Our Christmas 2009

For Christmas this year the boys and I went to Utah to spend the holiday with my family. We hit the slopes Thursday the 24th for some snowboarding/skiing. I forgot to take my camera but the snow was great and we had alot of fun. We went back to my parents for a Christmas Eve dinner, the nativity, and a movie. After the boys opened their Xmas Eve pajamas, we went to bed. Arising early the next morning we opened presents, then went to my brother, Scott's home for breakfast. While there Brad called from his mission in Ohio! I was able to talk to him for an hour and he is doing great! We then went to my older brother's home for yet more food! Later that afternoon we headed up to my mother-in-law, Paulene's for a visit with family.



On Saturday 26th we had our Annual Pounder Family Christmas Party. I was in charge this year. We all met up a Bert's Cafe for breakfast, then headed back to my parent's to regroup.


We divided into 4 teams and went on a picture scavenger hunt. This is where you have a list of items from around town. You race to get pictures of as many items as possible, along with members of your team in the pictures. You have 1 hour to complete the hunt. Below are items #1: a vanity plate and #2 a nativity scene


After arriving back at my parents with much laughter and fun, we showed everyone our pictures, then decided we need to make this game an annual event at our party! We then ate more food! We have a crazy dinner that consists of everything from chips and dip, to fried mozzarella sticks, to shrimp and crawdads :) Yuck! Then we had a White Elephant BINGO game where we exchanged presents.

We then headed to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, to see the lights. It was beautiful as always, although a bit crowded and cold!!



After freezing our toes, we headed back to Scott's for hot cocoa and cookies.
I was exhausted! But we had a great time!
Here's to a New Year! I hope it's better than the last!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From my family to yours,
We Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May you be blessed in all you do!
Love,
Vicki

Nash's Sadie Hawkins Dance

I am slow getting this posted... This was Nash's Sadie Hawkins Date

Whitney asked me to set anice table for their dinner and her and the other girls would provide the food...

Here is Nash and Whitney...


The whole group....


They wouldn't let the boys see what they were serving for dinner, so here are the boys covering their eyes...

and the girls getting the food out...yum...McDonalds!!


The group eating their food...


They all had a great time. They sat around the table talking for an hour and half, then went to the dance for a while. After the dance they came back over to watch a movie. They were a great group of kids!

It's been awhile.....

Yes I know it's been a long while since I have updated my blog, for those of you close to me you know why, but with Thanksgiving just past and the Christmas season coming upon us I decided I had better get back in gear and start posting again. Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was so nice to spend time with family and be surrounded by their love. For an update: Brad is really doing well! He is enjoying his mission and spent Thanksgiving with some members and is really loving the Columbus Ohio. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

It's the Simple Things

Truly it's the simple things in life that we enjoy the most....
This morning we received a phone call from Brad while he was at the airport waiting for his plane to leave. He has been in the MTC for three weeks now, and today he is leaving for Ohio. What a wonderful blessing it is just to hear his voice! He is really doing well! So if a simple phone call can bring me happiness, let it ring!

Our Missionary

We now have a missionary son!
We went to the Stake Center last night and met with President Shumway. After another interview, and a discussion Brad was set apart as a missionary. What a spiritual experience! I know it's not a sad time, but many tears flowed. Tomorrow we head to the MTC!

Our 4th of July

For the last few years it has been tradition to head to Rye Patch Reservoir for a weekend of camping and boating with the Stocking's and Marin's. This year we had to change our plans for a couple of reasons; one- two of our boys were at Scout camp in Idaho and were heading home on the 4th, and reason number two- the Stocking's moved the weekend of the 4th to St. Anthony,Idaho. (I am already missing you Trulee!)
So we had to stay close by and decided to go camp in Lamoille canyon. We had a great time, even though we made many trips back to town for work, and to help with the Stocking's move. Here are some pictures of the canyon and our hike with the boys and dogs up Thomas Creek.

Getting Our Missionary Ready...

I am really glad that we have a couple more weeks to spend with Brad before he leaves. This month has already flown by! There is a lot of preparation to do to get a missionary ready...
I took Brad to Mr. Mac to shop for suits....



amid the thousands of styles, colors, etc. we found some we liked...

On June 20th we took Brad to the Ogden Temple to take out his endowements. We first met up with family at the Olive Garden's for lunch...

Here Brad is wearing his new suit...




Then we went to the temple for the 6:20 session...

It was nice to have family join us on this special day...

The weather wasn't great and it was getting dark, but if you look close, Brad is on the right hand side...

I am going to have to photo shop this picture!
But we had a wonderful day. I am still shopping for all the stuff he needs, but am almost to the end of the list.
PS. Brad will give his farewell address on July 26th

White Water Rafting

Over the weekend we went up to Idaho for some white water rafting on the Salmon River! We met my parents and 2 brothers at the camp that my parents stay at all summer long, then headed to the White Otter Rafting Co. in Sunbeam. Here we are all geared up and ready to go.
There were 9 of us; my mom and dad, Brett (my older brother), Scott (younger brother) and my family except Nash (he was with the scouts on a high adventure white water rafting on the Payette River North East of where we were)

Scott and Austin were really concentrating on getting through the rapids!



We went through two Class 4 rapids (the "Shotgun" and the "Dam") and a couple of Class 3 rapids(the "Narrows"and "Piece of Cake"). This was a shot of us going through "The Dam" a class 4 rapid...

This picture was taken a ways away, so it doesn't do it justice, as far as how big the rapids were. Later in the day we watched a raft go through and tip end on end knocking all its' passengers out except one, even the guide fell out!



We were blessed because it had been raining the whole way there and was still cloudy but once we got on the river the sun came out and stayed until we were all done and headed back to camp! We had a great time and would love to go again!

Our Memorial Day Weekend

For the last couple of years our friends, the Frandsen's have invited us to go with them on their annual weekend at Nat-Soo-Pah, a hotsprings/campground in Idaho. We have always had stuff going on, so this year we finally had the chance to go and we had a great time.
The boys swam in the pool alot!






On Sunday we took a drive to Balanced Rock, where the kids all hiked up to the top;




Then we went to Clear Springs fish hatchery and had a picnic in their beautiful picnic area;



We checked out the Trout and HUGE Sturgeon fish in the pond;



Then we took a drive to see Thousand Springs;


And the Falls;



Two nights we were rained on so the little boys gathered in the trailer to watch a movie;

While we were out cooking dinner in the dutch ovens;

Monday turned out to be beautiful,so we all went swimming again before heading home;


We had a great time and will be going again next year!