Thursday, December 24, 2009

The True Meaning

This Christmas I am trying really hard to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. In primary on Sunday one of the cutest little 5 yr old boys gave the most beautiful talk about Christmas. I believe it was a mesage from the First Presidency to the Primary Children. It talked about not focusing on the decorations, the tree, the gifts and so on but remembering Christ. We live in a very material world and it is very important to remember Christ and teach our children about Christ and that He is the reason for the Christmas Season. This year where budgets are tight I have really tried to get good gifts that will be used and worth the money spent. Every year I feel that I need to spend a certain amount of money per person and this year I have tried really hard no to do that. I have gotten gifts that I hope will be appreciated and not looked at by how much money was spent.


Enjoy your Christmas and don't forget to think about Jesus Christ. We need to remember that he suffered and died for us. I can't imagine what it would be like. Could I let my child go through that? I honestly don't know.


I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Wish me luck.....

So I am finally going to do it! I am in a biggest loser club with my sister. We started yesterday and I am not sure what I should and should not be eating, any tips would be appreciated. Hopefully in the end I will feel better, look better, and be $350.00 richer!! Wish me luck.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Alot of sweet nothings....

I feel like I haven't blogged forever I don't really have much to talk about so I will talk about alot of nothing really.

As most of you know a couple weeks ago; Kenna had a run in with our wood burning stove. I had built a fire in the late morning to take the chill off the house. I am always cold. Later in the afternoon Rafe had come home from work and we were just lounging. I got a phone call and Adison and Rafe were playing around. Neither one of us even knew she was by the fireplace. She hit her mouth and knocked her tooth loose then burnt her forehead and palm of one hand. It was the most aweful thing I have ever been through as a mother! She was screaming uncontrollably!!! I had no idea what to deal with first. I sprayed her burns then tried to look at her mouth; all I could see was blood. It looked as if her tooth was hanging by a thread. In all the caious Adison if freaking out because Rafe and I are terrified! We tried to explain the best we could that she needed to see a doctor and Adison was going to Granda Rosies (I'm extremely thankful to have family so close) Adison gathered everyone of her baby dolls and several blankets to keep her company and we headed to drop her off. We made it to Vernal in record time. I was happy no officers where out to catch us flying through town. We got to the ER and she had kind of calmed down a bit. Her hand was a huge blister about 1 in high off her palm. The bleeding had settled down a bit. They got us right in and took great care of her. I am greatful for the nurse (she seems a little unsure of herself but she did great!) Dr. Daniel is a very good doctor and I really appreciate his compassion for us. Rafe and I both had the thought in the back of our mind that we looked like neglectful parents. To make a very long story short later that week we saw a different doctor and we were referred to the Burn Unit at the U of U. After getting another opinion from two different doctors and a preisthood blessing we decided the burn was healing and she was going to be fine. I am so greatful for my knowledge of the gospel and the great husband I have that brings the preisthood into our home. I know that a huge reason Kenna has healed so well is because of the Lord's help. She is now doing great and the blisters are finally gone.

Adison is growing like a weed! She stays skinny but gets taller every day. She has decided to become a teenager and throw huge fits over nothing. I think it's just the terrible twos hit late! She is in a dance class every Thursday and it is the highlight of her week! I love taking her and being able to watch her learn and grow. She is getting really good at standing on her head and every week her toe touches get better and better. Boy! Can she dance! She has come up with some pretty hillarious moves that she does around the house all day long.

I hope that you enjoy hearing about the "sweet nothings" of our happy life.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Welcome Fall!


Oh how I enjoy fall. The great weather; not too cold but not too hot! No AC and no fire in the stove. You get to get out all your warm comfy sweaters and jeans and put away the sandals. Then there is the food! YUM YUM! Soups and my favorite pumpkin anything. I am in fact enjoying my first pumpkin pie of the season there is many more to come. I love to see the mountains and the changing of the colors it is just beautiful! Fall however does not last long enough. Before I turn around there will be snow at my front door. So, I will try to savor the moment and enjoy our fall weather and everything that goes with it.

