Christams Day

Christmas Day in Colorado!

The pictures speak for themselves... We had a wonderful Christmas. After all the presents are opened, my dad makes Eggs Benedict for Christmas breakfast (another Cooper tradition)! I didn't get any pictures because I was too busy pigging out on eggs benedict! Then we looked out the window, and we had a friend come to visit...its a normal occurance in CO, but we figured people elsewhere might think it was cool. Then to make the day evern better, we got calls from my brothers on missions.... Shaun is in New Jersey, and Jon is in North Carolina. It was so awesome to be able to talk to them! I can't wait to see them again!

Christmas Eve Tradition

My family (Jen's) has a tradition on Christmas eve... Denny's closes around 3 in the afternoon on Christmas eve, so people can be with their families. Well, my family has chili for dinner and then we go tour the lights of Durango. After our tour, we head back to Denny's where we make egg nog shakes! It has always been fun because nobody is there and we get to be there together and make egg nog shakes.... MMM sounds so good right now. Now that we alternate holidays with Brandon's family, we only get them every other year. I think in makes them taste better!

Here is the family at Denny's enjoying the shakes.

Kyleigh is learning young how to work at the restaurant...cleaning floors, putting in orders!

Random Things about Jen

Ok, Sorry it took so long for me to blog this....
Here are the 6 random things about Jen:

1. I am neurotic about my bedding. I can't sleep if the bed isn't made. I don't care if it is made in the morning or not, but I hate it when the sheets are crooked and have wrinkles when I am trying to sleep. I tuck my side in tight and make sure the the sheets and blankets go over my head and then I fold them down so they hit at shoulder level. I can't sleep if it isn't made, and I will make the bed at two in the morning, and Brandon dead asleep in it. I try not to wake him up, but I can't sleep until it is made the right way. Crazy, I know!

2. I love to sing and dance, but am not good at either! But I love to all the same. I am one of those people belting it out in the car. Kyleigh gets mad and tries to get me to stop, but its just too much fun! I like to dance, but Brandon doesn't like to. I am not good at it, I just think its fun to do!

3. Someday, when the kids are older I want to go back to school to get my masters, and doctorate. I want to be a family therapist... Then, I just want to take any class that interests me. I want to learn to do massage therapy, cake decorating, photography, and take teaching classes... Just to name a few! I love to learn about pretty much everything. I would be a student forever if I could. I just love to learn.

4. I love to bake, but hate to cook. I wish I could cook gourmet food, but I can't. I don't know what spices to use, or how to improvise when I am cooking. But I love to bake! I used to bake when I got stressed out, it just gave me time to be by myself and think. Now, I don't have as much time, but I am trying to teach Kyleigh and let her help. It is no longer time alone, but now I get to do it with Ky and we try to have fun.

5. I just got certified to Scuba Dive and I am afraid of water! I know it sounds insane, but I have never really liked water, and definitely didn't like having my head under water. But I wanted to be able to go scuba diving with my family, especially Brandon; so I gave it a try. I loved it, and now feel more confident in water than I have ever felt before. I can't wait to go to the ocean!

6. I am completely indecisive! I hate making decisions. I know it sounds stupid but I am always afraid of making the wrong choice, or of hurting peoples feelings, or stepping on someones toes. Even if it only effects me, I still can't make a decision. I have to list all the pros and cons and then I try to make Brandon choose for me. There have been many times I am in the store doing the eeny meeny miney mo... Trust me its bad!

I guess thats it, there are 6 random things about me!
I tag Christy Fillerup, Kristie Moeller, Sue McCrary, and Natasha

Christmas Pagent

Every year Grandma and Grandpa Great Harris always have a Christmas party with the kids acting out the Story of Jesus' birth. This year was Kyleigh's year to be Mary! She was so excited! It was all she could talk about, oh and she calles Joseph--- Jophes (like Joe-fus) its so funny, and no matter how many times we pronounce it right, and sound it out she still gets it wrong. Oh well. Brandon had a part in the story too... do you think he was the right guy for the job.? His family sure though so! :) Here are some pics of them.

Our Final Open Water Dive!

