Eleven years with my Best Friend!!!

This is a little late(it has taken me three weeks to figure out this whole blogging thing), but as of December 3rd 1997 Hayley and I have been married for 11 great years.

While going through some old boxes I found these pictures. They reminded me of the first time we met. And just how young we were.

It was Thanksgiving Week End 1996, I was in St. George with my dad at a motorcycle race three months home from my mission. My good friend {aka Steve Mitchell} was also in St. George with his new in laws. Steve, his new wife Ellery and her little sister Hayley came to watch the races. After the races we decided to ride into Mesquite to hang out. Me, Steve, Ellery, Colby and Hayley all rode together, I remember Hayley being so bugged because all we talked about the whole way was TRUCKS, OLD GIRLFRIENDS and MOTORCYCLES. I later found out it was because she was pretty used to having all the attention and was pretty annoyed that I was paying no attention to her.

Needless to say I learned my lesson quick!

This is the Thanksgiving Classic, November 1996. It was fun to have Stone race at the same race, six years later, and tell him that "this is where me and mom first met". I always tell Stone that Motocross Racers get all the hot girls, he tells me that he would much rather have a big trophy!

I think I was asking her "Did you see how far I was ahead of second place"?

This was the night I popped the big question (she said yes!) I can still remember how nervous I was to ask my father-in-law if I could marry his daughter (turned out that he was the easy one, I still don't think DeAnne ever said yes.)

After I first met Hayley, I went to get my hair cut and saw this picture hanging on Ellery salon wall. I begged and pleaded with Ellery to let me have it, all I can say is WOW what a babe!!!

This is my beautiful bride and her friends on our wedding night. (I still hold a grudge to this day for the fact that they got a lot more attention than I did at our reception)

Thanks for such a great life babe, i couldn't ask for a better friend!!!!

PuMkIn PaTcH & HaLlOwEeN pArTy

On Saturday we went to the Pumpkin Patch. Since it was freezing cold, and almost snowing on us the whole time it was a very quick trip.......

Very quick!!!

Then Saturday night my Dad and Mom had a Halloween Party for the grand kids. It was so cute, the shop was all decorated {orange lights everywhere, pumpkins and spiders}. We ate Sloppy Joes, witches brew, jell-o with eyeballs, and tons of cupcakes and cookies.

The kids played tons of games. This was them eating the donut off the string {no hands}.

The kids bobbing for apples. {Hilarious}!!!

This was after everyone else had stopped, but Swayze gets so determined to do things, I think Hadlee really thought she was drowning or something.

The kids also ran around and danced to Halloween music for hours.

We all had so much!!! Thanks Dad and Mom, hopefully this will be a new family tradition.

UPDATE........

O.K. - I'm so far behind on this whole blogging thing, that I thought I would hurry and do a quick update. Then, I'll try and stay up to date from now on. {I did say "try"}.

This was at Stone and Swayze's School Carnival. But, they took off with their friends so fast that I hardly got any pictures of them.

We did manage to track them down to take Steel and Stryker on this ONE ride. {Because me or Josh was not about to do it.}

You've got to know that all my kids have super sensitive stomachs, and will puke over just about anything.....

This ride seemed to go on and on forever. Me and Josh thought for sure one of them was going to lose it. {We also thought it was very funny}.

This time we definitely got LUCKY!!!

{But check out Steel and Stryker}.

Stryker was so excited to ride this Train. But again Stone or Swayze were no where around to take him. So, we trusted Steel to do it. BIG MISTAKE!!!

The train went clear around the building, so we couldn't see them the whole time. {Don't let Steel's cute face fool you}.

Because Stryker came back screaming. {I could actually hear him from the other side of the school}. I wonder what Steel did to him.... {Little Stinker}!~

We also went to St. George this last weekend. And did some serious shopping. I shouldn't tell you my secrets, but did you know there is True Religion, Juicy, Ed Hardy, and Lucky Outlets {just to name few} in Las Vegas. We figured I saved enough money on one pair of jeans to pay for the gas down there. So Sweet!!!

Josh took Stone and Swayze Golfing on Sunday. Needless to say it's there new favorite thing. They both have there own golf clubs and are getting pretty good. Though Stone did say after going to the Cedar Hills golf course on Wednesday he "really just had a off day." Talking like a real golfer...

Stone has also been doing P. G. Wrestling. He hasn't had a match yet, but he really enjoys it. It may not be the coolest sport {aka Motorcycle Racing} but Josh and I both think it's so good for coordination, and strategy thinking. {trying to out think your opponent}. That we wanted him to give it a try, so we will see how he does.......

LAKE POWELL

This was are last attempt to keep summer around a little longer. Last weekend we went to Lake Powell with the family {at least most of them}. My dad, mom, Jenicee, Colby, Heather, Hadlee and my little family {the 6 of us} all went. Colby and Heather are great Tour Guides, they always know right where to go.

My kids of course LOVED every minute. All of them are great swimmers and not afraid of the water at all. We teased that Steel is going to be the next Michael Phelps {Ha Ha}. But he really is a good swimmer for how little he is.

We did a little cliff jumping. It took Swayze two tries but then she finally jumped 3 or 4 times. {She doesn't like it when her brother does something she can't}.

Stryker and Hadlee also played non - stop. They really are becoming good friends. But it's definitely a love hate thing.

Of course the kids loved the tube the best. But we also wake boarded {Yes, I wake boarded}, had campfires, ate really good ice cream sandwiches, watched bats and fireworks. And just had a blast!!!

The biggest problem with the whole trip was that it was over too fast... I can't wait for next year, we are definitely staying longer.