Trying something for the new year

So, I am going to try and post on here at least weekly. No excuses! We had a wonderful Christmas just our little family at our home in Utah. It was different not having my family around. We got together with all of the Riley's on Wed. Dec. 23rd and that was a lot of fun. My kids always have SOOOOO much fun with their cousins. I am so glad we moved out here for that reason especially. I have started my low carb diet again, now that I gained 4 lbs back during the last six weeks ARGGGGHHH!!!!! Anyway, and I have started to go running with some girls from my ward. I am stoked!!! I am hoping to lose 25 lbs by my 10 year wedding anniversary on May 13th! That would be my goal weight, and Mike and I have a bet, and I could win %500!!!!! I am so gonna beat him!! Lockton turned 5 on Dec. 26th and had a great Birthday. Katelyn is doing great, she hasn't been feeling well lately, Lexi too, she has had a runny nose for like a week, but at least they are out of school, and we are trying to take it easy around here. Now, we are just looking forward to the New Year.

It's been a while...

So, I can't believe it has been almost 6 months since we have blogged! A lot has been happening in our family. Mike is working at Big 5 Sporting Goods and he really likes it. Teresa is staying at home with the kids!!! Katelyn is in 2nd grade and she loves her school. Lockton is going to preschool and he loves it too! And, Lexi is starting to learn some new words! She really is starting to show her need for independence! Kristyn and Steve have generously offered for us to rent their rental home, and we are really enjoying living here! The kids love the big yard, and picking pears off of the pear tree! It has been fun. It was a wonderful summer! Sammie, Teresa's sister came to visit for 6 weeks. And the kids had a lot of fun swimming and playing outside. We are really enjoying Utah, and we will be better at keeping up with our blog:)

Snow!!!

Wow, we are still loving this new stuff called snow.  There was nothing on the ground at 11:00 am and these picture are from around 3:00 pm.  That's crazy for us.  Finally on a day that we had some time to play with it.  It will probably all be melted off by the end of the day tomorrow.

Why did I try for so long?

Why did I think it was worth fighting for. What a joke!

Winter wonderland... Again! and 3 weeks since we left AZ!

So, we woke up again to SNOW!!!! I even drove in it just now. But, it was fine, there is only about an inch or two, and it wasn't coming down too hard. Just enough to cover Everything!! Rooftops, lawns, cars, mountains, everything in sight! It is fun though. I think we moved out here at the perfect time. We came at the tail end of it so it is still fun, but it will start to warm up and then we will have another 9 months or so, before winter comes back around again. Mike is still busy looking for a job. We feel really good about his last interview, but we will see. He should hear from that company by Wednesday.
Grandma Riley is making Lexi and Katelyn some Easter dresses! She already made Saedree and Annistyn some and they are CUTE! I am excited for Easter. I hope we have a BIG RILEY easter with a big easter egg hunt, etc. But, we will see what happens.
So, it has only been three weeks since we left Arizona. I find myself daydreaming as though I am driving around my old stompin grounds. My mom warned me that I should cherish the last two weeks I was there doing luncheons with friends, etc, that I would miss it. I kinda already do! I am really enjoying it here and can't wait until Mike gets a job and we get into our own house, but I do miss my family and my friends. But, I am enjoying Mike's family and the opportunity that I have to make new friends!!!! Here are some pictures with me and my family the last day in Arizona.

Draper Temple

We got to go to the Draper Temple and do a tour of it yesterday. It will be dedicated next week, and after that you can't go in unless you have a temple recommend. I just have to say it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The celestial room was breath taking and the sealing room was wonderful. I could totally feel such a peaceful feeling while I toured the temple. I am excited for the day that Mike and I will be sealed for time and eternity with our three beautiful children. I know that it will be soon.
Utah is so great! I am really loving it here. Katelyn and Lockton are doing suprisingly well for being uprooted in their home and town that they were used to. Katelyn loves school and Lockton is well...being a four year old fun, energetic, wonderful littly boy! Lexi is doing great. She said Mama today!!!! I know it was just a sound and not purposeful, but it melted my heart none the less. She is getting extremely close to walking. She will let go and stand there for a few seconds before she realizes that she isn't holding on to anything. Well, that is all for now, we will post more pictures soon.

Bountiful Cemetary

We went to Bountiful Cemetary today. Something I just haven't had time to do in my visits here. Now we have the time. Here is my grandpa's grave Samuel Lloyd Riley. He is who I was named after Michael Lloyd.

Here is Katelyn, Lockton and Lexi at my great Grandfather's grave. I named my son Lockton Michael after William Locton Riley's grandfather who also was named William Lockton(Locton) Riley.

Here are Katelyn and Lockton by their great, great, great grandfather's grave. Arthur Riley

We looked for their great, great, great, great grandfather's grave William Lockton(Locton) Riley a bit but ran out of time. Does anyone, any relatives, know if it is there?

Happy Birthday Papa!!!!

Today is my stepdad's birthday. It will be the first in a long time that we are not able to celebrate it with him! I hope you have a great day, Bill! P.S. we will post pictures or a video later today, and I promise that I will be a lot better at blogging! There is still some snow on the ground here in Santaquin, Utah. My kids are having a blast with the change in weather. We have gotten to see a lot of family and friends here in one week already! The kids have been LOVING spending time with their cousins. Katelyn loves her new school and Lockton will be starting headstart soon. Mike is busy looking for a job and Teresa is excited at the opportunity to stay home with the kids.

"hi Dad" you be the judge

Sounds like "hi Dad" to me.

Moving in 4 weeks!!!

Well, we are trying to pack ALL of our stuff. We are busy tying up loose ends, and trying to think of all the things we need to do before we move. Mike has been hanging out during the day with Lockton. They have been having a lot of fun together. Lexi has been hanging out with Nana (Teresa's mom) during the day to give Mike time to get stuff done around the house. Katelyn is going to school and her teacher knows that her last day of school will be on February 27th. That day will also be my last day of work. I gave a 6 week notice at work. It has been bittersweet. I have been with Southwest Human Development for 8 years!! That is 1/3 of my life!!!! Anyway, we are really starting to get excited. The kids are hoping that we will still get to see it snow.

We are moving in 7 weeks!!!

It is for real. And we are really excited to be up there by our family. We had a yard sale last Sat. and make almost $400. Then, we sold a bunch of stuff on craigslist and made another $150. We are going through a gamet of emotions. I have lived in Arizona since I was 8 years old. I never wanted to be the type of person that never experienced living somewhere else, so I am so glad that we are moving. Although, it is stressful. We don't know where we will live, we don't know where we will work, we don't know where our kids will go to school, who our friends will be, what our ward will be like, what the snow will be like, etc.
But, we DO know that we have a lot of family up there that love us and support us, we do know that it is beautiful up there, we do know that the church is strong up there, and we do know that we will have the most important thing and that is each other.

We can't wait for the adventure!! We are jumping in feet first!