Traditions..... Traditions......

Every year December 23rd is the annual "Wood" family Christmas party. I've been going to them since Mitch and I got together. I asked Mitch and he remembers them as a child so it's been a tradition for over 30 years!! It started with Grandpa Bill and Grandma Wilma would plan the party every year at their home, they would asign a what to bring on your invitations! They would give a bag to each person with an ordament and Mcdonald $5 dollar coupon books... Santa would come and hand out each person this gift. The kids loved it!! Since they've sold that house and got a little older now each year each one of their kids plan it. It's nice because each year it's different, they get to use their own ideas and plan with their own styles! This year it was Dave's turn - which Jody did the planning and I helped as much as I could. It turned out nice....... We had a very delicious dinner with lots of yummy yummy desserts! We had a sugar cookie decorating activity for the kids (which they absolutely loved), you'll see those photo's below :) Dave handed out christmas cards to each person with an ordament inside! It was my idea to get everyone together and take a HUGE portrait of the Wood Family. It turned out great! It would be a wonderful gift to blow up and give it to Bill and Wilma! Family parties are always fun, joining of all the extended family and seeing all of them grow each year :) I look forward to these for each side of our families - Merry Christmas!

Dinner with Nanna Sue......

A week before Christmas we went to dinner at Applebee's with Sue, Mitch, I and the girls. It was so delicious :) I love their 2 for 20 deals, just enough food for everyone! We had a great time visiting and catching up on life with Sue.... The girls absolutely love her! She is so good to them, we just adore Sue! One thing she was excited about was she'll be able to see us more now that we've moved back to Salt Lake..... The girls are super excited and can't wait to have a sleep over with her in January! Thank you Sue for all you do and have done, we've created so many memories to cherish and look forward to many many more. You are very kind and warm hearted and we are so glad to have you in our lives. Much love!!!!

Sweet 16 P.J's

Shianne got these P.J's for her birthday present! So darn cute, I just had to take a photo :) We got to talking at her party and Shianne wanted to get me a pair. I told her I wanted to take her shopping for her birthday (that's our little thing we do) and of course I said we should totally go in these pj's (Shi was SO SO excited), she totally wants to do it....... I pinky swore, so she is getting me some of these and we are going to put our hair in pig tails and go shopping at the mall - oh boy this will be a riot! ya, we're silly - but I am with my niece having fun so who cares......

Those pic's will come soon, probably after the holiday's are over :)

Shianne "Sweet 16"

Happy sixteenth birthday TO MY "BEAUTIFUL NIECE" Shianne! Soon, now, you can drive and I hope everyday, from now on you feel oh- so alive....I hope this year is fun and I hope everything around the corner is looking out for you, Hun..... You mean so much too me and to see you grow into a young woman just brightens my day! You are a great niece, cousin, sister, daughter and friend, our love and kindness never ends...

On this day I wish you all the wonders in the world!

All the happiness in your eyes, all the stars in the sky....

On this day you turn sixteen, may each moment be a wonderful dream!

On this day believe in your wishes :) And may you have the perfect sixteen kisses

Shianne, I dedicate this post to you and wish you the BEST 16th birthday ever.. I had such a fun time with you at your "surprise" party that your mom planned, which she did such a fabulous job doing! Everything looked so perfect! The video was great of your face walking through that door! I know I wasn't there due to my work schedule, but watching that was priceless! You are do dang cute. I am super proud of you! Your an amazing person! Your dad would be SO SO proud of you and how well you are doing.... We all love you so much! As silly as a birthday poem in a card seems I want you to know what you mean to us, You are a true gift, so precious and rare, one of those true people that are so hard to find - Who is honest, caring and giving!!! You deserve the BEST! You are loved and admired by many!

Happy sweet 16

On this wonderful day I wanted to say

How much u mean to me

You’re the reason I smile

You’re the reason the sun rises

Today is your sixteenth birthday

And you couldn’t be more loved

Your kindness touches the hearts

of everyone you know

So to you my dearest friend Daughter, sister and niece

I wish you all the happiness

That comes with sweet sixteen

Fun with Grandpa......

Grandpa "Dave" came and got the girls with their cousin Sebastian. Dave had a fun filled day with all his grandkids... They told me they went to Golden Corral to eat and boy did they eat... the girls told me they had 2 or 3 plates - - - - - there belly's were super full :) They went to the mall and did some window shopping! The line for Santa was a mile long Kassidee said (LOL) she said probably not that long but it looked forever, so they decided to go play on the escalators! Dave said they probably went up and down over 20 times (ALLOT) they said, but had too much fun doing it. The lady that worked there was giggling, and told Dave they probably shouldn't do that but they are so dang cute to watch... Then they went to the play ground area they had and played and played and played! Grandpa Dave said he had a wonderful time with all 3 of them, got a chance to talk to each one individually. It was snowing outside so they decided to play outside for a bit, I think they got some dessert and came back. Thanks Dave for taking them - they had a blast :)

Snoopy House's.............

