Basketball, Basketball and more Basketball!!!

So this is the season for Basketball. We have definitely watched our share of games. Between the games we watch on T.V., High School Boys and Girls Basketball games and the games our kids are involved in, we get a lot of basketball in in a week.

Our family is big basketball fans and we enjoy following the Utah Jazz. They have been doing ok this year, but even on their off games we still cheer for them. Chad bought tickets for us to go to a game this year. We are going on Monday night and the kids are way excited. I will have to post pictures after we go.

Tristi our niece is on the High School Girls Basketball team. We try to support her all we can and try to go to her home games. (We also support the Boys High School team too.)

Bailey is playing basketball for her Middle School team. She is only in 6th grade and they usually don't get to do sports until 7th grade, but they don't have enough 7th graders to make up 2 full teams so they are letting the 6th grade practice and get a little playing time when they need subs on the B team. She had her first game the last weekend and she did a great job. She got thrown into a position that she hadn't practiced very much, but she seemed to pick up on it pretty fast.

Bailey's first Basketball Game

What a great steal!!

Time out huddle with the coach

Tyus is on two teams. One up in Evanston, which is his Jr. Jazz team, and the other one is in Randolph, the Jr. Rebels team. He plays every Tuesday and Thursday in Evanston and on Saturdays in Randolph. Him and his teams have done very well. His Jr. Jazz team has won both of their games and his Jr. Rebels them is 1-1.

Tyus stealing the ball from the other team

Tyus playing on his Jr. Rebels team

Guard your man
(Tyus' Jr. Jazz game)

Tyus with his Dad (the assistant coach) at his Jr. Jazz game

Peyton gets to play basketball this year too. His is every Saturday morning and he thinks that he is so big getting to play just like everyone else. From Kindergarten to 2nd Grade they just teach fundamentals, so he really isn't on a "Team". But he sure thinks he is and after they teach them a few things they let them play a little game at the end of each practice.

Peyton shooting the ball at his basketball practice

You have to learn how to dribble before you can play the game.
Peyton has great control with the ball. Keep up the good work buddy!!!

We love going and watch all of the kids and look forward to all of their upcoming games!!!!

Oops!!! We spelled Peyton's name wrong.

Peyton has been learning sounds and how to spell words at Kindergarten. He came home one night and informed me that we spelled his name wrong. I asked him why he thought that, and he said....
"Mom, my name is Peyt-In not Peyt-On." He was sounding it out and when he said his name it sounded like it had an I in it and not an O. I said, "Well then why isn't it spelled PAY-tin instead of PEY-tin then" He thought for a minute and said, "I don't know, I guess I didn't think of that one." For awhile he would bring papers home from school and he would spell his name Peytin on them. I finally showed him that Peyton Manning, from the Colts NFL team, spelled his name the same way that we spelled his and now he thinks it is cool to have it the same and he has gone back to spelling it the right way. SILLY BOY!!! I guess it did make sense. The English language is kind of confusing sometimes, and it is hard to explain to a very inquisitive little boy trying to learn all of the rules to the language. WHO MADE UP THE RULES ANYWAYS????

New Years 2010

We usually stay home and host a New Years party with some of our friends and family, but this year we made different plans. Allen and Darlene invited us to go to Primm, Nevada with them for a New Years Party. (Primm is about 30 miles outside of Las Vegas) My sister was nice enough to watch our kids and we dropped them off at her house in St. George on the way down. The kids were really excited to stay with her and they had a great time while they were there. We got to Primm on New Years Eve and brought the New Year in at a concert. It was really good and a fun change to bring in a New Year. We stayed for three days and had a great little vacation. It's always nice to get away without kids once in awhile. Thanks Allen and Darlene for inviting us to go!!! We will have to do it again sometime.

Our family had a great year in 2009 and hope 2010 is just as good or better. HAPPY NEW YEARS from the Cornia Family!!!!

Meeting My Goal.... Finally!!!

