Talbie's New "Do"

On Saturday we got the bug to color Talbie's hair. I have never bought hair color from the store before but we braved it and tried it on her hair. We picked out a shade of blond, just lighter than her natural hair color. We were a little nervous because the longer we left it on, the redder it looked!

It turned out really pretty and she is more of a "strawberry blond" now and she loves it. It was quite fun and something we'll have to try again!

Jessie's Birthday Slideshow

We had a great time yesterday for Jessie's birthday. Jessie has cancer and has had a really rough year. It was a treat to celebrate her birthday with her. Click on the slide show below to check out our fun at "Color Me Mine" and the cute "Build A Bear" we gave her.

Check out my Slide Show!

Build A Bear

We love "Build A Bear!" The kids got gift cards for Christmas and couldn't wait to use them. We went on Wednesday after Christmas and I think every other kid in the city got a gift card too because it was crowded! We liked the bears we made so much that we decided to go back the next day (to the same crowds) and build one for our niece/cousin - Jessica - whose birthday is today. Jessie is 28 but you're never too old for a "Build A Bear!"

Emmie and Talbie picking out the clothes

Emmie helping getting the bear stuffed


Bronson totally disgusted that he's at "Build A Bear!"


All done. It turned out so cute. Stayed tuned tomorrow and we'll post pictures of her party and the cute bear. We put a sound inside it too and we sung "Happy Birthday" to Jessie

Christmas Pictures

On Christmas Eve - Dave set up a caroling session at a nursing home near our house. We ended up going door to door at the little houses they had there and had a great time. This is us piled into our van. Dave and I are in the front seats!


Christmas PJ's. I usually make our Christmas PJ's but got smart this year and bought them!


We always spend Christmas Eve at my parent's. This is the spread my mom had for us to eat :)


Daddy and his girls.


My dad, Maddie, and Logan (Brittany's son). For those of you that don't know my mom - her basement is decorated in Santa's - all year round. It started out as a collection years ago and turned into an entire basement full. It's pretty impressive!

The kid's favorite present from my parents.


My favorite present from my parents. They also gave Dave and I a cruise that we're going on in February - but this picture is still my favorite. It reminds me of practicing the piano when I was little - and Brittany playing with her dolls - having no interest in the piano!


The back of the picture, which makes it even better.


We are always so spoiled at my mom and dad's house that I'm always amazed that the kids are even excited for Santa to come. They always are though!


After we opened all the presents - Dave and I went back to bed for a few hours. I'm very anal when we open presents and I throw each piece of paper away as we open things. This is what I found when we woke up from our naps!


Emmie's "loot"

Bronson's

Talbie's


Maddie's

Having Fun!

We are having a great time recovering from Christmas. We have dug out of our mess and we have spent the last 2 days having fun (and fighting) over our new games! We take turns on the new Wii and Guitar Hero on the PS2. It's exciting. I'll post more later!! I have to go kick some more "tail" on Guitar Hero. I ROCK!!

Nutcracker!

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the Nutcracker! It has been a part of our life for about 5 years. Maddie has changed dance studios but she still had an opportunity to perform with another studio in their Nutcracker. I can't believe how incredibly good she has gotten!


Here's Maddie trying to get ready and Dave doing his best to distract her and practice his own ballet moves.


We always give the girls something when they perform. This was a darling Nutcracker music box that we gave her this year.


Maddie and some of her other dancers


This is a picture of the finale. Maddie is the one there by the "Russian" dancer.

We are off to another performance today at 2:00 and then tonight at 7:00 and then she will be done until next year.

Class Parties

Yesterday I helped at Emmie's class Christmas party. It was fun to see those little kindergarteners and their excitement over little things. They are easy to please and love any game or story you have them do. I went early and was able to snap a picture at Bronson's class party.


Bronson with Miss Mackay - Isn't she cute?? Brittany and I are setting her up with my little brother, Dustin!


