tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80370651549105348262024-03-13T03:02:29.482-07:00THE BOYDS"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."
Family Quote 2012Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger465125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-22872814465926007472012-06-04T20:29:00.001-07:002012-06-04T21:02:37.368-07:00Graduations!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Could it really be the end of the school year? I don't believe it!?! So June brings us all our end of the year programs and graduations... can't believe next year I will have 2 kids in school all day long. I can't believe next year, I'll have a 3rd and 1st grader!</div>
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Kadyn graduated from her first year of preschool with Mrs. Tate. This was my 5th preschool graduation, I loved it don't get me wrong...but I've heard all these songs TOO many times. HAHAHA</div>
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But Kadyn, she was the first of my girls to be such a ham.</div>
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The other girls were usually shy, especially at their 1st year graduation... not Kadyn :)</div>
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Mrs. Tate said that Kadyn is a big helper, she's the preschool police man... </div>
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always making sure everyone else is obeying the rules! hahaha</div>
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Then we had Kacey's kindergarten program. The kids put on a show and sang songs, and each child was asked to dress up like the profession they wanted to be. And they all had a speaking part.</div>
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My sweet child, she wanted to be a doctor. It made me so proud. </div>
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(sidenote: There was a group of girls; they stood at the microphone, they said that they wanted to be models. It was cute, a bit cheesy, but after a moment it broke my heart. They are 5, and physical appearance is already of top importance. Kacey didn't even know what a model was! I was quite proud by that) </div>
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Kacey's part, which she memorized and brought the loudest applause for her clear pronounciation and maybe for the fact that she's just darling:</div>
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"I want to be a doctor and help sick people get well; to cure all the diseases that attack the human cells."</div>
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That's my girl :)</div>
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I love all my children equally, but (negates everything I just said) there's something special when it's your first child and first experience with something- that's how I felt at this assembly. </div>
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I received a private note from Kylie's teacher requesting my attendance during school for an award ceremony. Matthew was in Denver, heartbroken he was missing it (I'm grateful for his position and his job, so it was NO big deal at all!!! And I texted him minute to minute detail.) Kacey (PM kindergarten) and I went, as a complete surprise to Kylie. She had no clue we were there; she had no clue she was receiving an award (2 actually).</div>
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Kylie's teacher, Ms. Gaura, and the principal, Mr. Hyberger.</div>
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Kylie on stage!</div>
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She received an award for straight A honor roll for the year, and also she got the Citizenship award for outstanding behavior. At this point, she still had no idea that Kacey and I were there!!!</div>
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When Kylie walked back to her class, we ended up walking over to her. She was like a deer in the headlights; she had no clue. It was great to surprise her like that and definitely a proud mommy moment for me. Kylie has worked very hard this year; the hardest by far than she's had to work before. I'm hard on her, I set the bar high. She would bring home her weekly papers, and I wanted A's. If I didn't see A's, we'd be sitting down and going through it. (She'd never get things wrong because she didn't understand, she got things wrong because she'd fly through it to be the first one done) <br />
Many times Matthew would say take it easy on her, because I push her. I totally do. And sometimes I'd listen to him and stop- trying to keep her life balanced, and sometimes I didn't listen and in that moment I'd keep pushing :) She's very bright and I expect the very best from her because she is capable of it. (wow, I sound like my mom) But it's true!!! Wasted talent is the worst thing in the world, and I'm so proud of her for working so hard... and many times she'd be begrudgingly walking up the stairs onto another task that I'd given her, and she do it without complaining (just a little UGH look in her eye). It's a neat thing to see joy and excitement in your child's eye because of their hard work. It's odd, as a parent to young children, you spend so much time <b><i>giving </i></b>your children things... but in this instance, just with my simple guidance and persistence, <b><i>she did this on her own!</i></b> She deserved this. At this moment, she knew she was able to do anything she wanted... like the world became a little bit smaller, and she became a little bit bigger. So proud of her diligence. And in this moment, she was proud too. Hard work pays off, and the easy way isn't the best way. Kylie had a wonderful 2nd grade year and I'm so very proud of all her hardwork and accomplishments. Third grade is going to be AMAZING.</div>
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This is Kylie and Ms. Gaura.</div>
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Ms. Gaura has been such a great teacher for Kylie. What I loved most about her is that she could size my child up very quickly. Kylie's super bright, but if you ask for a few answers, she's only going to give you 2. If you want more, you need to ask for it. She's not going to go out of her way for something, unless she knows you are going to specifically want it. I felt like Ms. Gaura gave Kylie that push, and while another teacher may say, "Yeah you are doing great" because Kylie totally was... especially by the standards of the rest of the 2nd grade class... Ms. Gaura would go that extra mile with Kylie, because she knew Kylie was capable of more, to exceed what was required and do more.</div>
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Kylie's going to miss Ms. Gaura so much next year, and Kacey's crossing her fingers to get her in the 2nd grade too! (me too!)</div>
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Kylie with her good friend, Sadie, and Kacey as well.</div>
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Sadie holds a special place in my heart.</div>
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Kylie struggled as we moved and switched schools. The first few months were hard, and she felt like she didn't have any friends. Heartbreaking as a mom. With our short little move, Kylie lost a handful of friends at school and church; friends that she'd had for as long as she could remember. That coupled with the timing of her, noticing her own insecurities... coming into her own a bit and being sensitive. You may recall a facebook post where I mentioned that we were desparately trying to win the Nacho Party for Kylie's class; and we won it by bringing in the most receipts from a grocery store. <br />
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Anyways, Sadie stepped up as a great friend when Kylie felt alone. Sadie, from an all girl family- her being the youngest, branched out to Kylie and welcomed her into their little established friend group... seems simple, but it was a very big deal. It was more than just including her in things. She'd notice Kylie being a bit apprehensive and grab Kylie's hand and say "come on let's go and...." or she was that friend to cheer Kylie up if something at school got her sad. I'd hear stories of something that happened at school, or she'd bring Kylie a present. This girl was an answer to many of my prayers in so many ways... and she probably has no idea... just a sweet young girl, raised in a good family. Anyways, I know Sadie was a huge support to Kylie and I'm grateful for that. I hope my girls develop that same charity and compassion and can help others in a crucial time like Sadie did for Kylie. No doubt that Sadie helped in Kylie's achievements this year. .</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-90101297552452521072012-04-09T13:28:00.000-07:002012-04-09T13:28:26.241-07:00Kylie's Baptism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie was baptized!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was such an amazing day :) definitely a day Kylie will always remember. We gave her a special necklace and memory book in the morning, I should have taken pictures of those! We grabbed a pizza from our usual place, and we started the afternoon ready to go...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Decorations</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwuS4BsFFXE/T4NEOaqgQBI/AAAAAAAAF-8/cb9TkF6omms/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CwuS4BsFFXE/T4NEOaqgQBI/AAAAAAAAF-8/cb9TkF6omms/s320/022.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjPLldL0qhI/T4NEScZARZI/AAAAAAAAF_E/OkB2lmktKIc/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FjPLldL0qhI/T4NEScZARZI/AAAAAAAAF_E/OkB2lmktKIc/s320/023.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fabulously yummy, and HUGE cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAe-XN_3Qas/T4NEU9NEVTI/AAAAAAAAF_M/rqH159II6os/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FAe-XN_3Qas/T4NEU9NEVTI/AAAAAAAAF_M/rqH159II6os/s320/024.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some pictures of the pretty girl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi_jgO9cSp4/T4NEaRySvRI/AAAAAAAAF_U/VYfXTM9Hcpw/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi_jgO9cSp4/T4NEaRySvRI/AAAAAAAAF_U/VYfXTM9Hcpw/s320/037.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcC9DNhcuMw/T4NEb56QziI/AAAAAAAAF_c/JyMKtJbugDQ/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcC9DNhcuMw/T4NEb56QziI/AAAAAAAAF_c/JyMKtJbugDQ/s320/039.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sisters</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaG6F7yqQLQ/T4NEf4GdK9I/AAAAAAAAF_k/9Lg3sRnatfI/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaG6F7yqQLQ/T4NEf4GdK9I/AAAAAAAAF_k/9Lg3sRnatfI/s320/049.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0eGn2-ydE/T4NEjCLtU0I/AAAAAAAAF_s/gob0gn2GSCY/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0eGn2-ydE/T4NEjCLtU0I/AAAAAAAAF_s/gob0gn2GSCY/s320/052.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWQltq8q8Rg/T4NEktifReI/AAAAAAAAF_0/hgD8dOAo-Ag/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWQltq8q8Rg/T4NEktifReI/AAAAAAAAF_0/hgD8dOAo-Ag/s320/058.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our big group! Matthew's parents flew out as well as my dad's twin sister, Aunt Chiarina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94YlUp3E92c/T4NEsMxHLjI/AAAAAAAAGAE/fkpbjb-8BaU/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94YlUp3E92c/T4NEsMxHLjI/AAAAAAAAGAE/fkpbjb-8BaU/s320/063.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our sweet little family, really love this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aoaj6RZBWY/T4NEx-ZSgmI/AAAAAAAAGAM/Y1O63DfjuzQ/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aoaj6RZBWY/T4NEx-ZSgmI/AAAAAAAAGAM/Y1O63DfjuzQ/s320/066.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Another quick one taken at the church after Kylie and Matthew got into their white clothes for the actual baptism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqBgUbA_BOc/T4NE010s7fI/AAAAAAAAGAU/qNivRAvK9D8/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqBgUbA_BOc/T4NE010s7fI/AAAAAAAAGAU/qNivRAvK9D8/s320/127.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div align="center">It really was a special day, we had a huge party at our house afterwards. So many people came, we had delicious food... people were inside, people were outside... Kylie spilled juice on her white dress (Yaya got it out), Mrs. Tate did an amazing talk on Confirmation and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, there was not a dry eye in the whole room... awesome day not only for Kylie to remember, but for her sisters to look forward to when it's their turn. I can't believe I have an 8 year old!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-1360141969938935172012-04-09T13:17:00.000-07:002012-04-09T13:17:37.249-07:00Kylie's Birthday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's so funny how we can't wait to be older... when we're young. And when we are old, well I dread each additional year I have to tack onto my age!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie's Birthdays are always a huge big deal, not even just for her... her sisters are just as excited for her birthday as she is!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her birthday was on a Sunday, so we did a little bit of celebrating on Saturday too... which the girls were all about! Multiple celebration days :) We took them to Flip N Out, to jump on the tramps and then we went to Chili's. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But Sunday is when we actually did her little party at home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwOV0S-sb8A/T4NBm28ukHI/AAAAAAAAF90/x9aL84rjIoI/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwOV0S-sb8A/T4NBm28ukHI/AAAAAAAAF90/x9aL84rjIoI/s320/001.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I made her cake, Kacey helped too... we worked together to make the lavendar frosting- which was a special recipe of frosting which I liked better so it was more fluffy than sugary and heavy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9IbyC7ueGdU/T4NBqS2w8eI/AAAAAAAAF98/-LrhfyjNXDk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9IbyC7ueGdU/T4NBqS2w8eI/AAAAAAAAF98/-LrhfyjNXDk/s320/003.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Make a Wish!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpda0P1FjGc/T4NBwJhDJ1I/AAAAAAAAF-E/B59EWWDbSMo/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xpda0P1FjGc/T4NBwJhDJ1I/AAAAAAAAF-E/B59EWWDbSMo/s320/011.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND then comes the presents! This little beauty, Wii Game Just Dance, has been a household fave! Matthew can Shake His Groove Thing with the best of them... the girls play it constantly... great exercise!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kYAV_W6I4k/T4NByuHhAKI/AAAAAAAAF-M/oVSWGmOzgPQ/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kYAV_W6I4k/T4NByuHhAKI/AAAAAAAAF-M/oVSWGmOzgPQ/s320/017.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now that's a FUN face :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOrFGK4paE/T4NB0RH97mI/AAAAAAAAF-U/ASfWk8oy7Sw/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOrFGK4paE/T4NB0RH97mI/AAAAAAAAF-U/ASfWk8oy7Sw/s320/021.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> BOOKS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLA9531mZrg/T4NB6VnLLrI/AAAAAAAAF-c/EbcdcUvuWV4/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLA9531mZrg/T4NB6VnLLrI/AAAAAAAAF-c/EbcdcUvuWV4/s320/020.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And for the finale! Her very own basketball hoop, adjustable as she grows...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNsaG-_-Xk/T4NB8BB84AI/AAAAAAAAF-k/PZRYYBtVEIE/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNsaG-_-Xk/T4NB8BB84AI/AAAAAAAAF-k/PZRYYBtVEIE/s320/039.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRxesy4xsfw/T4NB-tSzxBI/AAAAAAAAF-s/mlWVAfi3NEA/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRxesy4xsfw/T4NB-tSzxBI/AAAAAAAAF-s/mlWVAfi3NEA/s320/040.