Kassidee and Maddison made some darn cute "Snoopy" Gingerbread houses..... Thanks to Magun and Emerson they had a ball hanging out! I had to work this day, Mitch was helping out Magun and Brandon frame their basement so the girls were over there while dad was working! Magun was awesome to the girls - they did alot of fun activities! They still talk about what they did and want to go back and play some more :) Thank you Magun and Emerson for everything you did for the girls, I really do appreciate you going out of your way...

2009 Pie Night @ Aunt Jo Jo's.....

It's been an awesome "Wood" tradition each year to have Pie night the day before Thanksgiving. Family and friends come each bringing a pie to share, from pumpkin, banana creme', cheesecake, pecan, cherry to chocolate moose.... While we catch up on life and talk about what we are thankful for we eat some delicious pies.... With it being a big family and everyone has kids, grandkids, great grandkids, aunts, uncles, cousins, inlaws. Some live out of town, and are traveling this day etc, not everyone can make the Thanksgiving dinner, but can make pie night so this gives us the opportunity to see some this night. Great laughs and moments are created and lots of memories to cherish!
Of course, after taking one picture my camera died because I apparently didn't realize it needed to be charged.... Oopsie! I hate when that happens :( Hopefully I can get copies of Aunt Jo Jo's.... So from left to right is Jody (my sister-in-law), me, Shannon and Nikki. Good times!!!!!!!

We stayed the night at Aunt Jo Jo's, easier to do that so we could get up and help start cooking the gobble gobble feast. So I have no photo's of Thanksgiving because I of course didn't have my camera charger. so I'll have to get any from Jody : ) Jody and Scott did an amazing job on Thanksgiving dinner, it was so delicious! I loved her apple stuffing.... (YUMMY) I'll for sure get that receipe. Scott and Mitch roasted walnuts over the fire, so good.... I am truly thankful to have such amazing family and friends in my life!

T for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.

H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.

A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.

N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.

K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.

S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that abounds.

That spells ~~~THANKS---for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.

Friends are like............

Friends are like flowers each unique in their own way,

put them all together what a wonderful bouquet.

Some are really brilliant full of light sharp and clear,

while other are more subdued to both you can adhere.

You are a flower in my garden that makes up my bouquet,

my friends you all make a very impressive display.

Friends are like balloons. Once you let them go, you can't get them back. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it.

Pink & Love......

Life can get kind of busy and we tend to fall behind, one being my postings but better late then never right... (LOL) The girls and I had a fun and enjoyable day with Janet and Jadyn the second weekend of November 2009.... Jaydn is so stinkin cute! I absolutley love her personality :) She is growing so fast and getting so big! The girls just ate her up, they played and played until she was pooped out. Jaydn is so lovable, gave so many hugs, love it!! I had a very nice time chatting with Janet and catching up on life! Absolutely adore Janet.... She is such an amazing friend to have. Does such a wonderful job being Jaydn's Grandmother! She's always been so good to my kids too! Holds a special part in my heart.... Look forward to seeing and hanging out again, and next time can't wait to see Jason and Jackie ( Jaydn's parents) also my dear and close friends who happened to be in Jamaica at the time on vacation -- good for you guys....

Great Friends........

Patricia and Greg are two amazing people..... I've always loved talking with them, especially Patricia! Her accent is adorable :) She is from New Zeland and so full of energy! They would come into Olive Garden to eat and became regulars! Kiely and I would take turns serving them depending on our schedules. We became so close with them that we'd do outside of work lunch dates, etc.. The girls absolutely loved them!! They treated my girls as if they were their own grand daughters :) They traveled allot, they came back from Paris and brought back some suvenyers! Her Daughter Haylee lives in Austraila and came to St George to visit, I absolutley LOVED her and she also gave us more suvenyers -

I love them so much and feel very honored to have them in our lives..... They were really sad the day I told them we were moving to Salt Lake, we all were in tears! They went out of their way and bought Kassidee and Maddison the cutest dang winter jackets because I hadn't bought them any yet, so she wanted to do that! It just brought tears to my eyes that she went out of her way, She has so much love and such a giving heart.... This was the last photo taken of all of us before we left. I told them we would keep in close contact through email and my blog....