Elk on the Loose

Shyler came home from a friend's house tonight with a pretty fun but sad story.

She and her 3 friends were playing on some big snow piles when her friend said, "deer!", Shyler said she looked over and saw it and said, "That's an Elk!" (I'm sure that made Cole SO proud that his daughter knew the difference...they've been out spotting together quite a bit lately)..anyways Shyler claimed the elk was charging them...really what was happening I'm sure is that the poor animal was confused and lost in a residential area and trying to get back to the mountains!

She said it ran into the road (a main road at the bottom of a hill) and a car slammed into it, throwing it into the windshield.  She said the antlers went through the windshield.  A teenager was driving and jumped out of the car freaking out.  Shyler told me, "I asked him if he was ok, and he said yes"... How adorable she was worried how he was.  Anyway, I guess that the kid called the police and Shyler and her friends hung out a while.  She said the elk was alive, but flailing it's legs a bit.  The friend's brothers went down after the girls ran home and said the elk was up and running at that point.  Shyler is pretty worried if the elk is ok or not.  I assured her that he was probably fine, and the police took it back to the mountains.  She said she hoped they took it somewhere they could put it to sleep for a couple hours and then return it to the mountains. So cute... Truthfully though, who knows what happened, but if it got up itself, I'm sure they didn't put it down....maybe they tried to herd it back to the canyon...

The past few weeks

 Not a lot to report these last few weeks. The temperatures are freezing! Each morning it's like -2!  But the snow is beautiful and the kids are having fun in it.  We've had some sad things (Lance's funeral), but some fun and happy things too (the Discover museum, playing with friends, watching football, spending time together as a family playing games).

I am grateful for the blessings in my life. :)

The snow really makes some beautiful sunsets and sunrises!
 

This was actually taken after the first snow storm, we had another this last weekend... I am so grateful for 4 wheel drive, haven't gotten stuck once!

The freezing cold has made some really great icicles!  Shyler came to show this to me one morning.  I had to then have the talk about how dangerous it can be to try and get the icicles down. :)

A few weeks ago, we visited the Gateway Discovery Museum with the cousins.  Shyler LOVED pretending she was a cashier at the grocery store- I had to insist she give everyone else a turn. 

Here's Easton giving a newscast at the museum.. The most handsome Anchor I've ever seen!

Took this picture at parent-teacher conference last week.  It's Easton's polar bear. I love it.

2012 Throwback in Pics

Easton's class put on a production of the 3 little pigs. Easton was pig #2, had a solo singing and speaking part. He was SO adorable!

Took the kids to a UVU basketball game in the Spring.  Shyler loved it.

Annual Girls Weekend in Park City with my girlfriends: Amanda, Rachel, Cambridge, Tasha, Cheri and Simone.  We always have a blast!

Trying on some new shades in Park City

I think I found the perfect pair. :)

My cutie pie Easton waiting for a turn to ride Uncle Jeff's horse at Grandpa and Grandma Mecham's.

A fun day at the park.

I can't remember what the party was for, but i love this shot of my Grandpa and Grandma Haines.

While at the Helquist reunion in Oakley, Utah this summer, Easton lost his first tooth, with a little help from his cousin Max (he kicked it out) LOL.  We never found the tooth with all those playground wood chips.

Playing at the park

Larry the Lizard.  The newest edition to our family.  Joined us June 3, 2012-we'll just call that his birthday.  He's a Bearded Dragon and he's already at least doubled in size!

Shyler's Basketball Team
This was her first year playing games, since last year was just the instructional league.  During her last game, she made a shot to tie the game and send it into overtime- we were screaming and jumping up and down. It was awesome.

This year's Christmas card.

Cole went to Colorado again on a deer hunt with his cousin Adam.  Here's his prize. :)

School pictures by Beth Graham Photography

We got a new nephew this year! Xadin Cole Gurule!  He is one of the happiest babies I've ever seen!

I finally took the kids and hiked the "Y" mountain. It is so steep! The kids complained pretty much the whole way. LOL.. well, Easton did.  Here we are sitting on the very top of the Y, and it is really steep- I was actually freaking out a little, worried the kids would slip and go tumbling down!

The kids took swimming lessons with their cousins this year and learned a lot! (Don't know why the pics are rotated, sorry)

Easter 2012

Shyler playing softball.  Cole and I helped coach.

The annual Mapleton Stake Tri-Fit Challenge.  Me and mom after she crossed the finish line.

Andrea, Jill, and I. AKA the Triplets. ;)  We thought since the shirts were lime green, we'd pull a full 80's theme with bright pink socks, and RayBan style sunglasses.

During my trip to Washington in July, I attended a fundraiser for a former schoolmate along with some great friends

Playing on the beach on San Juan Island.  We took the kids over to come to this beach where I spent many Sunday afternoons with my family while we waited for a ferry to take us home to Orcas after church. (Sometimes a ferry wouldn't be scheduled until 3 or so hours after church, so we had time to kill).  Also while on San Juan that day, we were lucky enough to see some Orca (Killer) whales off Whale Watchers Point.  So fun!

Visiting the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur museum with Keshia and her boys, Hayden and Ryley.  Mom came too, but she's taking the picture. :)

Mom and I took Shyler and Tayla to the Thanksgiving Point gardens one Saturday afternoon.  I turned the camera over to Shyler for most of the day.  They really had fun with that!

