Hello from Utah!

Happy Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Lots of exciting things happening here in Utah. The boys have been praciticing snowboarding for the big day (the day after Christmas). Today my dad and I took Ben, Alex and Johnathan ice skating. Right now we are all sitting in the living room enjoying each other's company. I thought I would post something to let you all know (all six of you who happen to read this blog) that we were having a nice, happy, merry christmas eve. I'll post again soon with pictures. Have a nice evening everyone.

The Week Before Christmas

Is it just me or does this wonderful holiday cause a serious amount of stress?!! I know that I bring it on myself and that most of this is self-inflicted stress but still. I even decided not to do Christmas cards and I still have a bunch of things to get done, I can't even imagine what my stress level would be trying to get cards in the mail. I got on UPS.com today to get the two packages I had to mail out. It's supposed to be the busiest day of the year today at the post office so I did everything I could to avoid that. I put labels on the boxes and Joy is dropping them off at a UPS location (thanks Joy).

Amanda is coming today! We are so excited to see her. She will be a wonderful addition to our family this week. I'm sure that Diesel will be SO happy to see her and equally confused when she leaves. We'll be leaving to my mom and dad's house the day after Amanda leaves so we'll have a nice holiday together in Utah (we'll keep Diesel busy).

I just finished (last night) a BIG project that involved a lot of pictures so that is a huge load off my plate. Now I just have laundry, cleaning, preschool, a preschool party, wrapping presents, packing, more laundry, last minute cleaning, last minute gift buying and traveling to Utah by Saturday. I'm sure everyone is having the same stress this last week before Christmas. My bigger concern is to keep Christ in Christmas this week for my boys. I just hope they can see the bigger picture through the "stress of mom". That is one of my goals this week is to remember the "reason for the season" and keep it all in perspective. I really to want my children to understand why we celebrate the Christmas season and concentrate on our Savior and not what they are getting for Christmas.

After Friday my boys are on track break until the end of January. They are SO excited they can hardly stand it. I am pretty excited to have them home also. It will be a nice break for all of us. I was talking to Darrel last night and I told him that I was seriously considering taking a trip up to Idaho to see friends and family while the boys are out of school. If I made up the preschool day the week before or week after we could leave on a Tuesday afternoon and go to Utah, then leave Utah Wednesday to go to Idaho. Stay in Idaho until after church on Sunday, drive back to Utah and then drive home again Monday. I know the boys would LOVE to go and I would truly love to go up and see friends and do some serious visiting. We would have to spend at least a day and night at Rashae's house and then work out the rest of the trip, but I am seriously thinking about making that a reality. I haven't even hinted to the boys yet...as soon as I decide for sure then I'll tell them.

Well, I really should get to work now. I have put off the laundry that is sitting beside me for long enough. I complain about being busy and then I post on my blog (because that is more fun than facing reality). Oh well, Merry week before Christmas everyone. Good luck!

Celebrating Alex's birthday

Last weekend we celebrated Alex's birthday with a "scientific" birthday party. We invited a bunch of boys and they did fun experiments, built candy stuctures and had cake and ice cream. Alex loved it (which is really all that matters) - I also think the other boys had a fun time. It was fun to throw the party, although a little stressful given the time of year. We had seven boys here including Alex and Johnathan. They built volcanoes and dicovered how to test if something was acidic or not. We found a lot of the experiments on the internet and others we had in a kit from Walmart.



These are not all the boys who came - we had some who had to leave early for a soccer game.

An update on our family

We are doing pretty ding-dang good. We're getting VERY excited for Christmas here in the Webb home. I have been taking pictures like a mad woman. Everyone wants an updated family picture for their Christmas cards. I've actually only taken two families pictures plus a soccer team but it feels like a lot.

I finished most of my Christmas shopping online this year. It was easier than carving out time to go to the store. I just feel so busy all the time. This month has done a number to me but we're excited for our Christmas trip to Utah. The boys are SO excited to spend Christmas at Grammie and Grandaddy's house with everyone. I have assured them that Santa Claus will know exactly where to find us when he comes Christmas Eve. (All three are still firm believers)

We had our ward christmas party and it turned out nicely. Darrel put together a Christmas/Nativity video that featured the primary and young men and women. He got many compliments on it. The ward party also fell on his birthday and the bishop found out - the entire ward sang "Happy Birthday" to him - he was thrilled :0)

I have two more weeks of preschool and then I have a week and a half off. I am also very excited for the Christmas break. Amanda is coming down this next week to visit us and Diesel and we can't wait to see her. Diesel will be especially happy. He is doing really well and we all love him very much. He is an easy dog to love. We are still anxiously awaiting his duplex but hopefully it will be coming soon.

We decided not to send out Christmas cards this year so hopefully everyone will understand. This will have to be your official update. So here goes nothing...