Happy Fall everyone!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Not So New Pics





Alison took these family pictures this summer. I am just getting around to posting them.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

New Happenings

It has been such a long time since I posted I thought I would try to remember what has happened in the last month. Rafe took some vacation time to go elk hunting 10 days to be exact. I thought the 10 days would last forever and I would look forward to the day he went back to work but, for probably the first time I really enjoyed him being home for such a long time. (that sounds really bad. I really do love my husband but it's hard to have them home so much ya know?) Anyway, So it was by birthday right before he left to go on the mountain so him and the girls went shopping. Adison has been saying for months that she wants to get mom a diamond ring. So I told her to tell dad and they would have to go shopping. So off they go...It was pretty funny that I knew exactly what was going on. Rafe asks me how am I suppose to take her shopping the a diamond ring? Obviously we don't have money to just go buy a diamond. So, I say just take her out and let her pick out something she is three how does she know what a diamond ring really is right? So, they go ALL over Vernal looking for a ring. After several hours of looking they end up at K-Mart. I got a beautiful ring with a matching necklace. She did so good and she is sure proud of her accomplishments. There is one problem. The ring is too small so I have to take it back and exchange it. Hopefully they will have another one.

A couple days later Rafe and his brother go on the mountain and I stay home with the girls to party a little. Alison (my sis in law) had a "white trash" party. It was loads of fun. It's crazy how easy it was to turn our normal stuff into white trash. We hung up a blue tarp for shade, ate hot dogs with mac n cheese (which is a normal thing to do at our house) drank "beer" and all dressed up. The next day we ended up having a sleep over at my mom and dads house; which is always fun. I had been sick for almost 3 weeks and couldn't get into the doctor until the next week so I ended up going to the urgent care on friday night to find out I had a sinus infection. I was very glad for the antibiotics! Saturday we got ready and headed up the mountain. The whole drive up Adison just kept saying "I bet daddy shot an elk." Man was she disapointed when daddy hadn't shot an elk yet. We had lots of fun on the mountain. Morgan went home on Saturday night so it was just our little family. It was much needed time away just to spend together. Rafe is still trying to get an elk they are watching a pretty nice heard just waiting to get a good shot.

After coming home from camping Rafe was a big help around the house which I am super greatful for. He really helped me a lot. On Thursday night we were able to go out on a date which has not happened in a really long time. We went and saw the movie The Time Travelers Wife. I really enjoyed it but, I am a baul baby! I cry over everything. Then on Saturday we were able to do some yard work and then go golfing in the afternoon with some friends. We did aweful but had lots of fun. I have some pics that I will post sometime of our golf trip. I also took some way cute pictures of Kenna that I will get posted. Adison does not like to smile for the camera so I didn't get many good ones of her.

Rafe went back to work yesterday, it was a long day waiting for dad to get home. As soon as he did we were off to the in-laws for dinner and Monday Night Football. The dreadful season has started. The only good thing is I have to cook less dinner because his mom likes him to come eat with her and the kids just play and I get to read my book.

But, the most exciting thing is yesterday Rafe found a dog on KSL classified and we are headed out to Park City on Thursday to pick him up. We haven't told Adison yet we are going to suprise her; it'll be awesome! She wants a new dog so bad. His name is Dan for now I am not sure if we will change it or not. After we get hime I will post some pics of him too. We are way excited!

Well thanks for taking the time to read my novel of what has been happening in the life of the Dudleys. Sorry it is so long.

OH! I almost forgot. Kenna can almost stand by herself and she got two new teeth. YAY!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Saying Goodbye







Tongiht we are saying goodbye to our best friend. I regret to inform you that our dearest puppy Chloe has gone to Heaven. We love you Chloe!! You will be greatly missed.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Happy (belated)4th of July!





