HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY SIERRA!

I cannot believe 16 years have passed by so quickly since I delivered my beautiful daughter. She has brightened all of our lives with her radiant smile, pure heart and amazing spirit. Sierra you are a true blessing and I love you so much HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy some fun pics of my Berra Boo!

Big Time Slacker!

So because I am such a big slacker here is a quick update on our family over the past months. The pictures are in such random order. I am really going to be better about posting, for several reasons. First, Kim and Ryan moved away, far away, so I want them to be able to still keep in touch. Second, Josh was making fun of me because I still had Christmas stuff... yeah I deserved it :) and it is just fun to do! So enjoy a little glimpse of Birch paradise since January.

This is Joel McHale, from The Soup, he is so stinking funny. Matt and I went on a date Friday night to see him. It was so much fun, and we hadn't been on a date in such a long time. We had a great dinner, went to the show and then to dessert with friends.
This is Hunter winning the National Geographic Geography bee at his school. On the last day of school he was presented with a plaque that will remain at his school as being the winner this year. Pretty cool :) Below is a picture from his last day of school ( Hunter is in the gray shirt), elementary school. He is heading to Jr. High. Hunter was accepted into a gifted program in his middle school. We are so proud of him! Although, I am feeling really old that my baby is going to Middle School...

This is Sierra at her year end recital for the studio she teaches and takes ballet from. She looked so beautiful and did a great job.
Every year Dance Company does a year end social this is Sierra with her date Alex and friends Kaela and Tyson.
In May the Boys and Girls tennis team decided to have a first annual Beauty vs. the Beast tournament. It was so much fun to watch. Sierra played awesome and I think had a great time even though she lost.
Easter pics:)
Obviously the date is so wrong on the picture, but this is from 6Th grade field day. They played capture the flag, freeze tag and some other outdoors games, and then had root beer floats. Later that night Hunter went to the Bees games with his friend Nick. They had the suite, catered dinner and met Bumble and the Bees cheerleaders. Needless to say Hunter had a great day!
Hunter on the Klondike with his scout troop. Matt was able to go up on this cold overnighter and they had a blast. They did all sorts of outdoors survival things, and had a lot of fun. Looks too cold for me though :)
Sierra in her prom dress, with her favorite guy Hunter.
This year for tour the high school dance company went to California. They were able to perform at Disneyland. It was such a great time, I was able to go along and chaperon and we had great weather and so many memorable experiences. Sierra made dance company for next year as well and will be their Social Representative officer. Way to go baby!
Tuesday before leaving for her California trip with Dance Company, Sierra went to the ER and found out she had the flu. She was so sick and this is her on the plane ride to California. Sierra was such a trooper the whole trip even though she could have had every excuse to stay in bed all week. Before she left she passed along this wonderful virus to her brother. SO instead of Matt and Hunter having some guy time while we were gone. Hunter spent that time puking his guts out!
Our friends Amber and Josh have a photography business, they do awesome work!! Here are some fun pics from our sitting. There is one I am just hold out, Matt knows what I am talking about. I am just saving it for the right time or for blackmail.

Hunter and Chris shredding up at Solitude. Chris was so generous and took Hunter up for a day of boarding, burgers and probably babes... They had a great time Thanks Chris!

More to come soon...........

Recap...

So obviously January and February have been very hectic for our family. It has been good crazy though. Hunter won the National Geographic Geography Bee for his school and he was in a local newspaper article for it, way cool. Hunters Basketball team has been playing awesome and he starts snowboarding lessons today. Sierra has been busy with school and dance. Her dance company is getting ready for their recital and they put in a lot of extra practices. She is also getting ready for Sweethearts. She will have a blast with her friends. For my Birthday I begged Matt for a gym membership, so it has been nice to start working out again. Matt and I have been working, and taxi-ing kids, if that is even a word... Although, we actually had the rare opportunity to have 2 dates alone together this weekend :) Last but not least we have a cute new nephew. There is my short and sweet recap.

Merry Christmas!

This is a picture from Thanksgiving day at my Grandparents home in Emery. We don't get to visit as often as I would like to. I felt very blessed to be able to spend this Thanksgiving with my Grandparents. It is such a feeling of warmth and love in their home. It was fun to spend time with my aunts, uncles and cousins who were also there. This is when I realize that I am just a small town girl at heart and I absolutely love it!! About three years ago Matt convinced me to get a fake tree. I had always loved to have the smell of a fresh tree, and going together to pick out the perfect tree. It seems that I could never find the perfect tree and would drag the family for hours and hours to each Christmas tree lot. By the end of the night, we were all grouchy and tired.
So I finally agreed to a fake tree. Matt had no idea that his suggestion created a monster. I love my fake tree. It is quite the project to decorate, and I still need a few more ornaments to fully decorate it ( I only 3/4 decorate it.) But each year it gets better.I wish the photo would do it justice, but it is beautiful.
We also have two other trees WE decorate. I put WE because I really don't like anyone to touch my tree. The other two are fair game :)