Easton just lounging around on a visit to the Hogle Zoo

Taking a break at the zoo

Easton playing Teeball

Eating doughnuts while watching the parade

2013- You better be awesome...

It's the beginning of a new year and I'm looking forward to it! 

 

New Years Eve was very low-key. We dropped the kids off at Cole's parent's house and headed to the mall to watch a movie and have some dinner.  After that we went back to his parent's and played a game with them and our kids until the clock struck twelve...no big to-do.

 

Some of the things I look forward to this year:

 

Going to Young Women Girls Camp... Ok, i'm more than going- I'm the director, so I have to plan, prepare, and execute! We have a location, now I have to start working on a theme and all the activities to go along with it.  I can't wait! I love Girls Camp!

 

A family trip.  We didn't get one this summer because of Cole's busy work schedule- so I'm not letting this year pass us by so easily! Don't know where...but it's on my to-do list.

 

A 15-year class reunion in Washington.  It'll just be a small bbq, but I can't wait.  The kids and I visit Washington every summer, and I'm excited that this year I get to see a bunch of old friends!

 

Being more healthy! I'm already in the gym habit (I freakin' love the gym), but I definitely need to work harder on my eating habits. :)  Baby steps...

 

Watching my kids grow and accomplish so many things!  They are playing sports, learning instruments, reading, learning and asking so many questions.  I love to see them doing so many great things and becoming great people!

Christmas 2012

We had a good Christmas this year.  We stayed home (last year we were in Colorado).  On the 23rd I sang in the choir at church- I LOVE singing Christmas music, and we have a great choir director this year.  Then I also sang "Mary let me hold her baby" in Relief Society.  I had never heard the song before being asked to sing it.  It's a really pretty song from Michael McLean's Forgotten Carols.  That evening Shyler and my sister Kassie played and sang Christmas songs with Shyler's guitar teacher Arlaine at a rest home in Springville.  They did a great job!  Shyler sang, "Dear Santa have you had the measles" it was adorable!  Kassie sang "Winter Moon".  and then we all sang along to some carols they played.
Christmas Eve was a great night with all my family at Mom and Dad's.  A great dinner, conversation and a night of games.  The kids all opened their pajamas and cousin gifts.  I was so excited- Kelli gave me a yoga block and yoga towel! Yoga starts again at the gym tomorrow (they took a break last week with the Holiday). I can't wait!
Christmas morning I was up by 7:00am as my family snoozed away... I ran over to mom's to grab some things I forgot and the whole house was up and unwrapping there!  I went home just in time for Shyler to come up the stairs.. I told  her to go wake her brother.. I couldn't wait any longer :)
Shyler got her iPod touch from Santa and Easton received a few new DS games.  They loved them.  They also got clothes, legos, and other misc. things they wanted.  I got a BlendTech Total Blender that I've been wanting forever!! Cole got golf stuff, NFL jerseys, and clothes.  It was a nice morning.
After presents we headed over to Cole's parents for breakfast and more presents!  We were all spoiled this year!  We had a really nice time with them and ate way too much yummy food!  His grandma makes homemade candy every year and I ate way too much!
I realized I did not take enough pictures and I need to be better about this! Perhaps now that I'm blogging again, I'll remember to snap some pictures!

Journaling memories

I have hardly blogged at all in 2012! One of my new year's resolutions is to do this much better! I just read back through some of my first posts, and it is just such a great way to journal!  Think of everything i haven't captured this last year!!!

We lost our Grandpa Fuzz (Garn Mecham) this year, January 7, 2012.  We miss him so much!

With Cole at a Family BBQ in 2011

At our Wedding in 2001

Holding Shyler in 2003

At Shantel & Bones' Wedding

This weekend we also lost another loved one, Cole's uncle Lance Mecham.  Lance was a good man and he will be missed by everyone.

Lance Mecham

Lance was there for my first deer and helped me drag it up the HUGE hill!

2013 will be a time for reflection.  A year to evaluate what's important and to strengthen my faith and what I believe in.  I look forward to growing and learning great things.



Our trip to Belize!

Cole and I were fortunate enough to get to go on vacation in Belize with my coworkers in March.  It was amazing!!!!!!  Here are some pictures.

On the dock at our resort

The view from our balcony

The seating area in our room

The kitchen area of our room

The bedroom

The view from the beach side of the resort

Cole driving our golf cart- We stayed on Ambergris Caye island, and the only cars allowed are a few vans that serve as taxis...everyone else drives golf carts, bikes, motorcycles or walks.

Looking back at the resort from their dock

Having fun with the golf carts before dinner

Photo on the boat taken with our water camera

Heading out to snorkel

Snorkeling

Cole's dumb mask wouldn't seal...he had a heck of a time...

Cute turtle

The turtle swam up for air

After snorkeling we took the boat over to Shark Ray Alley and we jumped in and swam with sharks and rays!

They put food in that tube, so they come in close to feed

This is our guide Alphonse...he was awesome!  Cole held a shark too, but I wasn't in the water yet to get a pic :(

Alphonse holding a sting ray up for everyone to touch

Flying to Belize City to take a shuttle to Mayan Ruins

In the van to the Ruins

We passed a bunch of cemetaries like this.

Taking a barge across the river

The Ruins were amazing!!

Getting all our safety gear on to zipline through the jungle canopy!

Headed back to Ambergris Caye after a long day at the Ruins, Ziplining and Cave Tubing

From the little plane....

Belize was AMAZING! If you get a chance to go- don't pass it up!!