2nd Annual Candy Making Jubilee

Yesterday we cooked and we slaved away in the kitchen. It was most magnificent! We dipped chocolates this year for our candy making tradition. We had a great time.

Chocolates dipped:

*buttercream

* fudge

*fudge mint

*pretzel caramels

*salted caramels

*Lemon cake bites

*Raspberry cake bites

After we finished that we topped it off with some toffee, and fudge.

The fun began at noon, we closed up the factory at 10:45. It is a great tradition that we have started that I just LOVE. So do the recipients...

Love you ladies like I love a good day in the kitchen!

Let the Games begin...

The process of dipping is really messy. You pour the melted chocolate onto the counter.

The mess

Don't think that the kids were neglected. They enjoyed each other's company and had A LOT of candy.

Putting the chocolates in paper.

The finished product. YUM

I tried to be a photographer!

FUDGE!

Hey Soul Sister...

Introducing Henry and Colin as the new "Train" singing Soul Sister.

Hank and Colin (Soul Sister)

The Escapes at Entrada!

Henry Walker has done it again! We have a screaming deal in St. George and the famous Entrada Resort. The prices are amazing and the location is stunning. Check it out...

Salt Lake Temple...1 more temple to touch!

We went to touch this temple the night they turned on the lights. We had such a great time in the FREEZING cold weather. This has been a fun challenge and I am sorry to see it end. We have been talking about what we will do for next year. Maybe we can try and touch every temple in Cali! Wouldn't that be a fun excuse for a really long trip to California! Here are our photos!

This is the tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Jack, Jacob, Hank, Ethan, Nataleigh, Ruth

Our fun friends who have taken on this challenge with us.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving weekend is one of our favorite times of the year. Good food, shopping, friends, family, and GRATITUDE. I have so much to be thankful for. I would list it all, but I feel it a little personal. Here are my top 5.

1. My little ones

2. My Hubby

3. My testimony of the True Church

4. My Home

5. My Savior

We had Thanksgiving at my mom's this year, with just my siblings. It was so quiet and small. The food was great, and Ashlie announced she is expecting in June! So great!!

Me, my mom, my sister, and my two sister in laws did Black Friday. Starting at 8:30 on Thanksgiving night until 7:00 am the next morning. It was so fun! We went to Park City outlets, Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Home Depot, Toys r us, and Robert's. It was so fun to be with those ladies and shop the night away.

We also went to Colin's parents on Friday night for some fun with our cousins.

Saturday we went to see Tangled. We partied like Rock Stars and thoroughly enjoy Thanksgiving 2010!!

Jazz BABY!

SO...this is so much fun...Henry Walker is advertising with the Jazz. The perks are so AMAZING. Last monday night Colin got 4 tickets court side to the game. He took Ruth, Hank, Jack, and Ellie. They had such an amazing time. They were on the Jumbotron, the Jazz Bear came and gave them all fives, they got to shake the hands of some of the players. It was a fun night. Thanks HWH:-)

I love these girls!

Jack, could you smile?

Reflections

This year Ruth entered the Reflections contest and she WON! Hurry for our little budding artist. The theme was, "Together we can..." She said, "Be Happy!" She did the most darling drawing of all different kids under a rainbow, on a canvas with oil pastels. What a sweet little girl, with such innocence. There was a big award ceremony and her picture has gone on the the next level of the competition. Way to go RUTHIE!!

They asked them to hold up their pictures so that people could see them. She was so proud to hold that up!

I am going to get a scanned image of the picture when I get it back and I will post it on my blog. As for now you can kind of see it.

Some of her biggest fans!!

Annually...

Cheif C.R. Badges, and London Wilton

This year we did a murder mystery...first time.

I was the victim! Kind of fun night, thanks guys!

Happy Birthday JACK-o-lantern!

My little baby turns four on Halloween! When he was born we had talked about naming him Jack, but Colin was a bit reluctant. It seemed to be more popular. My Grandpa was named Jack and he passed away when I was younger. It is a very special name for me. I was due on November 22! So you can imagine our surprise when Jack came on HALLOWEEN! (Personally, I loved missing out on the last 4 weeks of H*#%$!)

