Sandy Hook

On Friday December 14, a 20 year old man entered Sandy Hook Elementary school and shot 20 children ages 6-7 and teachers and the principle.  Hearing this news completely tore my heart out.  First of all, it scared me to think that Madelyn is now 5 and is almost those little children's age.  I hope that Heavenly Father sent his hosts of angels to be with those children that morning.  To help them not be so afraid to go home to Him.  Yes I will hold my children a little closer tonight, and tell them I love them one more time.  The last thing I want my child to hear is gunfire.  It makes my heart so heavy.  I hope the end is near and no more children will have to suffer like that.  Their poor families must feel so empty right now.  Evil is in this world, and it is prevalent.  I hope my children will never doubt my love for them, or their Heavenly Father's love.  May God's loving arms guide them home and give them a warm welcome. 

5 year pin

Tonight at the Central Fire District Christmas party Tyler received his 5 years of service pin.  It has been five years of work and sweat for this man of mine, but he loves it.  Here's to many more years of service babe!  Congratulations!

Kody's helping him hold the pin for the picture :)

Madelyn's Birthday

My baby girl is 5!  Happy Birthday Madelyn!  Well Mom and Dad both got the stomach flu on her birthday so she spent the whole day with Papa and Lalo.  She went to work with Papa, then went home and opened presents and cake with Papa, Lalo, Hailee, and Dillon.  Brittany Foster made her a Lalaloopsy cake and it was so cute.  So the next day Maddi came home and we opened presents from mom and dad here.  Happy Birthday my friend and wonderful daughter!

Love my kids!

Just wanted to share some pics of my amazing children!

Reserve Testing

Tyler has been selected to test for the Rigby City Police Reserves.  In hope for one day becoming a Rigby City Police officer, Tyler applied to test for the reserves.  The first test was a written test and the second a physical test and the third oral boards.  Tyler passed the first test easily.  The second he passed with flying colors, beat everyone in the mile and a half run by a min and wasted everyone in the push ups and sit ups.  Then he went in for the oral boards and smoked everyone.  He is now a Rigby City Police Reserve!
Here is a pic of him before his oral boards. 

Sick little boy...

So my little Kody had the stomach flu.  It was quite scary since he is so small that he would choke while he was throwing up.  He threw up all night and I slept next to him so that he wouldn't choke.  I gave him some pedialyte and he seemed to be doing better.  Even during the worst of it, my beautiful happy baby boy was smiling at me!

Christmas is in the air!

So we have Decked the Halls, and hauled out the holly!  The house is decorated and the girls helped and did a fantastic job.  It was so much fun with their help, although Brielle likes to eat my red berries off my tree.  Tyler even put some lights outside.  What a great holiday season!

White Christmas

I was lucky enough to be invited by my sister in law Katelyn and her mother to attend the Playmill Theater's production of White Christmas.  I grew up at Christmastime sitting with my parents watching Bing Crosby and Andy Williams sing the beautiful songs of this musical.  It always brought the feeling of the holidays and melted my heart with the words of the songs.  I jumped at the chance to attend a live performance by the popular Playmill.  It was a very wonderful night and am so grateful to have gone. 

Thank Goodness it's Friday!

So Friday was a very hectic day in the Wray household.  I had scheduled to have Kody's hand casted in Pocatello at 1:00.  I loaded up all the kids and we went for a road trip.  When I got to the lady's house she forgot that we had an appointment.  But we got everything together and did the hand casting.  Kody did so good.  He just sat there and looked at the goop his hand was in.  Madelyn and Brielle showed him toys to keep him occupied.  Then me and the kids hit Old McDonalds (as Madelyn calls it).  We had a good lunch until Brielle started to take off her clothes then we hit the road back to Rigby.  But we got lost in Pocahello (again one of Madelyn's words).  So it took us an extra hour to get out of town and back on the freeway.  Meanwhile I got a call from some delivery men from Best Buy who were at our house to make a delivery.  So I called Tyler and asked him to go to the house to let them in.  And low and behold Bingo listened to little Madelyn and delivered a new stove.  And boy is she a beauty!