For a few years now I have been telling myself and Chad that after we were done having kids I would loose all the extra pounds that I put on over the years. Well it has been 5 (almost 6 years) since we had our last baby, and we are for sure done having kids. I was still saying that I was going to loose weight, but wasn't doing anything about it. Yes, I would try once in awhile on my own. I would exercise a little and try to eat better, but the more I tried to eat better the worse I was. I think it is a total mind game for me. Well I was tired of playing these games and decided I couldn't do it on my own. So with the help of Dr. Dillree's staff, and the Ideal Protein Diet I finally met my goal this past week. I started the diet back in October and had my last weigh in at the first of this week. I lost 33 pounds total and feel so much better. I wish I would have done it along time ago, but I guess later is better then never. I LOVE MY NEW BODY!!!!! I have had a great support system. Chad and my kids have been so good to help me and not tempt me with all the GOODIES that I wasn't suppose to have. They kept me on track and made sure I only put the good things in my mouth. Thanks again guys!!! You really did help me reach my goal.

A rundown of the month of December...

So once again it has been awhile since I have taken the time to take a minute and make a post. December has been a very busy and exciting month for us, like most everyone else. We started the month off by decorating and getting a head start on Christmas. I love the Christmas season and the joy it brings to many people. I especially love watching the excitement in my kids. They look forward to counting down everyday until Christmas Day. I buy them the advent calendars each year. Every morning before they make sure to get a candy out of their calendar and are so happy that they are one day closer to the big day.

Chad and I enjoyed going to our Ward Christmas Dinner and also my Company Christmas Party. Our kids weren't invited to either, but didn't seem to mind letting Mom and Dad spend a couple nights away. We had a great time at both and enjoyed each others company.

If December isn't crazy enough as it is we also add in a couple birthdays. My birthday is on December 19th. This year it landed on a Saturday. It was a great day!!! My kids let me sleep in and then we just had a lazy day. We then opened presents and then went out to dinner with my Mom and Dad. We had a great night and enjoyed dinner at my favorite Mexican Restaurant, Don Padro's. Of course my Dad couldn't go without telling everyone that it was my birthday. The people at the Restaurant came out with a great big "Birthday Hat" that I was so lucky to get to wear and then they sang to me while banging lids together. Yes, it was so embarrassing and I will have to get him back for it. Thank goodness nobody had a camera to capture my embarrassment. It was a great day none the less. Thanks Chad, kids, Mom and Dad.

Tyus' Birthday is on December 23rd. I feel so bad that he has to celebrate his birthday 2 days before Christmas, but he doesn't seem to mind to much. He gets spoiled rotten and all attention is on him. He turned 9 this year. I can't believe it!! He is growing way to fast. He also gets to share his birthday with his cousin Caden. We had a party at Grandpa and Grandma Erickson's house this year. We ordered pizza and had cake and ice cream. All Tyus wanted to do for his birthday was go to the movies and see "Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Squeakquel." So after the party we took him to see the movie. He had a really good day and had fun celebrating it with all his family. He got a new 22 gun, PSP games, a hat, Bendaroos, a skateboard and a lot more. Thanks everyone for celebrating with us.

Tyus with his cake.
He likes the cartoon Tom and Jerry so his request was a Jerry cake. It took me forever to decorate because I'm not a cake decorator, but he liked it so that is all that matters.

"The Birthday Boys"
Caden-4 and Tyus-9

Opening Presents

Blowing out the candles... Make a wish!!!

We got to go to Tyus and Peyton's school and watch their school Christmas Program. Each class sang and danced and both boys did a great job. Peyton has been singing his songs to me all month and had them down by the night of the program. They also got to make gifts at school to give to us. They got to get them that night after the program and both Peyton and Tyus could hardly wait for us to see what they had made for us. Peyton made us open his that night and Tyus wanted to us to wait until Christmas morning. I just love the excitement Christmas brings to kids.

Tyus singing

Tyus dancing to one of the songs. He was lucky and got dance with his cousin Hailey

Tyus' with some of the kids in the Elementary

Peyton singing

Peyton with his Kindergarten Class

The kids have been practicing really hard for the "Annual Woodruff Ward Christmas Eve Progam." Ever year the primary kids put on a play and then we sing Christmas songs until Santa Clause comes. Bailey was asked to have one of the lead parts this year. She got to be the Elf. She had a lot of parts to memorize and she did a wonderful job. She looked so cute in her elf costume. Tyus was a Soldier and he played the part great. Peyton got to be a Teddy Bear and he was such a cute and cuddly looking bear. I look so forward to the program each year. The kids get so excited to see Santa Clause and it helps make the LONG night of Christmas Eve go a little quicker.

