET bikes and they thought it would be fun to play a little joke on the boy... They made a cute happy birthday Corbin sign and put that along with a big bow on Grandpas bike. At home Corbin is opening his gifts one of which was a note in a empty IPod touch case that said to go to Grandmas house. He got down there, saw the bike and of course was very polite, and pretended to like it (I've taught him well) He even took it out for a little spin.

Then we showed him his real gift which was the mountain bike that he has wanted for a year, that we told him was to expensive to get.

Needless to say he was much more excited with this bike than Grandpas.

Happy Birthday Corbinski

We love you

Bike Races

This year the boys started to do a few mountain bike races, and with only a little prodding from mom and dad

(They are not quite as motivated as their sister)

they are doing wonderful and having a blast.


Our first race was in St. Goerge, so we loaded up our trailer, 6 bikes and a friend for Haylee and Headed down south for a little vacation.

We went to a fun park and let the kids climb around the red rocks.

This is the kids climbing through the crack.

Me and Phil just got to watch

(We didn't fit in the crack!)

I am still amazed at the skill and endurance that Corbin has, even with to metal rods in his legs, and just having surgery in November he still makes it look easy!

Him and his dad pre rode the 9 mile loop, and as you can see from the picture below, it kicked Phil's but!

I pre rode Nate's 2 mile loop with him and I about died!

Corbin after riding the trail with his dad!

Phil after riding the course

Haylee and Brittlyn on top of the arch

The boys did great, and we all had alot of fun!

We shopped, raced, hiked, and ate!

What more could you ask for!

Haylee

Long over due update...

So long in fact, that I'm starting in February!

Haylee had her Fireside dance review in February, it is my favorite recital that she has, I love that the girls learn how to express their testimony through music and dance.

I love that Haylee loves to dance.

(and that she is good at it, because I'm NOT!)

I love that I never have to fight with her about going to dance.

(Like I did with piano lessons!)

I love that she has the desire to do EVERYTHING!
(track, relay for life, dance, ballroom dancing, volleyball)

I love that she is nice to everyone.

(except her brothers at times)

I love that her choice in careers changes with the day.

(Dance teacher, hair dresser, Nurse practitioner, and most recently a photographer)

I love that she is a easy teenager

(Knock on wood)

I love that she is my daughter!

The many adventures of Ricky Raccoon and Nate

This is Ricky Raccoon. He was added to our household by Uncle Josey, Thank you Uncle Josey!! It was given to Corbin and meant to be hung as a decoration in Corbin's room, but oh too quickly, Nate took over ownership.

Now Ricky is Nate's........

And these are the many adventures of Ricky and Nate....

#1. I am rudely awakened from a peaceful slumbering sleep, by rolling over and having my face snuggled up against Ricky's lovely fur!!! And then Nate pops up and yells "GOTCHA!"

#2. Ricky is now on top of Nathans head and down his back as he belly crawl around the couch to sneak up on Corbin and his girlfriend holding hands on the couch.

#3. Nate is wearing nothing but some boxers and Ricky is wrapped around his chest, while Nate pretends to be an Indian.

#4. And last but not least...

Haylee: DAD..... Will you PLEASE.... tell Nate to stop combing his RACCOON WITH MY BRUSH!!!

Phil & Shan: NATE!!!! (we yell as we look at each other trying not to laugh)

Nate: What? (walking in holding Ricky the Raccoon and lovingly stroking it's fur with her brush)

Phil: Quit using Haylee's brush on your Raccoon. Better yet DON'T BRUSH IT AT ALL!!!

Shan: I swear Nate I am going to nail that thing to the ceiling if you don not leave it ALONE!!

Nate: (after examining the brush closely) Theres not even any fur in it.

And now to end our post, a funny little story about Nate....

Phil was telling Nate at dinner that he was going to pour water on him to wake him up in the morning. Next thing we know Nate comes down in this.... Wearing about 10 t shirts and 7 pairs of pants he proceeds to tell Phil.... I don't think I'll get cold or wet wearing these......

Doesn't he remind you a little bit of Joey from Friends

"Could I BE wearing anymore clothes!"

You'll shoot your eye out

Nathan got his first gun for Christmas.

It is a 22 Cricket.

Yes I know, what in the world were you thinking.

He didn't shoot his eye out, nor anyone Else's!

Actually one of the first things he said when he opened his gun is

"where is the safety?"

He also had us immediately put it in the gun safe.

What a good little guy!

What can I say, he was taught by the best. Phil was over firearms training when he was an officer, he also got the award for the best marksman in his police academy class.

We took him and Corbin out shooting and he had a ball.

It is a single shot gun so he had to reload each time he shot. He used up a whole box of shells, and his little hands were cold as ice.

There was a ton of junk that other people had shot at. So we had quite the choice of objects to shoot at. A TV, Busted pumpkins, numerous boxes, bottles, and boards. A Frisbee

(Nate loved this the best)

and a few clay pigeons.

What a fun day, he didn't want to leave he was having so much fun!

Christmas (the condensed version)

We had alot of fun this Christmas.

Aside from it being the busiest time of year for Phil,

getting home at 9:00 at night, we actually all survived it.

We started out Christmas Eve by going to the cemetery to put out some luminaries.

Then we made our way to Phils mom and dads house for Christmas Eve dinner.

We came back to our house to set out some Cookies and milk for Santa, and magic food for the reindeer.

Phil read the Night Before Christmas book to the kids, and we sent them to bed! Really!!

All that I ask for is just one good picture!

Christmas day we ate the traditional Christmas casserole breakfast, and hung out at home, then we went to my mom and dads for Christmas Dinner.

We hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and a great New Year

The UPS man

Here's a little story about a boy and the UPS man....

Everyday, at almost the same exact time the UPS man drives by Nate's school. And almost everyday, at the same exact time that the UPS man drives by the school, Nate is out to recess. And being the kind UPS man that Phil is, he gets treats from the businesses that he delivers to. So Nate will come up to the fence and the UPS man will give him a treat then head on his way. One day, not too long ago the UPS man drove by the school and didn't see the little boy, so he brought the treat home and put Nate's name on it and left it on the table for him to eat when he got home from school....

That same night when the UPS man got home from work, he asked Nate how he liked the treat, and of course Nate replied that he loved it. Well there is a daughter in this household and she hears this exchange and in turn she replies.....

Haylee: I saw that treat, and I was all excited, till I saw Nate's name on it.

Nate: Dad gives me treats all the time.

Haylee: WHAT.... How come you never give me treats?

Dad: Do I ever see YOU at recess?

Haylee: Well no.... but I would love to come home and see a treat on the table with my name on it!
This is what I found when I got home from the store today!