I really should be cleaning my house....

...but I haven't blogged in forever!  And I find myself checking often to see if my friends have updated their blogs and I get so excited when they do and yet I don't update my own!  Don't want to write too much but to tell the story of the last -- - - - - - - months in pictures.  We had some major things happen and if you are friends with me on Facebook you have already seen it all, but here it is again for posterity purposes.

I'll try to start at the beginning of the end of the last part -ha ha ha

The plan is to do two or three months at a time.  Hopefully finishing up tonight.  :)

Here is November thru February:

Haylee's 10th birthday

This picture is out of order -It is Sierra's improv group taking a bow at the end of their show in February.  They are HILARIOUS!

Joe, HD, and Grandpa Huhmann decorating the outside of our house for Christmas.

 HD played in the county All Star Game for soccer he is on the front row in the middle

It was FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!

Each of the kids has their own Christmas tree:  here is Haylee with hers

HD -seriously had to bribe him to get this pic but it is the last year he will decorate it before Christmas break

Sierra was taking too long to decorate hers apparently so here is a pic with her undecorated tree

 Sierra got inducted into the National Honors Society -HD got to walk her across the stage :)

 Haylee was super sick on Christmas Day and ended up in the ER to check for strep.  :(

 D and Sis were with their dad for Christmas this year (which explains no jammies) but I still made them wait on the stairs for a picture. :)

 Christmas Eve we got a surprise visit from our good friends the Stevens family they drove 180 miles out of the way to see us!  :)  This is Haylee and her best friend Kara.

 Me and my bestie Mione on New Years Eve

 Our 2011 Party Rock  :)

 HD turned 18 and got accepted to BYU!!!!!  He leaves in just over a month!

 Before the Priest/Laurel dinner dance

HD took over command of his JROTC unit -

Ok more to come later!!  :)  

Quick Haylee funny

Happy 2012!!!! Can you believe it? Time just flies!!!!

Wanted to get down this quick Haylee funny before I forgot. We were watching TV last night and a commercial for Cymbalta came on and it is a typical medicine commercial talking about the benefits and the side effects. As you all know when you watch these commercials it seems like the side effects list is a mile long -they want to tell you all the possibilities even though the side effects are usually minimal -anyway, the commercial ends and Haylee says:

"Wow. Seems like Cymbalta would make everything worse except your depression!" We were cracking up.

I love that kid.

:) Happy New Year everyone!

Fall pics

We are busy as usual -it NEVER ends..... but that's ok! Life is full and happy! A quick update on the fab five:

HD: Senior! Crazy busy with school and sports. Doing AWESOME was only 2 percentage points shy of a 4.25 GPA first quarter!!!! Applying to college, will be finished applying by Thanksgiving. #1 choice for school BYU. Was selected to play in the high school county all star game for soccer. Drives everywhere (BEST THING EVER!) Is doing great all around.

Sierra: Junior! Gorgeous! I am going to have to lock her in the basement. :) She is so amazing and strong and brave. I have blogged about her medical issues before and they are ongoing. I believe we are very close to a diagnosis and even though she is in consent pain she is almost always found with a smile. She made the improv team at school and LOVES it! That girl was born to be a star! Academics are awesome. She is hanging in there. :)

Haylee J: 4th grader. First year in public school. LOVING it. Her teachers are awesome. She made the honor roll and she just tested at a early 9th grade reading level! She was elected to the Student Counsel earlier in the week and is so excited and cute about it all. She is will finish up playing soccer this weekend and has had a great time doing it as usual although it did take some getting used to as far as balancing her schedule goes.

Joe: Taking two classes at once, he usually doesn't do that slow and steady is the name of the game for him :) -doing great busy at work but has a very consistent daytime schedule which we both love. He went to Vegas and Nashville in the last month but both only for a few days, otherwise he is home. We are SO LUCKY.

Me: I am always running in 10 directions at once but everything seems to get done and miraculously everyone gets where they need to go. Lots of doctors appointments for Sierra has made our hectic schedule even more complicated but Joe has been amazing to help get kids to and fro and we will run ourselves into the ground to get Sierra feeling better. I am so thankful to still be staying home even with all the kids in school. It is the ONLY way I am keeping on top of our crazy life. :) I am the PTO Secretary and 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. Can't believe how fast time is going. I am thankful for my amazing kids-really they are the BEST, my supportive husband, a warm home, awesome people in my life,

my cute dog, and countless other things!!!! Hope you are all doing great!!!!

I took these pics two weeks ago and just today had time to edit them. LOVE these kids! :)

I have gorgeous children. I am bias but hey I'm their mom! :)

I took these pics two weeks ago. Haylee is 10!!! HD is 17 -he will be 18 in two short months, and Sierra is sweet 16!

Quick post!

Just a quick post to let you all know I am still alive. Were you worried? I thought I would have a lot more time to blog with all the kids being in school but it seems that you just put on more hats to fill up the time and end up having no time left over. Lol. So while I am busy being a mom, chef, CHAUFFER, nurse, maid, PTO Secretary, 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency (church), cheerleader etc..... I had to write down this Haylee funny before I forgot

This past weekend while watching General Conference for church, President Monson was giving a talk at then end of the Sunday morning session and he said something to the effect of "you may think there are people in the world that are having more fun than you are" to which Haylee replied "I feel like that" -I was surprised to hear my 9 year old say that. Does she really feel "restricted" at only 9 years old? So I said "You do?" trying to get some clarification she replies with "Yeah, I think people in the world are having more fun than me right now. You won't even let me read!" I was cracking up! Here I am thinking in a spiritual sense but she just meant right at that very moment. Too funny!!

Confession

I just confessed a little white lie to my Haylee. Her response? "It's ok mom, but I think you need to get a bigger spiritual shield" LOL!!! Out of the mouths of babes right?

I will be repenting in my prayers later this evening and asking Heavenly Father to help me build up my shield. :)

Sharing an idea....

Wow, we have had the busiest summer on record! We have been traveling, going to camp, and having visitors. I will blog about all that stuff later. For now I had to share one of the best ideas I have heard in a long time!!!! I have a friend in my Stake that posted this today and I loved it so much I am going to do it next year and I wanted to share it with all of you.

It has to do with Christmas cards. Each year I pack the cards we received that year in with the Christmas decorations and one of my favorite things about getting our house ready for Christmas is re-reading the cards we received the year before. I love looking at all the pictures and reading the cute letters and sweet messages. Well my friend Kiersten, who rocks for all kinds of reasons but this one takes the cake, posted today about a new tradition their family did this year. They put all the cards they received in a basket and each night before family prayer they took out a card and talked about that friend or family member. Then they included that person in their prayer that evening. How sweet is that????? I absolutely love this idea and am so happy that I know amazing people so I can steal their fabulous ideas and in the process become a better person. :) It's a win, win for me really. Thanks Kiersten for being awesome!!!

Sweet Sixteen

*She is smart!

*She is funny!

*She is amazingly talented!

*She is getting her learner's permit in a few days (Heaven help us!) lol

*She is so BRAVE!

*She is brimming with confidence!
*She is sweet -mostly.

*She is always willing to help with whatever is asked of her.

*She is sixteen years old today.

*She can DATE (Y I K E S!!!!!) -I think I am changing the rules!

*She got tickets to see the Broadway Musical Wicked for her birthday below is a video of her reaction it is PRICELESS