I love the 4th of July! I love fireworks, I love parades, I love spending the entire day with family! This year was a little different for us but, so worth it! On Thursday I received a phone call from Kandra Lasson a girl that Rafe taught on his mission. We have become really good friends in the few times we have been able to see each other. Her and her husband Jacob were in Salt Lake for a few days for a funeral. It had been over 4 years since we had seen them. We both have had 2 kids since. Rafe had the weekend off for our anniversary so we decided to take a trip to Provo for lunch on Saturday. We meet Kandra and Jacob at Red Robin on their way home to California. Adison got car sick and threw up all over me and the car. We were able to hang out and visit for a couple hours then we headed home just in time so get cleaned up and head to the park for fireworks. It was really great to see Kandra and Jacob and their adorable kids. I was really mad that I left the camera home! All in all we had a great day and we were exausted.

A Year in Review

So I have been a HUGE slacker, I know you don't have to say. I really have good intentions I promise! I finally got all the pics off of my camera and on the computer. Seriously it's riduculous! My folder is entitled Nov 08 thru July 09. So I figured I would do a year in review and let you see what we have been up to since Kenna was born. I hope you enjoy.




We were getting ready for Kenna to be born. Adison is almost 3 and wearing a 0-3 month sweater! I love this pic!







Bringing Kenna home from the hospital. Adison was super excited. I struggled leaving the hospital but, eventually they let us leave.





Kenna is one month old. Adison had her 3rd birthday! We love the princesses.




Adison loves her new princess outfit. Thanks to Grama Nut(my mom)! We love you.



I have the sweetest husband! Rafe was working the early shift on Valentines Day and we had talked about not doing anything for each other. So, he went to work around 3 am and I woke up around 8 or so. I had been talking on the phone and I come out of my room and see this sitting on the bar in the kitchen. I was super suprised! I just started crying. It was great. Thanks to my neice Chelsie I got an awesome gift basket full of relaxation. I have had many nights of relaxing bathes and warm soothing smells. Thanks! I love my husband.







Kenna's blessing day. It was great. Kenna received a beautiful blessing from Rafe. The spirit was so strong. It was really nice to have the majority of our families able to attend. After our church we were able to go to another blessing for Kaylum Bassett, then we headed back to our house for some great food! It was a very busy day full of great memories.





Our first outing to the park. We had lots of fun. We took Sadie and Cydnie with us and Adison loved having them ride in our car. She is still talking about it! This was Kenna's first time at the park. It was too cold for her to get un-bundled so she just stayed in the stroller but, she was happy!



GRAVEL! Who knew we would be so excited to see rocks!! After the snow melted we were able to get our driveway. It was one of the best days. (I never knew I would be saying that; after getting stuck in my driveway almost everytime I came or went gravel is my best friend!) Adison is obsessed with rocks so she had a great time.




This one is Kenna's first time to eat cereal. It is so nice to be able to feed her something besides milk. The next one is Kenna's four month picture.






Welcome baby Annika! Born April 29, 09. This is my new neice Annika M. Holmes. It is so much fun to have another girl on my side of the family.

Also; born on April 28, 09 was my new nephew Preston Dallin Parks. They are both adorable.




We put Adison in dance at All American Tumbling & Dance. She loves it and is dang cute! This is the night of the dance recital. It was kinda hectic with a bunch of kids all over the place but we got a way cute video of the recital. The second pic is one with her new friend Ava.







These are during dance class. They do ballet, cheer, jazz and tumbling.






Our first time at the Splash Park this year was for Taydn's Birthday. We had lots of fun. Kenna hated it! The water was freezing. Adison loved it dispite the purple shivering lips she kept going back for more.






Kenna is crawling! I finally broke down and let Adison get as muddy as she wanted. And, I have a flower garden. Rafe planted a veggie garden and we have a front lawn! All in one weekend! Lots of fun. Our lawn just got it's first cutting and Adison is looking forward to running through the sprinkler.


Now that I have taken up all your time I hope you have enjoyed our year as much as we have. I will attempt to be better in the future.