Dawn We Now OUR Gay Apparel....

A couple of our friends, The Birds and The Regers, and ourselves decided on a group date to Desert Star Playhouse. We went and saw the play "The Nutcracker, Men in Tights." It was so much fun. If you have never been to Desert Star, you NEED to go. They put on a great show and you laugh your head off the entire time. We decided that we needed to spice things up a bit, so we all decided on finding ugly Christmas sweater and going in them. Well, here you go....



The Reger's: Rob and Ellie

Someone actually gave Ellie the sweater she is wearing as a gift. She doesn't like it too much!

The Bird's: Scott and Shelle

Their 7 year old daughter "Bedazzled" her dad's sweater! It was great!

The Ware's: Phil and Karen


We have bigger and better plans for next year that includes accessories. It is going to be our new tradition. Even Desert Star is going to dedicate one night next Christmas to "Ugly Sweater Night." That should be interesting. And just FYI, out of all of us, Phil, yet again, won. HANDS DOWN!
Another note of interest.... ALL, but Ellie's, sweater were found in the women's section of our local DI!

Just in Time for the Holidays!

I'm sitting here watching the snowfall, not wanted to go shovel, and realizing, I'm glad it is snowing. I love fresh snow for Christmas. That is what makes Christmas complete. I'm sorry for any of you who hate the snow or don't get it, because I think it is beautiful. I am going to catch up on some of the stuff we have been doing in the past few months, and I am even going to post some pics. Amazing!

Swimming Lessons
My kids love the water. Gavin has excelled at swimming, I think we might have a future Michael Phelps (without the pot). He was in level 2 to start, but did so well, they moved him to level 3 and he passed with no problems. He even got to jump off the diving board by himself!



Jaycee loves the water, too. She was in the Pre-school class and did well. She was more concerned about her male teacher who wasn't wearing a shirt and kept telling me he was naked! She had fun with her cousins, but we all know that Crack Kills!



Ky didn't do swim lessons, but he had fun playing after lessons.



We took family photos. What a joke. As you can see this is how it went.



This picture Phil looks like he is ready to deliver....

This was the best we could get and even then...ugh!


On to Halloween. We carved pumpkins, dressed up as pirates, and ate lots of candy...




We are one hot family!

Thanksgiving came and went...Phil's sister Amanda got remarried. Great day for her and her little boy. But,no pics there. I forgot the camera!

December: Phil and I went to S. California with some of my XC team who raced at footlocker regionals at MT. SAC. The race was good, but the best part was the my entire team that I took ALL had temple recommends and we went to the Newport Beach Temple to baptisms. It was Awesome! I'm so lucky to coach such a great group of kids. And if you didn't know, this temple is light pink in color. It is beautiful.


We also went to Disneyland. This is Colter, one of my runners, Lisa Johnson, my asst. Coach, and Phil. We went to splash mountain and got soaked, at least I did, and froze my butt off. But hey, we were in d-land and it IS the Happiest Place on Earth!




Kyson finally got a haircut
Before

After


Lastly, Phil's work in SLC had an ugly sweater contest for the holidays and here is Phil's sweater and Christmas turtleneck!

We combed his hair over in a "pretty school boy" look and he looked so gay. But hey, He WON! We got a gift card to Target! Not too bad for a DI special.


It has been and eventful few months, but lots of fun! Hope everyone has a great Holiday!

Christmas Cards

So, I finally ordered my Christmas cards, but I can't find addresses for some of you. SO if you want a card, send me your address. Allison, I need yours. Hope everyone's season is going great! Love to you all, Happy Holidays!

Yes, We are alive!

Phil asked me if I was every going to update the blog again, so I guess that is a sign. A lot has been going on and we have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off, but it is all good!!!! September I was really busy babysitting, coaching and be mom. Our XC season went great and I couldn't be prouder of the my team. They all PR'd and were amazing. I have the greatest group of kids. In fact, we are all going to do baptisms on Friday! Now, who can say that their team could do that? LOVE LIVING IN UTAH!
Gavin played flag football again, this time he was the Broncos. I know it killed Phil to have that jersey in our house. Gavin is getting the hang of football and by the end of season was doing much better at catching and flag pulling. He is also loving school. His teacher is awesome and I couldn't be more happier.
Jaycee is a monster that we just love. She has throughly enjoyed school and everyday wants to do homework. It is crazy, but she sits for hours doing worksheets. She started dance again and loves it. She can't wait till Wednesdays so she can put on her dance outfit and twirl!
Kyson is growing like a weed. He is still the sweetest thing in the world. Mister Smiley. He cut 2 molars and Phil and I never even new because his temperment never changed.
Phil is crazy at work, but what else is new? He has been helping them change over to a new PAX system and that has kept him busy.
Someday I will post pictures of Halloween (we were ALL pirates) and other stuff we have been up to, but until then, this is the best you all get. I hope Phil is happy now.

