January...

January 2010... What a CRAZY month!

We ended 2009 and rang in 2010 with Family, Food & Fun! We missed Hannah's Family BUT we know... they will never not be here for a Family get together again. ~Love you Hannah~

The ADULTS played a fun poker game!

The GIRLS were out first.

My guess... the GUYS rigged it so we would watch the kids!

Grandma playing with the heater??? NOPE, it was CHARADES.

Everyone was getting tired so Grammy acted out all kinds of stuff for us to guess.

It was memories I'll never forget!

Byron, Jaden & Stephanie.

The ONLY kids that made it til MIDNIGHT, not!

Grandma "fast forwarded" the clock.

We all rang in the New Year then hit the hay before 12. It was a great trick!

JANUARY 4th, 2010:
Ben made a HUGE sacrifice. He laid down his badge and his LOVE for law enforcement and took a job with Kennecott / Rio Tinto. He loves it! Thanks babe for taking such good care of Me & our Boys!

JANUARY 5th, 2010:

On January 5th I had sugery on my LEFT knee... (Thus be the reason I haven't updated my BLOG.) It has been a roller coaster ride with lot's of pain and emotions. 2 trips to the ER, lots of phone calls and visits with my Doctor, knee drained 4 times (with a huge needle) BUT... LOT'S of love and support from my AMAZING family and friends. My Mom deserves a HUGE shout out for EVERYTHING. She picked me up every day when Ben had work, she took my kids to school, fixed us dinner, gave a shoulder when I cried (constantly) she even washed my back while I was in the shower then blew my hair dry for me! Rylee & Alicia for the AWESOME dinners. My AMAZING Mom in law who held me while I cried and told me the BEST stories to get my mind off being sick. My Husband who is the GREATEST. My BOY's who held my hand walking, opened the doors for me (even though most the time I had to go out of the way to get around the door they opened.) My youngest Jens who kissed my knee over and over, feeling so sorry for me. My Daddy who called EVERY day on his way home from work. My Lee La who offered to do my laundry and feed my kids. My Aunt She She who washed my hair when I didn't have the energy. My LIFE LONG friend Kaysie who text me EVERY day even though she was going thru an aweful time in her life. My GOOD Friend Linda who checked on my often. MY GREAT Doctor, John Brady (call me if you need an Orthopedic Doctor that ROCKS). My SWEET Nurse Leslie who I know I'll always be Friends with. My FAVORITE Daycare, Janalee and Kelli who take in my Son and love him when I can't. Everyone who Facebooked me, text me, called me and prayed for me. AND, those of you ignored because I felt so TERRIBLE, you know who you are... I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Things are looking up, I still have my days when I sleep a lot or hurt BUT... soon I'll start physical therapy and soon I can go back to work!

JANUARY 10th, 2010:

Jaden and Jacks BIRTHDAY celebration!

Jaden turned 8 on the 10th and Jack turned 5 on the 13th.

We celebrated them both at my MOM & DAD's house. We had dinner, presents, cake & ice cream!!!

PRESENTS from MOM, DAD & JENSEN

to start off the day!!!

Can we start opening???

Jaden with Jensen and his NEW shaving kit.

The Boy's LOVE shaving with Grandpa Brad!

New football, DS Games, Clothes etc...

Jaden & Jensen

( I don't have very many pictures of Jaden without Jensen right by his side!)

A NEW Wii Game (Bass Fishing) and lot's of clothes

from Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma Marilyn made Jaden an AWESOME Baseball cake!

Jensen and "NaNa" kissing!

Getting ready to blow the candles out!

Our little HAM!

Our little HAM drinking FROSTING!!!

(ONLY at Grandma's)

MAKE A WISH!

Jackee is always happy to get clothes!

Shaving Kit...

A PUZZLE for and EASY to please kid!

A NEW scooter and a GOOFY Dad putting it together!

Wii Water Sports from Grandma & Grandpa, plus lot's of clothes!

A new tool belt to help Grandpa with the remodel!

A complete scooter!!!

Daddy and Jackee love eachother so much!

Jack wanted a PIRATE cake... Grandma made him a PONY then added

pirate decorations... A PIRATE PONY, he LOVED it!!!

JANUARY... the middle, 2010:

We took the Boy's to see Alvin & the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel

It was the 1st time we have taken Jensen to a MOVIE!

We were nervous BUT like always... he was awesome!

When we walked into the theater it took forever to get him to his seat. When he saw the movie screen he acted as though he died and went to HEAVEN it was so cute. Every few stairs he'd stop, turn around and get so excited when he looked at the screen!

It was so CUTE!!!

Our 3 boys...

Alvin, Simone, Theodore... Jaden, Jack, Jensen.

JANUARY... the END, 2010:

Jensen got something sticky EVERYWHERE including his hair!

Check out that bald spot!

We had the pleasure of hanging out with my FAVORITE stand in MaMa and her Family for a FUN night of Poker!!!

Mama Sharee, Me & Gena

(That's Root Beer Mama Banks!)

As ALWAYS... Lot's of laughs and fun!

Look who WON!!!

You go Mama... By the way, those were most of my chips! LOL

The Kids always LOVE going to Grandma Sharee's but this time

was extra special because they got to bond with SAMMY the BIRD!!!

Jack looks scared BUT he loved this bird so much!

For a second I wanted to go out and buy him one!

Jensen TRIED hard to like Sammy

BUT... he was so scared!

Do you see what I see???

A modern day COOKIE MONSTER!!!

JANUARY... the END, 2010:

A LONG and CRAZY month has come to an end!

