Thankful

So this is a really long post and the worst part is that I put the pics in backwards I hate it when I do that. Since it is late and I am tired from a full weekend I am going to leave them and just leave instructions. Start at the bottom and read up. Happy Reading.

Good thing we fed all of the hay and made room for the trees.

Grandpa teaching Zeak how to cut Christmas Trees.
Happy Anniversary. So I would not recommend the day after Thanksgiving as a good date to get married. In 12 YEARS we have spent every anniversary with family. NOt that we don't love our family BUT... Dan loves the Life is GOoD store in St George so he got us matching sweatshirts. For our anniversary we drove home from St George, stopped in Fillmore for a quick taco before going to cut Christmas Trees, then home to watch the lighting parade (which we missed half of it because we left to early) and home to watch a movie that we turned off in the first 2 minuets because it was awful. I think after 12 years we are finally through a lot of establishing and our to a point of love and acceptance. We know when to say when and when we need to do more. We truly are BEst FrienDs and I would say we love each other more today than we did 12 years ago for sure. Thanks Dan for being MINE even if I have to share you with everyone else on our anniversary. After 12 years we have much to be grateful for we have good health, 3 beautiful children, a home, we live the simple cowboy life, we have the gospel and most important we have each other. We have sooo much!
Another party and perfect gift for a Fancy Nancy Fan.
We had a Woodland Family photo session. This is my favorite photo of the day. Can't wait to see how the rest turned out. The Preview was great.
With Thanksgiving celebrated we now move right into Christmas. I took the kids for a walk to see BABY Jesus. The little girls were so excited I think they really thought we were going to see the real Baby Jesus. A lady in St George that lives by my sister-in-law had life size painted figures of the nativity it was absolutely gorgeous. The kids were amazed at the details and I had to keep them off the lawn. They wanted to touch it and make sure it wasn't real.
Each of us decorated a table and when you have 26 eating dinner you need 5 tables perfect for each family to decorate one.
I am so thankful for Turkey I love turkey dinner and leftover turkey on rolls. YUMMM Thankful for the two turkey's carving the turkey so we could eat.
SO Thankful for cousins. My kids love being with their cousins on both sides. When I asked them a week or so ago what their favorite part of Christmas was they all agreed... spending Christmas Eve at Grandma's and waiting on the steps with their cousins to go see what Santa brought. I hope they always want to be with their families for this is the best part of life.

The End and the Begining

At the Woodland house my kids don't know they have Birthday's. It seems as if we have birthweeks! We started celebrating Kaci's Birthday on the 13th when we took her to Disney Princess on Ice. The actual day of her Birth we had so much going on trying to get ready for Thanksgiving that I was rushing to get things ready and Grandma Sperry volunteered the leftover cake from Aunt Diane's wedding. Kaci thought it was great she added polka-dot sprinkles to it. Then we got the BIG Present the next morning before leaving for St George. We got a pony named Blue for Jake and Kaci. This is their Christmas and Birthday combined. While in St George we celebrated all of the NOV and DEC Birthdays so once again we had another party. So we bring Kaci's Celebrating to a close and we begin Jake's Starting with the pony. Today while visiting with the Berezay's he informed us all that his Birthday starts on Friday (the 1st day of the National Finals Rodeo) and will end in 10 days so Sunday the 13th the last day of the NFR. I have no idea who started Birthweeks but how do you break that tradition? I like to say they are LOVED LOTs not sPoiLed. With the Hustle and Bustle of the Holidays I guess it is just one big celebration. How grateful I am for them and that they just extend our reason for celebrating.

Jake's first ride on Blue turned out to be a little more than he bargained for. They delivered him to us Thursday morning we loaded him in the trailer with strange horses and took him to St George. When we got their the kids were so excited they unloaded him and just started mauling him. Pretty soon they were all climbing on him and the next thing I new kids were flying. So we learned some lessons even though little he is still a horse and can buck. The next day he went on a horse ride with Aunt Kathryn, Uncle Jeff, Grandpa, Dad, Zeak, Uncle Lance, Brett, and Carson. Jake and Blue did great no bucking.
Kaci and Sparkles meeting Blue. She already loves him and prays for her pony Blue and her puppy Sparkles. What more does a girl need???

Happy Birthday Kaci Fae

Happy Happy Happy Birthday! I can't believe my little girl is 4 today. She is getting so big. Yesterday at dance class she had to say what she was thankful for she said, "her puppy." He is her love and she takes good care of him. Dancing and singing are on the top of her favorite things to do. Cooking with her mom and SHOPPING (with any luck without her mom). She loves to write and cut. She is all girl which I am so thankful for and so not prepared for. I know she was sent to soften our little family which she does just with her little voice. She loves to wear dresses and she loves the color pink. We are so thankful to have Kaci in our family and the sweet spirit she is. We Love you Kaci Happy Birthday. (Her big present is coming tomorrow so we will post pictures.)

