Bag Tag!

Since I have been "Bag Tagged" 3 times I figured I best get this done...so here it is....

my somewhat organized purse belongings ..yes, that is a Ninja Turtle (wonder how that got in there?) Then it's the usual, my cute Juicy make-up bag (thanks Sammie) filled with lipsticks and lip glosses, sunglasses (oh, how I wish I needed those right now...I'm an optomist, maybe soon), cell phone, cheap wallet (I desperately need a new one, but can't find the perfect one), tissues (a must have lately - really how much stuff can one human sinis cavity have in it?), cell phone, lip gloss, aveda hand relief, hand sanitizer, a hair clip, and of course a pen. Whallah!

Our Dear Prophet!

Tonight I learned that President Hinckley passed away! He will be greatly missed by all and it seems very strange that the only Prophet my children have ever known will not be presiding at General Conference this April. I feel such love for this remarkable man and know he will always be rembered in our home. I am so grateful for the many years he served as our dear Prophet!

Winter Blahs

I'm definetly feeling the winter blues! It's so stinking cold outside...I find myself stuck indoors. I'm usually going 100mph...but this week I can't seem to get myself motivated to do the bare essentials. I really need to get myself out of this slump. HELP!!!

Fun at Solitude

Cambria and Abby
Katie, McKayla, and Alyssa

We took the girls to Solitude for a fun day of skiing and snow boarding with the cousins. It was freezing cold, but the snow was great!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning - Did Santa Come?
Rocking out to Guitar Hero - So much fun!
Yeah - this took 1 hour to put together - AGHH! but, we did it!

Polly Wheels Race to the Mall - a must have - NOT!!!

Lucky girl to get her own digital camera!
TRANSFORMERS - phrase of the day "MOM, can you put the arm back on!... NOPE -ask dad!" He was one happy boy - I think he got 7 new transformers - it was so fun to watch - pure JOY!

It was such a wonderful Christmas day- we had so much fun just being together as a family. We played games, ate good food, played Guitar Hero and other Xbox games. What a great Christmas - we are so blessed!

Happy 13th Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET MCKAYLA!

It's hard to believe she is 13! She is such a sweet, darling (yikes....teenager), beautiful young woman. We are so blessed to have her in our family.

McKayla we hope this birthday is wonderful! We love you!

Where has the time gone???

Okay- so it's been a while since I've blogged - what a slacker I am - but for he record, things have been extrememly busy - I had good intentions, just ran out of hours in the day! I've got hours of Tivo to catch up on too - I really need to take a day to just catch-up!

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas - as have we all! I'm almost done with decorating and shopping -YEAH!! I love Christmas! I love all excitement, I love all the Christmas stories, I love decorating (except for stringing the lights- one of these days I'm going to break down and buy a pre-lite tree), I love the shopping, wrapping, writing the Christmas letter, everything! All I have left to do is decorate the tree and the Christmas tranformation will be complete. I'll blog pictures in a few days.

Part of the reason I havn't had any free time is because I had 2 weddings within the last 3 weekends to do flowers (which I love), PTA membership drive ended and I had to get all the cards out (which I don't love ...yuck), and I taught the Relief Society Presidency lesson this past Sunday, on top of the usual mom duties and trying to get Christmas up - Whew - Calgon take me away!

While it was stressful to find the time to prepare a lesson and I'm always nervous to teach - I really felt like it started the Christmas season for me - when I teach I always learn more than anyone else. It was on the amazing gifts our Savior has given us: the gift of His Life, the gift of His Church and the scriptures, the gift of Peace, the gift of Love and Charity, and last but not least the gift of Eternal Life. I feel so blesed to have the knowledge of the gospel in my life and to know of these gifts and many others he has blessed us with.

Tomorrow is our annual Christmas Enrichment Dinner and Program - it's a lot of work to get it all ready, but it always such a spiritual night - I can't wait. We are having a delicious dinner - chicken cordon blue, asparagus with hollandaise sauce, roasted red potatoes, salad, rolls, and then for dessert a cheesecake bar. Our program is all about Mary and her faith - "Through Mary's Eye's". My Enrichment Board is seriously the best and have gone above and beyond -hopefully it will all come together!

So- after the big enrichment night, things slow down for a day or two and then the craziness starts all over again. I will blog again soon and hopefully find a day to play catch-up. I'm dying to know who won dancing with the stars last week and to catch up on all my other shows! CHOW!

Disney Mania

Toon Towne Criminals Escape!

Okay - so I'm the first to admit I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Disneyland. I love most everything about it, I love seeing the excitement on my kids faces when we walk into the park, I love the thrill of the rides, I love the exciting feeling surrounding Disneyland - it truly is a magical place. We had a fabulous time, the lines were not bad (longest wait was 30 minutes for the new Nemo ride - very cute), the weather was great, staying at a Disney Hotel was definetly extra fun -Paradise Pier - I would totally recommend, and of course being there with my family - the best! Just wish Nick was there.

However, there are a few things I will not miss.......$10.00 chicken finger kids meal (gag), the constant Disney marketing (how do parents ever get a break...autographs books, pins, hats, souvineer cups....you get the idea). Pushy, silly, juvenile adults who go to Disneyland (without kids- who does that?) and actually have the nerve to cut in line in front of your kids. Aghh! The constant noise - I never thought I would say what my mother used to say " I just need some peace and quiet", but I did and I now get "it" - my ears are still ringing. The 3 almost missing child incidents - very scary! And last but not least, the miserable drive home. I don't think I will ever do the drive by myself again, especially in one day and after an exhausting 3 days at Disneyland.

But as I write this I am already thinking about the next trip to Disneyland - It must be like giving birth, somehow we forget and keep doing it over and over. I do love Disneyland! A few priceless moments.... 1)Cole mauling Chip n' Dale - he loved them, he would see them and run and tackle them, I'm sure he is in many families photos around the world- OOPS, what a ham, but so funny 2) Cambria deciding she was going to try all the rides she was big enough to ride (yes, that would be all of them) she loved MOST of them, way to go Cam! 3)Cambria and her cousin Abby singing every word and doing every single move to the High School Musical songs - DIVA's in the making - pretty stinkin cute. 4) Mckayla riding every ride and loving it - she has NO FEAR!

Disneyland or Bust!

Well, we're finally leaving for our Disneyland trip . The kids have been counting down for the last 6 months! Every other year we meet most of my family at Disneyland. It's so much fun, and the kids love being there with their cousins. We'll be back on Saturday - Toodles!

Happy Halloween

McKayla and her friends on the prowl - hopefully only Treats, not tricks!
The neighborhood gang Trick or Treating
My Cute brother Joel (Harry Potter), his wife, Anjuli (Hermine), and Lexi (the golden snitch). So Stinkin' Cute!!

Cole as Optimus Prime - AutoBots Roll Out and Transform!
What a beautiful Snow White - she really looks like her!
Deal or No Deal Girl - She has the 1,000,000 Case!

We had so much fun last night at the Trunk or Treat at the church, chili dinner with my parents, Joel, Anj & Lexi, and then Trick or Treating through the neighborhood. The weather was perfect, the treat were delicious - our bags are full of goodies, and of course seeing many of our friends and family dressed up for Halloween - it was a blast! Happy Halloween!