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Matthew and I always sneak into the birthday girl's bedroom to do fun decorations when they wake up... in fact, Kylie mentioned it 3 or 4 times specifically so we wouldn't forget... not that we would! The picture's a little rough and it's only a small glimpse into the room, but it was dark in there so it's the best we could do in fear she'd wake up and spoil it early :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDydDh0N0HE/T4NB_YW0BtI/AAAAAAAAF-0/XM9qbgb4OXo/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDydDh0N0HE/T4NB_YW0BtI/AAAAAAAAF-0/XM9qbgb4OXo/s320/photo.JPG" width="239px" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-31997609999565382082012-03-12T13:49:00.000-07:002012-03-12T13:49:51.530-07:00Hey wait... It's March?!?!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah so that's how I feel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When did it become March? Mid March for that matter??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie's birthday is less than a week away. The excitement is building. She's doing the Talk in Primary also (her birthday is on a Sunday). HAHA, we are in that Primary room nearly every Sunday... somehow someone in our family <em>always</em> has the talk! We got asked yesterday if we just have a book of talks ready at home, because somehow it's always us. Probably because my girls always volunteer; they love it... and we totally love sitting in to watch also.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-----</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So preparing for her birthday and baptism, I'm swarming with ideas. Thank heavens for my laundry room, I have my continued project mounds all over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kPes-DBL9E/T15cOc8OCbI/AAAAAAAAF8M/pYWeSrWn5pA/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kPes-DBL9E/T15cOc8OCbI/AAAAAAAAF8M/pYWeSrWn5pA/s320/096.JPG" width="320px" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I did get my St Patricks' Day teacher gifts done a bit ahead of time, knowing it would be here all too soon... the note says: You are my Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow. Super cute :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AbntPfba6eA/T15cQOTghZI/AAAAAAAAF8U/SV4bVUXEtc8/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AbntPfba6eA/T15cQOTghZI/AAAAAAAAF8U/SV4bVUXEtc8/s320/097.JPG" width="297px" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And my Pinterest addiction continues with organized drawers: under shirts and underwear. I did the same thing with the socks and pajama drawers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CuhzhoGLqpk/T15cTOBlOWI/AAAAAAAAF8c/IZt3d2_65rI/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CuhzhoGLqpk/T15cTOBlOWI/AAAAAAAAF8c/IZt3d2_65rI/s320/099.JPG" width="320px" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND we're gearing up for her big day!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made a special graphic to be put on her cake. I'm making decorations, I'm so fortunate to have an amazingly talented friend who's completely taking over the food for me... On that note, FRIENDS.... I need your crockpots! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Homemade Cafe Rio, and she makes it sooooo good. She usually caters our big Stake Relief Society activities with her yummy deliciousness. I'm so excited, and so lucky that she's my friend! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGN_Z-pINgE/T15cjOn4VRI/AAAAAAAAF8k/hGEMWYTgQbk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGN_Z-pINgE/T15cjOn4VRI/AAAAAAAAF8k/hGEMWYTgQbk/s320/015.JPG" width="320px" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ohd0rIZR84Y/T15cmuJvtcI/AAAAAAAAF8s/cW7Wpzj8MjI/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ohd0rIZR84Y/T15cmuJvtcI/AAAAAAAAF8s/cW7Wpzj8MjI/s320/021.JPG" width="320px" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">---------</div><div style="text-align: center;"> And, did I mention we were just in charge of the combined Young Mens/Young Womens last week. Minute to Win It, it was awesome. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvyf_0F1WO0/T15cqutHV2I/AAAAAAAAF80/wgc_CH3AGJQ/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvyf_0F1WO0/T15cqutHV2I/AAAAAAAAF80/wgc_CH3AGJQ/s320/012.JPG" width="214px" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We have about 70 <em>active</em> youth... so it was a super crazy fun night! There were huge preparations involved to get it to come together (thank heavens I have 3 beehive advisors), and at times I felt like I was herding cats with the youth... but it was awesome! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t80SCswPAek/T15cttB1ogI/AAAAAAAAF88/1gWsBVMjmb0/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t80SCswPAek/T15cttB1ogI/AAAAAAAAF88/1gWsBVMjmb0/s320/025.JPG" width="320px" yda="true" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-78332746303912458542012-03-06T13:21:00.003-08:002012-03-06T13:47:02.516-08:00Fun Fun Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> From a few posts ago, I spoke of adorable yellow/grayish skirts and here they are. The girls wore them to church this past Sunday, sooooooo cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iibXujwpo5o/T1Z7E750CgI/AAAAAAAAF5g/bLwa4kGj_5g/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iibXujwpo5o/T1Z7E750CgI/AAAAAAAAF5g/bLwa4kGj_5g/s320/002.JPG" uda="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had to post this one, such little personalities with their hips shifted out to the side. I can only imagine what they'll be like when they are teenagers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UORT008jLxg/T1Z7QGy8tOI/AAAAAAAAF5o/CLg9nDQrKeo/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UORT008jLxg/T1Z7QGy8tOI/AAAAAAAAF5o/CLg9nDQrKeo/s320/007.JPG" uda="true" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND, moving right along to my recent projects and endeavors...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE pinterest; it's actually great motivation. I force myself to do a few chores of the day before I get to embark on my new fun thing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Fridge!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dollar Store bins and a method of organization, which I'm really proud of!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljmf1VVk_iQ/T1Z7aJe-liI/AAAAAAAAF6A/6vG4nFkpn2U/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ljmf1VVk_iQ/T1Z7aJe-liI/AAAAAAAAF6A/6vG4nFkpn2U/s320/024.JPG" uda="true" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Each bin is labelled with the stuff it contains. Yes, I said labelled... it looks nice that way! And I don't have to listen to Matthew ask 15 times, "where's the cheese?" There's "Spreads" which is all the various cream cheeses, laughing cows, guacamole, veggie dip, honey butters, etc etc. There's "Leftovers" which essentially is meals from the past 3 days prepackaged into small portions to serve as lunches for Kloey over the next few days. Then there's "Sandwiches" and this one is genius. When you want a sandwich, take the bin. Instead of searching the whole fridge for every last sandwich choice, it's all there! All luncheon meats and many cheeses... and in our house, we all have different preferences. Then lastly, there's "Lunches" and this is so helpful too. I keep all the quick snacks I always throw in lunches, Danimal Yogurt Smoothies or Go-Gurt, String Cheese, small packs of Mandrin Oranges (the only fruit Kylie eats), baby carrots in little ziplocks. It is so funny how this brings me such joy!!! :) hahaha</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IJRm4P9DXJM/T1Z7c1WRlzI/AAAAAAAAF6I/Nen_qXipy1I/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IJRm4P9DXJM/T1Z7c1WRlzI/AAAAAAAAF6I/Nen_qXipy1I/s320/025.JPG" uda="true" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I also have recently attacked our linen closet... well cabinets. They were chaotic, sheets and towels everywhere. Again, I got Dollar Store baskets and labelled them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKJet_cid7A/T1Z7fzQcd3I/AAAAAAAAF6Q/46J-0qhXBL0/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKJet_cid7A/T1Z7fzQcd3I/AAAAAAAAF6Q/46J-0qhXBL0/s320/026.JPG" uda="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A little more up close. Baskets are labelled: wash cloths, hand towels, (then the bath towels are rolled. And on the other side is: twin flat sheets, twin fitted sheets, pillow cases, and all things king. Which makes it super convenient when you are changing munchkin sheets in the middle of the night!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozOTpHYC98w/T1Z7keOojkI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/oQb2adHR6JM/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozOTpHYC98w/T1Z7keOojkI/AAAAAAAAF6Y/oQb2adHR6JM/s320/027.JPG" uda="true" width="214px" /></a></div><div align="center">And all this is less than a week!!! Talk about motivation! Although my laundry was piling up something awful! lol, but 6 people's oufits a day can mean overflowing laundry bins by day 3 of me not doing laundry.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">One more fun and easy task that knocks my socks off........ lunch creativity!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-46898136469158637442012-03-06T13:00:00.003-08:002012-03-06T13:48:24.901-08:00Lunch Creativity<div style="text-align: center;"> So I organized my fridge and made it super easy for quick grabbing of stuff. And this is so key with our lifestyle. Our house is JUMPING with energy and with stuff going on. There's a huge difference from last year to this year. Everyone's got their own schedules and things they need and stuff going on... and we can't waste time searching for things (it also makes people whiny and draws me away from something else maybe more important at that very moment)... and everyone (on various levels) needs to be able to fiend (maybe bad word choice) but work it out for themself... or even be able to properly help a sibling. Independence is a great thing. And organization is our KEY, our answer to make our house run smoother... and keep my sanity.<br />
<br />
There's one thing I have been dying to do: spice up Kylie's lunches. I'm even bored by them! She's such a picky eater; she only eats a few things and she only has 20 minutes to do it. SO, (have I mentioned I hit the Dollar store??), lunch tupperware with a lid and RUBBER cupcake containers. This makes me excited to make her lunch, then after I put the lid on it... I tie it with a ribbon and make a bow... like it's a present :) Now we are talking... some lunchtime excitement!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kylie's lunch: pepperoni, cashews, string cheese, mandrin oranges, yogurt smoothie, and a fruit chewy bar.... and a capri sun drink but it didn't fit in. Lots of items in there, a few bites of everything and easy peasy to eat and enjoy in her little 20 minute lunch break..... and of course a love note from mom <3</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PY2r8sqzTCY/T1aAFbzKPhI/AAAAAAAAF6s/Wd7keZoCEe4/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PY2r8sqzTCY/T1aAFbzKPhI/AAAAAAAAF6s/Wd7keZoCEe4/s320/image2.jpg" uda="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Kadyn has play dates every Tuesday afternoon after Preschool and on the days the playdate is not at my house, she likes a packed lunch. Who knows why?!?! I think it comes down to she likes carrying it. Kadyn likes more food types, I can be more creative with her: cashews, cheddar cheese slices, crackers, carrots, shaved turkey, and sliced strawberries.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHMK-DeZJpk/T1aADT0vawI/AAAAAAAAF6k/0wsIkKc64vw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHMK-DeZJpk/T1aADT0vawI/AAAAAAAAF6k/0wsIkKc64vw/s320/image.jpg" uda="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">NOW that just makes me happy! :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Matthew laughs at me and my pinterest fun... little does he know, I'm going to be "pinterest-ify-ing" his lunch VERY soon! :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I just need to find a tupperware big enough!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-31969908902801246012012-03-03T09:19:00.002-08:002012-03-03T09:29:56.953-08:00Yaya's Camaro!<div style="text-align: center;">On February 11th (my grandpa's birthday), at 8:15 pm... Yaya won a Camaro at Aliante Station Casino. Ironically, Matthew and I were there on a date night (our movie theaters are all in casinos... Vegas lifestyle, lol) and we had no idea until the following morning. She had a choice of a handful of vehicles and colors or even straight up cash; she chose a RED CAMARO... of which, they added racing stripes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That same day, they recorded her for a Stations commerical. There's nothing more crazy than watching The Voice or laying in bed half asleep watching Food Network and SEEING YOUR MOM ON TV!!! hahaha.. I got phone calls and random texts every day from people... "Did I just see your mom on TV?"... Yes, yes you did! <br />
<br />
What was awesome was one evening my mom was with the girls so I could go to my YW activity (Matthew was in Denver) and they were watching TV, and guess who came on TV? Kloey gets so excited every time she watches it!!! :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">click the link:</div><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW61g8iiAxI&feature=email">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW61g8iiAxI&feature=email</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-68472423741464812852012-02-26T15:12:00.001-08:002012-02-26T15:13:19.491-08:00Fun latest things to keep me busy, as if I don't have enough already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pinterest is a dangerous thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I find all these cute ideas, yummy recipes, DIY projects and I can't think about anything else!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly, we're over Gymboree. Kylie's too big, well she's almost 8... but she looks so much older (she's to my shoulder). So I've developed innovative new ways of matching (mainly for church... I've got a reputation I have to live up to now!) This skirt coupled with a DownEast top is adorable. I have another skirt, which I'll show soon... a little similar, kinda different... gray and yellow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--J2J_Iv3lrk/T0q6BbVo7XI/AAAAAAAAFyo/5BAOaod19-8/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224px" lda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--J2J_Iv3lrk/T0q6BbVo7XI/AAAAAAAAFyo/5BAOaod19-8/s320/005.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This project I was really excited about. Kadyn always, always comes into our bedroom in the middle of the night and says she has bad dreams. I don't think she really has bad dreams, as much as she just wakes up and decides to roam around. I always say, "go back to bed." Well 9 out of 10 times, I find her in the morning anywhere but her bed: the floor of my room (I step on her getting out of bed, or in Kylie's little bed, or on Kloey's rocking chair, one time I found her on the floor in the living room cuddled up in the curtain behind the chair!!!) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So that madness needs to end. Here is her new spot:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMIpUC_byrQ/T0q6D9GRsaI/AAAAAAAAFyw/ephxgNRWjsE/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hMIpUC_byrQ/T0q6D9GRsaI/AAAAAAAAFyw/ephxgNRWjsE/s320/013.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's an actually her crib mattress, set on top of little wooden cubbies. We stored books and toys all under there, and she has a little spot. So she doesn't go to random places in the house, and so Kylie still gets a good night's rest. But it doubles for a cool place for Kylie to read or two girls to lay and watch tv. I was pretty proud of myself! :) Did I mention that it barely cost me $20??! just improvising with stuff we had and needing only a few things to make it work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s79GY7-C1t4/T0q6Fxpwt3I/AAAAAAAAFy4/6RxRyyduYFk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s79GY7-C1t4/T0q6Fxpwt3I/AAAAAAAAFy4/6RxRyyduYFk/s320/015.