Santa was here!

I love Christmas morning! Hearing and seeing the excitement out of the girls is the best! Both of them wowing everything that Santa and Mom and Dad brought to them. Waiting to open every last gift and sharing the fun things they got together. Mom and Dad got them some new boots and clothes.... Santa, this year did alot of family gifts because we love to spend time together... One that was most exciting was the "Guitar Hero World Tour". We can play as a band! Now of course we are all new at this, so the first 2 hours I was just giggling on how bad I was, but practice makes perfect.. hee hee - Kassidee picked up on the guitar in like 10 minutes, now she is like a professional guitarist. Totally gets into it, I just love it..... Maddison loves the drums and I'm getting better at the drums, even with my blister (LOL), Mitch and Maddison are the best little singers too! My little Maddison knows most of the words already because she listens to the CD's with Mitch all the time :) So much fun! Thanks Santa for bringing us all the fun and exciting gifts.

Serving "Homeless Shelter" Christmas Day.....

What an awesome experience this was to share and volunteer our time to help bring the Christmas spirit to these wonderful families! I helped cook one of the turkeys prepared for this wonderful Christmas dinner/program. My Mom Debby, Mitch, Kassidee, Maddison and me also went to help serve Christmas Day! It was the first time for my girls to volunteer at a function like this and they "Loved it".... Both my girls asked lots of questions about what we were doing and I expressed to them the reasons behind it and how it can effect one persons life... Giving is such an amazing feeling and quality that I will try to teach and instill in my girls. I remember when my mom took us to volunteer (I was about 8, Kassidee's age), and it was the coolest feeling I've ever felt. As I got older, the stories I heard got a little harder because I could understand more. But it didn't stop me for doing it again the next year. Others are less fortunate and this helped me to not take life for granted. To appreciate what I have and what I don't. That Family is the "MOST" important.

Serving desserts!! They had those beautiful smiles the whole time! I was so proud of Kassidee and Maddison for doing this... They said they were excited to do it again next year :)

Mitch and I walked around and helped pre-bus the tables, got more drinks, empy'd the garbages, helped the little kids to see Santa Claus! Talked to alot of these families, and heard there stories... I was so happy to be here and to help! The tears of joy came, but the feelings of excitement to see these kids get bags of gifts from Santa were priceless. The smiles on their faces was enough. I am grateful that I was able to take time out my Holiday to help others in theirs :)

12 days of Christmas

Is a wonderful tradition that we've done for many years, since I remember as a little girl.. Each year we choose a family to give 12 special gifts to. It is a combination of great food, poems, games, decorations, and toys for the entire family. It is a magical way to give to these wonderful families that may need a little extra for the holiday season! I absolutely love giving at this time of year and this is one way that is fun for me and the girls seem to love it too.. My mom, dad and my family decided to choose my sister April and her beautiful family :) It was actually really challenging to keep it a secret from her for those 12 days, but in the end it was well worth the wait to see the tears and joys of happiness that came out of it. That is the best and most priceless part.......................Love ya Sis!!!

All about Christmas

Maddison's kindergarten class. We just love Mr Buzzel, she is awesome with the kids! She is so structured and always has the cutest idea's on teaching....... One of the projects they did about Christmas was family tradition and Maddison drew a house with lights on it. So cute!! They've also done some way cute projects, the Santa Countdown was Maddison's favorite. They get to cut one chain a day until Christmas! It was their homework as well, Maddison loves it because she is learning Math also, she says! They had a really fun Christmas party, frosted gingerman cookies. Maddison loves school, she loves to learn and try everything! Such a sweet personality.

Holiday Spirit

This is Kassidee's 3rd grade class. Mrs. Anderson is such an amazing teacher! Always on top of it, so structured and detail oriented.. She has a pinched nerve in her back so she's in alot of pain and hasn't been at school so we were so happy to see her this last Friday at their Christmas Party. We wish her the best and hope she gets better! Kassidee has been doing alot of fun Christmas projects, so I thought I would share some. One of my favorites is her letter to Santa! We had to mail off to him so I scanned it before we did :) I just love what she wrote... The other project they did was what is most important to you on Christmas. Kassidee is so kind hearted, she is always so helpful and loves everyone! They've been doing alot of coloring projects also! Kassidee loved her stocking so I had to share this with everyone.

Snow Day "No School"

For the snow we got, Washington County closed the schools down! I was just giggling because this is nothing compared to Salt Lake and what we used to get there... But I understand and respect why they did it. We do not have snow removal equipment and salt for our streets so they felt it wouldn't be safe for the school busses and parents that do drive their kids to school. So we got a free day and totally took advantage of it. Girls were so excited to build a snowman. Not only did we build one but three of them! Then we enjoyed hot chocolate together to warm up their little fingers and toes.....

The girls also enjoyed making cookies for our goodie plates! I was happy to have their help and it was so much fun having this quality time together on our free snow day... The girls worked together and measured out all the ingredients. They helped mix and prepare them on the cookie sheets, Awesome teamwork you guys! Then we put all the plates together and delivered them. They each took turns taking them to the front doors of family & friends.

St George got "SNOW"

I love it.... We got snow and we're getting more. Here are a few photo's I took and of course will be snapping more. The girls are so excited to build a snowman and I am excited to help them. We don't get snow, well at least this often and this much. So we definitely will take advantage of it. Today the girls are also out of school. "Snow day" as Washington County stated. So it's girls day baking cookies, drinking hot chocolate and building snowmen!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Performance

Kassidee and Maddison performed tonight for their Christmas Dance Concert and did fantastic! Both their songs and costumes were adorable! They also performed this year at the Dicken's Festival, which my camera had an issue that day Dec 6th and ya I'm reminding myself that I (lost all the pictures and videos), but there's a bright side - I got more :) Kassidee's dance was to Rudolf, and Maddison's dance was to Santa Baby! Cute choreography, so much fun to watch their personalities performing... Mitch and I are such proud parents. They give us such joy and happiness. I learn so much everyday from each of them and try to give the best parenting I know how! Someday's are harder than others, but that's what it's all about! Your dad and I love you girls with all our hearts and want you to know how proud we are of both of you. Love you both........