WOO HOO!! My sister Shannon, my sister-in-law Colleen, and I all completed our final open water dive yesterday! We went to the Crater at The Homestead in Heber City. It is an old volcano -i think- and they drilled into the side so you can walk in and then there is a natural spring inside that keeps the water at 95 Degrees! It was so warm. Anyways, there is not a lot to see, but it is nice to be able to certify in December, and not have to get into freezing cold water! Anyways, now everyone but the little kids, and my sister Erin are open water scuba certified! I can't wait to get to the ocean and practice and explore! Thanks to my parents for giving us this opportunity of a life-time!!! We love you!!

I also have to thank Dive Utah - Ogden for teaching us all we need to know and putting up with our whacked out schedules!

So, here are some pictures of us before our final dives, and after our final dives!

Shannon and I setting up our gear!

Shannon and I getting ready to do a seated entry in to the water!

Colleen, Shannon, and I after our final dives and still wearing our equiptment! We are standing kinda funny because the gear and tank are pulling us backwards because they are so heavy.

Tired Kids!

After the play date, and it was past time for bed! So, I put them to bed and went downstairs. I went back to check on them, and they were so cute I had to take some pictures!


Kyleigh loves to listen to High School Musical 2 on her mp3 player! It is her favorite way to go to sleep! I love it, because it reduces the number of times I have to go in and scold her for playing and not sleeping! Here she is so precious!

Then there's Cooper... I have no idea how he fell asleep like this. It must have been comfortable for him at the time. It was just too funny to see him curled up like that in the corner of his bed! I couldn't resist taking the pictures!! I did, however, move him to a more comfortable position after I finished with the camera!

Play Date!

So, we finally had a play date and remembered to take the camera! I know its a miracle! Christy Fillerup came up and we went to Tree House! It is an awesome museum full of exciting activities and things for kids to see and do! Kyleigh loves it and has a pass to it. We don't get there as much as we would like, but are trying harder to get there! We played and played, then went to the mall to let the kids run around in the play area that is full of soft toys! The kids loved it, Christy and I didn't get to talk a lot, but it was great to get together and let the kids play!

Here are the pictures from our crazy fun day!

Fall Leaves!

We have a huge tree in our front yard and the leaves keep falling!! Two kids from our yard came around trying to earn some money, and they raked our leaves up. A few days later our yard was covered again; being smart kids, they came back when Brandon was home and raked our leaves again! I was happy because then I didn't have to go and rake the yard! Well, it got cold and froze a few nights later and Brandon used a leaf blower and blew all the leaves that were left into a huge pile! So, we figured it would be great to let the kids play in the leaves and to
get some pictures of it....Here it goes!

These pictures show exactly how Cooper felt about the leaves! He hated every minute of it!

Then Cooper decided to see how the leaves tasted!

Kyleigh and Anthony Fillerup playing in the leaves, they had a blast!

Cooper and Kathryn Fillerup both not so happy to be playing in the leaves!

I look over to find Kyleigh climbing the tree!

Anthony and Kathryn are my friend Christy Fillerup's kids! Christy and I met at Weber State and were roommates until I married Brandon. We try to get together often to let the kids play and to catch up!

Jen's Birthday

So, I am 27 years old and today its official!! Who would have thought! Not me, I sure don't feel almost 30. I don't dread getting older though, just never thought I would be 16, then 18, then 21, and here I am 27! I can't believe how time flies! Well, I had the best birthday ever! And I first have to give a HUGE thank you to Beau and Amanda! Thank you so much! You guys are the best!! To come to our house and watch both kids overnight for us, is seriously awesome and I owe you! Also, to Renee for watching them Saturday afternoon and until we got home later that night; and helping Kyleigh pick out a b-day present for me!


Brandon had arranged for us to leave Friday night and come home late Saturday night. I had no idea of the plans, but was so excited to go away..even if away was a couple miles away. Brandon kept warning me not to expect something extavagant. I am not sure what it says about me, but I am not really an extravegant person. I told him, as long as its not some seedy hotel, and its clean, I am good. If we do nothing but hang out together, I am good. I just wanted some time alone with my hubby and not have to worry about the kids.

