Valentines Day~

Our Valentine Celebrations started with Anna's 50's Dance on Friday. She did a lip sync with a group of her friends. I must say they did an amazing performance. All those "practices" at her friends houses for the last month paid off :)

I have to tattle on Anna here...just a little. Of course I think it makes her mother look worse! I showed up at the performance and noticed all these mothers sticking around and I soon found out there was going to be a dance as well. UMMMM no Anna did not tell me this! Or did she? So of course I stuck around. When Anna came back into the gym and saw me still standing there; the look on her face was priceless! Oh ya...I am here and I brought my camera!! We giggled about it and I didn't want to embarrass her so I took a couple pictures of the group dances and left her alone to enjoy the dance. She can dance circles around a lot of those girls...she has got the moves....love you Anna!

Another confession: Remember...I never said I was perfect!! We have a tradition at our house which came from my mom. Each year on Valentines Day there is a knock at the door and the children all run to see what or who is there. On the doorstep they will find little gifts left by their mother. And often..okay always...I am standing to the side taking pictures. Well this year it was kind of a challenge for me to "sneak" out the front door to leave the goodies. We have windows all over the front of the house. So as I was making a break for the door I literally bumped into a friend of ours who was trying to leave a valentine for Carson. With the commotion my children chose to look out one of the many windows and saw me standing there with the goodies. I set the gift bags down...went back inside and got a little irritated they looked out the window. I mean...seriously? We do this every year...why couldn't they just play along and wait for the doorbell to ring! So here are my wonderful children posing at the front door with their goody bags :) Happy Valentines Day~ Oh wait though...it gets better

About 15 minutes later I am ready to go and deliver goodies to my nephews/niece and I hear a lot of commotion in Anna's room. They are stalling and keeping me from going outside! Finally they agree to leave with me and I walk out to this candy gram ontop of my car!

It reads.... YOU Rock! Happy Valentines Day! You are such a "sweetheart". Not even close to being a "dum dum" and you are as beautiful as a "dove"! You're as sweet as a "sugar baby" and even though you "blow(pop)" up we still love you! Hope you have a "crunch"tastic Valentines. Love, Madalyn, Anna, Carson and Charissa Aren't they the best? Such a humbling moment for me. sidenote....I look exhausted and worn out in this picture! Later that day we met for dinner at my moms house with my sisters and their families. And yes....this time we were able to get the goodies out the door before the children could see. And there I was in the snow capturing the moment!

Here are three of my cutest nephews ever!!

And my wonderfully forgiving children! Happy Valentines Day to you~

Space Derby~

This year Carson was able to participate in the Scouts Space Derby! He was very proud of his BYU cougar rocket! His dad helped him sand it and paint it and later I helped him paint the Y on the side. Okay...let's be honest...Jason and I did most of the work with some help from Carson. Though he really did help a lot with the sanding... which was the most important part! He missed out on the Pine Wood Derby last year and I was nervous about this year and how much work it would take. I was excited and relieved we were doing the rockets instead...they were much easier.



Before the derby I talked with Carson about how important it was to have fun and that winning wasn't everything. We got to the church and on Carsons first trial runs his rocket wouldn't even budge! I'm glad his dad was there to help Carson tighten and rotate the rocket. While I stood still praying for his rocket to at least make it down the line!



It came time to race and Carsons rocket took first place 3 out of 3 races! He was sooo excited!! Now technically there are no official "winners" that were named but we know that Carsons won each time so that put him in the top 3 spots! Remember mom...winning isn't everything! I was so happy for him! GO BLUE~

Cousins Camp~

This was our first Winter Cousins Camp~and what a perfect place to have it. At the cabin there is always lots of snow for great sledding! Most of the grandkids were able to spend the day sledding and then the older grandchildren stayed with grandma for some crafts, games and quality time together. Thanks grandma for all your hard work in putting together these memorable moments~

Christmas Memories~2009

At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life.

Our kick off to the Christmas Season was seeing Anna and Carson in the Live Nativity for the City. We hope you all create precious memories this Christmas~

Merry Christmas to All our Family and Friends....