Christmas Wreath

Who loves Friday's? Well we do, there is always something fun happening. This last Friday Kassidee had a Christmas Wreath Project. I went in too help, which was alot of fun to learn how to make these paper Christmas wreaths! Kassidee was so thoughtful to get an extra one for Maddison to make and she even walked her through it at home! They turned out "AWESOME" Nice job girls..... Another reason we love Friday's, it's always school spirit day for Kassidee & Maddison, they get to wear their RedHawk school shirts. Which ever class wears the most % of red, they get a spirit treat. This week both their classes won :) I am so proud of both Kassidee and Maddison for always participating in school spirit. Shows loyalty, unity and pride.

Grandparents R the BEST....

The girls had such a wonderful time hanging out with Dave and Sue. Dave was able to go with Mitch to Home Depot for the workshop, they made these fabulous photo eisels! Dave had such a wonderful time watching the girls build them and painting them. They are pretty funny the things they come up with.. Dave got out the scotch tape and was being silly taping his face in all directions - girls were laughing histerically so they decided to join in. Then they played memory games with Sue. A grandparent is a very important person - Grandparents are a family's greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, The greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family's strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.

Christmas Gifts

Our whole family got new Tennis rackets and balls from Dave and Sue. Maddison was the happiest little girl that one she got her very own and two we all got one so that we could play together and support her in her tennis lessons and practice with her........ We all decided to go play some Tennis together. It was SO much fun! I gotta tell ya, it kicked my butt. I thought I was in pretty good shape (NOT). Sue has a great passion for Tennis, she played for years and when she heard Maddison was asking for her own racket for Christmas she wanted to purchase it. Now I was surprised that she got the whole family them. Sue had a great time coaching all of us for that matter on the court. Dave had the honor to be ball boy (LOL) THANK YOU THANK YOU Dave and Sue for these rackets. It definitely put a HUGE smile on all our faces. Now hopefully next time we play we can actually keep the ball in the green.. ha ha ha

Our Christmas Tree.......

Mitch's dad Dave and Nanna Sue were in town this weekend to celebrate Christmas early with us. It was a pleasure having them here and alot of fun! Friday night we got our tree and everyone helped decorate it. We let the girls pick it out which was a great choice! We also let them choose the theme this year which they wanted Denver Broncos. So we got blue, orange, and silver balls and also got Denver ordaments. It turned out so awesome! We made a fabulous pork roast dinner. Then we had banana splits later for desert and enjoyed their company :)

Tattoo Dedication

My oldest brother Jake lives on the islands and I got to see him this Thanksgiving Holiday. I was so overjoyed the second I saw him. I gave him a huge hug and just couldn't let go! I swear I hugged him for 5 minutes. It's been 2 years since we've seen each other - so it was a moment for me to sink it all in. Jake also did some tattoo work these last 2 years WOW! I got teary eyed, because he got a sleeve of the exact tattoo's that were on Ryan's arm in dedication to our brother. The date of when Ryan was born and the date he passed. Every tattoo on his arm had a meaning and I think its so cool that Jake did this for Ryan. A tattoo is a true poetic creation, and is always more than meets the eye. Tattooing is about personalizing the body, making it a true home and fit temple for the spirit that dwells inside it.... Tattooing therefore, is a way of keeping the spiritual and material needs of the body in balance.

[A] genuine tattoo.... tells a story. I like stories and tattoos, no matter how well done, and if they don't tell a story that involves you emotionally, then they're just there for decoration,... It tells people what you are and what you believe in, so there's no mistakes.

Even More FUN Thanksgiving Pic's

I had to create a slideshow because of all the many pictures I took over the Thanksgiving Holiday in Colorado! It was also Shianne's big 15th birthday so we had a party for her.... Yahoo! It was fabulous, she got lots of fun cards and gifts and the candles on her cake were the trick ones :) they kept lighting - hee hee! Shianne is growing up so fast and is such a beautiful girl. I can't believe she's 15, she'll be driving next year! I am so proud of her, and I am honored to be her Aunt. I had an amazing time with her and our one on one! Love ya babe, Happy Birthday.....

I love "Family" and I love "Thanksgiving". It reminds me to be grateful for all the many blessings in life, to not take anything for granted. Hanging out with family brings me such joy and happiness! It also brings such a peaceful and warm feeling inside that I can't explain. I'm sure you all know :) I just want to say THANK YOU to Blogger for creating this wonderful software. It has given me such pleasure to show off my family and the many great things happening inside of my life to express and brag to all my wonderful family and friends. I love you all.

More Thanksgiving Fun!!

We stayed at Uncle Bills and Aunt Debbi's house for almost 5days. It was alot of fun and we got alot of pictures! But the most important thing is all the memories we created... Thanks to my Uncle & Aunt and all their hospitality! The time spent was cherished

My brother Jake and his two kids Nathaniel and Samantha. They are such great kids! Growin up too fast. They were alot of fun to see and hang out with. We got to catch up on so much! I miss them all so much so I ate up the time I got to spend with them...
Isn't that the most handsome smile!!!! Watch out girls

Teamwork! It takes 3 of us to make mash potatoes.. Oh so yummy!!