The biggest reason that I love this time of year is that I think most of us really reflect on what is TRULY important in our lives. It seems that we make efforts to see family and friends and to express how much we love and appreciated them. I am also reminded that I need to try harder to carry this spirit throughout the whole year.
We have already had some great family outings this season.Matt and I vowed to get out more this year and do more things in the winter. I hate to be cold, and cold to me is 75 degrees.But we have ventured out a little more this year. This was an evening at Temple Square, the lights are always so beautiful there. Matt's family came up with us and we all went out for cocoa after, it was a great night!Here is my sweetie. We don't have too many pictures of us together, so it is always nice to get a new one. Can I just say that I love this guy. I am so lucky to have my best friend be my husband. I just fall in love more and more each day. I know how lucky I am to have Matt in my life. I LOVE YOU BABE!!

Now my kiddos, what can I say? Everyday I am so grateful for the blessing of being a mother and being entrusted with these two amazing souls. Sierra and Hunter bring so much inspiration, love and excitement to my life. I know that they have made me a kinder more compassionate woman. I LOVE YOU BERRA AND HEF!

I wish you all A Merry Christmas, full of love and peace. I hope that you feel the spirit of the Holiday Season and enjoy the times with friends and family.

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!

Yesterday was Hunters 12th Birthday. I can hardly believe that my little man is 12. The years have just honestly flown by. Hunter wanted to have a few buddies over and play basketball and football. Boys are so easy that way, you give them a ball to throw around, and they are happy.

Here are the boys playing a little football in our backyard. The pictures are so dark because my flash was not cooperating at all last night. They also played a little B-Ball on our neighbors sport court.
Then we had a huge bon- fire and roasted hot dogs and made s'mores. Luckily for us it wasn't terribly cold last night. I don't think boys get nearly as cold as older ladies like myself.
Then they had pie and rootbeer floats. Hunter does not like cake, so we have different desserts instead. After that they played some outside games, and watched a movie in our theater room. It was a fun night :) Happy Birthday Hunter we love you!!Also last night Sierra performed at Halftime for Basketball. She did an awesome job and looked amazing. Love you too baby girl!

October Just Flew By......

Okay, so first of all I obviously can't fix the date on my dang camera....... This month has been so busy because Hunters team made it to playoffs! He was on such a great team this year and has had so much fun and learned TONS!! His team went to the Championship game and ended up losing to Bingham. We can't be sad though because they had an awesome season and the experience of going to the championship was so amazing for Hunter ......WAY TO GO HUNTER!!

Hunter and his friend Nick.

My Two Guys.......LOVE THIS PICTURE!!

So Halloween at our house was so much fun. Although I had a really sad realization, this is my last Halloween party as a room mom. I am getting old, or I guess my kids are getting old. Hunters party was fun, we had a "mummy race" where the kids took toilet paper and made mummies out of each other. This is Hunter as a toilet paper mummy. So for Halloween costumes this year my kids had definite plans. Sierra wanted to be a dead person, like the ones who walk around at Thriller. She had several "dress rehearsals" to make sure she looked well, dead. She looked great, and it only cost me $6.00 at the DI ( not the usual $60.00). I think that is a new record for Halloween costumes at my house. On the other hand,Hunters plans were that he had no plans.....that's my Hunter. So, for school he was a tacky tourist, white socks, sandals..you get the idea. On Halloween night though, we ( meaning Sierra and I) turned him into a rocker chick. Yeah, he was stressed his dad or football coach would see him. Hunter had several people fooled, they thought he was a girl. Lane does this sound familiar?

Sierra and Hunter in all their Halloween glory :)

This is also the face I get when I do something to make her the least bit mad. The only time people tell her that she looks like me is when she makes this face. Yea, I am slightly offended...

And last of all my beautiful son :)

My Crazy Day

Today I went on a field trip with Hunters class to the Great Salt Lake. They collected brine shrimp, or Sea Monkeys. Hunter let everyone know that it is mating season for the brine shrimp. He collected several that were indeed mating.I love being able to go with Hunter on his field trips! It was fun, but imagine 50 wet 6th graders on the bus ride home....mmmm. Hunters Sea Monkeys
Also, Friday was Homecoming for Sierra. So I guess technically it was her first date....AHHH am I that old?! She went with some friends in our neighborhood and had a great time. Sierra looked beautiful! We have to thank Sarah for the beautiful dress and accessories :).Here is Sierra with Hunter before the dance.
Sierra and her Daddy:) Yes, Matt had some alone time with her date before she left, I am sure various threats were made, I wasn't allowed in the room.
Sierra and I , yes I am biting my lip...I really don't know why I was so nervous. Sierra is a great kid .( She made curfew woo hoo..) When I have the dance pics I will post them.