COUNTDOWN FROM NEW YEARS BACK TO CHRISTMAS EVE
My dearest cousin Natalie told me I couldn't stalk her blog anymore until I updated mine. I know, I know it's been less than a week since I posted last but apparently that doesn't count since Natalie posted that one for me. I was thinking I was good with the updates on my blog til at least Valentines, but NO! So here is my countdown from our New Years Partying at the cabin back through the holidays. You could consider this your Cazier holiday tour.
We spent New Years at the cabin with Grandma and Grandpa, Kris and Amy and Jeana and Rich's families. The kids were in Heaven. I didn't even hear the words "I'm bored" once, now that's heaven. There was plenty of sledding and crashes but everyone came home in one piece.
Spencer's face is priceless in this one.

Dan, Matt and Savannah

Crash and burn

Banging on pots and pans celebrating the New Year. Hello 2010!!!!

My beautiful Mom wearing the snow outfit she's had since 1985!! It's a classic.

Carson's first experience in the snow wasn't the best, I think he was a little shocked it was actually cold... he's used the Phoenix heat.

We took all the cousins to Jumpin Jacks, they ran around wild for a few hours, wore themselves out and we just sat and watched while sippin on our soda. Good Times!!!

CHRISTMAS DAY

Grandma and Josh with their matching braces!!!

We went to my parents on Christmas night and all the guys were in their BYU attire, you would almost think they planned it (like we used to do back in elementary, hee hee). It was a picture perfect moment.

When the kids wake up on Christmas morning they blow their whistles to wake us up before they can come up the stairs. This is them waiting patiently for me to get my camera ready. (side note: those white spots on the walls are not a decoration statement. We just got our walls patched from all the dings now they are awaiting the painter (ME) to finish the job.)

CHRISTMAS EVE

We started the tradition about 3 years ago to go to Pine Valley to play in the snow on Christmas Eve. It's something the kids look forward to every year. The hill was so icy and fast they liked going on their bums instead of the sleds.

SO that's our holidays in a nutshell. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and wish you all a great year in 2010!!!

(Natalie, I will be stalking your blog now, love ya)

Christmas surprise

Wow, mom and dad, you shouldn't have . . .

What?
Awesome!

This Christmas was extra exciting because we had a little something up our sleeves for the kids. This was something that was not on their lists--wasn't even really on ours but it was a great surprise! At first when they opened the little green blanket, they were not quite sure what was going on. Finally they figured it out and they were super excited! We are expecting our new addition around the first week of August. Savannah will turn eight at the end of July so we'll have a busy month with a blessing and a baptism but we can't wait!

Halloween

This year for Halloween Dan was in Mexico fishing with my Dad and brothers (they live a rough life don't they?). So me, my mom and sister Teresa went trick or treating together with the kids. (Jeana was supposed to come but Megan got sick, bum deal. So we just took her kids with us). The kids had a great time. The 3 older boys wanted to go with my cousin Pam and her boys. I can't believe I already have a boy old enough to be 'too cool' to go with Mom, ahhhh. I keep telling him how cool I am but for some reason he doesn't believe me. The boys were BYU football players and Savannah was Dorothy. We got way too much candy. In fact each morning they try to have candy for breakfast, and there have been many days that's what they had before I could catch them. Isn't candy part of a food group?

This is my beautiful sister Teresa with her 2 darling children. Teresa went in for surgery to remove a large cyst found in her sinus' about a month ago. When the doc went in he found that the 'cyst' was actually a large brain tumor. The doc was able to remove the whole tumor. After testing they found that the tumor was cancerous. The cancer is called Ol Factory Neuroblastoma, there's only been 250 cases of this cancer in the last 75 years and there's a 50% chance of recurrence. Through this whole process Teresa has been a rock of strength. When I should be the one helping her and building her, it's her unshakable faith that is building me and everyone around her. After many doctor appointments with the radiologist they have decided to hold off on radiation for now. She will go through testing monthly and if there is any sign of the tumor growing back they will start radiation immediately. I along with Teresa have faith that she will beat this. I have faith that the Lord is mindful of Teresa and her beautiful family. She is a wonderful mother and has a long life to live. She is feeling really good right now and is going on with life as if nothing has happened. Like I said before, she is one remarkable woman!
As we all know, none of us are spared from the trials and challenges of this life but it is how we deal with those trials that's the true test. I'm thankful for Teresa's faithful, happy attitude through this trial of hers. She has set an amazing example for me to apply in my life. I love you Teresa.