So, we leave the kids with Beau and Amanda Gibbs. I am not sure if that was a good idea, now that I am home, I know Kyleigh is plotting to trade me out for them! I think I better be extra good this week, because I would miss Kyleigh if she went to live with them. :) We get to Salt Lake, and Brandon had reservations at Little America. It was nice, and is a cute historic hotel, and it is very nice! So, the next day we went to breakfast and then went to temple square. We went to the church history museum, I love that place I could spend hours and hours there! Then we went and watched the Joseph Smith movie. It was amazing, I cried through most of it! I should have listened to Brandon and grabbed tissues when I went in. Then we walked over to the Gateway and had lunch. We went to the IMAX theater and saw the Deep Sea, it was awesome!! Then we walked through gateway and Brandon went in anystore I wanted too. He went in Sur la Table--the cooking supply store! I loved it, and am commited to have a great kitchen, and really learn to cook! We went and got Jazz jerseys...I got Williams because he's my favorite, and Brandon got Milsap because thats his! Then it was off to the Jazz game! It was so much fun! Brandon even bought me popcorn and a drink! This is a big deal because Brandon doesn't like popcorn, but I love it! He always puts up a fight if I want it at the theater or jazz game because they charge crazy prices! This time, he suprised me by just going and getting it! Woo Hoo! To top it all off the Jazz WON!! They won by like 22 points! It was awesome and we had such a great time spending the day together!

So, poor Amanda and Beau had no idea what they were in for! They are so great though...They watched High School Musical with Kyleigh and then played 7 - no that is not a typo- seriously 7 games of Dora Candyland on Saturday! She had a great time, and told me if we go away again that it would be ok if Beau and Amanda watch her and she won't cry for us... So cute!


Then today...Renee made my favorite! Spagetti casserole! So Good! Then she made me a volcano cake...a Barbie volcano cake just like I wanted. So I should say that Volcano cakes are popular with the Gardner kids and most if not all have had one. But not me, so I wanted to have a volcano cake! I got tickets for High School Musical on Ice for Kyleigh and I! I can't wait! Mostly because I know Kyleigh is so excited and loves Troy, and knows most of the words to the songs! But also because I get to go and have fun too! Its a girls day with Ali, Morgan, Kyleigh and I! A mom and daughter date and I am stoked! Ali's birthday is next week, and so we had a joint family party today! Here are some pictures of the party!

Halloween!!

Oh, I love halloween, and dread it at the same time. I have to find costumes that are warm, yet cute...thank you Old Navy! Then I have to help Kyleigh get candy and then spend the next few weeks fighting her on how much she can have. This year, we did some trick or treating, but spent most of the night driving to the houses of friends and family. Which created a new problem, Cooper can't be buckled into his car seat with his costume on! So at every stop we would have to get him out, get him redressed, and then go visit for 10 min. and then get him undressed and back in his seat to drive to the next location. Just to repeat the process. It was cold, and crazy, and he didn't like being messed with everytime. It was fun to see the kids all dressed up, and then to see their excitement. Cooper didn't get it, I think we did give him one treat though. Kyleigh however, was so excited! She kept getting a little out of control, and we would have to warn her to behave. She loved getting candy! We had to tell her to only take one piece at each house, she would just keep taking candy till they finally moved the bowl. We trick or treated in our old ward in Lorin and Renee's neighborhood, and so we would start talking to other adults and not notice what Ky was doing. At some houses she probably took like 3-4 pieces of candy before we realized what she was doing and made her stop. She is so sweet, and she shared her candy with Brandon, Cooper, and I. She even handed out some of her own candy to the trick or treaters who came to our house. Well, here are the pics from tonight! Aren't they the most adorable Ladybug and Dragon you ever saw?! Cooper had a halloween outfit that we got some pictures of him in before we got him in his costume.

Gardner Village

So, it is the day before halloween and I wanted to take the kids to Gardner Village (Thanks Tiff for your post which reminded me to go). We invited a few friends, but only Amanda Gibbs could come! We are so glad she did because we had so much fun! Well, I love Gardner Village; at halloween they decorate it with witches everywhere. Some of the witches are alive, but most are decorations. There are witches playing baseball, some are flying through the air, some are sitting on the benches next to you. It is so fun! Kyleigh likes the pony ride, and pouted and threw a fit until I finally fufilled my promise to take her. Then we ate at Achibalds and I had the biggest piece of carrot cake that I took home. So this piece of carrot cake was as big as the to-go container, from one side to the other and the frosting it the top when it was closed! It was sooooo good! ok, I have to stop because I am making myself hungry! It is our tradition to go for halloween-I think this is the 3rd year that we have gone. Anyways, it is especially fun for halloween...here are some pictures of our day....

