Christmas Eve Bowling

We all get excited to go bowling on Christmas Eve. This has been a fun tradition that we still do with Derek's family.
Kayli scored two strikes in a row. Woo Hoo!
Ryan and Taryn came from Boston for the holiday fun!!
Such Happiness - Such Fun Times Together.
Sara liked picking out her very own orange ball.

Snow Caving on Christmas Eve

It's BIGGER and BETTER than last year. However, the opening to get in is just as freakishly small. YIKES!!! Jake, Alli, Derek and a few friends built this great cave. They have been working on it for many days and it's becoming quite a sight in the neighborhood.

It's been snowing like crazy this week. So what else should we do with all this white stuff?

Snow caves are COOL but, I get anxiety just looking inside. However, it's pretty nice once you get in...just as long as you don't think about how your going to have to get out. This cave can fit the whole family in and then some. Jake even built candles into the walls. Maybe some will sleep inside like last year. HUMMMM - it definately won't be me.

MERRY MERRY WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

Celebrating Christmas Concerts

Last night we took the whole family to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. (Thanks Judith for giving us the tickets.) The show was absolutely AMAZING!!! Music, Singing, Dancing, Huge Bells ringing. The guest artists were incredible. There is nothing like seeing a concert like this live! Talent galore all in one place. I wish everyone could be there.

Thursday night Alli had a choir concert. Holiday Lights was the last song they performed. What a fun song for all the kids because it's performed totally in the dark. Flashlights are used with the music for a great effect. That night was also our Ward Christmas Party so we were doing double duty -- typical for the season. Tomorrow night Alli has a dance concert and then a band concert with Jacob on Thursday. It's that wonderful time of the year!! :)

Click here for Allison's concert video.


Alli's on the second row, fourth in from the left side.

Southern California - 20 Years Past and Present 2008

Magic Mountain 1988 - Kim, Tina, Kari and Kathy


Catalina Island 2008 - Kim, Tina, Kari and Kathy

Alot changes in 20 years and alot stays the same.
I still love going on trips with my sisters!!

Holiday Lights and Festival of Trees

Seeing the lights at Temple Square during the holidays is always a highlight for me. We went together with a group of friends for FHE and admired all the lights from the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building through the reflecting pond area and around the temple.


Last week Madi and Sara were dancing stars at the Festival of Trees. The costumes looked great and their hair stayed curled. Whew!!. Performing is the payoff for those many weeks of carpooling and practicing. Festival of Trees seems to set the mood for the Christmas season...where it's all about giving and donating to a wonderful cause. It's always so fun to see the unique trees. The blownglass tree was exceptional and the wooden tree with marbles rolling down - creativity at its best.

Happiness after the exciting performance!



The girls loved the balloon clown, the origami lady and making crafts.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I don't usually get to host Thanksgiving dinner. Between trading off between families and many siblings the opportunity doesn't come often. This year we had some of Derek's family over. I really love spending a whole day together with our family. The food was delicious and I loved the turkey aroma filling the whole house. Using my Grandmother's silver was a fun addition to the meal. Jacob helped me polish for hours the night before. It was fun to think about my Grandma and the sacrifice she made to get this silverware one piece at a time.
Alli made placecards for the table. Madison and Sara made cookie turkeys. Kayli made a peanut butter pie (a future Thanksgiving tradition.) Thank you to Derek's Mom for baking yummy rolls, perfect pumpkin pies and mashed potatos. We had a beautiful day!!

After shopping, preparing, fixing, serving, cleaning...it was nice to slow down and spend the rest of the day with the ones we love and are so grateful for. We played games, watched Indiana Jones, rocked out on Rockband and sang Singstar. The day before I met my brother and my Aunt Lynda for a fun lunch at Cafe Rio. I am so grateful for simply beautiful things in my life...five wonderful children, a loving husband, family, friends, music, freedoms, and good food. I really enjoy celebrating this wonderful holiday of gratitude.


Delicious Homemade Apple & Pumpkin Pie With Real Whip Cream

It's amazing what many hands can do...

