December 2011

I love the holidays. I feel like we did a lot of things to prepare this year, but I didn't have my camera out for most of it, which is so unlike me. Here are a few things we did this month, before Christmas:)

Jay, Hollie and their girls stopped to spend the night on their way home from Park City. We loved having them here. The girls had lots of fun playing and I loved reading some of our Christmas stories to them. I got to read some that my kids are too old for like, "Dora's Christmas Present" and "Arthur's Christmas." Also, one of my favorites, "I Believe in Santa Claus." It was great.

Also, another last this month - Braxton went to his last Christmas dance at LHS. He went with Serena, a girl from another area of Utah that he met at an FBLA conference.

And one more picture of them because I realized this is the only picture that got taken of our tree or any decorations this year.

McKell made this wonderful gingerbread house at Activity Days and was so proud of it. She did a great job and she was so pleased with how it turned out.

I noticed I had taken this picture along with many others at the school - empty stage and empty risers - this probably doesn't mean much to most people but to me it means my programs are over:) They were all great but it is such a great feeling when they are done and I can stand alone and clean up the auditorium in complete silence.

A few other things that I don't want to forget that happened, even though I have no pictures: we had pizza by the tree, drove through our neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, delivered neighbor gifts, had a yummy breakfast and played games with Ken and Janae and their family, and I went to a fun "Favorite Things" friends party with some fabulous gals in my neighborhood. December was great!

Giving Thanks

I'm so behind and I don't feel like I can post any December pictures until I put these pictures on from Thanksgiving. We, of course, had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent at my parents house. It was an off year so there was only 3 out of 7 of my siblings there but it was still fun.

My dad carving the turkey. I have been snapping as many pictures of my dad as possible lately. It has been a long year for him. Although, I have never really mentioned it (because I have had an extremely hard time processing it myself) and will say more about it in the future, he was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in March and it has been tough watching him go through some intense chemotherapy treatment. We have been so, so blessed this year that he is responding well to treatment. I am so thankful he is here with us to celebrate.

It's tradition to use the plates that my siblings and I decorated for my grandma when we were kids. McKell always thinks it is great to use mine.

My brother and his wife had these shirts made for their girls that announced they were expecting a baby in July. Some great news!

We ate a lot of yummy food. My mom is such a great cook.

We went through all the ads and wrote our Christmas lists. My mom, sisters, and I always go shopping on Black Friday. However, I went out at about midnight and stayed out all night into the next afternoon and realized I am way too old to stay up all night. By mid-morning I felt terribly tired and sick and had to take a break and rest in my sister's suburban. It didn't even phase my younger sister she just kept going and going.

Braxton and Haylie hanging out. It is sad to think that Braxton may not be with us next Thanksgiving as he turns 19 next September and is hoping to leave soon after that for a mission. Time goes too fast!

Of course, the hot tub is always a hit.

And to end the weekend we helped my mom set up her Christmas tree. I don't think McKell was doing much, she just likes to climb the ladder:) I feel so blessed to have such a great family.

October is Over

We stayed busy in October. We started the month by visiting my parents. We had lots of fun and almost the whole family went to dinner.

Braxton, Haylie and Chase

Tasha, McKell, Lauren, Livi

We made jam with my mom and it is yummy:)

After we got home we ate an entire jar in about 3 days. It is so good!

This little lady became the proud owner of her own cell phone.

She is in heaven:)

McKell and I met Allison, Mom, Natalie and Tasha in Salt Lake one Saturday for Thriller. It was a fantastic show and of course McKell LOVED the dance with a girl in black pointe shoes. McKell wanted to get this picture until this guy leaned over to bite her neck!

For Fall Break we headed for Park City, we shopped, ate good food and mainly relaxed. It was nice to spend time together.

We glittered pumpkins and they were super cute - black and purple this year.

McKell dressed as a hippie for Halloween and went with a whole group of friends trick-or-treating and then to a little party. She had a great time and after she had been gone a few hours she texted me how much she loves Halloween.

