Christmas 2008

This year we had a small Christmas at home with just our family. Since we traveled for Thanksgiving it was nice just to be here with the family. We had a great suprise the week before Christmas and had company come into town. Eric's brother Tim(TJ)'s wife Mary, daughter Lizzie and mother-in-law came into town to try and avoid the snow on their trip home from Texas and instead they it the snow here in Vegas and wasn't able to drive through it. Also Mary's mom got sick and they ended up staying until Sunday.


Also on Saturday Eric's, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bob came through town on their way to Arizona for Christmas. We got together and had dinner with them at the South Point Buffet. It was nice seeing them again. We hadn't seen them since my dad had passed away in 2002 and we had gone up to Washington for his memorial. They hadn't seen my boys since Jake was 2 and Trent was only 6 months old. And they had never met Lizzie before. It was a great visit. We stayed at the buffet for 2 hours.

Well Christmas day was just small. But we actually like that.

This is the second Christmas that we have had since my mom has passed away and it is really different without her around to help me get my house all decorated for Christmas. And then with the snow we really weren't able to get into our garage to get the house all decorated up the way that we want it each year. But we did finally get one of our tree's up on Christmas eve and get some decorations on it in time to celebrate Christmas. We took around some bags of goodies to our friends in the ward. We had alot of fun doing that.The boys didn't believe us when we told them that if they weren't good through out the year that all they would get from Santa this year was buckets of coal. Well they each got buckets of coal. One small stocking with a Toontown card in it and a little lego. But I don't think that they really minded that they got a bucket of coal from Santa. They did get other gifts from mommy and daddy and they enjoyed those.

We got Bruce, Eric's dad, some sweats for USC and a digital photo frame that he has been asking for lately. Eric just asked to get his car fixed so that he can drive it again. I got a new camera that I can keep in my purse to be able to take pictures of cute when it happens. I also got a ihome for my ipod to be able to listen to it in my room.

On Friday we took the boys ice skating for the first time. They enjoyed it. We didn't last long at the rink though. My feet really started hurting and the boys I think got bored with it. I really am the only that can ice skate to be able to help the boys but we got them out there and they started to have fun.

It took me to coax them onto the ice by helping each of them by themsleves.

We were able to find these metal walkers that helped the boys skate on their own.

I think that they did very well for the fact that it was their first time being on skates.

In fact on Saturday Trent actually asked if he could go ice skating again. So to me I think that means he had fun.

Eye doctor and Glasses

I finally got all of my boys into the eye doctor. Trent was the first to go because his teacher was worried about his eye sight. It was taking him along time to copy something off of the whiteboard. So we took him in and he actually did need glasses for reading and looking at the board in school. So he doesn't need to be wearing them while playing outside. But he looks really cute in his glasses. But he could grow out of having to wear glasses.
So I finally got Jake and Eric to the eye doctor too. Jake got a good clean bill of eye sight. He actually has 20/20 eyesight. We were really proud of him for that. The next was Eric to see the eye doctor. He actually has good eyesight but in his left eye it was blurry. So he actually needed to get glasses to see long distance. He has to wear them when he is driving or watching tv at a distance. I think he looks handsome too.

Snowing in Vegas

We were luckly today and was able to get snow here in Vegas today. The boys wanted to go out and play in the snow when they found out that it was snowing. So we were able to find a place up in Summerlin where the snow was sticking and they had alot of fun playing in the snow.

We found an empty lot and was able to make a snowman with the boys.

We had alot of fun while playing in the snow.

Thanksgiving and the Beach

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. I got to go up and have Thanksgiving with my family in California. We drove up to Bakersfield on Thanksgiving and had one dinner with my family that lives there and my grandparents.

This is Trent and Jake with one of their cousins in Bakersfield, Nevin Gillis

The next day we drove up to Fresno and had another Thanksgiving dinner with my family in Fresno and Madera, my niece Taylor and my grandparents again. It was great. I hadn't seen alot of them since last year. And I hadn't seen Taylor for a year now. I really need to see her more often.

Jake and Trent with their Cousin Taylor Boswell (my niece)


Jake and Trent with their Great Grandma Mealey, my grandma.

Jake and Trent with their cousin Taylor and Great Grandparents, my grandparents.

Then afterwards we drove back to Bakersfield and spent the night and then the next day we drove down to Ventura and visited with Eric's Grammy and took the boys to the beach.

