November Nothings

~November 2009~

Not to sound negative or anything but nothing happened in November! I hadn't realized that until I was looking at these pictures. They weren't taken until the very end of the month and even then there aren't many. But that's alright, because what we remember are good memories! Here we go...

* * *

Corbin got an award at school! His Cougar Scholar Certificate reads: "... presented to Corbin... for learning new things quickly. He is also a great teacher! He is always looking for ways to help his classmates."

Good job, Bub! I'm so proud of you for loving First Grade and doing your very best. You're awesome!! (And a handsome little fella!!)

Run, Bubba, run!!

Corbin ran in the 1st grade Turkey Trot. He did so good. The winner won a Turkey from our local grocery store. Corbin (at the time) didn't like (or didn't think he liked) turkey. So he asked if he could shoot for third place instead. Third place prize was a Pumpkin Pie.

Good job bud!!

And of course, last but not least, we set up the tree! This year we went and bought us a smaller tree. Isn't she cute? :) The kids do a great job of decorating it. Yes, I really mean the kids.

They still have their reindeer ornaments they made with dad two years before. Good times!

And this wraps up our November. All in about one week. It's crazy how time flies.

ps Corbin decided at Christmas time that turkey was indeed very delicious!

~Halloween 2009~

This year for Halloween we went to my sisters ward for their Trunk or Treat. Afterwards we met at my moms for some yummy taco soup then we headed out around our neighborhoods for some more candy. Not that we need it but it sure was fun!

Optimis Prime

not the only one out that night!!

My Sweet Little Witch...

Maybe it should've been sassy little witch!! :)

My pretty little kitty cat!

Marley, Emma, Taylor the Pirate, and C waiting to go for a second round!

Howard Kids Halloween Party

~October 2009~

Every year Jon (my bro) and his wife Angie plan a great Halloween party for the kids. We missed a couple of families this year but it was still a lot of fun. These pictures are in no particular order.

Grandpa, Emma, Jon

Corbin apple bobbing.

Marley, Haylee

Marley and Brooklyn playing with the bean bag toss.

Jon and Angie, the big kids

(that's little Jamie in front)

The bunch of grandkids that were there. We were missing two families but still managed to have a good handful. It was a good time, this is something that these kids look forward to every year. Thanks for all you do guys!

silly girl

~October 2009~

Emma loves the dishwasher... or maybe it's the dishes inside. The second the door opens she is right there. She helps unload it but when she gets a moment to herself she hops in and plays. What a nut.

We love OREOS!!

sisters

~Sept. 2009~

I was excited when I found out Emma was a girl. I was hoping Marley would have a little sister, sisters are SO special!! There are so many great things about having a sister, one of them being you can share clothes with each other!! As far as these two go, I just didn't think it would happen so soon...

* * *

Emma wearing her 18 - 24 month jammies

Just a few days before, Marley wearing the same 18 -24 month pair of jammies.

(With her beautiful smile!!)

biggest loser... almost

~March 17, 2010~

I am posting this for myself, for my journal, for my next blog book. This is something I need to remember!!

* * *

For the last 8 weeks I've been in a "Biggest Loser" competition at the gym. Going into this I thought, no way - there's no way I could win or even get to my goal weight. As the weeks went on I was getting more pumped. I began to think "Wow, I could really do this". Not only COULD I but I almost did. I came in second overall, with 58 people beginning this competition. I've lost 14 pounds and I am excited enough I'm continuing my journey.

* * *

I'm happy to say that the guy I lost first place to is a large man. He started out 20 months ago and over 500 pounds and is still in the 300's. I'm not sure how much he lost during these 8 weeks but I know he beat me. However the thing that hurts is knowing how close I was to winning the $580. Apparently only a half of a percent. Are you kidding me?!!?! I guess - so a certain gym worker told me - that if it'd been based on percentage I would've won. But it was based on the average percentage, and there he beat me.

* * *

I keep telling myself I did better then I thought I would and that it's not about the money. It's about me and my health and how I feel about myself. Which right now is pretty darn good!! Who am I kidding, I should have that money!! No, I'll be fine. :)

My winnings...

I won two GROLLS GYM t-shirts, a one hour massage (which just recently I've learned to REALLY love!!), and two different water passes. (I'm guessing free bottles of water from the gym.) I'm very excited about the massage and shirts!!

By the way, I barely met my goal weight! Now on to a new goal... ten more pounds!! Tracy, thank you so much for being by my side!! You did great, too, I'm proud of you! I enjoyed spending time with you at the gym and in classes. You're a great support, here's to at least two more months!!

* * *

Thanks babe, I couldn't have done any of this without your support!! Will you give me $580?? No really, I'll be ok... :)

I love you, Colt!

monkey girl

~Feb 25, 2010~

Emma is in a big girl bed!!

With her being so sick lately she hasn't been sleeping well in her crib. I figured that we may as well try the toddler bed...

... and she's doing awesome!! It's funny because she stays at the end where there's the mini walls. She'll cuddle up in the corner, it's awesome. She'll even wake up in the morning, grab a book and head back to bed. My kind of girl, I'm so proud of her!

~March 11, 2010~

Her other new thing is climbing in her high chair.

(Marley trying to sneak her way in the pic.) :)

Emma jabbering about something important, I'm sure.

ta da!!

what do ya do?

~March 3, 2010~

So as we all know there are things that I like to call "Marley-isms". This is the first Marley-ism post for this blog... I'm sad to report she has not outgrown this stage.