First Days of School

Gavin went in to the second grade this year with Mrs. Achter. He is in a 1st/2nd grade split. I was a little worried about this, but so far, he loves it and I love Mrs. Achter. She is great to work with and Gavin gets along great with her. I also think that going to the school on a regular basis and volunteering, make the parent/teacher relationship much better. He is finally getting into reading, which, I hope, he enjoys. He started reading Fablehaven on his own, and amazingly enough, he gets it! I've been reading it too, and I was shocked that he actually was reading it and actually understood what the story line was. Phil and I are so proud. (I'll repent later) He is growing up so fast, it is amazing to think that he is going to get baptized here in less than 6 months. I'm so excited I'm giddy!


As for Miss Jaycee. She LOVES preschool and going to Miss Berta's. She HAS to do homework before going to bed every night, just like Gavin. She is picking up on so much I'm worried she will be bored next year in Kindergarten. She is as blonde as they come and very much into girly things. She did Cheer clinic again and even got pom-poms. No, I don't have pictures, because I forgot the camera. She is back in Dance and loving being with Miss Chantel and Miss Pamela. I'm excited for this years dance theme because it is all on mystical forests and summer time. Our costumes are going to rock.

Our Little Man is 1!

Yeah, I know he is almost 14 months now, but life is crazy. However, Ky turned one in July and he is so much fun. He has a crazy, silly personality that makes us all happy. He cut his first tooth the Saturday before his first birthday, then cut the 2nd tooth a couple days after his first birthday. He wasn't walking at his birthday, but in the last 2-3 weeks he figured out how much easier it is than crawling and it off like a bandit. He weighed in at 22 lbs. Smaller than Gavin, but still he is a chunk and I love it. Last night he had to get his 6, yes 6, shots. He got 2 in each leg and 1 in each arm. I felt so bad for him! He cried and cried. I could barely hold him because I couldn't put any pressure on him. He is happier today, so I guess the trauma is over with.
Anyway, we just had family over for birthday party, but instead of a traditional cake, we made an ice cream sandwich cake. I saw the recipe on Rachel Ray, I rarely watch TV, but I saw this one. It was really easy and the kids loved it. Ky got some new toys: building blocks, trucks, a new wagon, and a ride on push along truck. He also got some new clothes.
I can't believe my little guy is already 1! Where has the time gone? They grow up so fast, it is sad. He is still in the "cute" stage, but Gavin needs to either grow up faster or resort back to being a baby, if you know what I mean.

I'm So Lucky!

So, I need to talk about my most amazing sisters and mother. I don't know how I would survive if I didn't have them all close to me. For example, my Mom comes everyday to watch the kids while I go to practice. I know I would not have been able to take this coaching job, if she wasn't willing to do this for me. She is so busy with all the many things she does, but she finds time to do this for me and I can't thank her enough. Then there is my sisters. They invited us to go swimming the other day, and I had a ton of errands to run. I knew I wouldn't be able to do both, so I left the two oldest with them to swim. While I ran my errands. I didn't get done with them like a wanted to. My sisters stepped up and took care of my kids, dropped them off to my mom and everything. I am really one of the luckiest people in the world. What people do without family, I have no idea, because I need them! Thank you sisters and Thank you mother!

Our trip to California

We had a few extra days around the 4th of July to spare, and since this is very rare, we jumped on the opportunity to go to Sacramento to see Phil's Aunt and Uncle and relax. It was a lot of fun, but the 4th was different for us small town folk.
We mainly stayed at Aunt Evie's house and played cards. We did go to a place called FairyTale Town where all the exhibits are based on fairytales and nursery rhymes. The kids thought it was great. We also went to the Sacramento Zoo. We got to see some animals that we don't see here in Utah, but I must say, Hogle Zoo is a GREAT zoo! I feel blessed to live so close. We also went to the Sacramento Train Museum. The kids thought this was cool. They liked going up inside of them and in the pictures you'll see this one car they called the Church car because it was lined like pews. It was their favorite. We also got to ride on an old locomotive. This was fun, since you rarely get to go on a train anymore. Aunt Evie's got a pool so we spent some time swimming in it. Jaycee is a water bug and not easily persuaded to get out. Phil developed a wonderful sunburn, but wouldn't let us take a picture. The sad thing was, I COATED him in sunscreen. Go figure! For the 4th, we didn't do anything except go watch fireworks that night. I'm so use to little hometown of Tooele with the parade and the festivals at the park. I missed it greatly. I went shopping during the day, and found some great deals, but I was wishing I was home with the kids at the park working the fish bowl booth. The fireworks were great and Ky loved them. We had a lot of time to kill so we played a mini Olympics with Amanda, Chuck (her boyfriend), and us. It was funny and we got some great laughs. The trip was much needed and I'm so glad we went. Evie is moving to St. George this fall, so that was probably our last trip :( I also want to put in writing that Ev and I KILLED Phil and Kidd in a game of Progressive Rummy. We may never win again, so I want it documented and I want it said that Kidd told me all about sweet revenge. I LOVE IT! Thanks so much Ev and Kidd for letting us stay with you. We had a great time.

