A Christmas Story

We left on Christmas Eve for my parents house. The kids decorated some Christmas masks and showed them off parade-style. We like to do a structured project and this one was fast, simple, and kid-friendly.

Here is McKell complete with her "Miss America" style wave.

We had our annual talent show which was great. McKell played the piano and sang, but I didn't snap any pictures of her so here is Jacob and Rylee playing a piano duet. It was fabulous.

We opened presents and got lots of fun stuff.

Santa came and brought us even more good stuff:)

And here is Derek at his finest, modeling his new shorts and temperature gauge:) Overall, this Christmas story is a happy one, but instead of living happily ever after we have made 2 trips to the doctor and 3 trips to the pharmacy and I am still sick. The end.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

I love this time of year. The colors, lights, music, everything. It is my favorite time of the year. We have had lots of fun celebrating.

We went to Salt Lake to see the lights with Allison and Thomas, Greg, Tasha, and their girls, and Jay and Hollie and their girls. I have such a wonderful family and love spending the holidays with them.

We were able to wear our Christmas pajamas to school for our school music assembly. A fun tradition. The program (my program) was fun and fabulous and best of all - OVER:)

McKell played in her Christmas piano recital.

We had a girls night out and put on our best or worst Christmas sweaters and exchanged gifts. It was fabulous (thanks Amanda, our marvelous hostess). There was great food, great conversation, and great fun. Love this group of ladies that live in my neighborhood.

But, most of all I have been thinking about why we really celebrate. Whenever I think of this, I am reminded of the time I spent in Bethlehem. I took these pictures 2 years ago at Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The star pictured above is the spot where it is said that baby Jesus was born and laid in a manger. It feels almost unreal to think that I have been to the place where Jesus was born so long ago. I am so thankful for my Savior and for the many blessings and wonderful things in my life. I feel extremely lucky. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving 2010

This is so late, but a quick post (for my own purposes) of our wonderful Thanksgiving. All 35 members of my immediate family were at my parents. It makes for a fun, crazy and LOUD holiday. Because we were all there, I attempted to get a picture of all 19 grandchildren.

Attempt 1: Not quite ready.

Attempt 2: My nephew Chase is a character, he is the one with his shirt over his face, if you couldn't guess.

Attempt 3: This one is still not great but will have to do.

Most of us went to a movie, "The Secretariat" one night. A great family show!

Also, one afternoon, we snuck off for some alone time (the four of us) and went to the Playmill's production of, "White Christmas" which was fabulous (even the second time around, McKell and I had both seen LHS's production earlier that week.) I have had the songs stuck in my head ever since. Last, but not least, mom, all 6 sisters and 1 sister-in-law, did some serious black Friday shopping:) I love the holidays.

So Thankful

I love Thanksgiving and have so many things to be thankful for - but mostly, Derek, Braxton, and McKell. I love being a part of their lives - here are a few things they have been up to.

At the end of October, Derek won the Beauty in Strength 12-week challenge at Crossfit. He was pretty happy and we were so proud of him.

Braxton went to the Girl's Choice dance with cute Ellie. They spray painted these shirts and put each other's names on the back. They went with a pretty big group and had lots of fun. And she even thought it was okay to come in and get a picture. Yay for me:)

McKell was excited to perform at the USU Women's Basketball game and thinks it was great practice for the men's game in about a week.

McKell and Berkley after the fabulous performance. Happy Thanksgiving!

October 2010

October is over - I can't believe it! As with every month, it went fast and we stayed busy:)

Football officially ended at the end of October. LHS had a good season and went to the playoffs but lost in the first round. Braxton was disappointed but thinks they will be even better next year.

We had a fun Halloween. We did pretty simple pumpkins, McKell got this kit and decorated her pumpkin it was easy and mess-free. The best part was that it had a little balloon that she used to make her pumpkin look like it was blowing a bubble. So cute!

There was lots of stuff going on at the school during the week of Halloween. McKell was chosen to do a glitter pumpkin with our principal.

We had funky socks day and these two looked adorable, as usual.