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-64242364843017032392012-02-03T09:42:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:46:35.337-08:00Morning Muster<div style="text-align: center;">Every Friday morning, Kylie's school has a little party called the Morning Muster. The students line up outside in their classes, while "certain students" get to stand at the flag pole to do announcements and then everyone is invited up to the front to do the Cupid Shuffle.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This particular Friday, Kylie was chosen from her class to speak in front of the school for the Morning Muster. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEOa55Rvbk4/TywcMBqVF9I/AAAAAAAAFxo/vk03pAGNknE/s1600/morning+announcements.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEOa55Rvbk4/TywcMBqVF9I/AAAAAAAAFxo/vk03pAGNknE/s320/morning+announcements.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two short 10 second videos of Kylie's speaking part... Matthew recorded it for me! It's a little quite, I heard it best hooking up my earphones to the computer. But she says:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Good morning. My name is Kylie." And she announces that they are going to have 30 seconds of silence...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aB0CMPvb9PM/TywcNMcIn1I/AAAAAAAAFxw/yPYoJv1cN4Q/s1600/IMG_0846.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv6.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da8f4fea39ba2c066%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1328312469%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D6613BD1CAE9E6652BCE4D75C6873B50429B14E46.78FA4184CF798C180EDE4A75BA100CF8944F4007%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv6.nonxt4.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da8f4fea39ba2c066%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1328312469%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D6613BD1CAE9E6652BCE4D75C6873B50429B14E46.78FA4184CF798C180EDE4A75BA100CF8944F4007%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;">In this one she turns the time over to the "spectacular" Principal. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W1yYeWBqyqA/TywcPChBEDI/AAAAAAAAFx4/qUfSr2bF7f4/s1600/IMG_0848.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv7.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D032e0d28627b1a9d%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1328312476%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D2BDB2BD48E42FDD2E9A01CF1346C9FF5CEB9EFDB.F00C712C08897072F5B4E5F271F46B3694A56B3%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv7.nonxt1.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D032e0d28627b1a9d%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1328312476%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D2BDB2BD48E42FDD2E9A01CF1346C9FF5CEB9EFDB.F00C712C08897072F5B4E5F271F46B3694A56B3%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
She was a little nervous this morning at breakfast. Matthew worked with her all morning to remember her short little part. I told her to pretend she was iCarly! Super cute!!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-64544269814072262022012-01-25T13:08:00.000-08:002012-01-25T13:11:18.104-08:00Pinterest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pinterest is my new boredom activity... I find 20 free minutes, maybe when my dryer will be done or time before I need to wake Kloey up from her nap to go pick up the girls from school and I pop on this website. It's pretty much pictures of cool DIY projects. You can see what you're friends like, and you can "pin it" to your virtual pinboard as something you want to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My problem is I want them NOW. So this weekend I jumped on 3 projects. #1 A new door hang. #2 Leg warmers #3 A massive multipurpose calendar/to do list (not pictured, because it's not printed from Costco yet and I only have 3 matching 16x20 frames and I need 4)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So this is my cute, new every occasion door decoration!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8L_L8QWeJ4/TyBr1ZhxskI/AAAAAAAAFxA/LKZgNRQshHU/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8L_L8QWeJ4/TyBr1ZhxskI/AAAAAAAAFxA/LKZgNRQshHU/s320/006.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cute little felt flowers on a burlap wrapped wreath, I hand made every one of those little flowers.... dang hot glue gun got me everytime! hahaha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9oPHriNwbvU/TyBr2qZZiQI/AAAAAAAAFxI/JBgWeKSFtws/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9oPHriNwbvU/TyBr2qZZiQI/AAAAAAAAFxI/JBgWeKSFtws/s320/008.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND project #2, cute little legwarmers in 2 different styles- fluff on the bottom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEL2s9xx0dc/TyBr7zVqQ9I/AAAAAAAAFxQ/uxGQx4-5BCg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TEL2s9xx0dc/TyBr7zVqQ9I/AAAAAAAAFxQ/uxGQx4-5BCg/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Gotta love Kacey as my little model; she's such a diva.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9ATUD03oUM/TyBr9Q7EC8I/AAAAAAAAFxY/kYy2U005Tu8/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f9ATUD03oUM/TyBr9Q7EC8I/AAAAAAAAFxY/kYy2U005Tu8/s320/005.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Or crocheted flower on the top... gotta make 2 more of these by Sunday church...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxxTGlikb2U/TyBsl1vDWdI/AAAAAAAAFxg/s_80o1HuTes/s1600/0122121618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxxTGlikb2U/TyBsl1vDWdI/AAAAAAAAFxg/s_80o1HuTes/s320/0122121618.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div align="center">Kacey- love her sweet little soul, she sits with me in my laundry room as I get my craft on. She feeds me pretzels and holds the soda for me so I can drink and keep my hands busily working. Such a helpful little thing!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-33106489444692646562012-01-02T18:20:00.000-08:002012-01-02T18:20:27.339-08:00yes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFT63Ii0tFw/TwJl5Aut25I/AAAAAAAAFw4/4DYUME2_Xb8/s1600/sonic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eFT63Ii0tFw/TwJl5Aut25I/AAAAAAAAFw4/4DYUME2_Xb8/s1600/sonic.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-33196787041843088922011-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:002011-12-31T20:12:58.384-08:00Happy New Year, and breathe...<div style="text-align: center;">As 2011 ends, I say good riddens! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>BRING ON THE HAPPY NEW YEAR! </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel like we have had some trials and some struggles that I am quick to say goodbye to. I've been thinking a lot lately on how we've had these continuous obstacles that we've just been chugging along on what seemed to be an endless road. Struggles such as schooling for Matthew, a painful work environment for him, health issues with Kloey, selling a house and buying a new one... struggles that we have been praying over, praying for answers and encouragement and praying for strength to just keep going. But this year has brought them to a happy end, every last one of them have all been resolved. With the close of 2011, the major burdens and worries we carried on our shoulders are over. Schooling led to a Bachelors. New fabulous job came in June. Kloey is perfect, and all her many many medical bills are paid off. We signed at title and sold the old house... and we are all moved into the new one.<br />
Dare I say that, but <u>they are over</u>... </div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't get me wrong, I am scared to death to see what may be next. It seems too nice and too clean for <u>everything</u> this year to magically and precisely end, nicely and smoothly and so perfectly... It may be the pessimist in me that worries something big may be coming, like Matthew being called as Bishop or something crazy like that... but for now, I am so grateful and I'm just going to take it all in and <strong><em>BREATHE</em></strong>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">A quote that I found a few weeks ago and put on the top of our blog, really stands out to me. I think it's easy to overlook so many blessings that we get, and the more aware we are of our blessings, the more grateful we are to have them, the more we noticed more blessings... it's a circular effect really. I may put that quote in vinyl to hang in our house somewhere, it's a great reminder to be mindful of all the good that is happening around us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's an interesting feeling. I'm so glad we had these trials and experiences of 2011, because they've helped us grow and placed us in better situations now. And they brought peace with their outcomes. They have made us stronger. However, I'm so glad that they are over, but I'm so glad that we had them too. Life is better and more appreciated. Definite growth that wouldn't have come about without them...<br />
<br />
Another neat thing to note... Matthew and I will be married a decade this year. We have gone through so many things together. Up the rollercoasters of life in anticipation and flying down the rollercoaster- holding hands and screaming. Good times with a good man, and many more decades... lucky for him, women age well on my side :) ... (we had a neighbor knock on our door inquiring who built our courtyard, and she asked if my mom was home!!! I digress.....)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Burdens lifted.<br />
We have been blessed.<br />
Breathing is so much easier and enjoyable now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's to 2012, or how my young women say it Twenty - One - Two!!! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-84365437844955757572011-12-30T15:40:00.000-08:002011-12-30T15:57:25.870-08:00Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the absolute greatest things about living in Vegas is that we are 35 minutes away from a completely different climate--- Mt. Charleston! We can escape our sun and palm trees and dive into a whole new world... although don't get me wrong, the best part is coming home and leaving all that snow behind us!!! :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We decided to take the girls on a fun midday snow adventure. Kadyn has NEVER seen snow, we haven't been since Kacey was Kloey's age...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2z7cKr9TMI/Tv5IdDgq2bI/AAAAAAAAFug/dzsyGeWH1uI/s1600/girls+n+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2z7cKr9TMI/Tv5IdDgq2bI/AAAAAAAAFug/dzsyGeWH1uI/s1600/girls+n+me.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls had a blast, as you can see!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QwupQiL4ZZ4/Tv5IfQki5cI/AAAAAAAAFuo/ZHcLzzW_ztM/s1600/photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QwupQiL4ZZ4/Tv5IfQki5cI/AAAAAAAAFuo/ZHcLzzW_ztM/s320/photo2.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daddy liked to get in on the fun too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9wGNT1TciY/Tv5Ig9Lcm3I/AAAAAAAAFuw/Ge_W72zcF4Y/s1600/photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9wGNT1TciY/Tv5Ig9Lcm3I/AAAAAAAAFuw/Ge_W72zcF4Y/s320/photo+4.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie and Kadyn, somehow ended up going backwards!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNMV5WLqi58/Tv5I6_6O1dI/AAAAAAAAFu4/gvGbRZHtcVs/s1600/photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eNMV5WLqi58/Tv5I6_6O1dI/AAAAAAAAFu4/gvGbRZHtcVs/s320/photo+6.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They also learned how to make snowballs, and they all ganged up on Daddy. He didn't stand a chance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rsmD0uVrNwk/Tv5I_23KcAI/AAAAAAAAFvI/XV2-P6vZDtc/s1600/photo+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rsmD0uVrNwk/Tv5I_23KcAI/AAAAAAAAFvI/XV2-P6vZDtc/s320/photo+8.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My sweet Kloey Belle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVZqgPtSFs4/Tv5JCwaP9jI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/3Z4gciLfyso/s1600/photo+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WVZqgPtSFs4/Tv5JCwaP9jI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/3Z4gciLfyso/s320/photo+9.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She was definitely slipping and sliding out there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LUZWfDCibd8/Tv5JEUtJCCI/AAAAAAAAFvY/tqXRkz9h8F4/s1600/photo+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LUZWfDCibd8/Tv5JEUtJCCI/AAAAAAAAFvY/tqXRkz9h8F4/s320/photo+17.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daddy did make sure that Kloey got to ride the sled a few times too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVvFsJuG0Rk/Tv5JGLZy0-I/AAAAAAAAFvg/Rs9DutX7dNU/s1600/photo+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVvFsJuG0Rk/Tv5JGLZy0-I/AAAAAAAAFvg/Rs9DutX7dNU/s320/photo+16.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kadyn was so cute running in the snow. At one point, she was running after Kacey and Kylie on the sled... she was just running in excitement... but her body was going faster than she could handle. She face-planted head on right in the snow, she didn't cry or anything... it was too funny! I wish I got a picture of that!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZYU7pJuAMU/Tv5JJRm04AI/AAAAAAAAFvo/39atiS9N7TY/s1600/photo+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZYU7pJuAMU/Tv5JJRm04AI/AAAAAAAAFvo/39atiS9N7TY/s320/photo+11.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NC8837wBw0A/Tv5JLQbqfNI/AAAAAAAAFvw/6uw93DUz8TM/s1600/photo+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NC8837wBw0A/Tv5JLQbqfNI/AAAAAAAAFvw/6uw93DUz8TM/s320/photo+12.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fun times had by all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47lO7OQ6I-w/Tv5JL0mF4TI/AAAAAAAAFv4/S-H3KeFnN6Y/s1600/photo+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47lO7OQ6I-w/Tv5JL0mF4TI/AAAAAAAAFv4/S-H3KeFnN6Y/s320/photo+13.jpg" width="249px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55Ziw580csI/Tv5JMj6jaoI/AAAAAAAAFwA/uTKrCbsFXSo/s1600/photo+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55Ziw580csI/Tv5JMj6jaoI/AAAAAAAAFwA/uTKrCbsFXSo/s320/photo+14.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Look at that face :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwkdMGrYYg/Tv5JNTFECpI/AAAAAAAAFwI/Dn91RRW9MlA/s1600/photo+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZwkdMGrYYg/Tv5JNTFECpI/AAAAAAAAFwI/Dn91RRW9MlA/s320/photo+15.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So by about 2:30, it looked like 5:30 really... we decided to pack up and head back down the mountain... and we were all starving (got our money's worth at CiCi's Pizza afterwards, although I can only imagine how raggidy we looked... hahaha)... So we were heading down the mountain on this horrible 2 lane, acutally really more like 1.5 lane roads. And the slush was turning back to ice, it was getting dark and colder. There was an SUV stuck right in the middle. Traffic couldn't get thru on either side. I was nervous because even with our all-wheel drive, our tailend was still swaying from side to side on the ice. Matthew ended up getting out of our car and helping them move their SUV, he's really a smart bad weather driver. He had them back up and do a sharp turn into where they were going... anyways, it was genious... totally worked. If he hadn't of gotten out to help, we'd still be sitting there. He's such a good driver in stuff like that, I sat in the passenger seat just praying with my eyes closed as he drove us past all the cars. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we drove off we both agreed... it's so nice to be able to leave the ice and the snow behind us and return to sun and palm trees.