Logan and Emmie - Best Friends


Emmie and some of her friends

12th Day and Christmas Gift

Well - I think she officially "pooped" herself out! I haven't received the 12th day from Talbie yet. I'll keep you posted if she finishes the job!

In the meantime... Here are some pictures of the darling Christmas gift that my sister in law, Caleen - sent us for Christmas. I'm so excited to make hot chocolate for the kids so they can use their personalized mugs. The platter is great and the snowman is so unique. He's 4 piece set and each piece is a different bowl to put snacks in. So fun! Thanks Caleen (and Bret even though I know you had nothing to do with it - except for paying for it :)

11th Day

I've noticed that her writing is getting more sloppy. I think she's getting sick of doing this and wishing she had never started :) At the end of this she said she was going to read to "Emma and Bronther" I don't know who Bronther is but I think it's a mix between "brother" and "Bronson"

10th Day

Mom's Card

This is the card I designed for my mom to send out this year. I thought you'd all like to see it and see how our family is changing each year. Notice my parent's picture in the middle. They haven't aged a day!

9th Day

8th Day

Piano Recital

Last night was Bronson's piano recital. He played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and did a great job. This recital marked the one year point from when he started piano. I'm proud of him because he's really taken off and gotten the hang of it. This is his cute teacher - Kailyn!

7th Day

Before and After

Bronson has not had a hair cut in a couple of months. Maddie has begged me and begged me to let his hair grow out into a "shag". She had been flat ironing it every morning but it didn't look very good and I talked him into getting it cut. Here he is before and after!

6th Day

Science Project and GREAT NEWS!

Maddie came home from school a couple of months ago and said she had to do a science project.

Dave was ALL OVER THAT! He decided it would be great for them to make Methane Gas!

I have NO idea what it involves but he has spent every day testing this contraption - loading it with grass clippings and dog poop - and seeing how much gas it's producing.

He's been helping Maddie every step of the way and I actually think she understands how it works now.

Anyway - yesterday she had to present her final PowerPoint Presentation to the class. It went really well. I picked her up from school and she said, "I did my presentation today and I even sounded so smart!" She said her teacher picks 2 kids from the entire Jr. High to present their projects at BYU and he picked Maddie's. This means that she has a guaranteed "A" in science this term and she could go on from there to compete nationally.

Dave was SO EXCITED! He said to me, "Did you hear I got an "A" on my science project?"

Funny Story...

My mom came and picked me up for our Christmas party on Sunday and saw the project in the garage. She asked what it was and I told her that Dave and Maddie were making methane gas for her science project. She looked a little puzzled but didn't say anything.

We were at the party with my family and we were all laughing about something. Then my mom said, "Well, Dave is making methamphetamine in his garage for a science project!" I said, "MOM!!! It's not meth - it's METHANE GAS! BIG DIFFERENCE!!" I hope SWAT team doesn't come busting our door down anytime soon! Good thing Dave still has a few connections!

5th Day

Christmas Stories Traditions

I LOVE Christmas stories and I love collecting Christmas books. Christmas is such a busy time and the days seem to fly by lightning fast! I love the evenings - just before bed and the kids, Dave, and I will sit down for a Christmas story. It's the one time of day that time stands still.

My wonderful friend JoLyn gave me this book for Christmas and we have loved it. I highly recommend it.

Happy reading!

4th Day

She's been doing them everyday! This time she really did "tub" Emma (or help her take a bath) - she didn't take her tubing!

BINGO!

Once a year my mom's side of the family gets together (just the girls) and celebrate Christmas and my grandma "V" (V stands for Vivian). My grandma was the queen of throwing a party and everyone loved to go to her house. She died 10 years ago and we have really missed her. We get together every year and carry on one of her traditions. This year was especially fun because my Aunt Georgia brought the BINGO cards she inherited. We loved playing Bingo at grandma's house and it was really fun yesterday.



All the girls


My mom (in the middle) with her sisters Dena and Georgia