Hawaii - The Big Island

 

Taylor's 14th Birthday & Room Makeover

Taylor turned 14 - WOW.  I am such a good mother I have not ONE picture to show for it.  He is such a good kid he didn't even notice.  We celebrated throughout the week and took him and some friends our of school to IN n Out on his birthday.  A few days later we made it to Red Robin with the family and his big present was having his best friend (since they were 2 - they will tell you) come down for the weekend and he couldn't have been happier.  We gave them money to eat out, go to the movies and make frequent Circle K runs.  


For his big present we decided the spare room - which still needed to be a spare room - could have a little character for him as well.  


Here is what we ended up with!  It still needs curtains and some paint, but at least it feels like his space and he likes it so it must have been worth the pottery barn prices right cough cough......heart attack Troy don't look at the Amex bill!

Sharing Meaningful Moments

Recently a neighbor, and inactive member of our ward suffered a significant loss.  The husband and father of four children took his life.  It was a very traumatic event for our kids as the police were on our street for the good part of a day and when they found out what happened they asked a lot of questions and were confused and upset not understanding what would cause someone to make that choice.  That Sunday the Primary children were asked to write Valentines to the family that were going to experience a holiday their father always made special for them - without him.

This is what Haleigh wrote.  I am grateful for my Bishop's wife that was touched enough about what Haleigh wrote that she wanted to share it with Troy and I.  

These are the moments you know our children really are gaining their own testimonies of the Heavenly Fathers Plan for each of us.  

Sadie and Sutton: BFF's

Sadie has a good friend.  They met in Kindergarten and never looked back.  I am always grateful for "kindred spirits" especially with my children and when the families get along great.  These girls love to be with each other.  They never fight and can party or veg without any drama and it always works out to be fine.  I often share lunch with the girls at school and am constantly touched when Sutton always scoots over to make room for Sadie and waves her over.  I am so grateful for good, kind friends!  They are harder to come by then you think!

It takes a Village - Happy Valentines Day!

I am so grateful there are wonderful people like the Miltuns and my own daughter Haleigh with creative bones in their body!!!  Haleigh loves anything with scissors, glue, paper and designing.  I cannot usually help make her creations come alive - but thankfully our good friend Mark & Carlee Miltun can and did!!!  It isn't finished yet - but here is Haleigh's Cathedral of Annunciation in Red Square.  It is part of her 600 point Landmark project!!  

Then there is my sweet Haleigh who is always up for helping Sadie do anything for school.  Here they are with Sadie's puppy Valentine mailbox.  Haleigh amazes me with her helpfulness  - now if we can work on the attitude!  Love that girl! (P.S. ignore the terrible picture in my kitchen.  I can never get the lighting right in there so lucky I am taking a photography class in two weeks that will teach me to use my camera)

Christmas Morning

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We spent Christmas morning with my Mom and sister at their house.  It was a fun morning opening presents and sharing breakfast with my brother Sam and his kids.  

Taylor and Camden both got a special edition Stars & Stripes Angels Hat

Barbie barbie barbie.  It's fun shopping for a little girl!

Haleigh really wanted a softball helmet.  Her brother got it for her!

I just enjoyed this expression.  Doesn't it sum up Christmas Morning?

Camden read our "note".  Our present to the kids this year is a Hawaiian Adventure! 

BYU Basketball Game!

We went to a BYU Basketball game while we were in Utah for the holidays.  We had a blast watching the Jimmer Show LOL!  We even watched him dunk it which is pretty rare!  We were also grateful for Haleigh and Della entertaining the little ones for those of us trying to watch the game!  Next time minimum age requirement will be put into effect ha ha!  That and a piece of advice: If you have 5 kids age 6 and under providing foam claws and foam fingers - not a good idea...........

And no there will be no pictures of me as usual unless my sis in law will ever send me her pictures - hint hint Kelly :-)

The funniest part of the non basketball portion of the night was when Haleigh was texting non stop so Uncle Tim kept texting her anonymously and kept asking her questions about the "boyfriend" and personal things we kept feeding him.  It was hilarious!!!  

Tim, Kelly, Caden & Clayton.  Clayton actually watched the game!  

Troy, Camden, Tyler, Austin (rare moment of focus for Austin ha ha) and Taylor.

Go BYU!

The others!!!

Holiday Family Fun!!

We had a great time over the holidays visiting with our families.  We played games, ate good food, watched movies, played the wii, watched football and basketball, shopped, visited Santa, played at Kangaroo Zoo, made midnight diet coke runs in the fog, created Rootbeer Reindeers, gingerbread houses and decorated christmas trees to take to the retirement home where the kids sang and Haleigh played the violin.  

We were blessed to be able to spend so much time with both the Lassiter and Plewe families.  .  

We got REALLY tired of washing cups thus the  plastic cups took over a whole counter!

 Twister and Orange Sticks memory of Jay Dog!

Trying out the camera on the flip.....not so great!  Just video in the future I think!