First Wrestling Match

Getting in position for the half nelson and pin to win the match. Good Job Zeak.

Stale Mate

Getting focused to wrestle. Zeak did good for his first time he won his first match and lost his second match. His second match Dan went over and the guy said I don't know if his coach wants him to wrestle this kid or not. He is 15 pounds heavier and has wrestled for two years. Dan said, "I am the dad it's OK lets wrestle." Zeak held his own and almost got the kid in the second round. Then the kid decided to be more serious and pinned Zeak in the third round. It was a good experience that taught Zeak a lot. He says he loves it and is getting ready for next week.

WOODLAND UPDATE

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

This has become something I LOVE. It is sponsored by Deseret Book. I don't know how to explain or describe what it is like. It is just comforting to know that I am very lucky and that my trials are so small compared to others. On that same note I would say my testimony isn't as great. So what do I learn from this? To gain a testimony and have faith so that my trials don't have to become great. I don't know if it works like that but I sure hope that I never have some of the trials that others have. I am greatful for the small ones that I have. I am grateful for the strength and example of others. What a rewarding experience.

After Time Out for Women I met Dan, the kids, and My Aunt Beverly, Uncle Mont, and Sheyanne. Bev and I took the girls to Disney Princess on Ice. Kaci doesn't look like she is having fun but she just didn't like the guy taking our picture. She loved it. She Loves Princesses, Bell and Snow White is her favorite. Since she was about 2 she has wanted to be an iceskater. One night she sat with Grandpa Woodland and watched the olympic figure skating now when you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she says an iceskater. We didn't tell her what she was doing so when she started to see all the little princesses and we explained what we were doing she skipped the rest of the night. She so excited and loved being with Sheyanne. Thanks for the fun night.
Zeak is growing up much to his moms dismay. He started wrestling last week. He has practice everynight from 3-5. As a mom I was not ready for this. I still wasn't ready for it Tuesday night when he had his first dual. Luckily he didn't have to wrestle. That gives him and me one more week. I am sure I will still be sick to my stomache next Tues night. He is loving being with the other kids and I think he is learning a lot. Casy is a great coach. Check back for weekly updates on his status.

Light

So we all have days where everything seems cloudy and grey.   Where the weight of the world and daily tasks seem too hard to deal with.   Today was one of those days.   I was having lots of guilt and it seemed as if there were to many things on my agenda.   The stress was starting to weigh  me down.  Then I walked out my front door and this is what I saw.   I ran back in for my camera.   This  beautiful sight in nature depicts how I was feeling.   Why feel down and blue when there is a ray of light shining through the  dark clouds?   So what is my light???     Coming on the Thanksgiving Season I took a minute to think of the "Lights" of my life.   

1.  My Husband  who is my best friend.

2.  My kids  who remind me of the important things of life.  

3.  My Faith (in a loving brother Jesus Christ & a loving Heavenly Father) 

4.   My extended family.   My Wonderful Parents and Grandparents

5.   My Friends you know who you are.

Thanks for being my LIGHT in the darkness.

Honoring Great Men & Women

What an awesome morning.  I have really come to love Veterans day.   Since moving to Mona it has greater meaning to me and I am positive it has meaning for my children as well.    They do a tribute and invite the veterans to come.   They have a program with mostly songs.   Today some of the 6th graders had a little speaking part.  The very last girl teared up through the last song, GOD BLESS THE USA.   I am usually not to emotional but the songs and the feeling there is so amazing I cry every time.  I had deep gratitude for so many people I know who have served and who are currently serving  for my freedom.   I don't even dare start naming them for fear I will forget someone.   I just am very grateful to them and their families.  Because of them I am able to live in Mona, my children can attend school, we can rodeo, raise animals, go to church, the list goes on and on.  Today I am very Proud and Grateful to be an American where at least I know I'm Free.  May it always be this way.   

Zeak's Highlights From October

October 29th Zeak and I went to a 4-H awards banquet.    I am new to the whole show steer thing but I have done record books before in 4-H so, Dan and the boys raise the cattle and then I help end the year with Portfolio's.   Zeak was one of 12 winners for having one of the best Beef Portfolios this year.   He was awarded with a trophy from The Community First Credit Union.   Since we have no idea what we are doing I guess we will find out and work a little harder for next year and try and win a check for his portfolio.  
The Masterpiece
Creating
Zeak enjoys scouts.  I think it is more a social time for him then anything but I believe he is learning while he is there.   He is always volunteering us to make or take something to pack meeting so when he came home and said he needed to decorate a cake for pack meeting I wasn't to concerned.   Then he gave me instructions on what he needed and learned that this was for a cake auction to raise money for the scout program.   He had fun creating a cake and yes it had cowboys and horses a few Indians and  a wagon on it.  He invited  Grandma Woodland who came and was the winner of Zeak's cake.   No one dare bid against her.   It was a lot of fun.  Dan bid on every cake accept  Zeak's I expected to take home a car load of cake but luckily we only ended up with one.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Woodland for supporting Zeak and his scout troop.   Hope you enjoyed the cake!  (We had it for dessert Sunday night so we all enjoyed it.)

