Facer Family Photos 2011

Back: Jake, Tasha, Troy, Russ, Julie, Tara, Geana, Shane.

Front: Kiley, Carrera, Tyler, Denim, Cameron, Braxton, Dakota.

It was my Grandma Facer's 80th birthday so my uncle Broc came and took family photos of the whole clan. They turned out great! The whole family was there except 3 who live in Japan, it was a fun and special day.

Weston Family Pictures 2011

(Standing) Cade, Katie, Ryder, Braxton, McKenna, (on chairs) Cameron, Dori, Dakota.






Brent and Rebecca had our cousin take some photos of the family at our Holiday Party. They turned out so nice! I married into one great family! Shane is going to work on the background for me so I can put it up as my new header FINALLY. I feel like the one on top is way old, but I do love it. I do have to admit that my boys are turning into some Handsome young men that make me proud daily.

Christmas 2011

This year for Christmas we decided to teach the boys a little lesson on gratitude and gave them some fake gifts. Braxton got a rotten banana, Dakota a doll and Cameron a bottle of rabbit poo. We were trying to teach them to be thankful for whatever they received and we don't have to get everything on our lists. Their reactions were priceless, we got it on film, but I just wanted to have it for my blog book that I am getting ready to print from 2011.

Dakota would not even touch his doll once he saw what it was, Braxton just sat and stared at the banana but said little, and Cameron said "What is this--goat turds--who gave me these goat turds--I DO NOT like goat turds." He said it over and over and we laughed our heads off. It sounded more like goat toads actually, but it is hard to type the way it sounded.

They did actually get everything a little boy could ask for and were really thankful for all they got and showed much kindness, we just hope they learned a little about appreciation. We only got video from that morning sadly, which will never happen again because I don't have any snapshots and I am not happy about that.

Braxton got a snowboard, RC car, puzzle and clothes. Dakota got Ninjago (Lego) set, RC car, puzzle and clothes. Cameron got a tent, sleeping bag, puzzle and clothes. The family got an IPOD touch to share, new tent, and a camp chef. We had a great year and spend lots of time with family which is the best part of the season. We had a lot of parties and traditions this year too!

One of our favorite parts of this season was doing the 12 days of Christmas to a family in our neighborhood. The boys looked forward to it each night and we hope we brought some joy into their lives because it brought a lot of joy into ours and we hope to make it a yearly tradition at the Weston home.

Santa Claus 2011

Visiting Santa 2001

We went to the lights at Willard bay and got to stop in to see Santa at the end. Dakota was the only one who officially sat on his lap asking for a video game, Brax was too cool (but still sneaked in and asked for a snowboard) and Cam was scared to death--even being that close was way to much for him, but I insisted for a photo. Cam asked for "whatever he brings me", which ought to be pretty easy ;). Fun ages! One thing at the top of their lists that they didn't ask him for is an I POD touch.

Little Things

(Cell Camera Sorry)

I don't know why but I love to take photos of my children when they fall asleep in funny ways. Yesterday the topic of one ladies talk was the "little things" that make us smile and laugh and make our whole day or week better and watching my children sleep is one of those things for me. She gave the most amazing thoughts on little things throughout her whole life that mattered to her and I really reflected on how much kids make us appreciate the little things. They make us pay attention to things that we as adults skip over or ignore. They make us slow down. Today lets all take a minute and slow down.

I have had sick kids for 9 days and counting and I am finally seeing an end in sight and wow! I have had to slow down because of being home bound. It has been pretty nice. We have baked, played games, played Mario way too much, wrapped presents, and just enjoyed each others company. It has made for a slow, easy December and as dreadful as it is having sick kids it is kind of nice.

Thankful For

Thankful For:

1-Shane--loyal, hard working, kind, great dad, supportive, creative, best friend.

2-Braxton--creative, smart, kind hearted, happy, compassionate.

3-Dakota--mellow, happy, helpful, good listener, loving.

4-Cameron--smart, smiley, full of hugs and kisses, good brother.

5-Family on both sides that are amazing, helpful and thoughtful.

6-Jobs, First Shane's that provides everything for us and 2nd my two jobs--the one as mom and the other at Bella's.

7-Primary--I have posted many times about Primary, I will forever be thankful for it for me and my children.

8-Volunteering at my kids school. I love to see how excited they get when I come and I know it won't last forever, so I take advantage of it now.

9-Sacrament Meeting--I love to feel the spirit there every week.

10-Prayer--Hearing my kids pour out their souls in prayer is one of the great "rewards" of being a parent.

11-Great Teachers at Church and School. Their patience with my boys is amazing and I love to hear all the things they learn!

12-Piano--I feel so happy when I hear Brax play and hope he will love it for years to come.

13-Sports--It is so fun to watch them excel at sports.

14-Reading--This is something I have shared with my boys since day one and will continue to for years to come. I hope to have a great reader someday who learns so much from books.