Darrel is still enjoying his job here in Las Vegas and he is serving in the ward as the counselor in the Young Mens Presidency over the teachers quorum. The boys love him, and he is doing a great job. I am getting ready to lead the Christmas Choir program this next Sunday as the Ward Choir director. I also still have my calling as the Cub Scout Committee Chair. I also am immersed in preschool and photography.

Alex is enjoying fifth grade at his elementary school and just got on the A/B honor roll at school. He turned 11 in November and seems just so grown up. He babysits for us now and it is SO nice. He is good with the boys and we are very proud of him.

Johnathan is in third grade this year and just earned a citizenship award at school. He is a very obedient boy who tries very hard to do well in school. He enjoys being with his cousin Kenneth and if they aren't together the majority of the day they both go into withdrawl.

Zachary is just a kick. He and I hang out the majority of the time. He's decided that he wants to come to preschool now and stay with the big kids. He is really good at coloring and cutting so in that respect he fits right in. The letters and numbers he's not so good at but we are working on that and maybe by next year he will get there. He is also my resident model for photos - he still is a pretty good sport.

Hopefully this was a pretty good update on our family. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

another photo session

I took pictures of this very cute family just this past weekend. They were so fun and so easy to work with. The girls were amazing and we got some awesome shots of all of them. Enjoy!

The many faces of Zach

The other day I went over to my friend's photography studio to see how to work the lights. I took my camera and was playing around with the kids in the studio. Zach had some hum-dinger photos so I'm sharing just a few with you. I'll share some more later but here's some to look at in the meantime.

Happy Birthday Darrel!!!

Happy Birthday to you!!!
Happy Birthday to you!!!
Happy Birthday dear Darrel
Happy Birthday to you!!!

I really do have a better picture of my sweet hubby - but I wanted to get this posted ASAP and I didn't have time to track down another picture. Darrel is such a great guy and I love him so much. I know we have a bunch of things going on this weekend, but we'll have to find a time in the near future to slip away and celebrate together. Happy Birthday hon!

just a peek

Just a small preview of the pictures I took this last Tuesday of this fabulous and cute family. We had some interesting and fun times trying to get all this kids looking and smiling at the same time. We ended up with some very cute pictures though, I hope they'll be happy with the end result. I'm only putting up a few so you can see a cute sneek peek. Enjoy!

just look at that face...

isn't he just one of the most handsome kids you've ever laid your eyes on?!! We get to have this cute child at our house for a few days while his family is in Disneyland. I'm actually really excited. He is such a fun and adventurous one. Zachary and I are looking forward to a few fun-filled days with Will.

Have you please

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. My posts are really my own journal. I've never been very good about keeping journals. It's never been one of my strong attributes. I have about 10 journals that I've started and have written in for about a week and that's all. I know...pitiful. But, I digress, I need to write this down so I can remember it later.

Whenever Zachary wants something and we ask him to ask nicely he'll say, "Have you please, I have ... (fill in the blank with whatever it is he wants)" Like the other day he wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and so he said, "Mom, have you please I have peanut butter strawberries." Which is his way of asking for a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich. Funny.

Arrow of Light and Wolf

This past week at pack meeting Alex received his Webelo, Arrow of Light and Johnathan was able to get his Wolf. Both Darrel and I were very proud of them and all the hard work that they put in to be eligible for these awards.

Alex had to walk across this rope bridge when he received his Arrow of Light to symbolize his move from cub scouts to boy scouts. All the boys love this rope walk.

Johnathan was very happy to get his Wolf

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers. "
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."





















Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC,
USN 30t h Naval Construc tion Regiment OIC,
Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq.

Thanksgiving weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Arizona with Darrel's parents. They cooked three turkeys, one in the oven and two fried. The food was amazing, there was so much. We had about 30 people for the Thanksgiving meal. There was just madness and mayhem at Darrel's parent's house but it was all fun. We watched two movies. We saw Bee Movie and Enchanted. They were both really fun but my favorite was Enchanted. It was so cute and so funny. I took an amazing amount of pictures also. I took Rebecca's senior portraits (my niece) and she was the most perfect model. She smiled and posed and we just had a great time. I appreciated her patience and I think we got some amazing shots that she will be happy with giving out to friends and family. Also, this past weekend was the first time in quite a few years that all the boys were back together with their dad. It was so fun to see them together and to see them interact. They really are amazing men and awesome brothers. This first picture is of Darrel's dad, Rollin, Martin, and Darrel. Behind Martin's feet is his youngest - he was hiding behind his dad's legs.

This is Darrel's dad and mom. They are an amazing couple who love their family very much.
OK - here are just a few pictures of Rebecca. Isn't she beautiful?!!! This was so much fun!

Sorry, I just had to finish with a picture of Zach. He is such a hambone. I just love this kid!

More pictures to come later...just wanted to give you something for tonight. Sorry it took me so long to update.