She dressed up as a "fifties girl" for Halloween.

She walked in her very LAST Halloween parade at the school. This made me realize just how much and how fast she is growing up.

She went trick-or-treating with her fun group of friends and they hit all of their neighborhoods. By the time they hit our house they were pretty worn out. I just love these girls, they are fabulous little friends.

At the last minute, Braxton and Johnny (Braxton's friend) decided to go to a costume party. This was his last-minute homemade costume (made by me) and he said it was one of the best costumes at the party. Yay for me since McKell had told a friend earlier that morning that she was going to learn how to sew when she was a mom because her mom can't sew anything. Sad, and true. I guess she will have to rely on her grandma or one of her aunts to teach her. Braxton was "Facebook" if you can't tell. Overall, a great October and I am so excited for the holidays:)

Time Flies

September came and went - fast!! You know what they say, time flies when you are having fun - or in our case when you are busy. Here is a quick recap of September.

Homecoming:

Lots of fun stuff going on during Homecoming Week - I think Braxton had a great time.

Braxton rode in the parade with the football team. He is on top of the truck on the far right.

Here is our cheering section. These two got tons of candy and loved seeing all the people they knew in the parade.

The cheerleaders wrote on all the car windows.

These are some action shots (from the school website) at the game - Braxton is #59. I love these!

And last but not least, the dance. Braxton's date had called and came to answer him for the dance with this poster and lifesavers. Although I have no pictures, Braxton and his friends had went to his date's house and drew a chalk outline of a body and wrote, "I'm dying to go to the dance with you." So this was her answer.

Looking so handsome for the dance. I realized it is hard to have a son and not a daughter in this dance thing because I couldn't get a picture of the two of them because Braxton had to pick her up.

The shoes - the guys in Braxton's group decided to wear Vans with their attire. The group of 14 had a great time.

Braxton also celebrated his 17th birthday with dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Also, a few nights later with pizza and cake at our house with some friends.

And really last but certainly not least just so I don't forget - McKell was elected the class secretary of her 5th grade class this month and was so excited, mainly because she got to take the attendance everyday and enter it in to the computer. Fun, Fun!

Seventeen

1. Braxton has size 11 feet
2. Got his Eagle Scout Award at 13
3. Has had a paper route for 4 years
4. San Diego Chargers fan
5. He is very, very forgetful
6. Buys his own gas (and complains about it nonstop)
7. Loves spaghetti
8. Likes to have his shoes match his outfit
9. Would eat an A1 XT from Burger King for every meal if we would let him
10. Loves to wear new socks
11. Not great at driving directions
12. Sends around 2000 text messages each month
13. Has turned our basement into his own personal apartment
14. Proud to be an LHS Grizzly
15. Has been pulled over by the police twice but has not gotten a ticket
16. Would rather hang out with friends than with his family
17. Has proven he can eat large quantities of gummy worms/sharks/bears

Braxton is 17 today. Happy Birthday!

I love this picture of Braxton (thanks Aubrey.) Derek's cousin and her friend have just started a photography business. Check their stuff out at beposhphotography.blogspot.com

One Year Older And Wiser Too

Happy birthday Jen! Thanks for everything you do for me and our awesome family - you are the best part of it.

Fabulous

It is way too soon, but school actually started last Wednesday. Both kids looked fabulous.

Braxton on his first day of his Junior year. I can't believe it either. I wanted to take many more pictures of him but he pretty much refuses. He has some harder classes this year and is still enjoying football. Time is going too fast - in the past few weeks he has actually gotten some postcards from colleges in the mail. I am so not ready for that. "Pointless, " was his answer when I asked him how the first day of school was. (They did only go for a half day)

Miss McKell on her first day of 5th grade. She had a fabulous outfit.

Fabulous headband

Fabulous accessories

Fabulous (and cute) friends

And fabulous teacher - After school she said there was one thing she figured out about her teacher, when I asked what it was she replied, "Mom, she really loves us, she loves me and my whole class." Seriously, fabulous!