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-53702097164612345332011-12-27T15:06:00.000-08:002011-12-27T15:11:18.513-08:00Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we conducted Christmas differently this year... Instead of crazy madness insane presents, we had a theme. This year the girls got 4 specific gifts (which greatly helped Santa plan and shop... and when that person got the gift in the category, that person was done. Check mark. Done.) The 4 categories (which I totally stole from my friend, thanks TARA!) are: something you want, something you need, something you wear, and something you read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We added 2 additional gifts also, one gift from Mom and Dad and one gift was a Secret Sister present.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*The Secret Sister gift was brilliant. Matthew took Kacey and Kloey. I took Kylie and Kadyn. And one evening, we hit 2 different Targets. Kylie had Kacey, and vice versa. And Kadyn had Kloey and vice versa. So we shopped, and it was really fun to see what the girls picked out for eachother and to take less focus on the "gimmies" and more focus on giving to someone else. I think they really enjoyed it, and we'll definitely be doing that again next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUykhilH9V8/TvpG7ny2cKI/AAAAAAAAFsc/paW26osFBKM/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUykhilH9V8/TvpG7ny2cKI/AAAAAAAAFsc/paW26osFBKM/s320/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> On Christmas Eve, we did some major baking... as always. This year we had brownies, spice cookies (iced and decorated by the munchkins), pumpkin bread, peanut butter cookies with a Hershey's kiss, and...... something else, I can't remember.... So that tuckered us out and it only filled our morning. We had our mandatory Chinese dinner... although we were so anxious, it was really lunch. I'm really impressed that the girls have their specific Chinese dishes that they'll eat... it was hot and good, and I have no pictures... but our table was full of food and egg rolls and won tons (love those!)!!! We finished putting our Christmas gifts to our friends together, and we headed out in the blistering cold nighttime to deliver gifts. (It's freezing here). We had worked up quite the appetite, and shamefully I say... that we hit Taco Bell on Christmas Eve in our late night, starvation. HAHA, not proud... but it was good!</div><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><div style="text-align: center;">We open 1 present on Christmas Eve... so we picked the box from Aunt Chiarina...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OTArX8sffw/TvpHGabaWwI/AAAAAAAAFsk/ARVx7XKMaYQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OTArX8sffw/TvpHGabaWwI/AAAAAAAAFsk/ARVx7XKMaYQ/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was a singing Justin Bieber Beaver! So stinking CUTE! Kloey is in love with it, she's really very good at singing BABY, Baby Baby..... OH. She's starting dancing to it too. It's the funniest thing. We make her do it a few times a day for our entertainment. She never lets us down!!! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Aunt K!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ3bvbUjy-k/TvpHIenUPQI/AAAAAAAAFss/3q7-pizYxVc/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ3bvbUjy-k/TvpHIenUPQI/AAAAAAAAFss/3q7-pizYxVc/s320/008.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The little elves in the laundry room... the tired little elves get moving along on Christmas Eve. Much to be done while little people try to sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2OMRAZ7lms/TvpHM4MRJiI/AAAAAAAAFs0/6uCx9I9rqqc/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2OMRAZ7lms/TvpHM4MRJiI/AAAAAAAAFs0/6uCx9I9rqqc/s320/009.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our Christmas cookies and milk were ready for Santa...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUpDyLh7XMw/TvpHRhLhKhI/AAAAAAAAFs8/uhxI4HHKixQ/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUpDyLh7XMw/TvpHRhLhKhI/AAAAAAAAFs8/uhxI4HHKixQ/s320/012.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tired little elves, but happy to say Santa came! Funny how 4 little presents each (that increased to 6 with one from mom and dad and one from a sister) creates so many gifts...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUc-LVh5cJk/TvpHUnpqanI/AAAAAAAAFtE/Fy_NTbrZXqs/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUc-LVh5cJk/TvpHUnpqanI/AAAAAAAAFtE/Fy_NTbrZXqs/s320/014.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And comes Christmas morning. We make the girls sit at the top of the stairs. Funny, reading facebook, I've seen so many pictures of our friends' families doing the exact same thing. HAHA, I thought it was just our wacko thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pUfTI3AS5M/TvpHVy3u94I/AAAAAAAAFtM/nyVnoPPLMkY/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7pUfTI3AS5M/TvpHVy3u94I/AAAAAAAAFtM/nyVnoPPLMkY/s320/020.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Matthew likes to take pics before the chaos of Christmas. It's all they can do to refrain themselves. I'm surprised they all didn't summersault down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lm8nWiaaT4/TvpHbK_1cpI/AAAAAAAAFtU/NUkpkPFR8oo/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lm8nWiaaT4/TvpHbK_1cpI/AAAAAAAAFtU/NUkpkPFR8oo/s320/026.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rO4ObzgtfnE/TvpHf1-NyWI/AAAAAAAAFtc/GoIQ-wQKtdA/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rO4ObzgtfnE/TvpHf1-NyWI/AAAAAAAAFtc/GoIQ-wQKtdA/s320/030.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And chaos. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But happy chaos.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone yelling, screams with presents, excitement over other people's presents. And what I finally wanted............ <strong>GRATITUDE</strong> for the 1 present that they really wanted. Christmas isn't about the crap... because that becomes my job of decluttering in the Spring and more often than not, all those crappy excess toys get tossed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">*******</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas this year for Matthew and I, brought peace and comfort, in the midst of a tumultuous world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">For the girls, I saw:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gratitude for the specific thing they truly wanted and anticipated for.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoyment out of watching their sister open the gift they bought.</div><div style="text-align: center;">During Cinnamon Roll Christmas breakfast, we asked the older girls a few questions about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. I was pleased with their answers. Commercialism did not win over the Boyd home this year :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-calRqYyTsBI/TvpHlXJsrHI/AAAAAAAAFtk/3bLO4TS5yWo/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-calRqYyTsBI/TvpHlXJsrHI/AAAAAAAAFtk/3bLO4TS5yWo/s320/036.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie wanted a specific microphone, that makes fun sound effects with her voice.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kacey wanted a Justing Bieber doll, he sings "Somebody to Love...." when you push his stomach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IN1n6nSvpWE/TvpHpBW60TI/AAAAAAAAFts/Vx91amZUuQU/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IN1n6nSvpWE/TvpHpBW60TI/AAAAAAAAFts/Vx91amZUuQU/s320/045.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kadyn wanted a mailbox, that Kloey likes alot too. Kloey got a singing, pink soccer ball.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxBULB5APxQ/TvpHr9ZrU2I/AAAAAAAAFt0/VGmtYP3zqVQ/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxBULB5APxQ/TvpHr9ZrU2I/AAAAAAAAFt0/VGmtYP3zqVQ/s320/049.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our trash cans were full to the brim. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGxINc09iNo/TvpHy_1l0wI/AAAAAAAAFt8/I8DC-so_KE0/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGxINc09iNo/TvpHy_1l0wI/AAAAAAAAFt8/I8DC-so_KE0/s320/060.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Appropriately Santa gave "something to wear" items... being Christmas dresses. Kloey's was full of glitter, meanwhile after 1 hour of church........ Matthew's navy suit was full of glitter also. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kLAow0O708/TvpH8nlckYI/AAAAAAAAFuE/eg3RiMwGc_o/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kLAow0O708/TvpH8nlckYI/AAAAAAAAFuE/eg3RiMwGc_o/s320/061.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas!</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJEulEn6c-c/TvpIEseckTI/AAAAAAAAFuM/dygKpgFaX-4/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJEulEn6c-c/TvpIEseckTI/AAAAAAAAFuM/dygKpgFaX-4/s320/071.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Day after Christmas Target shopping, got loads of stuff to decorate outside our house.... half off. We have alot already, but our neighborhood decks it out big time. We had to step up our game, so I bought clearanced stuff for next year. Loads of wrapping paper, bags, brownie mixes, half off red oreos (who cares that they are red!), lots of tape, and this cool new contraption for my wrapping organization....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnxtb8IyQt4/TvpIKnECgHI/AAAAAAAAFuU/bWZwD25v_WM/s1600/image+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnxtb8IyQt4/TvpIKnECgHI/AAAAAAAAFuU/bWZwD25v_WM/s320/image+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div align="center">Awesome.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-38688196596230519212011-12-27T14:27:00.000-08:002011-12-27T14:27:24.670-08:00My favorite Christmas Season of All, PART THREE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we keep on chugging along. Today I got home from my CVSing, and Matthew was making breakfast and I said, "what shall we do today?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With great excitement, he replied..."Let's get Kloey's ears pierced!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that's how it really happened. Honestly. He's been bugging me that we haven't done it yet, the other girls we all did at anywhere from 9 to 11 months. Kloey's nearly 18 months... So guess what we did today!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wFBhiYdVHc/TvpDzv5djZI/AAAAAAAAFrg/CnqyIbPGuSM/s1600/image+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wFBhiYdVHc/TvpDzv5djZI/AAAAAAAAFrg/CnqyIbPGuSM/s320/image+%25288%2529.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Poor unsuspecting little thing. She was so great. Matthew's got his holding job down. Kloey sat eating her lollipop. All was well. She made a little face when the lady wiped her ears with cold alcohol to clean the spot. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Then......................</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QAl5PVi90I/TvpD1secAII/AAAAAAAAFro/cZWCcuQq-qk/s1600/image+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--QAl5PVi90I/TvpD1secAII/AAAAAAAAFro/cZWCcuQq-qk/s320/image+%25283%2529.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> She got pierced!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rkpoQ-nMic/TvpD4l88nCI/AAAAAAAAFrw/iH49Nkmlo6A/s1600/image+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rkpoQ-nMic/TvpD4l88nCI/AAAAAAAAFrw/iH49Nkmlo6A/s320/image+%25284%2529.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And she didn't love it. But better to do it now and get it over with. Poor thing, she kept crying in the car too. She's the same way with her shots, but she was fine after we gave her some french fries... and she hasn't touched them since. Now I get to clean them 3 times a day for 6 weeks... oh well, been there done that, 3 times before. We can for sure handle it again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-NR-1gnVug/TvpD6DkBcLI/AAAAAAAAFr4/lf0xWsWrZrs/s1600/image+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R-NR-1gnVug/TvpD6DkBcLI/AAAAAAAAFr4/lf0xWsWrZrs/s320/image+%25285%2529.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> *******</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is our new afternoon toy! As you can see Matthew's putting it together, not fast enough as you can imagine from a 7, 5, and 3 year old's eyes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WK1pAnQ4SlE/TvpEA1vg8NI/AAAAAAAAFsI/-US-eh_-DsM/s1600/image+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WK1pAnQ4SlE/TvpEA1vg8NI/AAAAAAAAFsI/-US-eh_-DsM/s320/image+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And they get to color the whole thing! They divided up walls, to make it fair. Kylie, she wasn't born yesterday... picked the one with the chimney of course. Should be interesting to see what it looks like in the end!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl-0n6Kkp1k/TvpEFuSDFzI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/lT9-qFI2VKo/s1600/image+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl-0n6Kkp1k/TvpEFuSDFzI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/lT9-qFI2VKo/s320/image+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-81416454440940330102011-12-24T07:11:00.000-08:002011-12-24T07:11:00.643-08:00My favorite Christmas Season of ALL, part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I LOVE Christmas break... we can sleep in and no hurrying people out the door, we can get dressed at 1 pm or just stay in our jammies all day and do whatever... no homework worries (I mean for me too, not having to listen to Kylie complain... haha)... we've been having friends come over to play with us, we've been going over to friends' houses to play.... meeting for group lunches and TAKING OVER places with our 115 out of school wild kiddos.... everyone is just enjoying company and having fun. I love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">********</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie is such a big girl, I look at this picture and I'm like "who is that child?!?!" Oh yeah, she's mine... it boggles my mind that she's grown up enough to go play in the cul-de-sac with the other kids. (Emily, one of our favorite babysitters was there too) Kylie's best buds with Emily's younger sister Isabelle, so they were skating with all the neighborhood kids, Emily took this picture and gave it to me. So Isabelle let Kylie try her rollerblades... guess who wants rollerblades now? Haha, Kacey's is thrilled, because she's going to inherit the rollerskates! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dWK8LPDPMfA/TvKf6FGKceI/AAAAAAAAFqM/VNXNz7JvgjI/s1600/roller+skates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dWK8LPDPMfA/TvKf6FGKceI/AAAAAAAAFqM/VNXNz7JvgjI/s320/roller+skates.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Disney Day Camp</div><div style="text-align: center;">This was really fancy... a girl in our ward, she loves all things Disney. Her and her friends put on a whole show filled with skits and games and activities for the kids who want to come. As you can see, these teenage girls go all out. My girls were so impressed! They really thought they were the real princesses. They had such a blast, and in the car ride home................. silence. They were so tuckered out after the 3 hour festivities; it was great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGGnmPG6gg0/TvKf74ieaeI/AAAAAAAAFqU/j0UKLKrkMdU/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sGGnmPG6gg0/TvKf74ieaeI/AAAAAAAAFqU/j0UKLKrkMdU/s320/IMG.