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!

Skiing at Sundance

Our cute cousins Sophie and Max have season passes to Sundance so we try to sneak in a ski day with them when we are in Utah.  It snowed a TON the day before we got to Utah!  How perfect was that.  The kids enjoyed a fun day in great conditions!  Mom stayed around waiting at the bottom of the hill with hot chocolate, hand warmers and encouragement.  I am always surprised I don't feel the need to ski. I was a major skiing growing up.  My family had the amazing opportunity to ski across Europe while living in Germany for a couple of years.  We continued skiing when we came back as teenagers and I loved going fast and hard.  These days I am content taking pictures, refilling tanks with food and warm drinks and reading a good book -- what has happened to me???  When all the kids are comfortable skiing on their own I am sure I will ski again right?  We shall see!

 Here is my snow bunny!  She took a ski class and had a great time! Isn't she cute! I was so proud of her.  She didn't complain once the whole day!

Haleigh was hard to capture on film as she continually raced down the hill!  She really wanted to snow board.  I think this will be her last time on skis.... 

Here are the boys.  Camden got a little concerned at one point when his older brother ditched him....thanks Taylor :-) but he managed to find his way down the hill.  It was a fun day! 

CrAzY hAiR DaY --October 2010

In the past my kids have hit me up for a pony tail on one side and a braid on the other?.... This year 6 cans of different color hairspray was on the agenda.  That and the girls wanted the Marge Simpson look!  I have to say I was proud of my ability to deliver!  Thank you Walmart (which I detest) for the clearance halloween spray paint for a buck a can!  Here are my little ones.  Camden cracked me up the most when he came home with clean hair.  After recess he was sweating in color  so he went in the bathroom and washed it out of his hair!

Haleigh and Amanda!

Sadie and Sutton!  Matching hair was totally NOT planned!

Sadie's Dance Recital

Sadie has been taking a cute little dance class this year.  She loves to go dance and sing with her sweet friend Sutton.  

Tonight was her "mini" recital.  It was so fun to see her twirling around and mouthing the words to the songs they were dancing to! 

It was freezing out there in fact it was the coldest night of the year-so far 25 degrees!  We ran home and made hot chocolate and homemade pizookies.  They were yummy!  Couldn't have had a more perfect family night activity.  

 Strike a pose!

 Man I love this girl!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving Day we flew to California to share Thanksgiving dinner with Troy's brother's family. The kids had a blast with the huge buffet at The Orange County Mining Company. I am not sure they had any M & M's or Gummie Bears left at the ice cream bar when our kids were through with it!  The adults were thrilled with the vast array of options.  I think Taylor won the eat as fast and as much as you can award!  The joy of a growing 13 year old's appetite.

The next day the boys woke up early and got some black friday shopping in while Kelly and I slept it!  Lucky us!  Then later that day we got some shopping in too.  We enjoyed a leisurely afternoon of shopping and a yummy Thai lunch.  


The next day we spent some time making bread.  Here are Kelly's first official loaves.  She is officially a bread maker now....aren't they pretty!!!

Halloween 2010

I am not a pumpkin carver - never have been.  It's messy, it's sticky, it's messy.  Have I said it's messy?  BUT the kids L O V E it?  Especially Haleigh.  She is the designer in the family.  She carefully draws out what she wants and I just dare any of you to try and change anything!  

We enjoyed the school parties, parades, the ward party and on Halloween we had a neighborhood gathering in the nearby cul de sac.  It was a fun time getting to know the families and the kids socializing with kiddos.  

I just thought the expressions on Camden's and Sadie's faces had to be included.  They had fun in case you couldn't tell!  I think my second favorite part of this top picture is Sadie's fabulous hair creation.  Isn't she great?  Love her!

 Yep thats the pumpkin goo I was mentioning!  YUCK!

Sadie and her very bestest friend Sutton.  Whenever the kids ask where Sadie is when she is not home - we always answer  "she is with her other family"-- she spends as much time with them as with her own!!!  

She is lucky to have such a sweet friend and parents that put up with her!

Camden and his friend Holden at the church Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat!

Troy always comes up with a great costume idea!  Now to work on the camera smile....

Haleigh's besties Allison, Amanda, Haleigh, Kyle & Kyle's cousin (I think?)

at the ward party.

Taylor, Travis and Mitchell at the ward party.