On this particular day when Marley chose her "moment" I was actually being a good mom. And what I mean by that is I was helping big brother with his homework rather then reading, blogging, emailing, surfing the net, talking on the phone, or watching some lame show on tv.

When I am giving my attention to other things (usually the things listed above) Marley finds her own form of entertainment. Usually by cutting her own hair, playing in my makeup, or just getting into things she shouldn't.

On this particular day she got into the vaseline and caladryl lotion. Emma and little Tinkerbell (our pup) took the hit. I was so mad! Both of these little things need bathes, not to mention my house smelled strongly of caladryl lotion.

Putting Marley in her room doesn't work because she just plays and honestly that's where I sent her when she got into trouble in the first place so I wasn't bound to send her back. And next putting her in timeout doesn't do her much good. Nothing works with this child!!

So her form of punishment this particular day was to write her name, ABC's and her numbers...

... and she was an angel. Come to find out all this little darling needed was mommas attention. I was most impressed by her numbers - they're all facing the right way. So impressive!!

I love you Marley!!

cabin fever

~February 23, 2010~

Winter blues have hit our house this February. It doesn't help that we've all been sick and certain little Emma's just can't seem to get better!! The bigger two kids have needed something, some kind of entertainment to channel their energy. Colt came up with the idea of letting them bake and frost their own cake. On this particular Sunday I was the only one that went to church and Colt stayed home with some sick children and baked away.

They did a great job with the colors. Now we need a WARM spring to come soon!!

Conversations with Kids

I was on the phone with my sister Tracy when Marley gives a shout out, "HI!!" I say: "Marley says HI." Then I say to Marley "Tracy says HI back." Marley looks at me with a curious face and asks "What's a hiback?"

You know, I don't know...

let's celebrate!

~Sept 2009~

Bubbas Birthday Bash

~Colt & Little C~

It's not the best picture but I LOVE it!

He got a Peyton Manning hat...

... a book, card games, puzzles, and a few other toys.

~Little C and his Reggie Wayne (#87) cake.~

I like how he's trying not to smile.

Happy Birthday, big guy!!!

Corbins Birthday Breakfast

~September 2009~

My cute little family.

Eating donuts at the Pie Dump for Corbins birthday breakfast before school. Just 6 months later and I can't believe how he's changed!

Webb Family Reunion

Webb Family Reunion

*Labor Day Weekend 2009*

This years Webb Reunion was a little bit different. It was the last one of it's kind, so kind of a sad thing. We enjoy going to this reunion with Bob and Sharlene (the years we're not having babies, since it is held Labor Day weekend) and it is such a fun time. Normally we are camping out in the Ophir Canyon but this year we were down in Lehi so we stayed in hotels, which - to be honest - I didn't mind one bit!!

~Emma~

She was still new at walking. I thought the dirt and rocks would've slowed her down but it didn't!

~Grandma, Corbin, and Marley flying helicopters~

~Grandma & Marley~
Grandmas flappy finger. We were (I guess mostly me) laughing about this for hours. Correction, DAYS. I was still laughing about it when I was showing my family just days later. Good times!!


Grandma was so kind to let Marley do her hair.

~Colt and Bob~

When these two get together for horse shoes they can't be beat!!

Again this year they were the horse shoe champs!! They won these awesome pocket knives. Just one of the many traditions that will be missed.

~Corbin and his new COLTS football~

same football used in our family pics! :)

Since the kids birthdays surround the Webb Reunion we celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa Kierstead at this time. Of course they spoil the kids crazy!!

~Marley, just getting started!!~

Thank you, Bob and Sharlene, for letting us be apart of this yearly tradition. It will be greatly missed!!!

Conversations with Kids

~between big brother and little sister~

They were sitting at the table coloring, Corbin was using the blue crayon. Cody is a little friend of Marleys.

Mar: I don't like blue.

CJ: Blue is for Cody.

Mar: Cody doesn't like blue, he likes the colors that I like.

CJ: That's because he's in love with you.

Simple as that.

preschool time!

~Sept 2009~

The BEST preschool ever!!

When we go to preschool for "getting to know you" Mrs. F always has little faces of the kids drawn on her walk way. Marley thought that was so funny. This is her next to her "face".

Preschool started the following week and I was so excited for Miss M to go. She's super smart (learning to read along with big bro while he was in preschool) so I knew she was ready. At the same time she can be a little shy so I was a bit worried for that.

Of course I had to take the normal first day of school pictures. She's such a beauty to me. She's holding smarties in her hand, I had to bribe her to get going that morning. AM preschool with a girl was something I had to get used to!! :)




We're here!!

"I got this, Mom."

She was laughing that I was taking pictures of her every move.

"I'm not sure I got this, Mom."

I was yelling across the lawn for her to go inside. She was pretty nervous about that.

Finally a kid went in and she followed his lead. She didn't even wave good bye!!

After school, all smiles! It must have gone pretty good.

She loved it!!... and has loved it ever since.

It is so funny how each child is so different. Corbin went to this same preschool and I've learned so much more about what they do this time around. They say prayer to start and there is a special helper each day that says the prayer, passes out papers, helps pass out snack, and hold the flag for the Pledge. Marley is much more of a talker then Corbin was.

Going to preschool has helped Marley be less shy and she is really loving it. She's learning so much and is getting ready for kindergarten. It will be here before we know it!!

to see corbins first day of school pictures click here