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Drsqp6ek-rQ/TvKgLivvMCI/AAAAAAAAFqc/-dYGF8Xu1sg/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Drsqp6ek-rQ/TvKgLivvMCI/AAAAAAAAFqc/-dYGF8Xu1sg/s320/image.jpg" width="240px" /></a>This next picture was from our Ward Christmas Party. Notice only Kylie and Kacey were in it... by this time Kadyn and Kloey had retired with Matthew to the car. This was the most fabulous ward party I have ever been too. Every minor detail was thought out, I wish I had more pictures. Besides the trains running everywhere, space for kids to color, write Santa letters and play games.... and besides the massive ham dinner with mormon funeral potatoes and costco rolls... the theme was The Polar Express. There was a drawing/painting of the front of the train that must have been 10 feet by 10 feet. Massive. And at the top, there was a smoke machine so it looked like the train was chugging along. There were snowflakes amid thin air... and singing programs and poems... and of course, a conducter of the Polar Express. The YW were dressed special as the hopped around dancing to appropriate tunes, reenacting the hot chocolate scene from the movie and delivering hot chocolate to all the kids. Then of course, Santa came... with nothing but BELLS for all the children. By this time (4 hours later), the younger two were so exhausted from the food and activities. They had to go out to the car with Christmas cupcakes... so we stood in line for Santa. And let me tell you, this Santa knew the girls names.... oh no, he does not know my girls. I know this for a fact... he's a husband to a lady etc etc etc. But anyways, even people that know us forget which one is which, they know they are all K names but it's hard to keep up with it. I inquired... they had him memorize a photo book with all the Primary children's names in it. So he could acknowledge each and every child right as they sat on his lap. You could have pushed me down with a feather when he said "Well hello there Kylie and Kacey." I can't believe someone would go to such great lengths to make a little kid have a good night, we have a lot of kids in our ward! I left with such a positive feeling and I know for the girls it made a long lasting impression. Such an amazing night! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">***********</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">*DRIVE IN*</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We took the girls to the Drive In to see The Chipmunks, Chipwrecked!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Super fun, we got McDonalds beforehand. Kloey ate 5 nuggets, FIVE! We all snuggled in our coats and sweatshirts, with our blankets and our candy and hot chocolate. We played musical chairs the whole time; it was hilarious. It was SO cold outside, but somehow all the hot air in our car kept us toasty. In fact, Matthew opened the car windows a few times! hahaha </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqN_PpngTaE/TvS33OVaenI/AAAAAAAAFqo/0VxJXpkx1cU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqN_PpngTaE/TvS33OVaenI/AAAAAAAAFqo/0VxJXpkx1cU/s320/photo.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Big screen, great view right up front and center.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Disney commericial prior to the movie...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4KZ3VSXtn0/TvS38_AX7SI/AAAAAAAAFqw/Rv3BaypGJfs/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4KZ3VSXtn0/TvS38_AX7SI/AAAAAAAAFqw/Rv3BaypGJfs/s320/photo.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> As you can see, he's the most excited to go see Alvin & the Chipmunks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtOtvs1IwZU/TvS5RhPe_3I/AAAAAAAAFq4/G5BBJ-EQ-CI/s1600/drive+in+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtOtvs1IwZU/TvS5RhPe_3I/AAAAAAAAFq4/G5BBJ-EQ-CI/s320/drive+in+1.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is them prior to our comfy drive in seating arrangements... in fact, this is prior to food also... you can see the lack of excitement on Kacey... envision her saying, "I'm hungry...." She ate through the whole movie, every candy and french fry, every last drip of coca cola... we were just praying she wouldn't say, "I've gotta go potty!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIvL50KRj-w/TvS5TroBmdI/AAAAAAAAFrA/GHrIYksKKxE/s1600/drive+in+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIvL50KRj-w/TvS5TroBmdI/AAAAAAAAFrA/GHrIYksKKxE/s320/drive+in+3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aren't we cute!?!?!? :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qNfVNYAzJEg/TvS5UZWurjI/AAAAAAAAFrI/M_HwfXVj7fk/s1600/drive+in+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qNfVNYAzJEg/TvS5UZWurjI/AAAAAAAAFrI/M_HwfXVj7fk/s320/drive+in+2.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">*** More fun times to come later***</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-31057520415341785692011-12-21T11:33:00.000-08:002011-12-21T21:52:48.802-08:00My favorite Christmas Season of ALL, part 1<div style="text-align: center;">Dare I say that this has been my most favorite Christmas season of all! </div><div style="text-align: center;">This year I think has been the best... I'm not sure if it's because the girls are older so there's alot of fun and anticipation radiating off of them that makes it more exciting for all of us... or maybe if the Christmas Spirit is just stronger in our house more than before because we adjusted ourselves with less focus on gifts this year and more focus on family and doing fun stuff together. But this whole month has been fabulous... and it's not even Christmas yet and we still have more fun stuff in store for this month!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">*************</div><div style="text-align: center;">So here are some random pictures taken in the past few weeks, I'm not sure if they are even in chronological order... but... the girls got to go to the Air Show at Nellis Air Force Base. A friend in on ward is a Colonel, and he was able to take a group with him on for the family/friends showing. The girls had a blast, Matthew took nearly 150 pictures of all the neat planes and their tricks in the sky. As you can tell, it was cold!!!! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1WC3yO4SaI/TvIpXxm3UsI/AAAAAAAAFm4/j6bWpQx-ENs/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1WC3yO4SaI/TvIpXxm3UsI/AAAAAAAAFm4/j6bWpQx-ENs/s320/009.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is a quick one of the extended fam on Thanksgiving! Which was of course followed by us (minus Yaya, Papa, and Kloey) going to see Arthur Christmas, which was SUCH a cute movie. Kadyn's remarks were so funny through that movie, made Matthew and my whole day!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eL8kKPW2lU/TvIphRSUB7I/AAAAAAAAFnA/uNJ35-uz0Bk/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eL8kKPW2lU/TvIphRSUB7I/AAAAAAAAFnA/uNJ35-uz0Bk/s320/163.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Thanksgiving Morning's CVS Couponing Excursion! I got all this at a profit of $95. My receipt was taller than my cashier. It was magnificent!!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ftp363oEfbE/TvIpld7_WJI/AAAAAAAAFnI/lK7maR7C0m8/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ftp363oEfbE/TvIpld7_WJI/AAAAAAAAFnI/lK7maR7C0m8/s320/164.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Getting our Christmas decorations up!!! I'm so bad, I pretended to be busy the whole entire time so I didn't have to do any real work. Haha, Matthew put up 3 trees... Although I did do my full Willow Tree Nativity, mainly because I don't trust anyone else to do it... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inuz47GOuOU/TvIpsSwYLQI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/4BTE-mhVHVU/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inuz47GOuOU/TvIpsSwYLQI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/4BTE-mhVHVU/s320/152.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And we had a wonderful visit from Uncle Aaron and Aunt Valerie. My girls love them so much! Aaron has always been a regular visitor, because when he was in BYU it was easiest for him to just come to us... so the girls are used to seeing him alot. And Val is from Vegas, so we get to see them whenever they come home which is such a treat for us. My girls ADORE Val, she's so good with them and she let's them climb all over her and play with her hair... you'd never know she just met them 2 years ago. It's like she's been with us all along!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJq4ToaoCsI/TvIpxShzWFI/AAAAAAAAFnY/sN0olm1frx4/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJq4ToaoCsI/TvIpxShzWFI/AAAAAAAAFnY/sN0olm1frx4/s320/173.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND THEN WE WENT TO DISNEYLAND! We wanted to do Disney Annual Passes this year, but it just wouldn't work for us. So we anticipate doing them next Fall, but we still had to do our traditional December trip to Disneyland. We love it; it was freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing cold but absolutely incredible! Notice Matthew's goofball CARS hat. He loves it, NO ONE else has it. They don't sell it anymore, we get comments all the time. He's such a big kid at heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHtg0sH5NuA/TvIp3HQnZmI/AAAAAAAAFng/naqV9Un83mQ/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHtg0sH5NuA/TvIp3HQnZmI/AAAAAAAAFng/naqV9Un83mQ/s320/194.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Jake, from the Neverland Pirates... Kadyn was smitten by him. All the girls hugged him, and we moved along. Kadyn wouldn't let go. She just stayed there, and Jake made these hand motions like "Go on, I'll just keep her here." </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpeaBiBYLmA/TvIqC9PlliI/AAAAAAAAFno/r0jxB8IHKGw/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vpeaBiBYLmA/TvIqC9PlliI/AAAAAAAAFno/r0jxB8IHKGw/s320/257.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Family Santa Shot</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Do you see my husband in shorts and a tshirt? I told him no shorts, I wasn't packing shorts... he snuck them in the suitcase! And even though it was 45 degrees, he wore them)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aL0eN4_NcsM/TvIqRvoRf1I/AAAAAAAAFnw/nS-c0CndByg/s1600/305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aL0eN4_NcsM/TvIqRvoRf1I/AAAAAAAAFnw/nS-c0CndByg/s320/305.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kloey Belle! She was such a trooper at Disney. Maybe we've conditioned her to be so... she ate whatever, she slept whenever, she played with whatever. She is my perfect child, such a easy little thing. At night, I'd take Kadyn and Kloey back for baths... They'd lay on Papa and fall asleep in the hotel... Daddy, Kylie, and Kacey partied it up in the park still. Yaya and I would eat all the yummy munchies we bought that day... it was great fun! **this was Kylie's sweatshirt from '06!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiDvXveT5O0/TvIqUjwEYiI/AAAAAAAAFn4/wQ1lXIhzIEo/s1600/302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiDvXveT5O0/TvIqUjwEYiI/AAAAAAAAFn4/wQ1lXIhzIEo/s320/302.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now, we go to Kadyn's Preschool Christmas Program. This is my 5th Preschool Program, and it was probably my favorite. Kadyn was quite the little diligent performer. She knew the words and the hand motions in her songs, and she had a speaking part and totally knew it--- better than her sisters at that age.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnsWsiIq9V8/TvIqaQtjqxI/AAAAAAAAFoA/rUBdWe9bj30/s1600/310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnsWsiIq9V8/TvIqaQtjqxI/AAAAAAAAFoA/rUBdWe9bj30/s320/310.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kadyn putting her "S" on the tree: "S is for the star, that shined so bright above." ... which was her part. And of course, this is my best friend Tate! She does such a good job with her preschool kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQSeIOmNCXY/TvIqdtw5bQI/AAAAAAAAFoI/JCxcbTkqTYg/s1600/312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQSeIOmNCXY/TvIqdtw5bQI/AAAAAAAAFoI/JCxcbTkqTYg/s320/312.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sweet Girl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q99dFWGRZls/TvIqhFCKaFI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/c2xeiP8gA6g/s1600/317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q99dFWGRZls/TvIqhFCKaFI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/c2xeiP8gA6g/s320/317.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> AND we start the Gingerbread house making! This is me, busting out my glue gun for GUARANTEED Gingerbread house stability and success.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-PAlKknjmQ/TvIqo02XgwI/AAAAAAAAFoY/coS3AbDu5Js/s1600/318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-PAlKknjmQ/TvIqo02XgwI/AAAAAAAAFoY/coS3AbDu5Js/s320/318.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Matthew got a little possessive over Kadyn and Kacey's Gingerbread house. HAHA! But they just wanted to decorate it with the candy anyways.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QMVD_UyYRqs/TvIqq0Xw3iI/AAAAAAAAFog/oQ6kd7IeUuI/s1600/322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QMVD_UyYRqs/TvIqq0Xw3iI/AAAAAAAAFog/oQ6kd7IeUuI/s320/322.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjHah_ba54s/TvIqs-9lGmI/AAAAAAAAFoo/iE4dJ3bozGg/s1600/323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjHah_ba54s/TvIqs-9lGmI/AAAAAAAAFoo/iE4dJ3bozGg/s320/323.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie's Gingerbread House, she's such a diva.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AolLQ2pNHYg/TvIqvOAHRAI/AAAAAAAAFow/qX-VH3XP7wM/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AolLQ2pNHYg/TvIqvOAHRAI/AAAAAAAAFow/qX-VH3XP7wM/s320/324.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kacey and Kadyn's house... what is Kacey doing? As you can see, Mattthew is still very focused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5t2rzt6OzLg/TvIqwxgPO3I/AAAAAAAAFo4/99qkdC7hqHg/s1600/325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5t2rzt6OzLg/TvIqwxgPO3I/AAAAAAAAFo4/99qkdC7hqHg/s320/325.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SUCCESS! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onz_VfmsYlM/TvIqyMezmWI/AAAAAAAAFpA/LXkJbXM2AEY/s1600/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onz_VfmsYlM/TvIqyMezmWI/AAAAAAAAFpA/LXkJbXM2AEY/s320/326.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We have to do some "winterizing" of pipes and stuff outside. When I saw him, I had to stop him and grab a picture... it is so cold here!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7PfRh10tY/TvIq_a6et3I/AAAAAAAAFpI/Z671khv3V8Y/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7PfRh10tY/TvIq_a6et3I/AAAAAAAAFpI/Z671khv3V8Y/s320/178.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A real special treat .... my 90 year old grandmother, Oma, she makes these special German cookies. I remember them from Christmastime when I was little. She'd spend days making them, and she'd pack them up in tupperware in her suitcases when she'd take the train to come up and visit us. It was always special when she'd open her suitcase and take out all the boxes of goodies. So, my 90 year old Oma, spent days making her cookies... and specially wrapped them and spent $40 shipping them to us. THE GIRLS WERE IN HEAVEN! They got home from school and knew exactly what it was and they dug right into the yumminess!<br />