And, the very last day of October this car went home with someone else. We sold it to a young college student who thought it was super nice. I hope she likes it as much as I have for the last 15 years. I was seriously so sad when she pulled out of the driveway.

Beautiful Ballerina

The highlight of October for this beautiful ballerina has been starting pointe class. Last year, all she wanted for Christmas was pointe shoes. She is in heaven:)

McKell wanted to get a few pictures in her pointe shoes. My sister-in-law, Tasha, is a photographer and took some amazing shots for us.

I love the look of this picture. Tasha is so talented and I feel so lucky she is willing to share her talents with us. Like I said, we just wanted a few shots of the pointe shoes, and then Tasha came up with the perfect dress to wear, a crown, and the perfect poses that made all the photos just beautiful. Thanks Tasha:) We love them!!

Officially an Adult

It's official, Braxton turned 18 yesterday.

He got to sleep in (Derek did his paper route) and then came with us to watch McKell in USU's Homecoming parade.
He didn't have a free night that we could go out to dinner, so he fit us in for lunch after the parade. I think I have multiple pictures that look just like this of Braxton and Ryan each year when we celebrate Braxton's birthday.

He reluctantly sat on the saddle while we wished him a happy birthday. It seems like we have been celebrating everyone's birthday at Texas Roadhouse lately.

He requested ice cream cake, which we had today. At eighteen, Braxton is a senior in high school, loves to watch sports, has way too much fun teasing McKell, is the favorite cousin to a lot of my nieces and nephews, still has a hard, hard time getting up for his paper route, complains about paying for his own gas, recently became the owner of a yellow motor scooter, always wants the last word in an argument, and is addicted to chocolate and treats. But more importantly, he is kind, respectful to others and a good student. Happy 18th Birthday Braxton!

Homecoming 2011

Braxton went to his last Homecoming dance on Saturday night. I have a feeling this year is going to fly by.

He went with Katie and had a great time. And of course, he looked so handsome:)

The whole group. I wish I would have taken the pictures a little earlier, before it was so dark.

They ate dinner in Ryan's backyard and I was able to go over and help cook and get things ready. Ryan's mom had decorated the table so cute - it was all in crimson and gold (the school colors.)

These 4 got to serve the group. Ryan has a brother the same age as McKell so they each invited a friend and were able to serve that night. They had a great time.

Earlier in the week, as part of Homecoming, the seniors painted the street, and apparently had a huge paint fight.

Growing Up and Moving On

This beautiful girl is growing up and has moved on to middle school. She looked so grown up on her first day of 6th grade. So far, she thinks middle school has been boring. She has some fun teachers and has already made a lot of new friends.

Here she is on her first day of elementary school with her Kindergarten teacher, Miss Dopp.

And her first day of middle school. She is growing up too fast!

The Last First Day

I can't believe it, but Braxton started his senior year of high school. I can't believe he will soon be done. He has fairly easy classes this year and is enjoying every moment of his last year. The picture above completes his first day of school pictures and I am sure he is glad since he will hardly stop long enough for me to snap the photo.

First day of 11th Grade

First day of 10th Grade

First day of high school (9th Grade) - the sad thing is that this doesn't seem like that long ago. I still remember driving him to the high school that morning.

First day of 8th Grade

First day of 7th Grade

First day of 6th Grade

First day of 5th Grade

First day of 4th Grade - I am glad that Janae (my friend) had taken this photo because it is the only one I have of Braxton on the first day. I love that Braxton and Corey were wearing the same shirt. It wasn't a planned thing.

First day of 3rd Grade

First day of 2nd Grade

First day of 1st Grade - I am somewhat surprised that he has a Pokemon backpack. He was really into Pokemon, but I have never really let my kids get character things, like shirts and backpacks. He must have really begged:)

First day of Kindergarten - Braxton was so excited to go to Kindergarten and he was so ready, he could already read. I will never forget dropping him off that first day at Hillcrest. He was our only child at this point and it was a HUGE thing for me.

And finally his first day of Preschool - I can't believe how fast time goes!