Christmas & Christmas Traditions

This year was a lot like every other year EXCEPT...last year. With my Mom being gone last year during Christmas we let a few traditions* slide. Christmas Eve service at church and jammies were just a few of them. Well, that's in the past so here is to this year and the many to come with ALL my Family together and HAPPY!

We started out with Christmas Eve gifts. Mom & Dad bought everyone new jammies (another tradition*). Ben and I invited a good Friend, Mark to spend Christmas eve, Christmas morning, and Christmas day with us. We took a few pictures around the tree, then we all jumped in our cars and headed to Grandpa Verlo Kendrick's grave to turn on the lights on his tree. (Tradition*, my Grandparents in Heaven are NEVER forgotten.) After Grandpa's we headed to church for the infamous Candle light service (Tradition*.)

Mark, Me, Benji

My BeAuTiFuL Parents

After church we head to Grandma Shirley's grave and turn her tree on (Tradition*.) This year Ben, Mark, Jensen and I didn't make it to Grandma's because we were on a time limit to pick up Jack in Draper.

We decided this year to have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's. It was lot's of fun for Me and the Boy's but Daddy Ben had to leave about 10 because his allergies were so bad. I made him promise, swear on a stack of bibles, scouts honor etc. that he would be back by 5:30 am.

HE was!!!

This year I decided I didn't want Santa to get the credit for our hard earned money that bought the gifts SO... Santa didn't leave much and I LOVED IT!

Jaden's Santa Stash

Cheeser... Jaden was genuinely thankful this year! Yep, that's my Dad in the Scooby Doo PJ's!!!

Lil Jack's Santa Stash

Fake smile??? Na...

I think he just wanted to cut the pictures and start opening presents!Jensens Santa Stash Jensen on his new 4 wheeler you'd think was his FAVORITE, noper...

See the Woody doll in his hand???... that lame little thing was!!!

After the gift exchange everyone helps clean up then we play! While everyone is playing Mom and I (mostly Mom) prepare an awesome breakfast (Tradition*.) The day continues with visiting, munching, a drink or 2 (52 if your Ben...LOL) and almost always there is a Christmas nap fit in the day somewhere (Tradition*.)

Christmas this year was awesome as it is every year EXCEPT last year... again it just wasn't the same with Mom in California.

So AGAIN, I say...

I'm so thankful to have all my Family healthy, happy and most of all TOGETHER!!!

Lot's of Christmas posts below!

Yes you are an elf...

Today while getting ready for yet another day of Christmas shopping. I was listening to Jaden and Jack debate about Elf's.
This is how it went:

Jaden: Yes Jack, elf's can fly.
Jack: No they can't Jaden.
Jaden: Jack how do you know they can't fly then?
Jack: Because Jaden, you have big ears like an elf and you can't fly.

It was so sweet and so funny at the same time! I was very proud of my Jaden who just shook it off and laughed with us!

A Lesson in Life...

On Thursday night we took our boys, and their much deserved & well earned $50 dollars to Toys R Us. We told each 1 of our Sons that they had the spend a minimum of $10 on a gift for someone in need. We explained to them how Toys for Tots works and with the most unselfish 3 little Boys, we were immediately on the hunt for the "Perfect Toy" for a 'Perfect Stranger."

Here's our Big boy Jaden who donated games!

Here is Mr. Proud to help a stranger donating a big bucket of Army Men.

And Lil Jensy dropping off the Littlest Pets I picked out!

Take time to Donate at this time of year. Pennies, Nickles, Dimes, Quarters... it adds up!

This was such an awarding way to teach my boys about giving, also about less fortunate people that are all around us all year long, not just Christmas time.

A New Christmas Tradition for the Bank's Family

Last Tuesday Ben & I along with Jeannie & Steve and Lydia & Stephan took our kiddies to Thanksgiving Point. We drove thru the beautiful lights, got within a hands distance of 2 LIVE Reindeer, stood around a bon fire, then went inside and met the BIG man in red. It was a fun and magical night for everyone!

Daddy and Jensen enjoying the drive thru the lights!

Jack & Jaden LOVED it.

Their hat hair... I HATE it!!


This little baby couldn't smile enough.
It was totally worth the $8 just to hear his 'ohs' and 'ahs'



Just some of the AmAzInG lights!

Santa's "real" Reindeer.

They were my favorite part!

Jensen standing in front of them...

Our little Family

Our BIG Family hangin' around the bon fire!

Daddy and Dingy

waiting to see S A N T A!!

Little Jack excited and nervous at the same time!

I wonder...

Will there ever be a year where they all believe and aren't afraid

at the same time? I hope!!!

Jaden and Aunt Lydia

This Boy better be asking for some teeth to fill in those gaps,

YIKES!!!

Finally... our turn!

Jensen was so excited about Santa, I don't think he missed asking for anything!

He kept saying,

"Santa... Ho Ho Ho" it was the BEST!

Jack didn't have time to decide if he wanted to sit on Santa's lap or not.

I just threw him on there and started snapping away!

Ben and I decided, our Babies aren't going to be little very long. We want to make as many memories with them and for them as possible.

Family Pictures

Last week we had Family pictures. Aunt Sheila got a new camera and was doing some experimenting. If you ask me, she does GREAT! Here are a few of our favorite shots that didn't make it on our blog...

Mom & Dad caught in the moment!

Mommy and her Boys.

Mommy and Jensen (The baby that grew in my heart.)

Pouty pants...

Our AmAzInG Lil' J's.

Because I have a Brother, I always have a Friend!

Daddy and Ding!