*Kylie does not wear glasses, the glass is poked out... she has 2 pairs that she wears as "accessories" to certain outfits... don't ask! all in the name of fashion... but her teacher is cool with it, so whatever.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btIvguVOuU0/TvIrDsBSJNI/AAAAAAAAFpQ/QItK_J_kxH8/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btIvguVOuU0/TvIrDsBSJNI/AAAAAAAAFpQ/QItK_J_kxH8/s320/175.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> St. Nicholas Day... we put our shoes out one night, and we got a special treat the next morning!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Jg0jWZMiY/TvIrHY8KTTI/AAAAAAAAFpY/8xhvqwqQ9lc/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Jg0jWZMiY/TvIrHY8KTTI/AAAAAAAAFpY/8xhvqwqQ9lc/s320/179.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And here's some more disneyland....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiv-W9RIEXM/TvIrIj2ls2I/AAAAAAAAFpg/XbnnSdS8lyY/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xiv-W9RIEXM/TvIrIj2ls2I/AAAAAAAAFpg/XbnnSdS8lyY/s320/218.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xrlX6Y497w/TvIrNhaU9ZI/AAAAAAAAFpo/-ujsW8CyRmU/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xrlX6Y497w/TvIrNhaU9ZI/AAAAAAAAFpo/-ujsW8CyRmU/s320/221.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daddy with Kacey, Papa with Kadyn, and Kylie was FREE all by herself. That was a first for her I think, and she thought she was all that!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDEIu9YHOaI/TvIrSKo-9mI/AAAAAAAAFpw/7JG3RkFcRkw/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDEIu9YHOaI/TvIrSKo-9mI/AAAAAAAAFpw/7JG3RkFcRkw/s320/232.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd9OlzpxRww/TvIradkzx8I/AAAAAAAAFp4/RhijH1Lg7_Y/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd9OlzpxRww/TvIradkzx8I/AAAAAAAAFp4/RhijH1Lg7_Y/s320/230.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> OH, and I forgot... Matthew, uhhhhh, I mean Kacey and Kadyn's Gingerbread house!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6B8_eGKVNw/TvIrd3-UH_I/AAAAAAAAFqA/Nosft49Wv4U/s1600/327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6B8_eGKVNw/TvIrd3-UH_I/AAAAAAAAFqA/Nosft49Wv4U/s320/327.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*********</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A part 2, to follow shortly... still more December happenings to account! Including (so I don't forget...) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- The ward Christmas Party, the best, most elaborate Christmas party I've ever been too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- My birthday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Skating</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Disney Day Camp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- The Drive In Movies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Christmas Eve</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Christmas Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.... etc etc....</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-61108656903574424692011-11-21T16:44:00.000-08:002011-11-22T07:47:13.931-08:00Gratefulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since I know it will take me a while to get all the Thanksgiving photos on the computer, I figured I'd anticpate with a post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel like a lot of things have changed this year, and we hadn't expected it all to change... We didn't expect anything to change. But it all did! And it has for the better. For that I'm so grateful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel like this year we just started to get things right. Maybe it all started with the move to our new house.... I don't know what initiated it, but somehow it happened and it's been great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aHWcH9Nnyhc/TsriN75MuBI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/l7wL4smlhkE/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aHWcH9Nnyhc/TsriN75MuBI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/l7wL4smlhkE/s320/122.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel like this year a lot of things clicked for us, and while there was so much change... the change has helped us grow for the better. We are getting back to the simpliness that life has to offer: focusing on our family. I have dropped the things that I felt like I was doing for my girls, but really were monopolizing my time and energy (PTA, Girl Scouts, etc). Getting back to old fashioned family playtime at the park, family home evening EVERY single Monday without fail, eating 2 meals with everyone in the family present every single day, setting prayer and chore charts, baking with my girls... such SIMPLE things have had such strong impacts for our family. I am so grateful for little bursts of strength to keep our family love growing strong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Change leads to growth: Matthew had so much stress and tension for years with his work. He dealt with what I believe to be abuse, but he just took it and held his head high. And he endured. And endured. And endured. He kept taking the hits and standing back up. No one knew. He didn't whine or complain to the world. He told me when it would happen, he held his head up and kept going... he did his job to pay the bills so I never had to work. So that my kids could be raised by their mother and their mother ONLY. He did what he had to do, sacrificed and it really just shows what a strong man he is. And then with some miracle, he was offered sweet relief. A wonderful opportunity at his same company came knocking, and it could not have come at a better time. We have been blessed beyond description with his new position. He gets to do something he likes, with a boss that he really, really likes. And he travels, but it's not unbearable... and he is HOME more with us than with his previous position. He is free from his phone at night and weekends. He was on call more than a DR with the other job. We have more of him, and he's not stressed out at all. This change has been so good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWF-MK707xA/TsriU4Da_wI/AAAAAAAAFmY/6fe5LNwVuK4/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWF-MK707xA/TsriU4Da_wI/AAAAAAAAFmY/6fe5LNwVuK4/s320/066.JPG" width="212px" /></a>Kylie: she had an adjustment this year. She lost a lot of friends from her old school and old ward. She left from being one of so many LDS kids, to only having 1 other LDS girl in her whole grade:( and try as we might, we couldn't even get them in the same class. Day after day she would come home from school and tell me sad little stories, it would break my heart. In fact, in a desparate attempt to fix her situation ... Yaya and I spent a ridiculous amount of money at Fresh N Easy (grocery store) to ensure HER the win for her class to be awarded a special party. Would you believe, by the time she opened herself up, made a bunch of friends, and really started getting the hang of the new school and everything was perfect... then she wins the big class party! Oh well! I'm grateful for the sweet, little girl she is growing up to be. Such a compassionate and GOOD girl. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceDZ9Oi2iBM/TsriWoMxVfI/AAAAAAAAFmg/ovFG9w-MvTU/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ceDZ9Oi2iBM/TsriWoMxVfI/AAAAAAAAFmg/ovFG9w-MvTU/s320/086.JPG" width="250px" /></a>And pics of the rest of the group... growing up so quickly! Kacey has changed so much. She used to be my shy, introverted one. Well, she's began kindergarten and she's blossomed into this whole new person. She is the life of the party; the center of attention. She is so outgoing and has so many friends... you can't walk with her anywhere without her saying hi to a handful of people. Don't even ask me about the boy flocking around her, following her like a loyal little puppy dog. I don't even want to talk about it!!! (She is going to be my troublemaker!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB-09gfgh8M/TsriZUJZ2ZI/AAAAAAAAFmo/CMFyK6Iy0-Q/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB-09gfgh8M/TsriZUJZ2ZI/AAAAAAAAFmo/CMFyK6Iy0-Q/s320/116.JPG" width="213px" /></a>Kadyn has gone from a toddler to a little girl. Something happens after the potty-training, I'm not sure what it is... but she's her own little person. She may be the 3rd in line, but she's going to be the first one setting you straight! I am not kidding. She is all about fairness and getting what she wants (maybe that's the 3 year old in her). If she wants it, she's bound and determined to figure out a way to get it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsZk_9WYfug/TsriZxcPi7I/AAAAAAAAFmw/sPVp1CdmmJk/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsZk_9WYfug/TsriZxcPi7I/AAAAAAAAFmw/sPVp1CdmmJk/s320/068.JPG" width="212px" /></a></div><div align="center">Sweet little Kloey, so thankful for her. She is soooo different from the other girls. I feel like we bask in her stages more, maybe it's because she's the baby. But we marvel at the new things she learns everyday. With a good bill of health, and my solid feeling of "I'm sick of the dr's who just want my money when nothing's wrong"... we can say from her last ultrasound that her kidneys are good. Had to spend $1200 for that 4 minute ultrasound (after insurance paid their part)... but we are grateful that all is well.</div><div align="center">******</div><div align="center">This year Christmas is being run differently, which I'm so excited about. And I really think we'll notice a difference from last Christmas on Christmas morning. I have noticed a joy in our house from the simplier things: Christmas music and favorite cookies. So much less conversations on what they want... Christmas is not about toys, and I'm so glad to be fixing this now than later. More on that probably on Christmas!!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">But I'm so grateful for my family of 6. We have our traditions, we have our little ways of things that we do... and when the holidays come around, it's just plain FUN! I LOVE IT! We may be crazy but we put our tree up early. We watch a Christmas movie every Sunday night in Nov and Dec. We have certain foods we eat on Eves of things... We go to the movies on Thanksgiving... so many things that make us 6 Boyds, US. We love it, the girls love it and you can see the joy in their eyes that has to do with the Spirit of Christmas and not so much the gifts Christmas morning.... it just proves that family is all the fun you need.</div><div align="center">******</div><div align="center">With that also said and this ending, I have to say this. There are times when it seems like someone has picked up your life, shaken it like one of the holiday snow globes, and set it back down. And you are spinning at an endless rate. It's times like those that you see who is there for you. That happened to us. Stress beyond measure.... and I'm grateful for the ones who came through. Who stood up and said, I am here. They were there in the tough time and came through for us. We were not alone, and we will never forget that. I'm reminded daily. It undoubtedly changed the course of the rest of our life. A thank you just isn't enough, but for now it simply will have to do.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-14019890803095214262011-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:002011-11-12T09:39:10.425-08:00All in Fall...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A bunch of leftovers from the camera!</div><div style="text-align: center;">***********</div><div style="text-align: center;">Family Home Evening in our house, never a dull moment... from our dance parties and crazy running games, to our musical chairs extravaganzas! Always good times... in case you are wondering, Kylie won. She's a ruthless little competitor. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeikN10YhRc/Tr6kP1vXGxI/AAAAAAAAFlA/WNUy_j7iYYE/s1600/family+home+evening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aeikN10YhRc/Tr6kP1vXGxI/AAAAAAAAFlA/WNUy_j7iYYE/s1600/family+home+evening.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">********</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Halloween!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie was Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Kacey was Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Kadyn in Snow White... and Kloey is a pumpkin... which was a dog costume... and it was hilarious! Bless her sweet little heart, she kept that pumpkin hat on the whole time trick-or-treating.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlTi7Brh3BM/Tr6gmnl_p6I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/qEpkUWgeJqU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlTi7Brh3BM/Tr6gmnl_p6I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/qEpkUWgeJqU/s320/photo.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Since we've moved, I've been kinda anxious about the trick-or-treating-- to see how good the neighborhood is. It was amazing, Matthew took the girls out and they were gone for an hour and half. The came home so tired with TONS of candy. I stayed back to give out candy, and we got so many cute trick-or-treaters... I must have gone through 7 bags of candy... I was really pleased!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAWX1P-LlHg/Tr6kRYWv3WI/AAAAAAAAFlI/rvsl5nGuf3o/s1600/girls+halloween+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAWX1P-LlHg/Tr6kRYWv3WI/AAAAAAAAFlI/rvsl5nGuf3o/s1600/girls+halloween+party.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">************</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So when we got home from Cabo, our special present for the girls was a pinata. I have a feeling this is going to be the first of many pinatas; they are so much fun!!! And Matthew configured a nice little mechanism to make it work out back.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD9gJPyx2p8/Tr6g7v8Q2OI/AAAAAAAAFjY/PEwnWZKcais/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD9gJPyx2p8/Tr6g7v8Q2OI/AAAAAAAAFjY/PEwnWZKcais/s320/155.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kadyn got to go first, 3 hits. She did good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOly0tRYy7c/Tr6hDkU49qI/AAAAAAAAFjg/GLl3TuLx3iM/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOly0tRYy7c/Tr6hDkU49qI/AAAAAAAAFjg/GLl3TuLx3iM/s320/160.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kacey next...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR8Z_Gxmql8/Tr6hHKDQOuI/AAAAAAAAFjo/aIAcYc3_KHc/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR8Z_Gxmql8/Tr6hHKDQOuI/AAAAAAAAFjo/aIAcYc3_KHc/s320/162.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It didn't stand a chance with Kylie. We don't even have any other pictures after this point, she whacked it good once... and it exploded and they SCREAMED with excitement!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSs-Brw3ymU/Tr6hJ5gIA3I/AAAAAAAAFjw/pYEecjaSiCs/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wSs-Brw3ymU/Tr6hJ5gIA3I/AAAAAAAAFjw/pYEecjaSiCs/s320/163.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">PINATA GOODIES</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5XqachRm68/Tr6hV10p9nI/AAAAAAAAFj4/Bx4g1vUgmBY/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m5XqachRm68/Tr6hV10p9nI/AAAAAAAAFj4/Bx4g1vUgmBY/s320/169.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">*********</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I've been getting my craft on of late... the reason the laundry room is so big is that it's really supposed to be a hobby room, with the huge island and all the cabinetry. Been having a fun time inviting friends over for the night and just doing fun projects. Although most of the time, we are helping eachother battle our sewing machines. LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pr0UpSRHoDE/Tr6haurXm3I/AAAAAAAAFkA/4JP2ZgMclag/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pr0UpSRHoDE/Tr6haurXm3I/AAAAAAAAFkA/4JP2ZgMclag/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLfpcK_UzDc/Tr6hcwbyWuI/AAAAAAAAFkI/LRm3eD6unS4/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLfpcK_UzDc/Tr6hcwbyWuI/AAAAAAAAFkI/LRm3eD6unS4/s320/002.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These were the cute little goody boxes I made for the girls' school teachers. They are drink cartons from Sonic, I painted them and sewed on fabric... and we put orange colored goodies inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgzhCOzKirw/Tr6hitNkiFI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/pD8N7dAu7Uc/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SgzhCOzKirw/Tr6hitNkiFI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/pD8N7dAu7Uc/s320/174.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">***********</div><div style="text-align: center;">Recent Winter Purchase!</div><div style="text-align: center;">A fireplace from Lowes. For some reason that I do not understand, it is sooooo cold here! I love this fireplace, and so do the girls. It's on every minute of every day. Really pretty too at night.... and goes nicely with my Christmas music that I have playing daily :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AvtOMkypRQ/Tr6hmIDQd7I/AAAAAAAAFkY/h_HIlRgUhpc/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AvtOMkypRQ/Tr6hmIDQd7I/AAAAAAAAFkY/h_HIlRgUhpc/s320/177.