What Dad calls "God's Country"

My Dad calls Ibapah "God's Country" and I do have to admit it is beautiful and peaceful. I really do love it! We headed back out there shortly after trek for a vacation from the vacation. We took the whole family, including all 7 dogs! As you can tell, we took family pictures. It was really hot that day and we thought we were going to die! But, I think we may have gotten at least one good picture. It was nice and relaxing, as always. Well, except that the boys went rabbit hunting one night and Phil was carrying Don's gun in his 4-wheeler. They got a little crazy trying to run over the rabbits rather than shoot them, and the gun fell out somewhere in the hills of the Deep Creek. We spent a few hours the next morning searching for it, but no such luck. I think Don is going to take his metal detector out and search for it that way. Some creature probably took off with it...hee, hee, hee.

Trek

Trek. Words can not describe our outing as pioneers. I gained a great love and appreciate for those who endured the hardships and trials while reaching Zion. They answered a call to leave all they had and travel thousands of miles to a desert wasteland to build a new home. It is still unbelievable and even more unbelievable is the fact that they lived to tell the tale. I know why God sent me in the Era he did, because I could not have done it.
Each person on trek was given a name of someone who had passed through the trail in either the Willie/Martin/Hunt/Hodgett companies. Phil and I were given the names of Jens and Elsie Nielsen with the Willie company. We also were assigned a baby, Elizabeth Barton with the Martin company. We were given their biographies to read up on and find out their situations on the trail. We also got our "kids" about 2 weeks before leaving. We were so blessed with great "kids." I can't complain. Our kids and ourselves got together prior to leaving for a little party. It was a fun time and we got to know our kids fairly well.
It rained almost the entire time we were on the trail. We wore our rain ponchos A LOT. The first night it rained so much we had a number of tents flood and I swear when you have a fairly newborn child you hear EVERYTHING. I couldn't sleep. I could hear the kids getting up finding their sleeping bags, tents, pillow sopping wet. The crying, the chattering of teeth. We ended up moving around 30 kids to warmer and dryer areas through out the night. We put them where ever we could find a spot. Needless to say, Phil and I got 3-4 hours of sleep and some ma's and pa's never even knew that anything had happened throughout the night! We were so wet that we had to stay in the same camp area to dry out stuff in hopes that nobody had to sleep wet the next night too. It stayed dry long enough for tents to dry, but the rain started again. Luckily, we had the sleeping bags, pillow, clothes hanging on ropes under large canopies and they dried that way. The next day we couldn't trek to the next campsite, so we trek about 3 miles up and then went the 3 miles back. Because we didn't get to the second campsite the next day, it meant that on the 3rd day we had to make up the difference. We ended up hiking 12 miles, in the only good weather-very hot, and this included our women's pull. This is where trek really got to me. The woman I trek in behalf of, pulled her husband, by herself, over Rocky Ridge and then another week after that until they were rescued. I couldn't help but think of this as I pulled. My heart was full and so were my eyes. It was an incredible experience and one I will never forget. I also hope it is one I get to experience again in my life time. My "girls" wanted to help some other families who were struggling with the women's pull. It was a good experience for them and we actually ended up do the women's pull three times. This made trek. It made it a reality and real. I can't describe my feelings, but even as I type the tears well up and I can't help but shed them. On the last day, we were given the biography of the baby that our family had carried for the last three days. At this point, if your baby lived you would continue toward "Zion." If yours had passed away along the trail you were asked to place it under some sagebrush and walk away. This was also extremely difficult. I can't even imagine the sorrow of those who lost loved ones along the way.
Ahhh, it makes me want to do it all again.
We made it home in one piece and I would suggest it to anyone if they asked should they go. It is a very spiritual experience and one I'm so grateful to have done. I will tell you it is NOT easy. I don't care how many miles you walk in preparation for it, it is NOT enough. It is a completely different story once you start pulling a handcart. You work muscles you never knew existed. It was a great opportunity and it has strengthened my faith in the gospel even more. We liked it so much that we are planning a trip to Wyoming next year to do the actual trail with my family. I can't wait!

