Dancing Queen

Janey's clogging team performed to the fun song "The Devil went down to Georgia" at the holiday concert. It's one of the numbers that they will take to competition this spring. Grandparents came to see her, which made it extra special. Her Dad especially loves to see her dancing, and she can sometimes talk him into doing her kitchen chores while she clogs for him to his itunes.

A Christmas Wish

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas, from our Home to Yours!

Janey and Ellie watching Dad's German Nativity Pyramid spin.

Issue 133

It's Begining to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Christmas parties, Christmas concerts, Christmas dance recitals, Christmas movies, Christmas Devotionals, and making Christmas gifts were all highlights this week. I took the girls to see the Nutcracker, Steve L. did a great comedy routine at the Ward Christmas party and Dad and Whitney enjoyed singing the the Stake Choir for the devotional. What a fun time of year!

Issue 132

NaNoWriMo Queen

Whitney participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) again this year. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Here she is typing word number 50,000 on the last day. Way to go Whitney! Can't wait to see you published!

Chicken-cicles

Here's a picture of Whitney digging out our chickens after 14 inches of snow. We've had the greatest snow weather this year! Several storms and several inches of fun stuff!

Aunt Bree to the Rescue!

Whitney had a semi-formal dance at school and I had Steve's fancy work party on Friday. I picked her up from school and we went shopping in vain for cute outfits. We stopped by Aunt Bree's and when she found out our dilemma, she dressed us both and did Whitney's hair and makeup that night. We should have stopped there first!Nothing like a makeover to make you feel great! Thanks Bree!

Festival of Trees

We took the kids to see The Festival of Trees this year. Hundreds of trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses and crafts are donated and sold to benefit Primary Children's Hospital every year. The kids favorite tree was titled "A House Divided," decorated half BYU and half Utah!

Issue 131 Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving dinner this year was right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Gormet and Gorgeous! In the morning Steve took the kids sledding and cross country skiing while Ellie (who had to stay indoors with bad asthma) and I made carmel apple pies and painted her nails. Then it was off to Grandmas for our amazing feast. That evening we took everyone to see Disney's "Tangled." So funny! A truly delightful day!

A "working" vacation

We spent an enjoyable Friday at Steve's sister Emily's, visiting, eating, playing games and just generally enjoying ourselves. Steve's sister Laura delivered baby number 6 that night. The next morning most of the adults and teenagers headed to Laura's to finish some home improvement projects they were in the middle of, to make a nice place to bring baby home. They spent the whole day painting their main floor (and each other.) The rest of us watched the 15 younger kids at my house while mother and baby tried to get some rest at the hospital. Throw-in an exciting BYU vs. Utah football game on the radio and you have yourself a memorable weekend.

"What I'm Most Thankful For"

Daniel - "Having the gospel in my life"

Ellie - "That I got a little fish"

Steve L. - "That we live in a free country with free speech were we can say what we want to say. And lots of bacon!"

Whitney - "That we live in America and it's so awesome!"

Janey - "Having the teachings of the gospel and the Book of Mormon"

Dad - "The Gospel of Jesus Christ, my family, health, books, birds, the outdoors and a good job."

Mom - "A warm home, amazing children who teach me so much and a hubby who loves me!"

Issue 130

Tonight, Blogger seems to hate me. I have been trying for an hour to load pictures and write posts on the kid's fishing trip with their dad last week, Janey's liberty girls variety show where she acting the part of the famous WWII pilot Jackie Cochran, and the 14 inches of snow we woke up to this morning. Maybe blogger will like me better in the morning. Maybe I'll like it better in the morning! We are usually good friends, but tonight I surrender and I'm going to bed!

Issue 129

Happy Birthday to Me!

Who knew turning 38 could be so great! I was truly spoiled this weekend by my family and friends. Friday kicked off with an awesome breakfast at Kneaders with my mom and sister. Then is was off to the Day Spa for a full day of pampering and much needed relaxing while Steve took the kids fishing. He had won an award at work and let me cash it in for spa certificates. After having my hair done, a facial, massage and pedicure, Steve picked me up for a wonderful dinner downtown at PF Chang's.

The next morning we attended the World Wide Training together, which may not sound like so much birthday fun, but the training was amazing and sitting next to my hubby on the church bench without a child squeezing between us or climbing over us is so rare that it was a treat.

Then it was time to celebrate with the kids, who all had thoughtful cards or handmade gifts. Steve had hoarded bits of cash from work lunches and gas for who knows how long to buy me an Ikea bookshelf for a night stand and some great running gear. He hates to keep secrets, so it was especially hard for him to wait for my official birthday to give me the surprise. I was truly blown away by his thoughtfulness AND his ability to keep it to himself.

We took the kids that afternoon to the matinee showing of Mega-Mind to celebrate some more (I told you I was spoiled.) It was so truly funny, and we had a great time gorging ourselves on popcorn.

Then Steve and I headed out for birthday date number two! We got to eat out with 3 of my dearest friends from high school (and all the years since.) Visiting with Denise, Alesha and Tricia and their awesome hubbies and cute babies was the best birthday treat. I don't think I've had so much fun since they all came to my surprise 17th birthday party 21 years (21 YEARS!?!?) ago. (I just wish our out of state friends could have joined us too!)

You'd think that would be enough celebrating for a decade, but it wasn't over yet! My mom through a gourmet birthday bash for Sunday dinner tonight, and my parents gave me a gift card for the bookshelves I want for the family room. My siblings all came and gave me thoughtful and beautiful gifts. With such an awesome inauguration, I know this is going to be a stellar year. Thanks everyone! I love you!