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">********</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last but not least... the Preschool Field Trip to Gilcrease Orchard. Yes, we have orchards (that grow everything from apples to pumpkins, and make special cidar) and even dairies to go and visit in Vegas.... wouldn't have gone to any of them had it not been for Tate dragging me along on the field trips over the past 5 years. HAHAHA.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually let Kylie miss the morning of school for this one, she loves these things so much. I felt badly going without her, so she missed a few hours in the morning to go with... and she had a blast! We packed lunches to scarf down in the car ride back to school, she got into her classroom and sat down... and the little boy next to her goes, "you smell like outside." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iG4ui_lJ1BA/Tr6hoQ6HNHI/AAAAAAAAFkg/Z6mMYLK9pN4/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iG4ui_lJ1BA/Tr6hoQ6HNHI/AAAAAAAAFkg/Z6mMYLK9pN4/s320/003.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kylie and Kadyn, they picked a pumpkin to take home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iK1S8tfxgy0/Tr6hx4JpiUI/AAAAAAAAFko/PXyWySFXotc/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iK1S8tfxgy0/Tr6hx4JpiUI/AAAAAAAAFko/PXyWySFXotc/s320/020.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kloey in her Tater Tot Preschool shirt. I've a lifetime supply of those, in all different colors. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWQ2KyJBPfI/Tr6hzvxGTqI/AAAAAAAAFkw/o_g7NsgzGUg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWQ2KyJBPfI/Tr6hzvxGTqI/AAAAAAAAFkw/o_g7NsgzGUg/s320/006.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kadyn's Preschool Class</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxrLkLreSIM/Tr6h1cx1iRI/AAAAAAAAFk4/myefSifi9iI/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxrLkLreSIM/Tr6h1cx1iRI/AAAAAAAAFk4/myefSifi9iI/s320/022.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">********</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now we are updated until Thanksgiving... which Thanksgiving morning, I will be getting my coupon fill at 7 am at CVS. I'm sure I'll post pictures of my goodness!!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-41417052191138211562011-10-30T18:38:00.000-07:002011-10-30T18:50:10.298-07:00Some from Cabo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we just got back from our trip to Cabo... boy was it an experience?!? Many things happened that we did not expect. I may do a few posts, these are just from the camera phones. I still have the big camera and the underwater camera to pull from...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*********</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is 5 am in the Las Vegas airport, eating Cinnabon! How tired do I look?!? haha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAA-MbAsKo4/Tq340IV1XNI/AAAAAAAAFio/xq0o_U44I-w/s1600/cabo+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TAA-MbAsKo4/Tq340IV1XNI/AAAAAAAAFio/xq0o_U44I-w/s320/cabo+airport.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our feet in Cabo, clever picture idea from Matthew. We had amazing views, the pool was a never-ending pool that extended to the view of the ocean. Really neat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INy-lr13B1Q/Tq344JIbOuI/AAAAAAAAFiw/X85IYcc4Hp0/s1600/cabo+feet+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INy-lr13B1Q/Tq344JIbOuI/AAAAAAAAFiw/X85IYcc4Hp0/s320/cabo+feet+water.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My crazy good picture taking abilities for this picture. The waves in Mexico were incredibly powerful. Matthew would play in the water for 15 minutes and be absolutely exhausted! Huge waves!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_HgxBKjF_Y/Tq346voTl_I/AAAAAAAAFi4/BzVNDmAlp8o/s1600/cabo+matthew+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239px" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_HgxBKjF_Y/Tq346voTl_I/AAAAAAAAFi4/BzVNDmAlp8o/s320/cabo+matthew+water.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from our hotel room! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AiytE0oiLW4/Tq348x8nfbI/AAAAAAAAFjA/FUhJXV7HG8I/s1600/cabo+view+from+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AiytE0oiLW4/Tq348x8nfbI/AAAAAAAAFjA/FUhJXV7HG8I/s320/cabo+view+from+room.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is us the last night we were there at Matthew's Formal Awards Banquet. I cleaned up pretty nicely, can you tell I spent the night before puking?!? Yeah, that's a story... and not a pleasant one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUBHxEtA60o/Tq349dgnncI/AAAAAAAAFjI/3--auRgIJho/s1600/cabo+formal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUBHxEtA60o/Tq349dgnncI/AAAAAAAAFjI/3--auRgIJho/s320/cabo+formal.jpg" width="239px" /></a></div><div align="center">More to come on details... the trip was amazing, fabulous views of scenary that we've only seen in pictures. Truly spectacular. Cheap trip too, everything including my meals, pina coladas by the pool, and expenses were all covered by his company. They spent 1.2 million dollars on this event. Honestly, my filet mignon was still moo-ing... but I didn't eat it anyways because of MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE. We were given a Snorkel Cruise, but we didn't get to go because there was no way in this world I was going to be able to go on a rocky boat with my tummy.... but the day prior, Matthew did get some major golfing in (all of course, free of charge including unlimited bar (gatorade for him of course), lunch, and club rentals). He took pictures, he couldn't believe the views. No wonder the round of golf was $350 a person.<br />
<br />
My favorite part was the haggling. I thoroughly enjoyed finding little gifts for the girls and bartering my way to a good deal. I worked it down from $45 to $10, one lady got really annoyed at me when she saw I had a $20 (after I haggled 3 bracelets down to $11, and I wanted change from her). It was super fun. At one time on the beach, I had 4 Mexicans all around me trying to get me to buy their specific goods. Matthew could barely make room to get in around me, it was super fun :) Bartering is definitely something I was made for! And I got my peso to dollar ratio DOWN! lol</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It was a fabulous adventure for us, however I realized about 30 minutes after unpacking in the hotel that I made a huge mistake. Leaving my girls was complete torture, and I did not like being away. Regardless of how incredible Los Cabos was, leaving them is just not something I can do... or ever will do again, anytime soon. I cried alot the first 2 days. In fact, as he came in the door from golfing all morning, he said he was actually worried that I might have found a flight and gone home. If I was talented enough, I may have been able to do it. But Mexico and the telephone is not an easy combination, I couldn't even figure out how to work my calling cards. And the last 2 days, I was vomitting, on the toliet, nauseated or asleep... I was a great "PLUS 1" for Matthew. HAHA! At least I made it through his formal dinner :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">AND on top of all that, Yaya was dealing with both Kylie and Kacey throwing up while we were away... sickness not related to mine, I don't think. The entire time in Los Cabos, I never sweated..??? Everyone was dripping with sweat from the heat and humidity. I did not, at all. Matthew suggested, and I think he was right, that I got sick from dehydration.... but I'm still blaming the Caesar dressing and all that it brought up with it...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">SO GLAD TO BE HOME!<br />
-more to come later, Matthew got a lot of underwater pictures! Did I mention that we had US National Security there because of "activity" around, of course the night before we were supposed to leave... yeah, so glad to be on American soil. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-78451424434443363722011-10-01T14:48:00.000-07:002011-10-01T14:56:59.527-07:00Little Longhorn Cheer Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Legacy High School Cheerleaders put on a cheer camp for girls aged 3-12. I heard about it last year, but I was a little concerned my girls were too young... and/or didn't know anyone. Well, this time around a couple of the cheerleaders are my YW from church. So I knew my girls were well taken care of :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Asia, Kenzee, Haylee, Tasia, with Kylie, Sydney, and Kacey)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KaQrQKyzlaM/ToeFzV8d5WI/AAAAAAAAFgg/8a32wUAI1rk/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KaQrQKyzlaM/ToeFzV8d5WI/AAAAAAAAFgg/8a32wUAI1rk/s320/056.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie did a really good job. She's so cute. How do you get to be in the front of all 3 rows of girls... yeah, I know people ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDuCr49u0yA/ToeF-qmS5kI/AAAAAAAAFgk/bARfUbDZ3Tc/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RDuCr49u0yA/ToeF-qmS5kI/AAAAAAAAFgk/bARfUbDZ3Tc/s320/018.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie with Kenzee, her cheer buddy for the day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Da1OOMXzGmU/ToeGEyl_lmI/AAAAAAAAFgo/DM2uEww7ex0/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Da1OOMXzGmU/ToeGEyl_lmI/AAAAAAAAFgo/DM2uEww7ex0/s320/011.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyV2oSdtElg/ToeGNiRf03I/AAAAAAAAFgs/vebwj-sORpI/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TyV2oSdtElg/ToeGNiRf03I/AAAAAAAAFgs/vebwj-sORpI/s320/019.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kacey struting her stuff...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQt8O8hbSzg/ToeGRS-OqZI/AAAAAAAAFgw/gH7QV2CVn3w/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQt8O8hbSzg/ToeGRS-OqZI/AAAAAAAAFgw/gH7QV2CVn3w/s320/030.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz3Wr_v3Mjk/ToeGa8xCdYI/AAAAAAAAFg0/4A9fju94aco/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bz3Wr_v3Mjk/ToeGa8xCdYI/AAAAAAAAFg0/4A9fju94aco/s320/031.JPG" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was a little bummed, they didn't let the young girls do jumps. Kacey has an amazing toe-touch, all of a sudden one day she just started doing them. At first, she'd always land on her bumm. But now, she can land on her feet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6IkpxLWf-M/ToeGdN7HH3I/AAAAAAAAFg4/fbJj8C-vI2c/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6IkpxLWf-M/ToeGdN7HH3I/AAAAAAAAFg4/fbJj8C-vI2c/s320/035.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> All the girls!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwMaQ1UUyoA/ToeGhBVeWKI/AAAAAAAAFg8/dyC2Xovczfc/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwMaQ1UUyoA/ToeGhBVeWKI/AAAAAAAAFg8/dyC2Xovczfc/s320/027.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kadyn with Haylee, I didn't think Kadyn would stay there and do it. I thought she'd be too young.... now I know just to leave her with Haylee and she'll be fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdSbIBG0dN8/ToeGjx863mI/AAAAAAAAFhA/QMMoIoEr6_A/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hdSbIBG0dN8/ToeGjx863mI/AAAAAAAAFhA/QMMoIoEr6_A/s320/012.JPG" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGQTqszuDzM/ToeGsdj6pRI/AAAAAAAAFhE/ncG0jpIF5Ks/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sGQTqszuDzM/ToeGsdj6pRI/AAAAAAAAFhE/ncG0jpIF5Ks/s320/013.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rolling up the mat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHx_7ITWg18/ToeGyR1L_aI/AAAAAAAAFhI/uYvXF4cXEeI/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" kca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHx_7ITWg18/ToeGyR1L_aI/AAAAAAAAFhI/uYvXF4cXEeI/s320/015.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A little girl from Kylie's class was actually there too, Makayla!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIBA5xiHVts/ToeG1Bs9FII/AAAAAAAAFhM/KltjkbL9msE/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIBA5xiHVts/ToeG1Bs9FII/AAAAAAAAFhM/KltjkbL9msE/s320/014.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is what Daddy and Kloey did.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't stay at home while cheer camp was going on. I had to go and be a part of it and take pictures. So while Haylee had Kadyn, Daddy walked with Kloey all around the cafeteria. I loved that he didn't just want to stay home, no he wanted to be there (even if it meant walking around with Kloey) so he could watch Kylie and Kacey cheer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uoAWsESrl-4/ToeG10lUEdI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/QYdWMCnsVeA/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uoAWsESrl-4/ToeG10lUEdI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/QYdWMCnsVeA/s320/016.JPG" width="213px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHPYsE5TIxM/ToeG38VT6BI/AAAAAAAAFhU/9PolzsU5Y88/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WHPYsE5TIxM/ToeG38VT6BI/AAAAAAAAFhU/9PolzsU5Y88/s320/021.JPG" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At the end, they did a little performance for the parents. And the girls are invited to cheer at next week's football game. FUN FUN!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Matthew was getting the camera ready for the girls' performances, and the adults next to us were SO loud. HAHA, Matthew was so irritated. He's telling me, "I'm gonna tell them to shut up!! Go talk elsewhere." HAHAHA, now he understands.... And he'll be the Dad in the stands there not to watch the game, but watch his daughter cheer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5b8jvSUMRbg/ToeG7pkJBQI/AAAAAAAAFhY/YpWK1sTisDY/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5b8jvSUMRbg/ToeG7pkJBQI/AAAAAAAAFhY/YpWK1sTisDY/s320/051.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I gotta say, I'm impressed with Kylie's form. This is the 7-10 yr old group. Kylie's 7, and she held her own. She did GREAT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5C6zY-2WXg/ToeHBLwDQbI/AAAAAAAAFhc/KTMsvXYkWPc/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5C6zY-2WXg/ToeHBLwDQbI/AAAAAAAAFhc/KTMsvXYkWPc/s320/025.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsTREp5SAMQ/ToeHFDZKaKI/AAAAAAAAFhg/q6-Vr7a2ym0/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsTREp5SAMQ/ToeHFDZKaKI/AAAAAAAAFhg/q6-Vr7a2ym0/s320/026.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center">We've kinda labelled Kylie as the athletic one and Kacey as the dancey coordinated one. And I take all that back. Even though Kylie's young, she may be my cheerleader.... and I would love that!!!!!!! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-36318794504243977822011-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:002011-09-24T18:54:37.954-07:00Kadyn turns 3!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On September 14th, Kadyn turned 3!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a little bit of an off day. This is Matthew's busy time for traveling. Plus side, we are racking up the hotel rewards. But he's in and out of state alot. He actually had to miss Kadyn's birthday. Let's be honest, is she going to remember? Nope. Are we grateful he has a job, that he loves nonetheless, in this type of economy? Yes. As you can see, she had a nice birthday. (love Kloey's face in the background)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And you can see the difference in pictures when Matthew takes them (kacey's birthday) and when I take them (kadyn's birthday). He's much more camera crazy than I am. So here are 2 pictures! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKuNvuHQe-w/Tn5_6IIwNHI/AAAAAAAAFgI/daMvajQYdyk/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uKuNvuHQe-w/Tn5_6IIwNHI/AAAAAAAAFgI/daMvajQYdyk/s320/072.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnG4fX50pOo/Tn5__kYqXQI/AAAAAAAAFgM/EYy0fXHl9_E/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnG4fX50pOo/Tn5__kYqXQI/AAAAAAAAFgM/EYy0fXHl9_E/s320/078.