Memorial Weekend

It has been a tradition in the Ware family to golf on the Saturday before Memorial and then again on Memorial. For those of you who don't know my husband this is more torture than having to go clothes shopping with the wife. So, this year, when we realized he didn't have to work at all that weekend and we could head out to Ibapah (God's country)instead of golfing, Phil jumped all over it. Most of you have no clue where Ibapah is, and that is a shame, because if you want complete solitude, (no phones) and complete silence, this is the place. There is such an air of peace, it's magnificent. This weekend was busier than normal in little Ibapah, it was branding, castrating, dehorning, vaccinating, and deworming time. We went down to the Bonamart and watch the Lee and Bateman families work the cows. The kids thought it was so cool and wanted to be right in the mix of it. We are already planning next year's trip because Kyle Bateman asked us to help. I'm way excited. It's like being back working at the clinic all over again! When we go out there we mainly ride the bikes and ATV's, go rabbit hunting, and play the famous dodge ball game in the gym at the school. This trip was no different except, we didn't sleep in the school because my parents are renting a house out there for all of us to stay at and utilize when needed. It's a modular, but very roomy and nice. Phil and I know that every time we have a short weekend that we need to get away, we'll be heading to Ibapah. Our traditional dodge ball game was a rough one. Little miss Becca has one wicked through, but 3 parents against 8 kids,what do you expect... oh yeah, us Parents kicked trash! Fun, fun weekend, can't wait to do it all again....

You Can't be a Pirate Sitting on a Seat!

This year Jaycee started dancing with Pamela Giles at Dance Attitude. She has thoroughly enjoyed every minute of dance. The girl can't get enough. She loves to dress up and boogie all around the house. In fact at the current moment she is WAY into Beyonce's "Single Ladies." And yes, she does ALL the moves from the video. The songs she danced to are both from the Backyardigans. One was called, "Can't be a pirate sitting on a sit" and the other was "Hush my darling." Yes, costumes are more than they need to be, but I'm a reuser and just guess what Jaycee will be for Halloween this year....
I love dancing with Pamela because she only does 2 dance comps. and the recital. The only downfall, all of these are right in the middle of track season. The first comp was at Taylorsville High and the same day as our huge Tooele Invite, felt like the suck mom because I missed that one and Phil was also unable to go, so my amazing sisters stepped up and helped out. THANK YOU!!!!!!
The second comp. was at Lagoon and scheduled on the day of the BYU Invite. Jaycee danced at 8:15 a.m. so I ran her up to Lagoon in the POURING rain, trying desperately to keep her hair remotely curly watched her do her 5 minute dance and then raced home to drop her off and the off to BYU for the track meet. It rained almost the entire day and was horrible. However, Jaycee was a doll. My sisters had told me how good she was at her dance and knew where she was to be and every step. Her whole class looked so cute up there on stage. Pamela's choreography was excellent! They even did a move with one eye closed yelling ARGH! while swinging their arm as if they were holding a sword. IT was darling, bummer though, they only got a 3rd place at both comps. Still, they got a medal and she thought that was a okay!
It never fails that dance recital is ALWAYS on the day of State Track, but this year the schedule had it a week earlier which meant on the one Saturday I don't have a meet. I was so relieved thinking God actually liked me, and then his funny sense of humor came in and Pamela changed it back to the week of State. It was tough because the last race of the day is 4x400 meter relay and our girls were close to braking the school record and taking first, but it was also close to the time I would have to leave Provo to make it home in time for the recital. Amazingly enough, I was able to see the race, jump in the car, drive a little faster than I wanted to, and made it for the recital. I didn't get to see her in her ballet outfit because all the comps were in her pirate outfit, but she looked just like a princess. She loves that outfit and how it has sparkles. Luckily, my sis got some pics prior to the dance which was way too dark for me to take the pics.
She was ready for dance to be over, but now, 2 months later, she's asking when she gets to go back. She is such a girly girl. I just know she is going to be either a Sha-Ron or a Cheerleader. Heaven help us it's the first one, I can live with that.

Sorry some of the pics are so blurry, they aren't on my computer, I'm just retarded and can't figure out how to fix them on the blog....