Crazy hair day

It was crazy hair day at school today...my boys had a blast getting their hair ready. I love that they're not embarrased to do this kind of thing. I was always too nervous to do this stuff when I was growing up, I thought that I would be made fun of...look at what I missed out on.

Alex's birthday celebration

Tonight we celebrated Alex's 11th birthday by going to Red Robin for dinner. A big thank you to Joy, Steve, and family for coming and treating us to dinner. We loved being able to celebrate with family. Alex noticed that he "graduated" from kids meals because at Red Robin the kids meals are for 10 and younger. He is now officially 11 and no longer a "kid" at Red Robin. After dinner we came home and gave Alex his present from us. He has been saving for this for about 6 months. Darrel told him that if he saved and earned the money for half then Darrel would kick in the other half. This has been a long time in coming. This is a LEGO Mindstorm. It is a robot that you build and program on the computer. This is very sophisticated stuff and Alex is pumped. The bottom two pictures that I posted are just the boys being silly. This is a fun time in our lives and I'm trying to appreciate each day as much as I can. Thanks for reading and happy birthday to Alex!!

Happy Birthday Alex

Happy Birthday to Alex today! He is now 11. I can't believe he is growing up so fast. He is such a good boy. I am very proud of him and the young man that he is becoming and I love him with all of my heart. Happy Birthday son!

We have grass!!

Now, keep in mind that this is not a finished yard, BUT, we put down sod this morning and it looks AWESOME!! A big thank you to Joy, Steve and Kenneth for helping our family put down the grass. Diesel and Shelby are so happy and so am I. This is so great! I am so excited!

cement and rocks

We have been able to get a cement patio in the backyard and we are so excited. It was finished about a week ago. Darrel has since laid sprinkler down and ordered fill dirt and sod. We are so pumped to have a backyard. This first picture is of Johnathan running up our steps and into the house. The second picture was taken right after the second part of concrete was laid - it was still wet and the forms were still on it, but you get the idea. The last picture is my favorite. Darrel dug all the trenches for the sprinklers by himself and this is a pile of rocks that he pulled out. The big one took a piece of rebar leveraged to get out. We grow some seriously big rocks here in our backyard! And by the way, digging trenches here involves mostly the pick.

Oh, I have been a slacker

I can't believe it's been over a week since my last post. I guess I just have to plead busy. It seems like we have just been running this way and that for the last little while. Darrel has laid all the sprinklers in our backyard, he pretty much just needs to bury them now. Our new concrete looks awesome (I think) and we are gearing up to have a very cool backyard.

Amanda came for a visit this past weekend. She was just going to stay for a few days to get Diesel settled but she extended her stay until this coming Saturday - we are all so excited. Right now Joy and Amanda, Kenneth, Johnathan, and Caitlin are all out on the boat for the afternoon. The weather here is in the 70s - they aren't going to get in the water (much to Johnathan's dismay) but they will have a good time just riding around in the boat. Diesel is getting settled in. He is such a sweet dog and even was in our preschool for awhile this morning. All the kids seem okay with him and I'm so glad. He will be a welcome addition to our family and we're glad that we'll get the opportunity to take care of him for this coming year.

The boys had a few days of school this week. Monday was Veteran's Day Observed and today is Staff Development Day at the area schools. Next week is only a three-day week also because of Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to going down to Arizona to be with Darrel's family for Thanksgiving. He will have three siblings plus him and all the families there this Thanksgiving. It's going to be a blast. There is even a rumor floating around that his younger brother, Rollin, is going to fry a turkey. This ought to be fun!!!

Amanda and I are going to watch "The Office" season two (part) and season three (part) tonight. We are both way excited. The Office is a very funny show (I think). It is the epitomy of politically incorrect.

We'll I guess I better get going. I have some pictures to order - some re-orders to do and a house to clean. Thanks for reading! I'll hopefully get some more pictures posted soon.

a picture weekend

I had a picture weekend. I took one family's pictures on Friday night, a soccer team on Saturday morning and another family's pictures Saturday evening. Both families and the soccer team were super cool to work with. I am posting just a select few from the Friday night shoot. I'll post some more later. These kids were just cuter than cute and I loved having the opportunity to take their picture. I have lots of pictures to get ready and to show proofs for so I better get going, just wanted to share. Have a great week everyone!

Happy Halloween everyone! (a day late)

OK so I took these pictures last night but I'm not getting them posted until this morning. I'll have a new post very soon but until then, enjoy the halloween pictures.

my puppy dog

We went to our ward halloween party tonight and this is a cute picture I got of Zach. What a cutie - this is some of the few minutes he actually wore his costume. He took it off shortly after he put it on, but he still had a good time.

Some fun pictures

I thought I would share some pictures from my latest photo shoot. This is Darrel's cousin, Leilani's family. Aren't they good looking. We had a great time at the shoot and afterwards we all played soccer together (our two families) - well, I guess the dad and kids played and the moms watched.