Labor Day Weekend

This Labor Day Weekend we were able to get out of town and go up to my parents cabin in Pinetop-Lakeside. The weather was nice, and we were able to relax and spend time with our family and friends. We all had a fun time together, laughing, playing games, riding, and visiting. Here are some pictures of the good time we had. (sorry for the picture overload) :)

This is all the kids that were there. 10 kids together can be fun!

My sister, Tara and my mom working in the kitchen. We had lots and lots of yummy food while we were there!

I know this picture is a little blurry, but here is my crazy husband dancin' it up for all of us!

This was the night we spent doing karaoke. It was very loud, funny, and had a lot of off tune singers!

Fun times for everyone!

My dad sleeping through all the loud music and singing! Shayla, Sydney, Jake, & Clayton enjoying a good ol' game of UNO.

Melissa working away on her blanket

Guitar Hero was a big hit too. All I can say is it wasn't ever very quiet around!

Brandon, Me & Clayton

Kelsie riding on a quad

It has been years since I rode, so I had to ride and see if I still remembered how!

Then of course here is Clayton, my little dare devil, having the time of his life!
Clayton loves to ride!!
We had a great weekend and enjoyed every one's company and the outdoors! The kids already want to know when we will be going back.

Bye Bye Summer!

Today is the 1st day of September, and yesterday when I was out I couldn't help but notice all the fall decorations. And although I am a huge fan of summer, I love the fall season! Now I wouldn't mind skipping winter and going right to spring....cause I really hate the cold, but I know that isn't possible. So even though it is still a little toasty outside, I think I am ready to say "bye bye" to summer and "hello" to fall!

So today I thought I better can some strawberry jam before the strawberries are out of season. It is great on homemade bread or rolls!! yum yum! It does take some time, but it is worth the effort!

The little baby jars are so cute, and they make great gifts too! I have someone who always request for their birthday some of my rolls and jam. So to have it on hand makes it easy.

Now i can't wait for pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, soups, and best of all.... the holidays!

Las Vegas

Well it's only been about 8 months......but believe it or not I'm going to blog!! No pressure or nothing from a few people....ahem! But since we just got home from a trip guess its a perfect time to start!

We just got back from Vegas. Every August for the past several years we go there. We meet my brother and sister in law. Both her and my birthdays are in August and we live in Arizona and they live in Utah.....so Vegas is right in between. We always have so much fun!! I look forward to it every year!!

Brandon & Me

Dustin & Myrna

Brandon providing us some entertainment in our hotel room. With those earphones on he was sooo loud! I thought for sure people were going to start banging on the walls in the room next to us!!

Myrna in shock from the performance!!

We had adjoining rooms, and every night we would stay up late and play card games. We went to a few shows, and of course ate alot!! Shopped and walked up and down the strip.


Myrna & Me on the strip

Eating at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill Restaurant. Myrna loves him.....so she was thrilled!! And she was able to go in the Toby Keith store and buy some souvenirs.

The only bad thing about the trip is that is went WAY to fast!!! 4 days just flew by! But we had a blast, and can't wait until next year!

BEWARE!!

Drivers BEWARE!!! Today Kelsie got her driver's permit! She has been studying hard and was nervous when she went in to take the test. When she came out she had a sad look on her face and shook her head no to Clayton. So Clayton turned to me and says, "oh brother mom, she failed!" So after we thought she did not pass, she got a big smile, started laughing, did a little jump, and said "just kidding! I passed!!" So she has already started bugging me like crazy wanting to practice driving. So here we go again....kid number 2 driving. Only one more to go!

Holiday Traditions

As all the Christmas decorations are put away and the holidays have seem to have flown by once again, I think of all the wonderful traditions that we look forward to each year.

*First and foremost is spending so much time with our family and friends! Parties and get togethers are so much fun and getting to see those that we don't get to see as often as we would like to. Here is a picture of my family with my Mom, Dad, my family, my brother Randy and his family, and my sister Tara and her family. This was taken at our annual party at Aunt Connie's house that is with all of our extended family on my mom's side.
*The annual Mabry Family "Adult" party. You have to be 18 and older to attend this one! Dinner is always brought in and we play the present game. Always fun with lots of laughs!

*Receiving a copy of the "Mabry Messenger". The messenger is family newsletters complied together in a book. Here is a picture of this years copy which is the 27th annual year. And yes, I still have every messenger I have received since I married into the family.

*The annual Mabry Family Christmas Eve dinner. Which is always held at a church because the family is too big! The Christmas play put on by all the kids in the family with the costumes that Grandma Mabry has made and scenery that has been painted and made by other family members.

*Christmas Eve at The Costley's home. We go there after the Mabry dinner. At the Costley's there is always lots of friends and some family. We have lots of yummy soups in bread bowls, play the present game, and eat tons of desserts. After this we are ready to explode!!! Considering we hit 2 dinners in a row! I always save room at the first dinner and caution my kids to do the same! :)

*Eating Christmas breakfast all together. Something that sadly does not happen enough during the rest of the year!

*Christmas Day dinner at my Uncle Danny & Aunt Shellie's house with all the Aunts, Uncles, & cousins on my mom's side of the family.

*Getting a plate of Grandma Naegle's fudge!! Yummy! :)

*Getting Brandon's mom's annual Christmas gift....A calender with tons of pictures of all the family and documenting all the birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Brandon comes from a family with 12 kids....so yeah, its hard to remember and keep track of everything! :) So this is something we look forward to getting and hanging up each year.

I know there are probably lots of other things that I am leaving out, but I know how blessed we are to be apart of such wonderful families that have these traditions along with our own that our family has created. I'm kind of sad that it is over already, but that is the great thing about traditions....you always have next year to look forward to them! I hope that everyone was blessed with a wonderful holiday season!