This last weekend Jacob completed his Eagle Project. He and many others repaired and painted a fence 450 ft x 6 ft along SR-92. The most remarkable part of the whole project was the support he had. Over 60 people showed up to help. It only took a little over an hour and the job was done. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. We went through a ton of paint...probably due to an overly dry fence and extra dripping rollers.


Grandma and Grandpa joined in as well.

Way to go, Jacob...you did a great job planning and getting others excited to come out and help. You really exemplify all the wonderful characteristics of an Eagle Scout and we are proud of all your hard work. Impressive project and what a difference it makes!!
THANKS EVERYONE!!

TWILIGHT

I'm still suffering from lack of sleep due to the midnight Twilight movie that Kayli and I went to last night or should I say this morning. It was a blast!! We started out at our friend Lisa's house who hosted an amazing twilight party at 9:30pm where everyone dressed in black, red and white and brought a black, red and white treat. One of the highlights was the chocolate fountain cascading with red chocolate.

We played Twilight trivia, listened to the new soundtrack and psyched ourselves up for the new movie. It felt like a New Years Eve celebration.

I have to say I'm an Edward Cullen fan. I was a little worried from the trailers about who they cast for Edward but I have to say he really grew on me throughout the show. The book is still my favorite...it's hard for a movie to compete with your imagination. Still it was a great event and staying up that late was totally worth it. :)

Mr. Science

What do you get when you give a 14 year old boy borax, glue, food coloring, cornstarch, vinegar, baking soda, balloons and straws?
Answer: Hours and hours of pure, cheap, fun entertainment.




I wish I had a picture of this:
About a month ago, my Dad taught Jake about the principle of the siphon. Then one day while my father was visiting...Jake wanted to impress him. So starting with a bowl of water in the sink he made siphons out of straws that went from the sink to a bowl in the drawer, then more straws trailing to the window sill into another bowl. This went on to four other locations close by. My kitchen looked like a siphon factory...but, the amazing thing was it really worked! My only worry was that he wouldn't be able to dump the last bowl fast enough before it flooded across the kitchen floor. No need to stress...he had everything under control.
Jake is always coming up with some cool experiment to try and I really enjoy seeing the amazement and shock on the girls faces.


Thanks Jake for the fun shows!

Three Short Days in New York City

Last weekend we were able to take our three oldest children to one of our favorite and greatest places...NEW YORK CITY. We had a perfect trip and the kids loved being there.

TIMES SQUARE - So Fun to Walk Around at Night!!



STATEN ISLAND FERRY - in the distance...The Statue of Liberty


WICKED - Halloween Night...The Perfect Activity. I loved it even more the second time. The Best Broadway Play...I could really see it again and again.


NEW YORK MARATHON - I tried to get a picture of Derek as he ran towards us but, he came up too fast. Hence, the back shot. Good advertisement though since he was running for a charity.


FAO SCHWARTZ - Do you recognize this piano from the movie "BIG"? We picked up some girly travel gifts for Madi and Sara.


THE FINISH LINE - Thanks to Team for Kids we had great seats in the bleachers...Derek's in the crowd of runners somewhere.


THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - the lines were short and the view spectacular.


SHOPPING AT MACEY's - Kayli's favorite part of the trip. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

PIZZA, PIZZA and MORE PIZZA - You just can't beat the NY Pizza.


ROCKEFELLER CENTER - The 72 foot Christmas tree will arrive here in less than a week.


CENTRAL PARK - A magical park and it's beautiful in the Fall.



RIDING THE SUBWAY from Manhatten to Brooklyn to see Derek run. Wow, we even made it there without his help.


GREAT TRIP - with 3 amazing kids. Thanks for being so much fun!!!

Halloween with Grandma

This is a picture from Jacob and Alli's Halloween band concert. Not only was the music "spooky" fun, the concert was made even more fun because all the performers wore costumes. Alli was a flashy Hannah Montana. Jake was an Olympic swimmer. Impressive concert!

Cute Pirate Madi and Sweet Bride Sara on their way to school!


Grandma Judith, Sara, Alli and Madi (wearing the fashionable witches hats they made), and I spent a great afternoon in the company of witches at the Gardner Village.


We are all off on a Witch wagon ride!

Jake's newest "garage sale" treasure.