Christmas 2009

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas, we sure did. We left our house on Christmas Eve to spend a few days at my parents house. There was lots of fun, food, family and presents as you can see in the picture.

We started our Christmas Eve party by making candy bar trains. I think the kids and adults had a good time. Each family made a train.

Pinnock family

Arfmann family

Hansen family

Taylor family

Price family

(Sorry Lemons' family, you were there, I didn't get a picture)

We had our annual talent show, McKell played the piano and sang.

We opened presents

We gave presents


Santa brought us so much stuff - including a new computer

We also wore matching pj's - a new tradition for us this year!

McKell's favorite gift - a hot pink iPod (she is holding it in this picture, it is just small)

Braxton's favorite gift - a PS3 (He set it up and grandma's house and here he is playing it)


On Christmas Day we went to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks, the kids and I liked it, Derek didn't.

Other highlights of Christmas 2009: Sitting in the hot tub, a prime rib dinner (yummy) on Sunday, driving around to see Christmas lights, watching movies, and mainly just spending time with the people we love most - our family:) Hope yours was this great!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I love, love, love the holidays. I love the decorations, the lights, Christmas trees, shopping, holiday parties, Christmas songs, just everything about Christmas time. So much has been happening. Derek's family had their Christmas party last weekend at a beautiful cabin in Ashton. It had lots of fun things to do. The little kids spent most of their time sitting in the hot tub.

Braxton spent a lot of his time playing ping pong. He had lots of fun.



Our trip was cut a little short because we were worried about the

weather and came home to lots of snow.

December is a month of multiple performances. McKell played her violin with the school orchestra and also had a piano recital this week. This is her practicing right before we left for the recital. She did a fabulous job.

This is McKell and some of her friends right after the Christmas Music program (my program) at the school. It is finally over - I am so glad! All the kids did such a great job. It is so much work, but so thrilling to watch the kids perform and sing loud and know all the words to every song. A huge payoff for me. I seriously love my job. Also, it is a great perk to be the music teacher and have a front row seat to watch McKell sing. Now, I can finally finish the last of my shopping.

Church News

Yesterday at our ward Christmas breakfast, our old priest quorum advisor showed me the current edition of the Church News. I was surprised to see an article about the Eagle Scout project of one of my priests. He raised wheat on some land of the advisor, had it processed into flour, and donated it to the local food bank. To see the full article go to: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58289/Law-of-the-harvest-yields-flour-for-food-bank.html

This was such a fun project - our priests were able to help cultivate the soil and get it ready for planting, plant the wheat using a very old drill, lay and move irrigation sprinkler pipe, ride along in the combine as the wheat was harvested, and finally deliver the flour to the food bank.

None of these boys have ever been around a farm. It was so fun to watch them drive a tractor and learn about where some of our food actually comes from. Working with the youth has always been at the top of my "Callings I Never Want" list - but it has been great - mainly because of my great boys.

One Year Ago

Up until today, November 2009, has been an exact repeat of November 2008. The month of November starts with me in full-out panic mode. I am frantically teaching every child in K-5th grade multiple Christmas songs for our holiday program in December. I am writing the program and thinking of any way possible to get the kids to memorize all the words to these songs. Also, as part of my job, I have to help with our school Art program. So, now November means thinking of a theme for a Christmas tree, purchasing all the supplies for the kids to make ornaments, putting up a tree and getting it decorated. And also last November when I was just so busy I couldn't do one more thing, I left for a weekend to judge a dance/drill competition in Pocatello. I also did this again last weekend. With all the school stuff I am also planning a Christmas dinner/activity for the sisters in my ward (Did this last year too.) I also have the same hacking cough and sore throat, just like last year. This month has been identical to last November until today. Today I went to work, took McKell to piano lessons and gymnastics, just everyday stuff.
Last year on November 19, I boarded a plane about 8:00 a.m. and 14 hours later ended up in Israel. I have been thinking a lot about this trip this month and what an amazing time that we had. Derek and I went with my parents and siblings for 10 days and had the time of our lives.

So last November I was sailing across the Sea of Galilee (Derek's favorite part of the trip)

Walking along a street where they say Jesus carried his cross to be crucified

(my favorite part of the trip)

Floating in the Dead Sea

Singing Christmas carols in the Shepherds' fields

Attending a baptism at the River Jordan

Strolling through the Garden of Gethsemane

Touring Jesus' tomb

And mainly enjoying my family in Jerusalem

Like I said a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. These are a very few of the pictures (I took around 500) that I have. It would be great to be there again right now. Thanks to my parents who took us on this amazing journey.

Happy Halloween

We have had lots of Halloween fun. We "bedazzled" our pumpkins with lots of glitter.

McKell is pretty much obsessed with the peace sign right now.

Love the polka dots

The "boy" version of glitter pumpkins.

Had a fun family night at the Pumpkin Walk

McKell got to dress up for a dance party, school Halloween parade and trick-or-treating.

McKell loved her "Twister" costume. It was cute!