Something interesting is that Gardner Village is part of Brandon's heritage. Brandon's great great great grandpa was Archibald Gardner. The restaurant is named after Archibald, and it was his mill. It is an old mill, that has been converted by the new owners into a bunch of specialty shops. The shops are historic homes from the salt lake valley that they have moved to the mill, and now have a new purpose. A lot of the homes have plaques saying where they are from and often who owned them. I could spend days there reading about the houses and of course shopping!

Another interesting side note, is that Archibald's brother was the first mayor of St. George!

Funny stories from the kids this weekend...

So, Cooper is crawling, but now I know I was praying for a curse... Because now he is so hard to keep track of. Also, he is the human vaccumn.. or garbage disposal-which every you find appropriate. He will eat anything off the floor. He even started to eat his own poop the other day. GROSS! He spit it out, and made this face like man that was nasty! And no, I wasn't neglecting him, I had changed him less than 30 min. prior to the poop incident. I thought maybe Kyleigh had tracked dog poop in from the yard, but I checked her shoes. So the next logical step was to check Coops...sure enough the forth stinky diaper of the day almost turned into a snack! Sick! Oh, kids...man they keep you on your toes!

Then tonight Kyleigh is in bed and keeps calling for Brandon. After probably the 4th time going in there he tells her that he isn't coming back in, and that if he has to, she is going to be in trouble. So, she looks at him and says 'thats ok, I'll call for mom now.' That little girl is too smart, and too cute! She can make you want to pull your hair out, smile, and kiss her all at the same time! I swear she is older than 4, she amazes me sometimes.

Today she was also talking to Abby (her cousin) at Abby's b-day party and Kyleigh says "Abby why are you mad?" Abby says "I am not mad!" Then Kyleigh says "Then why are your eyebrows pointing down?" (you know like a scowl" Abby didn't respond for a second and then asked Kyleigh why she was mad. Without missing a beat Kyleigh says "Because I keep looking at you everyday"

I couldn't help but laugh it, was so funny to hear them talk like that...
Well, I guess we will see what this week brings! Wish us luck!

Cooper is FINALLY crawling!

Hurray!!! Cooper finally did it! No more scooting backwards on his belly, no more sitting then reaching on belly then sitting again in order to get across the room! He finally crawled! Well, he crawled 3 other times, but it didn't really get him anywhere. Then today, I set him down in front of the t.v. (i know, i know..I shouldn't put him in front of the t.v.) I was on the computer trying to get tickets to a Rockies World Series game...its a gift to my dad from all his kids. Anyways, so I needed to buy some time. Well, I hear Kyleigh calling Cooper, so I turn around and Cooper had crawled across the family room, down the hall and into the guest bedroom! Well, I am so glad he finally did it, but now I have to go get baby gates and truly baby proof the house. I will try to get it on camera, but I don't have any memory space left at the moment. He is so cute, and you can tell he is so happy to be able to get to what he wants to. I think it is pretty funny that the first time he really crawled, he crawled across the house!
I guess all he needed was a little more time with Jimmy to learn how. We were with family all weekend, and so he got tired of not being able to get to things. Jimmy got around and got to toys faster than Cooper, so I guess it was all the motivation that Cooper needed!

Kyleigh's Birthday Oct.14th, 2007

Kyleigh is four!

We had a blast at Kyleigh's party! She had all her cousins from the Gardner side over, and her friend Kellen who we used to live next door to. The kids painted princess or king crowns, and we had a princess pinata, cake and ice cream. It was a little cold outside, but the party turned out great and we had a blast! Kyleigh was so excited, and loved all her presents. She kept wanting to have another birthday.

Kyleigh and her 'boyfriend' Kellen. They are so funny together! Do you like how mom couldn't find the candles so she had to have matches! Way to go mom!

Kyleigh and her FP3 Player- we can't stop her from listening to her music. She wants to listen all the time! We have gone through 2 sets of batteries!

The kids painting their princess and king crowns, they did so good, & no one got the paint on their clothes!

Kyleigh's polly pockets! She loves it, but Cooper loves it too, so Ky is learning to share!

Pinata time!! They had such a blast! Kyleigh is sure giving it all she's got! And Kellen did such a great job too. All the kids had a turn and poor Snow White didn't make it very long!

Everyone after the pinata! Tons of candy!

I am glad I got to send them all home after all that candy!