This is the amazing part about Jack's birth. Halloween is also my grandpa Jack's birthday! I know that my grandpa and I were thinking the same thing, and we knew we HAD to convince Colin that Jack was the name! It worked. Thanks Grandpa...for hand delivering one of the most precious gifts of my life.

Jack is so fun and a typical 4 year old: precocious, loud, independent, shy, with a lot of loves and kisses where his mom is concerned. I love him.

Happy Birthday my little man!

Sneak Peek...

Ruthie 2003

Ruby 2010

Family Pictures!

Here is a fun picture of my cute family!

Another year, different student!

I have had a student in Ms. Chris' preschool class for the past 4 years! Today was the annual halloween party and parade. Jack-o was my man of the hour. He went as batman, and he was pumped. I got to stay and help with the party. It was really great to be there and observe him. It always surprises me the way they act. He was quiet, but no quite shy. He wasn't clingy and didn't really seem to notice I was there, but didn't mind the millions of kisses I was giving him when I could. He seemed so comfortable. Just what I like!

Jack also experienced, for the first time, a birthday celebration at school. He loved it. I got to tell the class all about Jack, and how great he is, and then they sang to him. I sure love this little man!

Pack Pumpkin Patch x2!!

We go to Pack's Pumpkin Patch every year! It is one of my favorite traditions. This year we went twice. Ashlie, my sister, was supposed to go with me one day, but her kids were sick. Ashley Potter promised me she would go to in-n-out! So we did both! We went to eat the yummiest burger in the land, and then went to the pumpkin patch. So much fun!

Today, Ashlie's kids were better so we went again! It is such a perfect place to take in the beautiful fall weather and beauty! Nothing like Utah's SHORT fall season!

UEA Weekend

This UEA weekend we were a divide and conquer team.

Ruth:

Ruth got to go with her grandma to Florida for the WHOLE week. When a grandkid turns eight she takes them on a special trip. She usually takes any that turn eight that entire year. Ruth is the only one, so she got grandma all to herself. They went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. They had a great time visiting exhibits like Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss land. Ever time I spoke with Ruth on the phone I got the run down on all the shopping she had done for the day, not all the exciting things they had done! She is such a Wright. Even more "Wright" like is the fact that most of her shopping was for other people. She is such a great girl. I REALLY, REALLY missed her. I knew I would, but I wasn't prepared for how much. We couldn't wait for her to get home, so we canceled ward temple night, and a babysitter and went down to the airport with a sign to get her. It was so fun!

**Hank got sick the night that Ruth left. That night when ruth called the first thing she said was, "Can I talk to Hank?" He had gone to bed so I told her that he would call sometime tomorrow. When Hank woke up he didn't feel good, and didn't want to go to school. He asked if he could talk to Ruth. I told him we would call her in a minute. It took him asking me several times before I actually got around to it. I got her on the phone and here is what happened:

Mom: "Hank, Ruth is on the phone."

Hank: "She is?"

Mom: "Yep."

Hank: Big breath and wiping away the tears, so she wouldn't know he was crying.

Hank:"Ruth, I'm sick" Big tears are now flowing...

Ruth: "I'm sorry buddy, I'll bring you home a treat."

Hank:" I love you Ruth, and I already miss you." Sobbing

MOM: A complete mess on the floor!

Lesson learned: Ruth and Hank are going to be best buddies and get each other through some tough times! Boy, I am grateful they have each other.

**What a tender moment

Hank, Jack, and Colin:

They had a boys weekend in SLC! They started out by lunch, and then straight to the hotel to check in and go swimming. After that a Jazz game, and some room service. The next morning they had room service again, and went to the zoo. Ruby and I met them there. Then it was lunch and home for a nap. After the nap we went and got Ruth at the airport. Fun little weekend for the boys.

Ruby and Mom:

Every one left us so we went to Nana's and cooked up some dinner for book club. Then we dressed up like witches and had a great night. The next morning we joined the boys for some zoo action.

Saturday:

We hit the road for one of our final temple treks. This time we hit the Provo temple, and Mount Timpanogas. It was great as usual. We had fun teaching the boys about the MTC. This is where they will be going sooner than I think I can handle! YIKES!

And a soccer game with Cooper!

On our way home we did hit the Barnyard Boo and Thanksgiving point! Fun...