HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY "KATIE"

Happy Birthday to you my dear Katie.

Yes you see things right. She is 13 and we have a tree with pink balloons. no it is not a bubble gum tree. You see since she was 2 years old we have taken down the Christmas decorations and decorated it with balloons for her birthday. This always made her day special.

HAPPY BIRHTDAY!!!!

MOM AND DAD LOVE YOU. ALONG WITH EMILY AND ANDREW...

WHITE WINTER WONDERLAND

DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A WHITE CHRISTMAS. IDAHO FALLS AND SURROUNDING CITIES/STATES HAVE BEEN DUMPED ON.

Our BBQ had about 7 inches. The dog had to hop like a rabbit to get anywhere.

Now the wind is blowing. That will make driving conditions unsafe. Everyone that is traveling Drive safely.

3 shopping days till Christmas!

Merry Christmas Family and Friends.

Yes, believe it or not I am done with Christmas shopping. I have never been done before Christmas eve. I have broken my own tradition.

I love going out with all the last minute shoppers trying to find that just perfect gift and when I do stand in the longest line just to think to myself why did I not finish a month ago. I also love driving out on 17th street and re-learning my defensive driving. I started my shopping early this year. This took a lot of stress away.

I even have all the gifts wrapped and under the tree. Makes the kids ask questions which is always fun.

Tonight Jeff went to work and the kids and I took a drive over to their cousins house {Heather and Chelsea} and exchanged gifts. Andrew Got the most craziest thing a glow in the dark football. It was so cool. The girls got wall hangings to hang pictures and socks and headbands. That football was the limelight of the night. I wished I could have realized what makes a little 8 year old boy excited. He is definitely all BOY!! Thanks girls.

After that we delivered a few others and then out to Iona and saw two houses that were all decked out with lights and music that you tune in with your car radio. They were awesome.

Mondays-activity will be the Idaho Museum to see all the Christmas displays.

Tuesday-will be Mutual for the girls and Date night with Andrew.

Wednesday-Out to Great Grandpas to celebrate his birthday.

Thursday-Christmas day talk about why we celebrate Christmas and read the story out of the scriptures. Then open gifts. Then off to Jeff's Brother's house to exchange gifts. It is great to have most family here. My sister and family is in Seattle they and my mom from Anchorage are coming in January this year.

It will be fun to see them.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.

RAZZEL DAZZEL SNACK MIX: FROM MY FRIEND AMY

1 large box of corn chex or crispix
1 large box of golden grahms
2 cups coconut
1 cup slivered almonds

cook 1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups light karo syrup
boil on high for 2 minutes stirring constantly and pour over ceral mixture. Spread out onto was paper and let dry for a few hours. still is kinda sticky but, is very yummy. Enjoy!!!

Wow, I cannot believe how time flies when you are having fun. I love Christmas time and remembering why we celebrate this special day (Jesus birth). So fun to put all the Christmas decorations up but most of all the nativities that I have. Talking about each peice with my kids and the signifance they have when they are all together.
Now on the gifting side:


I don't know about you but my kids don't want much. They just want they just want something that is pricey. Family and extended family are done and mailed off now I can sit back and make treats for the neighbors and my co-workers. The house is tiddied up with the kids help everyday. One less thing to worry about.



I made goodies for V.T. today. See above recipe.

HOPING YOU ALL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. LOTS OF LOVE STEPHANIE

ANDREW'S BAPTISM

BOY! OH BOY! THESE BOYS ARE HANDSOME. Today was the big day. Andrew our youngest is baptized today. Andrew was so excited and kinda nervous at the same time. He was all full of smiles. After the confirmation Andrew said he felt all warm and good inside. He has always been a polite kid but seemed to be more so coming home wanting to get all the doors for me.

It feels like yesterday I gave birth to him. He should not be old enough to get baptized. We take so much for granted until little moments like these wake us up and realize that we have it all. I am thankful to be a mother to my daughters and son. And a wife to my husband.

I had to take a class for 4 weeks in October of this past year, mandatory for my job and it was pretty intense. The homework was awful and the tests on Mondays made me sick. I was really grouchy but, my daughters pitched in and did a lot of the cooking and Andrew helped with keeping the house cleaned. I was kinda a reclouse during this time. I could never go back to school and get my RN, my kids need me too much and I was really grouchy. I am so grateful to have raised such great kids. Well I kinda got off the subject here. Just like to ramble.


THE FAMILY....

Grandma and Grandpa Edwards came and Great Grandpa has not been doing well his cancer has made him homebound. We were blessed that he was well enough to come and stand in as a wittness. We LOVE you Grandma and Pa's.

Andrew and his best friend Josh. Josh is 5 days older than Andrew. They pretty much do everything together and like the same girls...

This is my Great Aunt Ruth and her daughter Kathy. We LOVE you...

Christmas Pictures

TThis is the Christmas picture

I am sending out this year.

We took these for family night.

It was a lot of fun and the kids

had a lot of giggles.

Hope everyone enjoys these as

much as we had fun making them.

Merry Christmas

May your Holidays be

as peacefully silent as ours.

Love, The Edwards Family

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We are staying home this year. Thanksgiving is at my house. Cooking for about 20 people. I have lots of great help and my daughters love to help. I just wanted to take this time to write a few things I am thankful for.