Dreams Do Come True

So this year we had committed to doing Little Britches Rodeo and when it came time for the CUJR series we couldn't  afford to go so we missed the first three rodeos.  After Nationals we got a phone call from Wendy saying please come and rodeo with us.   OK most of the time in life we have to choose between two good things and that is really hard.  For the record Wendy we never didn't want to rodeo with you we had just committed early and needed to finish out our commitment.  So after missing the first three rodeos we finished with the last six.  The awards banquet was held last night and I had some pretty excited boys.  

It was Jake's first year in the 6-8 age group.  He did really well.  He has improved so much from the first rodeo.   His last goat at the finals was a nasty one. The goat was 3 times the size of Jake.  Jake never gave up.  Wendy said she saw him struggling and finally had to go help him.  He did exceed the time limit but, finished tying.   Wendy is so good to search out and find kids that have all heart and just come up short every time and give them the hard luck award.  Jake was the winner in his age group.    Jake's biggest goal is to beat Zeak in goat tying this year. 

Zeak took second in the kid to kid team roping as a header.  He roped 12 steers at the finals.   They let the top  headers pick their heeler and the top Heelers pick their Header.  He Loves to Team Rope.

This is the rowdy Burch of kids that are Rodeo's Future.

Dan has wanted to rodeo since he was little.    I think he fell in love with me because I rodeo.   Some parents live their life through their kids.   I would say this is true here except I think Zeak loves it more than Dan.  Dan can go hunting and Zeak would rather rope.   A lot of people ask why we rodeo.  Well let me just say this is the only sport I know where a son uses his mom's retired pole horse and wins,  the great-grandpa- can come and rope with his great grandson, and where Dad and son live and achieve the same dream together.   Thanks Zeak for making your dads dream come true.  Dan thanks for working so hard to help our family live the dream of rodeo.   Love what you do and Do what you Love.   

Halloween 2009

This year Mona Elementary did a costume parade.  Then kids had a lot of fun and it was fun to see how creative all the costumes were.   Zeak like usually needed a costume that related to his lifestyle of being a cowboy.  It is really sad to me that he is growing up and I think his days of dressing up are coming to an end.  Him and Dan spent all day Saturday herding cows for Morris Blackett that is where he loves to be.  Him and Dan missed the Halloween party at Grandma Lou's and they almost missed trick or treating.   
I helped in Jake's class with his class party.   Wow I am so glad that I don't teach on a full time basis.  I do realize that I go in on days when the kids have extra excitement and energy.  I am so grateful for the teachers who love teaching my children everyday.  

Our cute spiderwebs and oreo spiders.

Grandma and Grandpa Sperry Lou are so fun.  They have a tradition of Holiday parties and one of my favorite is the Halloween party.  We carve pumpkins.   Some are very simple some are more detailed but all are very creative.  This is an activity where parents and kids get to work together.  

We always have a guest.   Mrs.  Witch is fun for all of the kids she brings a story and then she hands out treats from Grandma Lou.   My kids think they know who she is  but they are so good to let everyone enjoy her and not spoil the fun.   Thanks Ange you are such a great sport and have so much fun in life. 
The cutest little witch and her  kitty pumpkin. 
All of the kids and their pumpkins,  THe Williams, Woodlans, Sperry's, Meyers, Shaws, Allreds, Kecks, Tischners.  (Hope I got them all)  
One of Kaci's loves is CARMEL APPLES  she ate so many that everyone was sure she was going to be sick.  
My kids didn't want to do the trunk or treat they don't enjoy it so we met Dan and Zeak at 7 eleven to get their free slurpee and get grandpa Woodland his.   Then we went to see Grandma and Grandpa Woodland,  Aunt Brenda, Grandma and Grandpa Berzay, Grandpa and Grandma Sperry and Home.  We had one less stop this year and that was really sad, Tina thanks for the ricepuff balls even if they made me cry.  I'm glad Granny is forever etched in our memories.   My kids enjoy visiting and being with friends and family more than candy.  This makes me have to think I haven't failed them completely and they are getting what is really important in life.   So even though Halloween is not our favorite Holiday it just gives us one more reason to celebrate life, family, and friends.