Peyton the Cuddly Teddy Bear

Tyus as a Soldier

Bailey the "Elf"

Peyton telling Santa everything he wants for Christmas

Tyus giving Santa his list

Christmas morning couldn't come fast enough. We sent the kids to bed around 11 pm with hopes that they would go to sleep. They decided that they needed to all sleep together in Bailey's room. We made the boys a bed on Bailey's floor. Chad and I went to bed shortly after but we kept hearing someone out in the living room. I guess Tyus was to excited and thought he needed to keep an eye on where Santa was. He was on the computer on the Santa Tracker seeing how much longer until he would be in Utah. The last time we told him to go to bed Santa was in Arizona. That is close to Utah and I think it scared him enough that he finally went to bed for good. He new that if he didn't Santa would skip over our house.

Tyus was the first one up in our house and he woke the other kids up at 7:30. The kids got spoiled as usual and had a great Christmas. Bailey got a lot of clothes, boots (that her dad just loves, NOT), a portable DVD player with movies, ect..... Tyus was excited about his IPod, PSP games and more....... Peyton wanted a DS and was excited to see it with a bunch of games, Monster Trucks being his favorite. He also was excited about the other toys and games he got. Santa always pulls through and puts big smiles on the kids faces.

Christmas Morning

Opening Presents

Christmas afternoon we enjoyed a family party with the Erickson family. We have a tradition in my family to spend Christmas at my Mom and Dads. All of my Brothers and Sister, Spouses and Kids were all there. We have a great time and enjoy each others company.

"The Boys"

At Grandpa and Grandmas's house

"The Girls"
At Grandpa and Grandma's house

Peyton opening his present from Grandpa and Grandma

The day after Christmas we went to Chad's Brothers house in Logan for his family Christmas

party. We had a wonderful dinner of homemade noodles and clam chowder. This is a tradition that they have in their family. We exchanged gifts and then played games. We had a great day and really enjoy being with family.

This pretty much raps up the month. We are so thankful for everything that we have been blessed with. Chad and I are so blessed to have wonderful family and friends that support us and our kids. We are thankful to live in a free country and to have all the luxuries of life that we take for granite each day. We are thankful to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and remember the sacrifices that he made for us. We try to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas and hope that they don't think that is all about the gifts. The year 2009 has been a great year for our family and we look forward to a wonderful year to come.

Christmas Tree Decorating.....

I usually like to get the Christmas decorations out the day after Thanksgiving. I love having them up all month, but when Christmas is over I like to take them down. It is also my tradition to get up WAY EARLY in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving to get as much Christmas shopping done as possible. This year I was up at 3 am and off the meet my sister-in-law Susie at our local Wal-Mart. I got everything I needed and felt great about being almost done with my Christmas shopping. I just have a few little odds and end things left to get.

When I got home from shopping I had intentions of going back to bed, but I guess I got my second wind because I decided to put the Christmas Tree and decorations up. Some of my nieces and a nephew had stayed the night with my boys the night of Thanksgiving sothey along with my boys helped me decorate. They were the best little helpers and we had a lot of fun decorating the house while we listened to Christmas music. I love getting into the Christmas spirit!!! I think it is one of my favorite times of year. I am worse then the kids when it comes to getting excited about Christmas!!!

(Bailey went to St. George to Katies house with Grandpa and Grandma Erickson this year for Thanksgiving, so she missed out on the tree decorating. I hope she won't be to mad that she missed out when she gets home.)

Tyus helping me put the Christmas Tree skirt under the tree


Peyton putting the first decoration on the tree

All of the kids putting their special little touches on!!
From left to right... Kaylee, Tyus, Peyton (on the chair), Jayden (in front of Peyton), and Jaycee


The final product. The kids did a great job decorating!!
Thanks guys for your help!!!

Thanksgiving 2009

We usually try to rotate between all of our families each year for Thanksgiving. Sometimes this seems to get pretty crazy, but seems to work out the best. We were going to go to my parents house this year, but ended up staying home and hosting dinner at our house. Chad's Grandma decided to move and was moving the day after Thanksgiving, so all of the family was here helping her so we decided it would work out best if we just had it here. We had a great day with great food. I intended on getting the camera out and taking pictures, but when the day was about over I realized I hadn't taken one picture. Oh well, I have never claimed to be a great picture taker!!