Office Christmas Party

Normally for our office Christmas party, Matt (Dr. Hammons) takes us all out to dinner with our spouses and we enjoy an evening laughing and chatting about all the things that have happened during the year.  This year though, Matt decided to do something totally different.  Back in Oct. Matt told us that on December 11th we would be going somewhere overnight with our spouses, but we did NOT get to know where or what we were would be doing for the two days. So at 2:30pm on Friday the 11th, we loaded up into Matt & Haley's mini van & off we went.....(all 8 of us)

When we got to Vegas we stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in seperate rooms - That bed was SO comfy....I just wanted to run and dive on it!

Kasey Chillin' on the bed watching sports center on the huge plasma tv in our room

Jess & Aaron

Stacy & Jared

We had a GREAT time in Vegas!  Friday night we went to dinner at Memphis BBQ, they we went and saw Invictus at South Pointe on the XD Screen (which is like watching a movie on the huge screen in Springdale).  We must all be old though cause after the movie - all of us went back to our hotel rooms and crashed. 

Saturday was probably the most fun we had while we were there.  We started off our day by eating lunch at Chipotle - YUMMY - then we drove to one of the MANY shopping centers in Vegas.  It was sort of like The Gateway - an outdoor mall - anyway, Matt  & Haley then gave us a challenge.....each couple was given cash to spend at the mall - BUT the only rule was, you HAD to spend it all or whatever you didn't spend you had to give back.  It was so much fun.....Kasey and I finished with only 2 cents left and it was really fun spending someone elses money!  ;-) I am SO blessed to have a job that I love....I have a GREAT boss & a hygienist & assistant that I just love!  We have so much fun at work everyday!  We definately have THE best staff in all of St George! (even if I might be a little bias)  It was a great weekend get-away as an office!!  :-)

I just LOVE these two....

This is my new FAVORITE photo of Jonathan and Kasey....they are my two most favorite people in the whole world!  I am so grateful for them both & LOVE that they share a passion for soccer! 

Dixie Invitational Tournament

This Thanksgiving weekend our boys played in the 6th Annual Dixie Invitational Soccer tournament.  This year tournament was a HUGE success.  Over 100 teams came to St George to compete this weekend....it was a fun tournament, even if the weather was really cold.  Our boys took home the GOLD medal in the U11 Boys bracket. 

These are a few photo highlights from the tournament

I am so proud of Jonathan and Kasey!  Jonathan played hard in all 4 games....and Kasey was so excited to see our boys earn their FIRST Gold medal as players and Kasey's first Gold medal as a coach.  What a great experience for our boys!  Way to go SC Ivins Soccer!!!

Trenton's first crush....

Trenton has the biggest crush on Brent's girlfriend Lisa!  It's so funny....anytime Brent tries to hug Lisa Trenton jumps in the middle and pushes Brent out of the way.  Lisa is so good to play with him when she's over.

I love this kid....he is so dang cute

Lisa and Trenton coloring after Thanksgiving dinner

Nertz

We got a great game of Nertz (or pounce) going after eating Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was fun to have so many people playing at once.  Nertz/Pounce is a family favorite of the Cottam's too! 

Bring on the game.....7 decks of cards & lots of laughs

Jonathan, Milton and I trying to pounce first

Greta getting serious

Lisa laughing at how slow Brent is   :-)

Thanksgiving weekend at the Knoblauch's

This Thanksgiving was spent with my family and we had a great time!  I am so thankful for my family and all that they have done for us over the years.  I am so blessed to have such a great family. 

My Dad & Mom

Brent, Kendra & Blake - one last Thanksgiving before Brent leaves on his mission

Rocco, Greta & Marin

Sheena & Brody

Alyssa & GG

Brent, Kasey, Mom, Uncle John, & Kendra

Trenton & Jonathan

I love Thanksgiving!  I love to drive through Santa Clara after dark and look into homes (from my car while I drive) and see all the families gathered togetheer, kids running through houses, playing football in the yards, tons of cars parked in front of houses.  I love it!  Tis the season to let go of the past, move forward and reconnect with lost loved ones! 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Vista Class Halloween Party

I have been so behind on blogging.....Jonathan had a great class party that was lots of fun.

Each team was given a LARGE roll of toilet paper and had to use the whole roll to cover one person in thier group.  This was my group.....and they rocked!

This was probably the funniest game of all.....it was called a "bubble wrap ball".  They played halloween music, then when they stopped the music the kids had to make a funny pose.  It was a huge hit!

Another halloween classic - pass the pumpkin

Jonathan had a good time at his Halloween Party and even more fun trick or treating with his cousins.

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Birthday to two of my heroes

Happy Birthday to my baby brother Brent.  Here are just a few reasons I love Brent:

  He literally saved my life with his bone marrow....twice

He is almost always smiling

He has a HUGE heart

He looks like Wolverine...hahaha (not in the photo, but he does in a few others!)

He came and sat by my bedside everyday while I was in the hospital for 10 days

He is always willing to help others

He is a fantastic leader & leads by example

Thank you for always being true to who you are! Our lives have been so blessed to have you in it.  I hope you have the BEST birthday ever!! 

I love you!