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> As the day continued, Kadyn went downhill. She started the 2 week fiasco of sickness... which coincided in the 2 week fiasco of Matthew's traveling from NC to FL to NV (basically for me to do laundry) and to end with 6 days in CA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FICZbQyw0Io/Tn6AC0ASyjI/AAAAAAAAFgQ/CSwRRl7cL4M/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FICZbQyw0Io/Tn6AC0ASyjI/AAAAAAAAFgQ/CSwRRl7cL4M/s320/080.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The day before her birthday started with an unexplainable fever. The evening of her birthday began the cough. The night of her birthday began the barking. I was in the shower at about 9 pm, and I hear what I thought was Maggie. And I was thinking, "why on earth is Maggie barking?" Then I realized that it wasn't Maggie. It was Kadyn. So we started our naps in the shower. Every hour, she woke up crying and coughing. And off we went to lay on the floor in the shower. Needless to say, I knew I wasn't getting Croup from all my moist air breathing. Then the next day, Kylie had a temperature and got sick. Then the next day was my scheduled "well-child" checkups, go figure. He gave me a bunch of meds for the girls, in case... Kylie got better. Kadyn was still fighting it off days later. She slept with me, I did round the clock meds and cool compresses. Meanwhile, exhausted didn't even explain how I felt. Remember, Matthew's out of town. Then I got sick, my throat was on fire. My tongue was weird, I'll leave it at that. I couldn't eat or drink soda. And I get cranky when I don't get my cherry coke zero. Matthew actually came home for a bit, and we went to Chili's to celebrate Kadyn's birthday. She fell asleep in the fetal position next to me, on the bench, before our appetizer even came out. That's how misable she was. :(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSEcJVh3K5Y/Tn6AEHsX5jI/AAAAAAAAFgU/93hJHB9zt-k/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSEcJVh3K5Y/Tn6AEHsX5jI/AAAAAAAAFgU/93hJHB9zt-k/s320/082.JPG" width="212px" /></a></div><div align="center">Now Kloey has it. However, I think she's teething... no cough. Just cries when her hands are in her mouth. She's not too hungry, and she has a low grade temp. Oh the rollercoasters of Mommyhood.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Cabo is 1 month away... ready for a countdown? YES!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-28636388036785362252011-09-24T18:11:00.000-07:002011-09-24T18:11:26.972-07:00Kadyn's first day at Preschool!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our 5th year at Tater Tot's Preschool, now here we go with child #3. For those of you who don't know, Tate is my bestest friend and I'd do anything for her. Love her so much, and I'm so grateful for all she does with my girls... she does a wonderful job teaching preschool. My girls go into Kindergarten leaps and bounds ahead of the other kids. (there was thought that Kacey should go into 1st grade this year... but age wise, maturity wise, she's just too young... even if she is super smart! lol) But Tate becomes such a special person to each of the girls, because she truly loves them and teaches them so much, in such a fun way for those 3 hours she has them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEpJ3vTH8_M/Tn5-KbzZvhI/AAAAAAAAFf8/nwjjwe-JOzU/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OEpJ3vTH8_M/Tn5-KbzZvhI/AAAAAAAAFf8/nwjjwe-JOzU/s320/067.JPG" width="188px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-is2T5tVF-3Y/Tn5-MSZh1yI/AAAAAAAAFgA/CVCYj2m_G8M/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-is2T5tVF-3Y/Tn5-MSZh1yI/AAAAAAAAFgA/CVCYj2m_G8M/s320/068.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kadyn was sooooooooooooo excited to finally be the one to get out of the car at Mrs. Tate's house. She was so happy to have a bookbag and get homework like her big sisters. And Mommy's so happy because it tuckers little Kadyn Maiden out so she's started taking naps while Kacey is in Kindergarten... which is when Kloey naps... which means Mommy has 2 hours, TWO HOURS, of a silent house. Wow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aNsoaJXEml0/Tn5-N7DtcmI/AAAAAAAAFgE/0iryxi8DDls/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aNsoaJXEml0/Tn5-N7DtcmI/AAAAAAAAFgE/0iryxi8DDls/s320/071.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-39876704283486386712011-09-24T18:03:00.000-07:002011-09-24T18:03:50.790-07:00Kacey turns 5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">September 5th was Kacey's 5th birthday! It was actually Labor Day, so we were all able to go out to lunch and celebrate... Kacey, as I remind everyone, is of the 5% of the population that were born on their <em>actual</em> due date. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I say that I can't believe she's 5, but bless her little stubborn heart, I feel like I've drudged through all her drama with every passing day, week, month, year. Love her to pieces, but she gives me as much grief as the other 3 combined. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I will say, that no one loves me like that child does. From day 1, she's had the ability to just mold right into my chest. To hug and hold onto me as if she wanted to physically be inside my heart. Love her sweet little Spirit, she may turn my every hair gray but that child is so special. I remember being pregnant and having a dream that I was holding a little baby girl. At that point, I had no idea Kacey was a girl. All I remember was I was sitting down and there was lots of light behind me shining on her. Without words, she told me her name was supposed to be Kacey. And when I woke up, I told Matthew if we were having a girl... boy did I have a story for him. And lo and behold, now we have our Kacey. I joke and say no one loves me like she does, but it's very true. If I were banished to the ends of the earth with no food/drink, this child would gladly come with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of pictures from her birthday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kadyn keeping an eye on ALL the cupcakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qi9yaaRADsk/Tn5567WCZrI/AAAAAAAAFew/Z13gBiqgQ9I/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qi9yaaRADsk/Tn5567WCZrI/AAAAAAAAFew/Z13gBiqgQ9I/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Under my brillant direction, Matthew always decorates the kitchen the night before birthdays. Just something small, but the girls really look forward to it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zXLPr9o8Zk/Tn559ocncwI/AAAAAAAAFe0/J0gDwlnFyQA/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zXLPr9o8Zk/Tn559ocncwI/AAAAAAAAFe0/J0gDwlnFyQA/s320/002.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kloey and Papa... Kloey's got him wrapped around her teeny tiny finger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eq--i2M7Rzs/Tn56FX_NLfI/AAAAAAAAFe4/JuIOjOQJuVQ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eq--i2M7Rzs/Tn56FX_NLfI/AAAAAAAAFe4/JuIOjOQJuVQ/s320/005.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeJwKujAjI8/Tn56GkZo2ZI/AAAAAAAAFe8/VxVmmseXBCI/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeJwKujAjI8/Tn56GkZo2ZI/AAAAAAAAFe8/VxVmmseXBCI/s320/008.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> MAKE A WISH!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jA33YXGoYBw/Tn56J0E7ELI/AAAAAAAAFfA/N4JHP8Q95KY/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jA33YXGoYBw/Tn56J0E7ELI/AAAAAAAAFfA/N4JHP8Q95KY/s320/011.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ6LFPlJvWU/Tn56LZFHkSI/AAAAAAAAFfE/fI7KiPiUOtg/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQ6LFPlJvWU/Tn56LZFHkSI/AAAAAAAAFfE/fI7KiPiUOtg/s320/015.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our whole fun group, Aunt Judy was actually visiting too... we had a super great time :) And we really miss her!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyXCa5VqLH4/Tn56ObTDxVI/AAAAAAAAFfI/TGDLU27SwkU/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyXCa5VqLH4/Tn56ObTDxVI/AAAAAAAAFfI/TGDLU27SwkU/s320/017.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kloey's mouth open, "ummm I thought that was my bite?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyTeQ8zj7oU/Tn56SiJRgvI/AAAAAAAAFfM/B6XffkmIrqI/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyTeQ8zj7oU/Tn56SiJRgvI/AAAAAAAAFfM/B6XffkmIrqI/s320/024.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBR99EZ0LPo/Tn56W4VB8cI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/iGlKgKJZpAI/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBR99EZ0LPo/Tn56W4VB8cI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/iGlKgKJZpAI/s320/025.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXwdcQh22QM/Tn56Ykin61I/AAAAAAAAFfU/KTPktDjaQSA/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXwdcQh22QM/Tn56Ykin61I/AAAAAAAAFfU/KTPktDjaQSA/s320/026.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> PRESENTS!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVwqSlLxhwA/Tn56c9NX-TI/AAAAAAAAFfY/nB6LSfMfXIA/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tVwqSlLxhwA/Tn56c9NX-TI/AAAAAAAAFfY/nB6LSfMfXIA/s320/034.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RY38xb1gPug/Tn56e4bj0cI/AAAAAAAAFfc/WVevWoSeD1g/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RY38xb1gPug/Tn56e4bj0cI/AAAAAAAAFfc/WVevWoSeD1g/s320/039.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kxWWsAltpo/Tn56kgQjngI/AAAAAAAAFfg/bl7nQdm-O_c/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9kxWWsAltpo/Tn56kgQjngI/AAAAAAAAFfg/bl7nQdm-O_c/s320/047.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kylie labeled the day as "the worst day ever!" She really liked all the presents Kacey got (you know all the summertime toy clearance finds....??), Kylie had a hard time... so too is life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5xV8j4bsfU/Tn56mdLbFLI/AAAAAAAAFfk/Q7XAaByhB2I/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5xV8j4bsfU/Tn56mdLbFLI/AAAAAAAAFfk/Q7XAaByhB2I/s320/052.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQwdpvPN1e8/Tn56qqtRwEI/AAAAAAAAFfo/aqrBTKPbPug/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQwdpvPN1e8/Tn56qqtRwEI/AAAAAAAAFfo/aqrBTKPbPug/s320/054.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UWO-9-AL2iw/Tn56xoY8DmI/AAAAAAAAFfs/iUdAJkXHoTQ/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UWO-9-AL2iw/Tn56xoY8DmI/AAAAAAAAFfs/iUdAJkXHoTQ/s320/059.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95SjOw-mmSs/Tn56y4ue5WI/AAAAAAAAFfw/VDsHcs6P-NQ/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95SjOw-mmSs/Tn56y4ue5WI/AAAAAAAAFfw/VDsHcs6P-NQ/s320/060.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_f17iMxJzw/Tn561QvJ9MI/AAAAAAAAFf0/viRrqtDLH9o/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_f17iMxJzw/Tn561QvJ9MI/AAAAAAAAFf0/viRrqtDLH9o/s320/062.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I love my face here, "ok, can we clean up and do baths and go to bed... I'm tired." LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuPJcXXVEjc/Tn5653gNQgI/AAAAAAAAFf4/xmrfXT27LJM/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuPJcXXVEjc/Tn5653gNQgI/AAAAAAAAFf4/xmrfXT27LJM/s320/063.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center">Happy Birthday Kacey Lacey :) We love you!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8037065154910534826.post-21950216284871682902011-08-30T19:23:00.000-07:002011-08-30T19:36:06.756-07:00The First Day of School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started at our new school on Monday. Kylie and Kacey now go to Goynes, and they are GLADIATORS! kinda cool...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kylie is in the 2nd grade, with Ms. Gaura. Here's a quick pic on our front porch, bookbag and lunch bag included.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4cNsaEeJ5Q/Tl2WSBvSHFI/AAAAAAAAFeU/o8KdOPveCSQ/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4cNsaEeJ5Q/Tl2WSBvSHFI/AAAAAAAAFeU/o8KdOPveCSQ/s320/163.JPG" width="214px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just sweet little her...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xycdcumMHEE/Tl2WbYMcyuI/AAAAAAAAFeY/JGCxMampDag/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xycdcumMHEE/Tl2WbYMcyuI/AAAAAAAAFeY/JGCxMampDag/s320/171.JPG" width="214px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> SO, Kylie's drop off was at 7:50 am... school starts at 8 am. THEN we do round 2 with Kacey. Kacey is in PM Kindergarten with Ms. Rennie. </div><div style="text-align: center;">***********</div><div style="text-align: center;">(No, they aren't wearing the same first day of school outfits... and boy did I catch some grief over it. Everyone asks if my girls <em>dislike</em> dressing the same. ON THE CONTRARY, when they don't have the same clothes, I hear about it. I just won her the exact same dress from ebay so she'll be elated!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here she is outside of her school.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ECB7OhgoNM/Tl2Wfl-UbNI/AAAAAAAAFec/UDEt052SDvM/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ECB7OhgoNM/Tl2Wfl-UbNI/AAAAAAAAFec/UDEt052SDvM/s320/174.JPG" width="214px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Oh yeah, she's gone... Matthew and I were just slowing her down-- lugging all her school supplies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_bzPEKEs_A/Tl2WjvnebtI/AAAAAAAAFeg/WM_WizfjjfA/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_bzPEKEs_A/Tl2WjvnebtI/AAAAAAAAFeg/WM_WizfjjfA/s320/175.JPG" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_BW8nJewzw/Tl2WllntT-I/AAAAAAAAFek/tuDiRRRY9zU/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_BW8nJewzw/Tl2WllntT-I/AAAAAAAAFek/tuDiRRRY9zU/s320/178.JPG" width="214px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Quick one in the classroom...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvtuIIQUJFw/Tl2WnRqjfFI/AAAAAAAAFeo/jttueJwSKlc/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvtuIIQUJFw/Tl2WnRqjfFI/AAAAAAAAFeo/jttueJwSKlc/s320/196.JPG" width="320px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was rough. I'm not gonna lie. When Kylie was in kindergarten, they let the parents come in... sing a song, stay for a bit. Not so much this time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJFL5u_d7no/Tl2Woi7VkiI/AAAAAAAAFes/9m9CO_UuX2c/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJFL5u_d7no/Tl2Woi7VkiI/AAAAAAAAFes/9m9CO_UuX2c/s320/198.JPG" width="214px" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center">Let me tell you, my house is silent from 11:45 am to 2 pm. Kloey goes down for her nap. Kadyn just looks at me like, "what do we do?!?"</div><div align="center">********</div><div align="center">After the first few days, I really like our new patterns. This school is an hour earlier than our old one. So Kylie is on Matthew's schedule, and we are all able to have 30 minutes together for breakfast in the morning (Kylie and Matthew fully dressed, the rest of us in our jammies). It has been great. Then Matthew takes Kylie to school. Which relieves me and my taxi-cab driving mommy kind of life. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">But they get out an hour earlier also, which is great. Kylie walks from her classroom to Kacey's class (other side of the world practically) and picks up Kacey and we have a "meeting point." (which is super far away, this school is packed with kids and parents) I saw them coming today from my car (I got there about 25 minutes early to get the best parking spot), they were holding hands and talking as they were walking through the grass... so precious. They both had smarties candies, and I asked where they got them. Kylie worked extra hard to earn 2 candies today, and so when she picked Kacey up, she was able to give Kacey one. I love stuff like that. As they go to school and are away from me more and more, I realize that the best thing I can do to help them grow up is make it so they find comfort and love with eachother and I need to do everything I can to encourage those strong sister bonds. It's an awesome feeling to see that come though- even just the walking, sharing candy, and holding hands through the grass!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4