Kyle loves to jump!

We marvel everyday at each of our children and their "cuteness". Good thing they are cute (they are alot of work)! Grace loves to cheer Kyle on, as you can see.

So much to be thankful for...

We had a nice Thanksgiving this year. Sharon prepared a yummy turkey and we had the usual sides to go along. Jess and Taylor came, along with Amy and her family! It was great to sit down together and visit. Ashley was excited to sit at the "grownup" table. The little cousins were too excited to stay seated long..."food??? What Food??? We want to play!" We then met up with the Bees at the Asbjornsen's and had desserts and played Apples to Apples. Craig came off conqueror, with Thor and Courtney not far behind. It was a fun!

Brad and I both slept in Thanksgiving morning and it was great to just let the kids play and feel like we didn't have any "work" to do. Vacations are so important for family memories...I hope you all had a great one! Now on to my favorite holiday! I love Christmas for so many reason, but most of all for the memories of the past and making new memories that will live on in the future. President Monson's Christmas address in the Ensign has a wonderful story that sure warmed my heart. I read it to the kids today....so when the hometeachers come over and give the lesson they will look really smart (JK!!!). Not long after reading it a lady came to our door looking for canned goods for some families at her church. My kids immediately pitched in gathering food from our back pantry. They were so thrilled to give(smiling, running frantically between the front door and the pantry, carrying as much as they could)...that is what we like to see! I went after Thanksgiving shopping and it was fun to get deals. The real deal, however, is giving. That is where the inner joy that lasts is found! Merry Christmas!
PS. Our house is decorated (almost) and I am writing our letter today. So much to do...so little time! Disneyland, here we come!

Baby Mia got her heart!

What a joy it was to hear that little Mia got her heart yesterday. My kids were so excited for her. If you can check out her blog...her family is so inspirational. Heavenly Father surely does answer prayers!

Baby Mia needs your help!

If anyone feels they can donate to this great cause that would be wonderful. See the link to the right. Baby Mia is a little girl who is 4 months old. She is in Children's Hospital waiting for a heart. Pray for her please! It is heartbreaking what her parents are going through. Thank you so very much!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!

Just a reminder to make your voice heard. I sure hope Prop 8 passes in California. Tomorrow will be an exciting day!

Awesome costumes!!!

There were some neat costumes on Halloween. My favorite was a boy in our ward names Nolan...however, I didn't get a picture of his sumo wrestler costume. Josh was awesome and Hunter was a great Indiana Jones! Miranda's Rapunzel costume was so creative. Heidi (her mom, Brad's sis.) is so good at that! The baby is Kyle's friend Lillian, isn't she a cute little flower. Her mom has great taste!

Trick or Treat!

We had Trunk or Treat at church. The kids made quite a haul and were very wired on candy (no different than me when I was little). I remember my parents letting me take my whole Halloween bucket and keep it in my room. I could eat it whenever I wanted. So I guess I am a "mean" mom, because we already took our kids candy away and are rationing it. I still haven't decided if it is better to let them gorged and be done with it or drag it out over the next few months until only stale pieces are left that no one wants anyway. Grace sure enjoyed getting the candy. I caught her taking Daddys big snickers bar and hiding under the desk! We enjoyed visiting our neighbors and for most of them we were the only ones who knocked on their doors. It was a rainy night and our streets have no street lights. I wouldn't trick or treat there either if I didn't live there. I would go to well lighted subdivisions where the houses are close to together. I hope everyone had a great Halloween. We are now entering my favorite time of year...Thanksgiving and Christmas! We are getting ready for Disneyland too. The kids are earning their Disney dollars and are excited it is only a few weeks away. We get to fly this year (great deals on Alaska).