For the most part a great October, I can't believe it is over. I do have a few Halloween gripes, of course. How old is too old for trick-or-treating? We had some college-age students come. On the plus side they did tell me I had picked the best candy to give. We also had a few high school boys. I couldn't even get my high school boy to put on a costume to go to a party. How young is too young for trick-or-treating? I had a mom and a dad come with a baby, probably like 4 months old. The baby was dressed up, but the parents said they had to wake him up to come trick-or-treating. My question? How is the baby going to eat the candy? Also, last one - I had two kids come with a mom and dad, the kids each took a treat for their bag. Then the mom reached over and grabbed a few to put in a grocery sack that was packed full for herself. The dad started to step up onto the porch to grab one for his also full grocery sack and I conveniently shut my screen door. Maybe I'm just being mean, but I was bugged. However, I do love when kids in my neighborhood come and especially my students from school. It is so fun to see them.

Also, does anyone out there know why my blog won't say it has been updated on other blog lists? It keeps saying the last time it has been updated was 4 weeks ago. Let me know.

The End and The Beginning

The Ending:
Last week was the end of Braxton's football season. It has been a different year, our team hasn't been great. We ended the season winning only 1 game which is pretty sad. However, Braxton (#85) played well and had lots of playing time. Better luck next year.





The Beginning:

Also, last week Braxton was asked on his first date. He was asked to the girl's choice, Blackout dance, in November. The girl brought over a pumpkin and left it on the door step with a cute poem about carving a smile on the pumpkin if he could go to the dance and a frown if he couldn't. Braxton carved a smile and wrote a poem and took it back to her porch. I can't believe he is old enough to date. So many new experiences with the dating and driving stuff.

Although it is getting easier, I have had a hard time letting go. Braxton has a history of forgetting things. I can't count the number of jackets he has lost or how many times he has forgotten his backpack at various places and yet I let him leave for school driving a car. After I had told these things to a woman in my neighborhood she patted my shoulder and said, "well a car is a lot bigger than a backpack or a jacket, so maybe he will remember to bring it home." I hope so:) I guess I will have to get used to all the changes. One thing I know for sure - I'm getting old!

H1N1??

It has been 6 days of sickness at our house.

Saturday - By late afternoon on our way home from Salt Lake, McKell started feeling sick. By the time we reached home she was running a fever and throwing up. Yuck!

Sunday - McKell wouldn't even move out of her bed. The fever and throwing up continued and then just her whole body ached. I was pretty worried.

Monday - McKell woke up with a cough. We were at the doctor first thing in the morning. I felt so bad for McKell, she was standing at the sink the entire appointment because she was still throwing up and she seriously had not eaten for 2 days. The doctor wouldn't test for swine flu because McKell was not a baby or an elderly person. However, he did say there is no other flu going around so he thought this was the real deal. His main concern was that she had no fluids in her. He said if she could not keep something down he would admit McKell to the hospital Tuesday morning. Luckily, McKell kept down a whole 12 ounces of Gatorade!! Monday afternoon was full of sneezing and sinus pressure, coughing, fever, etc.

Tuesday - McKell slept in and actually sat up and watched a few DVD's. Still the only thing she was keeping down was Gatorade.

Wednesday - She woke up and said, "I actually feel better." She came out into the kitchen area (wearing a mask). She was wondering what she was missing at school and thinking about her friends and then she got a few surprises. First Sydnee came with a card and popsicles. Then a few other friends left a big poster and cupcakes on our doorstep and hid while McKell came out and found them. They jumped out and started screaming. They had been missing each other. McKell was feeling better but I thought she better stay home for one more day to be sure. We are so grateful for such great, caring friends who were wondering if McKell was going to be okay. Thanks girls!!




Thursday - Our last day home and McKell has been feeling a lot better. She went to piano lessons and gymnastics.

Friday - Back to school - and we are both actually glad to be going back. I have had a substitute all week. My six days have been full of cleaning, scrubbing, Clorox wiping, spraying, sanitizing, washing, and hoping that no one else gets this.

Braxton's Twin

I love to read the comics in the newspaper each day (funnies to Grandma Pinnock). One of my favorites is 'Zits', it is about a teenager, his friends, and his interactions with his uncool parents (I relate way too well to the fat and bald father). The teenager character could be Braxton's twin, especially this week (click on image for larger size).











P.S. This is posted by Derek - Jen doesn't think that me or comics are funny at all.

Suddenly Sixteen

Sixteen years ago, today, Braxton was born. Where has the time gone? The day started with a trip to the DMV to get his driver's license. Then he drove Derek to work and drove himself to school in the Jeep. I couldn't believe Derek let him do this.

After school he played in his football game. Braxton (#85) did great, but we lost horribly.

Then it was dinner and presents at Texas Roadhouse.

Braxton's had a great week. It has also been Homecoming Week at the high school and he rode with the football team in the parade yesterday. Happy 16th Birthday Braxton. We love you.

Miss McKell

Just a couple of shots of this beautiful girl. My sister-in-law, Tasha, took these. She is just getting into photography and is doing an amazing job. Thanks Tash - I love them.

First Days and Rockstars

School is back in session. McKell was ready to go.

She had the perfect boots.

The perfect accessories.

The perfect hair bow.

The perfect outfit.

And the perfect teacher. All together it was the most perfect first day of fourth grade.

I always ask my kids what they think of the first day and how they felt. McKell's response - "I felt just like a rockstar!" I hope she always feels like this. I love this little rockstar - she is growing up way too fast!

Unlike McKell who posed for 20 minutes, I barely got 1 shot of Braxton on his first day of 10th grade. I can't believe he will be 16 in less than one month.