Fall Break at the cabin

Since the kid's had a long weekend we decided to head to the cabin to enjoy the COOL, CRISP mountain air. Actually, Dan's been building a garage up there for my parents and he needed to finish it up before the first snow so we actually got to join him this time. I packed for a very cold weekend but the weather was great. The kids had such a good time fishing, riding four-wheelers, fishing, building forts, fishing and going on hikes. Oh, and did I mention fishing? They couldn't wait til the day's work had been done on the garage so they could head to the lake. Dan had Spencer and my darling niece, Sadie, convinced that when you caught a fish you had to kiss it (pictures down below). He couldn't quite convince Savannah to do the same but she did hold it this time which is a big step for her. We played a lot of Uno, Checkers and Oh Heck at night when it was too cold for anything else and we ate WAY too much (and enjoyed every second of it). I can't wait to go back in a few months to play in the snow. It will take me those few months and a few extra spin classes to burn off the calories that I consumed too.

I'm not sure where to even begin. Lets see, it's been 4 months since I last posted, so to call me a slacker blogger probably doesn't even come close to covering it. I can't promise anything but I'm 'hoping' to be better with this whole posting thing (I have to say, I enjoy reading every one's blogs much more than posting them).

Summer was busy but great. We played at the pool pretty much everyday. Now that school's in and fall is here my tan is quickly fading away. Football started for Josh and Spencer. I love watching my boys play ball. Spencer's age, of course, is a blast to watch. Last game Spencer ran the ball almost all of the way to our end zone then turned around and ran towards the other teams end zone, all the while we were all yelling, 'turn around and go back," so he turned around and made it back to our end zone for the goal. The whole time both teams followed him up and down the field. Now that's good football, ha ha. Josh is a great ball player. He has a natural gift of speed. He keeps begging me to let him play tackle football and I keep telling him NO. (I'm not sure I'm going to win the argument next year though.)
Savannah is doing Hip Hop this year and LOVES it. She such a fun, happy girl.

Spencer started preschool just after Labor Day, he is loving it and his teachers are great. Dan went to Spencer's class on Friday to teach the kids Fire Safety. He had Miss Heidi put on his turnouts..I'm pretty sure they weighed more than her but she was a good sport.

The big news at the Cazier house is Josh got braces!!! I can't believe I have a son old enough for braces.

Getting ready to have his braces put on.
He'll love this pic when he gets older.

Football season 2009
Spencer is the one hiking the ball.

First day of school

LONGEST POST EVER

Here I go again making up for posts that I should have been doing in the past month. We've been 'busy' playing at the pool this summer so I just haven't found the time to blog. Today was supposed to be hair day but I came down with the flu bug, after cancelling all of my appointments (sorry if that was one of you) I decided I better update my blog.
Powell boys 2009
Dan and my boys went to Lake Powell with my Dad and brothers for a 'father and sons' trip. Dan didn't take any pictures but Kris did so I will have to add those later when I figure out how to move them from my email (I'm such a loser when it comes to computers). They were gone on Josh's birthday so we celebrated when they got back.

Spencer with his sweet fishing hat!

Josh finally got an ipod!!! He was so excited. I can't believe I have a 9 year old! He is such a great kid.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME...
It's hard to see him but this is Josh pitching during one of his games. He did a great job and struck out 5 boys.


CABIN
The day school got out for summer break we hit the road for the cabin. It was so relaxing! The kids fished, made a ton of crafts that Grandma Bailey brought up, rode 4 wheelers and played, played, played! I'm counting the days until we can go back up.

FOOTBALL CAMP...nough said!!! He was filthy, tired and having the time of his life.

Pool days! I try every day to ware my kids out and the pool seems to do the trick. I love the pool just as much as them, I just use the excuse that they are begging to go but they don't have to twist my arm to hard to convince me to go.

HAWAII

Oahu, Hawaii
Dan and I took a trip to Hawaii with my cousin Pam and her hubby Barry. We had a blast!!! The kids stayed with my mom and loved every second of it (honestly, I think I came back too soon for them. The pictures are slightly out of order because of my computer skills. But here's a run down of our activities for the week...Day 1 we hung at Waikiki beach and body surfed, Dan got toasted (apparently spf 15 isn't strong enough for him), Day 2 went snorkeling at Hanuma Bay(I'm quite sure I spelled that wrong), that was awesome. There were fish every where. I was slightly freaked that they might touch me but got over it fast. Day 3 Drug the hubbies to the swap meet at Aloha Stadium, the men didn't appreciate it but the women sure did. That night we drove up the coast to see some of the amazing beach's. Day 4 -TOURIST DAY- We went to church, Pearl Harbor, drove up to North Shore, went to the temple and visitors center, stopped off for a shaved ice at Mazumotto's and went to the Pineapple plantation for a dole whip. Day 5 Polynesian Cultural Center all day and Luau at night. Day 6 Beach Day all day!!! Day 7 Went to the airport at 5 a.m. and came home.
We had such a fun time. Thanks to my super great mom that took care of the Chiclets for a whole week. Spencer is already asking when we leave to Hawaii again so he can stay at Grandmas.