My Family and Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Stoddard's!!

What an amazing year. Madeline started middle school and
is learning to play the violin. Both kids participated in
swim team and excelled.

Jacob is loving cub scouts and just earned his Wolf Award.
Stephen is busy and grateful for a wonderful job
and church service.

I am grateful for healthy family, a warm home,
kind friends, an amazing business, and
chances to serve others.

I am most of all thankful and humbled by
a baby who was born in a stable. Served others through
out His life and taught us how to truly love all mankind.

I am in awe of His Atonement which He gave to me so
that I can be forgiven and strive to live as He did.
May we always have our Savior, Jesus Christ in our
hearts and love as He does.

crazy Christmas photos!!! Which one is your favorite?

n

Is it this one?

this one?

Are we a "normal" family? I hope not ;)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

YaBaDaBaDo!!!

you should be very, very afraid! there is
an armed ninja ready to attack
at a moments notice!

Has it been a month since i've posted, yikes! is it really 1/2 way thru november, yikes!

well, here are the fun halloween costumes i created.

did i mention that i looooove dressing up for a day!

supplies

8 wood beads $2.99

4 yards animal print fabric $16.63

red hair spray $2.47
(went to 7 stores to find it, dang BSU fans)

being a redhead for a day priceless

here is the family

stephen...fred flintstone

tonya... wilma flintstone

madeline... prof mcgonagall

jacob... ninja dude

we love to host a halloween party and this year
madeline took the reins and made an
amazing harry potter party!

she wrote the script, and directed all
of the professors, witches, and wizards.

here is a fun picture of the group

the witches receiving some instructions to
help combat prof snape. nasty fellow!

wingardium leviosa!!! be gone with you!

a little sugar please!

mummies! a favorite tradition

bobbing for apples is always entertaining! fab party!

can't wait for next year!

thoughts about being 100!!!

so i had my birthday last week and turned 38. stephen
bought this HUGE cake from costco. it could seriously feed
an army so i gave some of it away to my neighbors.

it was a good day. plus you get presents so that
usually makes the bigger # worth it.

i found this article in a magazine and found it very interesting
so i added my comments at the end of each one.

does anyone want to live to be 100???

20 signs you might live to
be 100!!!

1. you eat purple food.... do m&m's count?

2. You have been a college freshman... check.

3. you have a drama-free marriage... i think you need a little drama in any relationship

4. you enjoy good friendships... thank you friends!

5. you have strong legs. so that's why i exercise

6. you get goals. yes, sometimes the same goal each year

7. you feel 13 years younger than you are... um that would make me 18!

8. you have a positive outlook on life.... most days

9. you're outgoing.... yes!

10. you've got skinny friends.... but we like to eat yummy food!

11. you don't have a housekeeper... nope, just kids who are my slaves (insert evil laugh).

12..you often walk instead of drive... or ride my cute pink bike.

13. you do aerobic activity 5 days a week... yes i walk to the bus stop.

14. you don't like burgers... sorry i love burgers, fries, and filet mignon.

15. you skip colas... yes i'm not a big pop fan

16. you love tea... herbal tea

17. you limit calories to 1400-2000 per day... um i don't know i can't count that high

18. you don't snore... my sister andrea tells me that i do!

19. you weren't overweight as a teen... most kids who live on a farm don't have time

20. you have a flat belly... when i lay down it is flat!


so i might live to be 86 years old and i am totally okay with that.
in fact, i have given stephen permission to let me die at that age.
i've
lived a good life right?

not a happy camper!

So why do i go camping?

i don't sleep because they have bear signs warning
you that a bear could attack you during the night
and carry of your children.

there is no cell phone service or
wi fi connection.

i am stuck in a piece of flannel
that is way too small for
me to be "comfortable".

i cook, clean up, cook, clean up repeat.

chime in with a comment
telling me i'm not alone in this!!!

and yet the kids love it
and i get to spend some time look at
nature and enjoying God's creations.

oh ya that's why i go camping!

a very happy birthday party

my nephew, Matthew, celebrated his 4th birthday. he loves
lightning mcqueen and was decked out in a costume.

rosa and breelle spent many, many hours making
this amazing "lightning mcqueen race track".
i would love to be a spectator sitting by
the delicious edible track!

what would you wish for if you were 4 years old again?

would you wish for this amazing balloon hat that
mom is wearing. there was a clown named petunia who entertained
the kids for an hour.

unfortunately, matthew was
scared to death of her and didn't want to
be near her!

i forgot that madeline and jacob would not
get near a clown, mascot, or santa claus for many
years. i think we're over that now!
such balloon

Ocean Front

2 posts in 1 week.

Some additional photos from our Oregon Coast trip.

i heart the ocean! I would love to
live in a little cottage by the sea.

and throw in a red convertible ;)

1 of my favorite things at the lake house... a happy boy in a kayak.

beautiful on the outside, a little crusty on the inside

after much searching, we finally found
what was it called

blue lake,
no
fish lake
no
crater lake
no
oh, clear lake. ya it was beautiful

the kids were excited to row, row, row the boat

thanks mom and dad for a great trip. happy 41st anniversary
we love you!

Beach Balls

Wow what a fun summer!

We loved our trip to the Oregon Coast.

The whole family stayed at a hotel and made the most of our $69.74!

We dominated the swimming pool. I would see hotel guests walk by and
look in but none dared to enter..... the splash zone.
So amazing canon balls were on display!

My beAutIfUl sisters in their new swimsuits.
I know what you are thinking... are they models?

Canon Ball!!!

Speaking of balls.... I went and spent a couple days with my parents at the farm. Don't ya just love getting back to your roots!

Mom and Dad treated us to Chinese food and bowling.
We happened to get the Tuesday bowling special of $1.50. AWESOME!!

Madeline got a strike, yes!
But Mom is the one who took the cake.
She scored a whopping 127. Maybe her best score ever!

We are headed tomorrow to register Madeline for middle school, sniff.

how can my cute girl be that old? Don't you remember these days?