This was actually the first time that we had ever taken the boys to the beach. I think that is interesting that after 9 years of having the boys we had never taken them to the beach.

But they enjoyed it and forgot that it was the winter and decided to play in the ocean and get all wet.

Halloween and the Dentist.

Well this post has been long time coming. I know that I needed to post this after Halloween put I just now put I just now downloaded the pictures from Halloween. The boys really had a great time. We did Trunk or Treat on the 25th of October for our ward here in Las Vegas. Jake actually got brave this year and went into the spook house that they had set up at the church. Trent chickened out again. But they had alot of fun playing with their friends and then of course going around and Trunk or Treating.

We decorated the back of the van and handed out candy to everyone. I know that the picture really doesn't do it well. But this is what it looked like. Jake went as a Clone Trooper from Star Wars and Trent went as Ironman.

This is Jake playing around in the church. Eric took these pictures and I thought that they were great so I wanted to share them with everyone.

Then for school our boys dressed up as Cowboys for Nevada Day. The school celebrates Nevada Day instead of doing Halloween parties. They get a lunch supplied for them and do Nevada Day activities. Trent was so excited to finally get to dress up as a Cowboy. And both of the boys wanted to dress like thier Uncle Rick who is a Cowboy. I think they would make him proud.

This is Trent wearing his hat over his eyes he wanted to wear his hat that way for the picture.

Now onto the Dentist. My mouth started hurting on the 25th of October and the pain just got so bad that I needed to go to the dentist. I found a great dentist that is in our ward. They call him Dr. Mike. I ended up needing to have 2 root canals done and some deep cleaning of my teeth. I still have to go back to get the rest of the 2nd root canal done next week but my teeth are clean and I am feeling much better now.

http://www.justsmileslv.com/

The boys also went to the dentist. Trent got his teeth cleaned and didn't have any cavities. I was very proud of him.

Jake on the other had ended up having on cavitiy but he got it filled today and did a great job at the dentist. I thought that he would have had a hard time when they went to numb his mouth. But he was very big boy about the whole thing.

And Eric will be going to the dentist tomorrow. So we are just getting everything taken care of before the year is up. But it is a great blessing to have such great people that go to our church and being able to find a good dentist that will take care of you.

All about my love

The rules are posted at the beginning. Each person answers questions about their sweethearts. At the end of the post the person then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they are tagged!!
WHAT IS YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME? Eric James Bronley
HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN MARRIED? 11 years and still going strong.
HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? 6 Months
HOW OLD IS HE? 33 years old
WHO IS TALLER? He is!
WHO CAN SING BEST? I can
WHO IS SMARTER? I am but with cell phone products and data he is.
WHO DOES LAUNDRY? Both of us
WHO PAYS BILLS? ME!
WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED? He does
WHO MOWS THE LAWN? WE both do depends on if Eric is in town.
WHO COOKS DINNER? We both do.
WHO'S THE FIRST TO ADMIT THEY ARE WRONG? He does.
WHO KISSED WHO FIRST? He kissed me.
WHO WEARS THE PANTS? We both like to think that we do! We're about equal!
I tag...Tricia Young, Karen Baker, Michelle Mierzejewski

Tagged

After reading my friend Tricia Young's blog she made a challange to answer these questions.

5 FAVORITE PLACES I'VE LIVED

1. American Fork, Utah - I lived there as a child and have many happy memories of my family there.
2. Everett, Washington - Moved there from Utah when I was 11 and loved being up there and meeting new friends.
3. Fresno, Ca - I know that sounds weird but I miss there because I miss my niece that still lives there.
4. Ventura, Ca - I loved it there because this is where me and Eric lived after getting married and decided to have a family. Also Jake was born there.
5. Las Vegas, Nv - This is where we decided to make our home and stay. We had Trent here and have been here for 9 years now.

5 FAVORITE SNACKS

1. M&M's
2. Carmel Popcorn
3. Doritos with Jalopenio Chedder Cheese
4. Pepsi - I know this is a drink but I like to eat it with my snacks
5. Junior Mints

5 JOBS I'VE HAD

1. Hairstylist - I loved this job. I got my license in California back in 1994 and just recently let it go.
2. Business Owner - In Ventura we owned our own Locksmith business.
3. School Crossing Guard - I love doing this and working with the kids up at Frias Elementary School where my kids go.
4. Substitue Teacher - I am so looking forward to being in a classroom with children that want to learn.
5. Mom, Wife, Daughter & Friend - This is my best job and my most favorite.

IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS I WOULD

1. Pay off all my bills.
2. Buy a house
3. Pay off my brothers bills
4. Save some for when I retire
5. Pay my tithing

5 THINGS I LOVE

1. Eric
2. Jake
3. Trent
4. My extended family
5. Crocheting and scrapbooking

PLACES I HAVE LOVED VISITING

1. Canada - When I was little my grandma took my family up there and I got to see my Granny Souch and had a 4 generation pic taken. And then in 2001 I took Jake and my mom up there for my mom's real dad's funeral.
2. Disneyland - I know that sounds weird but it was fun being there for my honeymoon and then being able to take my kids there.
3. Oregon Coast - I went there when I was 16 to my Aunt and Uncle's cabin on the coast and had just a great time with them.
4. Washington - It was a sad time because I was going up for my dad's memorial but it was a great visit with my big brother.
5. Ventura - I love going and seeing the beach.

That time a year again

I can't believe that it is already fall. We were going to go to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard today and found out that they close at noon so we went to the Bellagio Conservatory. We wanted to see the fall setup that they did. It was gorgeous and the boys had lots of fun. We also took some pics of the boys there.

This is a pic of the boys and a giant pumpkin that was on display there.

This is a arch and walkway that you can walk through and look up and see pumpkins. And then there is a pic of the boys looking up at the pumpkins.

These are pictures of us with the boys in front of an ent that was on display there too.

We really had alot of fun and took lots of pics. I recommend that you go and see this if you come to Vegas or if you live here.

11 Years of Wedded Bliss

This has been an up and coming post. Eric and I have been married for 11 years back on Sept 26th. I can't believe that it has been that long ago already. But to tell you alittle bit about how we started. We actually met on AOL Im. Eric found me in the profile section and instant messaged me to see if I was someone else I answered back no and from there we just started talking back and forth on instant messaging. We would email each other on a daily basis. After getting to know each other alittle bit more we moved on to talking to each other on the phone for hours on in. Eric decided for his Spring Break from College that he would come up and met me. We had not met yet because Eric lived in Ventura, CA and I lived in Fresno, CA which is about 4 hours apart. But he rented a car and drove up to Fresno and met me and we haven't been apart since. We finally met each other in March of 97, by May of 97 we were engaged and by Sept of 97 we were married in the Los Angeles Temple. It was such a special day. I got my endowments taken out on that same day and having my mom, my grandparents and my Aunt Laurie and Uncle Mike there for it was such an experience. Eric told me that his heart dropped into his stomach when he finally saw me in my wedding dress. We had a Ring Ceremony at the Ventura Stake Center that night for those that were not able to attend the sealing at the temple. And a special treat that I got was that my Big Brother Rick sang our first dance song. Which was Me and You by Kenny Chesney. Eric's brother Chris played the guitar and Doug McCoullough played the piano. It was great and is a great memory that we have.

For our honeymoon we spent 5 days at Disneyland. On the 5th day we also went to Universal Studios. It was fun and was great being able to just spend time with each other as husband and wife.

And now today we have 2 great sons who keep us on our toes.

Jake turned 9

I still can't believe that he has turned 9 already. It seems just like yesterday he was a little baby fighting for his life. And now look at him grow up. Jake is 88 lbs and 4'4". He was born at 7 lbs 9 oz's and 18 1/4" long. He has grown up so fast. Jake right before his birthday also lost another tooth. That makes 7 teeth that he has lost since he turned 6. Jake is only a foot shorter than his mother now and I am sure that he is going to be taller than me. Jake had to come home from school and do his home work yesterday before being able to get his gifts but he was very suprised when he walked into his room to see his gifts on his bed.

Jake's favorite thing is Star Wars. So he got a Star Wars Clone Trooper Helmet that talks, a Star Wars Spider Droid and a Star Wars Clone Trooper Blaster. He was extremely happy to be able to get gifts. The boys worked so hard on Saturday to get there room cleaned. We told them that there wouldn't be any presents for birthdays unless the toys in their room was picked up they didn't need anymore.

We went to Wal-mart and bought a Chocolate cake and brought it home and decorated it. Eric wrote on it Happy B-day Jake and then put a battle of Star Wars Galatic Heros on the cake. Jake loved the cake and was very excited about it.

We sang happy birthday to him and then he blew out his candles. And of course we had some cake and ice cream. Jake also got to pick out what he wanted to eat. Jake picked Caines Chicken Fingers. They were good.