1) My husband, the kids and family. What would life be without family and the knowledge that we will be together forever.

2) My house/home. I think of the luxuries of life we have... plumbing, dishwashers and washing machines, cold water from my fridge, and the nice things inside my home. When you think of the world, we have more than enough.

3) Of course my faith. I wouldn't be who I am without the gospel in my life and my testimony of my Father in Heaven and our Savior.

4) Opportunities and experiences I have had, education, travels, friendships and my great job at EIRMC.

5) My heritage. When I think about my ancestors and where I came from I am

overwhelmed by the people that came before me and allowed me the life I have now.

And now one frivolous thing,

1) My cell phone never miss a call and able to keep in touch with the kids.

2) Television/movies

Life is fllying on by

WOW, The weeks seems to be flying by for us. I continue to work night shift 2 days a week 7pm to 730am. When I am done working I try to at least sleep till noon and then get up and go about the busy life we have. All the kids are in school so I can get some things done before they come home. Then it is off to dance, wrestling, mutual, and now scouts. I know this is not as much as other families but, it keeps our little family busy. I did get some Christmas shopping done. Did the cousins and my sister. She lives in Seattle so I have to send early. The weather has been nice the last few days we have been in the upper 60's. Kinda funny we think this is warm weather. Jeff did get the Christmas lights up they look really nice. THANKS Jeff. Cannot wait for BLACK FRIDAY. That is one of the funnest days to shop.

Andrew's baptism invite

WOW! I am a little overwhelmed with emotions today. Not only is it Thankgiving and we think about how grateful we are and now my youngest and only son is now turning EIGHT. I just finished making Andrew's baptism invites and just realized he is all grown up. BUT, he still likes to cuddle. I may only have a few years of this left. Andrew met with the Bishop last sunday and had his interview. I was really worried that maybe I have not prepared him enough and what if he needs help answering the questions? Will the Bishop let us help him with hints? Well Andrew blew me away AGAIN he did not need any help. He was so confident. I wish I could be like my kids. I get too nervous and forget what to say.

This is our dog Grizz. He is hyperactive. He bounces off the wall all the time. He is soo much fun.

New Bonnevile County Sheriff

This in the new Sheriff Paul Wilde. He has been in a few month's because Sheriff Stommel retired. So he had to run in this election. He will be a great sheriff. This picture was taken back in May during Katie's 6th Grade Dare Graduation.

Halloween

Andrew and Katie in their HAUNTING costumes. Katie was dressed in her 50-60's dress and Andrew was the big bad skeleton biker. They went with their dad on the 4 wheeler and did the whole neighborhood plus some. They both came back with so much candy I am not sure if it will ever be gone. Of course Jeff and I took our favorite after checking the candy out.

Got to tell you it was one of the best Halloween's we have had in a long time. the kids did not have to wear coats, gloves and hats. It did start to sprinkle some around 9 pm but our kids were done. Emily went to the Bonneville vs Hillcrest football game and worked in the concessions. Hillcrest won by the way.

Andrew's first wrestling match of the year.

ANDREW's 1st Wrestling match of the season. He played 2 years ago but not last year. He did AWESOME. Andrew pinned this other kid but not without a good fight.

GOOD JOB OUR ANDREW!!!!!

Happy 15th Birthday

Emily cannot believe how much you have grown. You are such a joy to have around. Hard to believe you are a Freshman. She just finished Volleyball at Hillcrest. The team did not do so well but, she had fun and a good experience. Mom and dad, Katie and Andrew love you.

Western Carribean October 2008

Formal night

Grand Cayman Turtle Farm

GRAND CAYMAN swimming with the sting rays.

Oh Yes we did get up before the sun rose.

So much to do and see. This sunrise was so

beautiful over the ocean.

POOR PIG!!!!!

Ice sculptures were really cool to see.

Food sculptures.

Jeff flying from tree to tree. This was pretty scary for me. Since I am scared of heights. But over all it was fun. at the very end of this activity. We had a down pour. Meaning we felt like we just fell in a pool of water. The last zip line should have taken 16 seconds it took about 8 seconds to get across because it was raining really hard.

I am not so sure about this. But going to give it a try.

Almost set to try the 7 zip lines throughout the jungle.

Us in Haitti. In the background is our ship.

Jeff and I at the dinning room. We had so much great food. we never left hungry and definitely was not hungry for the next meal. We always found room. We even tried snails. They were interesting.

Our room keeper was from Haitti. He was really cool. He gave us a gift (trinket box) see next picture. He kept our room so clean. We never had garbage in our cans.

We took this picture to show Andrew what he missed. The kids all stayed at friends houses for the week.

Wave rider. They had stand up surfing or knee boarding. Jeff only tried the knee boarding. Of course I did not try. Call me chicken....

Jeff's mom and dad also came with us. I think they had a really good time. We did most stuff together.

Jeff and myself at the dinning room. We ate soooo much good food. We were never hungry for the next meal but ate anyway. it was fun trying new food. We even tried snails they were chewy but tasted good.

Jeff overlooking Miami.

WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE OCTOBER 4TH TO 11TH 2008.
SAILED ROYAL CARIBBEAN LIBERTY OF THE SEAS. THE BIGGEST SHIP SAILING TODAY.