Evolution

Tyler: Dad? What happens when your shoulders get broad?

Mike: What do you mean?

Tyler: Well you know how you said that when you grow up one of the things that happens is that your shoulders get broad?

Mike: Yeah

Tyler: Well, like, how does that happen? I mean do your shoulders like pop out and get all big or something?

Mike: No Tyler, it just happens slowly over time and you don't feel it.

Tyler: But once it does happen you can look back and see that it happened?

Mike: Yes Tyler

Tyler: Oh ok cuz I was just thinking about evolution, and Dinosaurs and stuff like that. Good Night Dad

Once on a House Top

We have the GREATEST elementary school ever! Along with the greatest Principal, Teachers, Specialists, Students.....OK EVERYONE is great! Mrs. Cook our music specialist and Lesli and Hugh Hanson decided to put on a school Holiday Musical this year. They put on "Once On A House Top" and they did an amazing job. I was almost in tears. Every child from the 3rd grade up was involved. There were speaking parts and solos, but there was also a chorus, a stage crew, and a lighting and sound crew! It was so much fun to see the whole school come together in learning about all of the different Holiday celebrations and the purposes behind them. I LOVE our school! Thanks Mrs. Cook, & Leslie and Hugh!

The Nativity

Last night we had our annual Preschool Nativity program. The kids were amazing as usual, and it was a wonderful evening. Isaac was Joseph this year and he did such a good job! He took it VERY seriously. And my cute little Lucas had to follow Isaac around through the whole thing! He reminds me so much of Matt at that age. When we did this with Tyler's group Matt followed Tyler around! I love being a part of a Mothers co-op. I work with THE best mom's, and I love that we are involved with our kids education! I sure love being a Mom!!

I think that there might have been more cameras than Preschoolers!

Check out the cute little head sticking up behind the manger! Cute little Lucas!

Inn Keepers, Angels, Wisemen and Shepherds

Can you believe that we got that many preschoolers to sit and sing?!?

Rylan and Isaac aka Mary and Joseph

They are so beautiful!

14 of the most beautiful children on earth all singing and signing "Silent Night". I had to fight the tears!

Deck the Halls

Ok so with 5 little boys I finally gave in and bought plastic ornaments. I am so tired of cleaning up glass! So this year decorating the tree was so much less stressful! Of course now lucas thinks that he can just throw the balls at the tree. It's turned into a Christmas version of Plinko! Oh well.

A Grandpa Moon

Whenever I see a beautiful full moon I think of my Grandpa Ridd. He loves the moon. When I was a little girl I remember going outside and checking for the moon. If it was a full moon we would run inside and call Grandpa. Well, the other night I was taking out the garbage and I looked up and saw one of the most beautiful full moon's ever and my thoughts went right to Grandpa. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the best I could get at the time! I love you Grandpa!

Staten Family top 10 list

The Staten families top 10 list of things we're thankful for in 2008
(ok so there are 11, but I had 11 must list items!!!)

11. Chocolate Chip cookies

10. That the snakes live in locking tanks

9. That Mike has a Job!

8. That Tyler put's down his book long enough to shoot some hoops!

7. That Matt passed his Gum ball Math tests! (The first one in the class btw)

6. That Isaac LOVES preschool

5. That Lucas sleeps through the night once every 2 months or so.

4. A Sister, Friends and Neighbors who watch the baby so that Liz can leave the house once in a while!

3. That there are wonderful NICU doctors and Nurses at McKay Dee Hospital who saved my little Nicholas

2. Mike, Liz, Tyler, Matt Isaac, Lucas and Nicholas

And the number one thing that we are thankful for in 2008 is.............

1. Jesus Christ and the power of the Atonement

Thanksgiving.....Man I have a lot to be Thankful for!

I woke up Thursday morning happy and content.
I thought back to the last few months and was reminded again of how much Heavenly Father blesses my family. I have a wonderful husband and 5 beautiful and HEALTHY boys! It's really easy to lose focus and start to stress about all of the "stuff" in life, but as long as I have my family I'm good!







Thanksgiving day started with Mike and the 4 older boys going on a hike up waterfall canyon. Tyler was searching for animal prints that he could make a mold of. They ended up making one from Missy's paw prints, but everyone came home
happy!After they cleaned up we headed to Mom's for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner! The boys took a football because already they somehow get that turkey means football!

Mary & Mike and the boys, David & Sinda, Glade & Kami, Andrew & Ali, Kathy (I don't know her last name, but she knew David in Oklahoma and moved out here in September) and Mom and Don made up our fun little group! Dinner was delicious, and the boys LOVED the pie!

We also got to meet Don's 2 sons and their families. 3 little girls and 1 boy. Mike told Mom that she's marrying Don because of the granddaughters. It sure changes the dynamics a bit!


Zach and Preston and Kyle are my boys best friends though. They are almost as close as brothers! We love our cousins.



I love Thanksgiving! I wish that a little more attention was payed to it as a Holiday. I think that we can all benefit a lot by just taking more time to focus on the wonderful things that we have and not just worrying about what we don't have. I love my life!

Lucas loved the animals that live next door to Grandma!

David and Sinda told me that the only pic's I had of them were of them holding the baby! So here ya go guys!

Jon and Don just chillin'!