15-Grandparents--Mine and my children's. How lucky are we to have someone who cares about us so much and spoils us every time they have the chance. My Grandma's are getting old and it is hard to see, but they are wonderful women and have so much great wisdom. Grandma Jo always tells me "it will be something else next week". She has said that since Brax was a toddler driving my crazy and she still does when the driving crazy is amplified by 3.

16-My Testimony--I love having the knowledge of Jesus and Heavenly Father and love sharing it with my children.

Pumpkin Patch

This year was our 6th year of the pumpkin patch. I cant even believe how the time flies. Dakota was only 6 months old when the idea began and 18 months when we opened for the first time. Braxton had just turned four when we opened,in fact if I remember right we did his party and opened on the same day. We have had a great run so far! I cant believe the amount of support we get from friends and family and how many people we have met that we now consider friends from the pumpkin patch. So many regulars who come every year, so many people who have taken the same awesome photos every year and now can see their children grow in our very own backyard.

I love the patch and everything it is. I love the work we get to put into it every year teaching our boys the power of hard labor. I love the time we spend getting things ready and planning. I love all the people we meet and the joy on the children's faces when they run out in the backyard.

This year at the opening day party, Chloe told her dad when Shane turned off the movie that "Now the pumpkin lady comes through the patch". He had no idea what she was saying because he had not been here, but statements just like that are why we do this. I love that kids remember what they did last year and look forward to coming next year. They have expectations and I love trying to living up to them.

Mostly I love having some money for the boys missions. If you add up doing this from the time Brax was 4 until he leaves at 19, I hope to have a lot of savings for their missions and that it will mean an extra lot to them, because they worked all their lives for just one goal, a goal that will change their lives. It will make them better fathers, and men and I hope they appreciate what the pumpkin patch did to help them get there.

Cam's #4

Cam turned 4 and we celebrated with cake and ice cream with both families. He wanted to take Owen to toads for the party and not his brothers. I talked him into bringing his brothers and we had a great time. Mini Golf, Laser Tag, Go Carts and Arcades, What more can a boy ask for?

Pumpkin Carving

The annual pumpkin carving went fantastic again this year. Shane decided to invite Great Grandma and Grandpa and they each carved a pumpkin for the first time in years. We love carving pumpkins.

Niel, Lisa, Braxton, Shane, Geana, Landen, Chelsey, Cam, Dakota, Rebecca, Brent, Grandpa, Grandma.

Words of Wisdom from Cameron

We were sitting in Stake Conference and Cam said--"Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Prophet are good for our lives"--I couldn't have said it better.

Cameron

A friend at church said to Shane, "Cameron seems to be more "outgoing" than your other two boys"--if by outgoing you mean--crazy, free-willed, argumentative, feisty, full of love, 90% vicious, then yes, my friend he is definitely more "outgoing" than my other two!!! (And he keeps us on our toes :)

Funny Boys

Shane was praying this morning before the boys went to school and he prayed that Braxton and Dakota would be nice to their friends at school. The prayer ended and Cameron said "Dad, Braxton and Dakota aren't the only ones who need to be nice to their friends at school today." (Cam had school today too and felt left out of the prayer so we had to say another one for him.)

California #5

(Sorry for the excessive California posts, but I really like all the photos to be in my blog book that I print every year.)

These are some cool photos we discovered while waiting for the water show to start at California Adventure. They projected images onto a wall of splashing water and it was really cool, but before it started we had the Ferris Wheel in the background and took these neat shots.

California #4

We went to two different beaches while in California. Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. Seal Beach was a little chilly and we wore our jackets a lot of the time, but had fun waves to body board on. Shane and Braxton did this for hours and I even got out there and tried at Seal Beach. The second day at the beach was Huntington, it was sunnier and warmer, but the waves kept swallowing Braxton. He was very frustrated and decided digging in the sand was better and easier. Dakota discovered a million bugs in the sand which Cameron named "criggers", we called them that all day. He loves to make up words! They were actually sand crabs according to Google. They collected hundreds of them in a bucket.







For me the highlight of our trip was the Beach. I cant even begin to describe the pure childlike joy that the boys felt for hours on end. They laughed and giggled and screamed when the waves came up. They built sand castles and buried each other--Shane up to his neck. I just sat and watched as they enjoyed every second, soaked up every sun ray and played like there was no tomorrow. I knew that Shane feels like this every time he gets to go to the beach, but to see the boys feel the same way was an awesome experience for a mother.

California #3

Thunder Mountain. Shane and Brax went on this then me and Brax right after.

On the island with the pirates treasure.

Three little monkeys hanging from the tree. This picture is a good view into our lives, boys climbing and hanging on things all day.

California Adventure, look closely at Dakota, he wanted to have a fit right while she was taking our pic. What a grump, I told him now we would remember that forever--he did not like that much.

I loved it when we would be taking a picture and a kind person would offer to take one of our whole family. It is so rare to see us all in one photo.