Fun-Filled February

We have had a lot of visiting going on this month. Derek's parents came for his birthday and then Greg and Tasha came over President's Day weekend for a few days. McKell and Payton had lots of fun rolling out and decorating Valentine cookies.

Grandma sent us some yummy Valentine treats.

We went bowling and had lots of fun. I think Braxton won both games.

I judged a drill team competition in Idaho and we were able to spend some time with family. We went swimming at Green Canyon to celebrate my nephew's birthday.

In The Spotlight

Check out my strong and athletic husband :) He was chosen for the Athlete Spotlight at Crossfit.

http://crossfitcachevalley.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/derek-pinnock/

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to a :

wonderful husband and father

a great provider and hard worker


a helpful son and son-in-law (sometimes too helpful, right mom?)


the coolest guy I know.

Derek's parents came to celebrate. We had dinner
at the Beehive Grill.

Also, with an icecream cake. He didn't want 35 candles, he

settled for around 13. Happy Birthday Derek. I love you.

Goodbye January

January is a long month. It started like this . . .

Not much happened this month. McKell and I attended the USU/BSU gymnastics meet and then we took a family outing to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which after much complaining from our kids (about how I ruined a Saturday afternoon by making them go, and they didn't even want to go, and couldn't they just stay home) they really ended up liking it. Crazy me for wanting to make some family memories, I guess.

And now the month ends with even more of this . . .

Goodbye January, and next time take the white stuff with you.

Top 9 of 2009

I realize we have been in 2010 for almost a month but I have wanted to do a quick recap 2009. Here it is (in no particular order):




1. Derek said 2009 was the year of projects. We had a huge tree taken out of our backyard, got a new roof, and buried the trampoline. We also painted a bedroom and bathroom downstairs for Braxton (thanks Hollie.)





2. Braxton had a big year - he turned 16, started driving and dating. This has also been a big thing for me as I have had a hard time letting go. It is slowly getting easier.





3. Got a new car. Finally, after 13 years of the Honda we moved onto something bigger.




4. Took a fun family vacation to Yellowstone Park and Jackson.




5. Derek ran a 5K and beat his previous time by 1 minute.





6. McKell turned 9, danced, spent a lot of time with friends, danced, got and survived the swine flu, and danced. Busy year for her.





7. Spent many holidays with my family: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas



8. My dad survived a serious motorcycle accident and multiple injuries. We are so blessed that slowly he has made a full recovery. He and my mom also celebrated 40 years of marriage.


9. Last, I had 3 (Spring, Veteran's Day, and Christmas) successful music programs and wrote and got a grant funded for my classroom.


Overall, 2009, was a great year. I am looking forward to a busy, fun, and probably sometimes stressful 2010.

Date Night

Jen and I have entered an interesting chapter in our lives where every once in awhile both of the kids are at their friends house and it is just the two of us - we actually really like it. Last night was one of those nights so Jen and I decided to have a little date night.

We started by going out to dinner at El Toro, our favorite place to eat in Logan, and then headed to Hollywood Video (I am a little embarrassed to admit the next part) and rented a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls.

We watched a couple of episodes and then picked up McKell from her friends. A while later Brax was home and our family was together again, which was great but it meant our date night was over.

I really like spending time with Jen. She is a great wife and my very best friend (sorry Destry you are in 2nd place). I am happy that Jen and I have can enjoy spending time together - just us. I feel lucky to have her in my life. I love you Jen.

Christmas 2009

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas, we sure did. We left our house on Christmas Eve to spend a few days at my parents house. There was lots of fun, food, family and presents as you can see in the picture.

We started our Christmas Eve party by making candy bar trains. I think the kids and adults had a good time. Each family made a train.

Pinnock family

Arfmann family

Hansen family

Taylor family

Price family

(Sorry Lemons' family, you were there, I didn't get a picture)

We had our annual talent show, McKell played the piano and sang.

We opened presents

We gave presents


Santa brought us so much stuff - including a new computer

We also wore matching pj's - a new tradition for us this year!

McKell's favorite gift - a hot pink iPod (she is holding it in this picture, it is just small)

Braxton's favorite gift - a PS3 (He set it up and grandma's house and here he is playing it)


On Christmas Day we went to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks, the kids and I liked it, Derek didn't.

Other highlights of Christmas 2009: Sitting in the hot tub, a prime rib dinner (yummy) on Sunday, driving around to see Christmas lights, watching movies, and mainly just spending time with the people we love most - our family:) Hope yours was this great!