December

Well, keeping up on this blog is not something that I am very good at. I think that it may be because I don't feel like I have good things to share. I am also not very good at taking pictures. However, here are some of the highlights of my December.

1. MoTab Christmas Concert
2. Temple Square lights with the fam
3. Zoo lights with good friends, the Lowes
4. Having two weeks off of school
5. Christmas with my family
6. Talking to my little brother in Indiana
7. School Christmas concert
8. Feeling love of family and friends (thanks for all the wonderful gifts)
9. Christmas music
10. Remembering the TRUE meaning of Christmas

I am sure that I have left a few things out but these are some of the things that really stick out in my mind. Thanks to everyone who made this December a special one!

My week in a nutshell...

New babies in the family...

Amanda and Jon welcome sweet little Morgan Rees Middleton into our family on August 22.

Brandon and Tiffany welcomed beautiful Presley Roll on August 31.

Back to school

It would be an understatement to say that it was tough to start back to school. I forget how much I enjoy not having to be there and how hard it is to get back into the swing of things. I worked many hours through the summer trying to sort through things in my portable. I took over the portable from a teacher who retired and left all of her stuff.

I am teaching at Vae View again this year. I am teaching 5th grade. It will be nice to be in just one grade instead of in two. I currently have 24 kids in my class. That is a lot less than most classes in other schools. I am not complaining!

My school is going through a remediation process this year. I am not sure all that this process will require but I am excited for the process and for the positive outcome it is sure to have on our school.

July 24th in Wyoming

I went out to my mom's for the 24th and Mandy and the kids went along. We had a great time being there. Kristian was able to hang out with Grandpa Brad and work on the tractor. Addi was so brave in the swing and developed her artistic abilities. It was fun to be there for the festivities and to spend time with the family!

Watching the small town parade

Addi painting rocks

Kristian driving the tractor with Grandpa

Grandma and Addi

First time doing sparklers

Sparklers for the first time

Goldilocks in Idaho...July 2011

Last year, Lisa and I rode in a women's only bike ride in Vegas. We then did the same one earlier this year in Herriman. They added one in Meridian, Idaho so we decided to do that one as well. My sister Heather and her family live in Meridian so they accommodated us and allowed us to stay with them.

Avery came along. I think that she had a great time finding out what it was like to have four other sisters and to only have girls in the house...except for when Drew was home!

Heather and Drew were very supportive and brought the girls to cheer us on during the race. That made going the 40+ miles just a little bit easier! The girls all had noise makers they used when they saw us! They were great to cheer on all the riders!

Pat and Steve were very welcoming as well. They had us all out to Star for a BBQ and the girls had a great time...chasing the rabbits, riding the little 4-wheeler truck, feeding the fish and playing games.

Chasing bunnies on a leash isn't as easy as it may seem!

Women's College World Series

June 2-8, 2011

This summer I was able to fulfill a long time dream and attend the WCWS in Oklahoma City. My best friend, Lisa, was able to go with me which made the experience even better! We left the spring snow of Utah and endured six days of blistering heat to watch a game that I love! I can't describe the excitement I felt as we walked into the ball park on the first day. I know this may not sound like a great vacation to most people but it was a dream come true for me!

Here are a few pictures from the trip. Enjoy!!

 Lisa and I on the first day at the park!

The Alabama team getting set to play

A view of the field

The ESPN comentators...Michelle Smith, Jessica Mendoza and Beth Mowins

Lisa and her favorite player of the tournament...Michelle Moultrie (Florida)

Kelsi Dunn--pitcher from Alabama

The field before the championship series

Ron and DeeAnn Hill--My softball coaches from my time at CNCC.

I was just watching the crowd and saw them. After I talked with Dee for a few minutes, they came up and we talked for 20 minutes or so. They live in Kansas and brought their daughter's team over for the games. It was fun to talk with them and remember things from that time in my life.

Go Gators!

Flag presentation at the final game

Arizona State after winning the championship

Dream come true!

We took a boat tour of downtown Oklahoma City.

Ate lunch at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill

Bronze statues along the canal (saw these on the tour) 

Triple A ballpark...

Triple A game we saw a bit of

This was a wonderful vacation and one that I will highly consider doing again!

Lexie and Levi

On May 14th, Lexie and Levi were married in the Bountiful Temple. It was a great day and good to have so many family members there!

Sleepover with Aunt Jodi

I will start by saying that I didn't take any pictures to document this fun day! What a lame aunt I am!! Kristian and Addi got to have a sleepover with Aunt Jodi on Friday. I sent them a little invitation in the mail. They called me to tell me that they had gotten those and said that they could come sleep over.

(I borrowed this picture from Amanda's blog. Thanks!)

We raced cars up the freeway. Kristian kept tell ing me he was driving the orange car that was kicking my butt. He was already waiting for me in the driveway. I asked him if he wanted to meet Addi and I for dinner and he said yes but he had to wait for his girlfriend to come.

We had dinner at Pace's...corndogs and tater tots! Within 5 minutes of getting to my house it was totally trashed with Rescue Rangers. Just about bed time Grandma Jan and Grandpa Brad showed up to also sleep over. Kristian adores his Grandpa Brad and they sure had a good time together.

We had pancakes for breakfast then the boys went to Home Depot and the girls went to Kohls. We played at the park, played go fish and dice (a game grandpa and Kristian made up), watched a movie and played games on the computer.

Later in the afternoon we met Amanda and went to see Rango. It was a cute movie but the kids kind of lost interest in it. We ended the night with Kristian showing me how cool it is to play Kinnect.

Thanks for the great sleepover you two! I love you both!!

A Fun Filled Evening

Last night I was able to spend some time with Amanda, Jon, Kristian and Addie. They were kind enough to give up their plans for the evening and we all went to Chuck E. Cheese for some fun. I know some of you are thinking to yourself "Why in the world would you go there?" but to go there with a 5 year old and a 3 year old makes it truly a place where a kid can be a kid.

Thanks Middleton Family for the fun evening. We need to do that more!

Life...

These are the emotions that I can feel in any given day. Wonder why life is so hard sometimes?

Dallin's Mission Call

I have been meaning to post this for a while but have never made the time to do so. In November, my youngest brother, Dallin, received his mission call. He is going to Indiannapolis, Indiana and leaves in February.

I was able to travel with him to my mom's house in Wyoming to be there when he opened it. A mission had always been in the works for Dallin but my mother knew nothing about it being this far in the works. The call was a HUGE suprise to here. Here are some pictures and a video from that night!

This video is long because it is Dallin reading his mission call. The beginning where she show my mother the call is PRICELESS!

You can read more about this day on Dallin's blog.