Happy Birthday to THE best grandma EVER!  I am SO blessed to have the most wonderful grandma!  I just LOVE her.....here are some of the reasons I love her:

She is there for you when you need her

She is so proud of each of her grandkids....no matter what mistakes we have made in our lives

She is the defaniton of Chirst like love

She is one of the kindest, most loving people I know

She loves and cherishes every minute of being a grandam

Her eyes light up when any of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren enter the room

She is SO fun to watch ANY sporting event with

She has such a strong testimony - she makes me what to do my best

Thank you grandma for being such a wonderful woman, grandma and mom.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you!  There have been many times in my life when your unconditional love and support have helped me to become the woman I am today.  Thank you!  I love you and hope you have an amazing birthday!

Phase one complete

We are officially done with the first step of MANY in becoming foster parents - hopefully adoptive foster parents.  We had our interview with the Utah Foster Care Foundation and it went well.  We will start the classes to become licensed in November, then we'll have the home inspection and we can officially become licensed.  Yeah!  We are excited to have the opportunity to open our home to children who need a safe place to stay, to be loved, encouraged .  We know the road won't be easy and that there might a few minor pebbles, as well as some HUGE boulders along the way, but we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the time is right.  We know that will have the opporunity to change lives as well as be changed for life!  Let the journey begin!

I LOVE saving money....

I stopped by Albertson's today on my way home and stumbled onto some GREAT savings.....too good NOT to share!

I spent $55.....and SAVED $92.10!!! I LOVE IT!!! Life cereal for $1 a box, Quaker Instant Oatmeal $1 a box, Quaker Chewy granola bars $1 a box, Motts 6 packs of apple sauce $1.40 a box, I LOVE saving money!! :-)

Dixie State vs. Hawaii Hilo - Men's Soccer

I just love this guy!!

Just a few of the photo's from the game

Kasey and I had our date night this week at the Dixie State Men's soccer game. Brent's team took on Hawaii today and played a FANTASTIC game......until the 90th minute!! Yes the 90th minute AS THE WHISTLE BLEW Hawaii got one in the back of the net!! We were all speechless...it was a great game though and Brent played AMAZINGLY!

SC Ivins vs. SC Slash

So close.....not sure what he was doing there though

Making their way to the goal

J with a great throw in

Most Saturdays you can find us at the soccer field. There are two team's in the SC soccer club and today they played each other. It's fun to watch these boys who practice together and work so hard have a great time playing each other. SC Ivins won 2-0. J came SO close to scoring....I know if he keeps playing hard he'll get one in the back of the net.

Team in Training.....

Last weekend was the St George Marathon.....and as I was making my way downtown to J's soccer game, we watched countless people continuing down the road, so close to the finish line - hours behind the lead runner, and I was surprised by how choked up I became. I found myself AMAZED at the willpower of each runner I saw continuing on....one foot in front of the other....til they crossed that finish line. For most, it was just about finishing....being able to say they finished the race!

It was inspiring! So inspiring that I decided right there that I needed to do something - I have been SO blessed in my life, blessed with a family that loves me, that sat by my bedside day in and day out through out TWO bone marrow transplants and countless months of recovery. So many friends have spent hours on the phone -making sure we were alright, fasting and praying for my health, others brought meals, cleaned our home, tended J for hours at a time, and helped whenever needed. How do you ever say thank you for the COUNTLESS hours over the past 10 years that have been spent tending to me and my family!

I love to run.....I can solve all the problems of the world while my feet pound the pavement and running a marathon has always been goal of mine - something to accomplish at some point in my life. Well that time has come! I have teamed up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and joined the "Team in Training" and have begun unofficially training for the Rock n' Roll Seattle Marathon on June 26th, 2010. (Officially training kicks off in January) As I run each day, my thoughts are drawn to all that we have been through, all that loved ones have gone through and all that our dear friends who have lost a loved one to cancer have gone through and continue to go through. Teaming up with the Team in Training is my way to say thank you! Thank you for all your love, your prayers, & your friendship!! You will never know what it has meant to me!

So here's to pounding the pavement....one foot in front of the other!!

SC Ivins Soccer & The Dixie State Soccer

Since the boys have been working so hard at practice and in their games, Kasey decided to have today's practice at the Dixie State Men's Soccer Game. It was a perfect day - clear skies, sunny & 74 degrees....a perfect night for college soccer!

The boys had a great time at the game watching Dixie win 4-0. We will definitely be attending more home games as a team!

Webelos Badge and Religious Knot

J had quite a pack meeting! He earned his Webelos badge, several activity badges, Leave no trace award and he is one of the only boys in our ward to earn his religious knot....way to go J! We are so proud of him and his hard work in cub scouts! Only a few more months and on to boy scouts he goes.

J conducting the flag ceremony

J talking about how he earned all those activity badges

J's Leave no Trace award

Brother Killpack congratulating J on all his awards and hard work

SC Ivins Soccer

Soccer is in full swing again! Most Saturdays you can find us on the soccer field floating between J's games, as well our three SUPER cute nieces games. I think we average 3-5 soccer games on any given Saturday. I LOVE this time of year.....we start out going to games wearing shorts and t-shirts and end the season wearing sweaters, coats and gloves....I LOVE IT!!!

General Conference & Cinnamon Rolls

Rolling to dough before putting it a bowl to rise for an hour

All risen and ready to fill

Rolled up and ready to let rise again

Yum....ready to bake

SUPER YUMMY!!!

Kasey & I love conference weekend....but Jonathan not so much! So a few years ago I decided to try a new tactic to get him to be involved and listen to conference.....thus the idea of making cinnamon rolls WHILE listening/watching the Sunday morning session, we then enjoyed them while watching the Sunday afternoon session. It's AMAZING how well yummy cinnamon rolls can encourage a 10 year old boy to listen to TWO sessions of conference!