It's a convection oven with 5 burners on the stove and looks perfect next to the microwave!  What a miracle!  I never thought I would have something this nice.  So yes I am very grateful for Friday!

Letter from Santa

So there has been some rule breaking in the Wray household.  Our little ones can't seem to keep their little fingers off  Bingo.  So after a day when he ended up on the floor I knew something had to happen.  So that next morning a letter came from old St. Nick himself.

Hopefully now we won't have so many little fingers itching to touch the magic elf.  Cross your fingers!

Stove

So I will offer a little tidbit of advice.  Don't keep a marble rolling pin next to a glass top stove.  When the horrible happens it ends up like this. 

So I get to go awhile without a stove.  Good thing I have an electric skillet!!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we stayed home and went to Lalo's and Papa's.  In the morning Tyler, Tanner, Dillon, Hailee, Blaine, and Grover went paint balling at Grandpa Jones's Farm.  They had a blast.  Blaine didn't get hit once.  Tyler has welts all over his body.  We then ate dinner.  It was nice with all the family together.  That night Tyler, myself, Dillon and Grandma Katie went to Black Friday.  We went to Kmart and it was really funny to watch Grandma run and yell at people.  It was a good experience to spend some time together.  That next day Tyler and his dad fixed the ceiling on their garage.  It was a good week and I am so grateful for Family.  I'm grateful for my children especially.  They are everything to me.  I'm grateful for a HUGE helper and wonderful friend I have found in Madelyn.  She is so talented and works hard at things.  I am grateful of the relationship I have with Brielle.  She is my snuggle buddy and likes to spend time with me.  Her cute giggle and how much she is saying.  She has come so far in the last year with her speech!   I am also grateful for Kody my miracle.  He has been such a light in my life.  Always smiling at me and singing with me.  I feel such a bond with him from the other side.  I love them all so much.  I am also grateful for my husband Tyler.  He always knows what I'm thinking and what I need at that moment.  I am so entirely blessed and I cannot be more grateful!

Elf on the Shelf

So it has been fun with Bingo at our house.  He has been in many different places around the house.  The girls love to go and find him.  Madelyn is always so excited he came back.  It has been so fun to watch the magic of Christmas in our children.  Wonder where he will be next?

A New Tradition Begins!

Tonight for Family Home Evening we played Thanksgiving BINGO!  We had a lot of fun finding the different pictures of turkeys and pilgrims.  In the middle of FHE there came a knock at the door.  What did we find?  A package from the North Pole for our three little ones.  And what was inside?  AN ELF!  The Elf on the Shelf. 

The kids were so excited!  Tyler sat with them and read the book that came with the Elf. 

So after some deliberation we decided to name our elf BINGO!  Yay!  Madelyn is so excited and keeps talking to him about what she wants for Christmas.  When we told her that Bingo would be telling Santa if she was being good or bad she got very serious.  She went and gathered up all the garbage cans and helped me put new bags in them.  Then I caught her crying upstairs.  I asked her "Madelyn what is wrong?  Why are you crying?"  and my sweet angel answered "Mom I'm happy crying".  Oh it was the sweetest thing I have ever seen.  I've never seen her so excited.  What a wonderful day! I am so blessed. 

New Year Resolution!

So my new year resolution for 2013 is to do the blog again.  So I was thinking why wait?  Because the longer I procrastinate, the more likely that it won't get done.  So I will spare the details of the past and just start new today. 
Today is the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  I spent the day going to lunch with my friends Martha Rigby and Brittany Blackburn.  We went to Olive Garden to celebrate their birthdays.  I cannot remember the last time I have been out with no kids and just friends.  It was very nice.
This afternoon I have watched movies with my three little ones and worked on Christmas gifts.  My wonderful husband has been putting a door on our laundry room.  I have been asking for one FOREVER!!  I hate it when people come over and can look right in at my laundry mess.  So now I have a door that I can just close and it still looks nice.  What a sweetheart!

This weekend also marks the 7th year anniversary of me and Tyler's first date.  CRAZY!!!  It went so fast!  I can't believe it.  It has been 7 wonderful years of dating, loving, and growing together.  I am very grateful for that first date.  Without it I would have nothing!  Love you Ty!