PUPPIES!!!

We finally had puppies!!!!!! It's been three years because we were building the house and selling the other one. Last year we bought a male puppy so we could have the daddy, too, and he was finally old enough!!! Dixie was almost a full week late, so we were very anxious. She had a rough time with this litter, and we probably won't breed her again. I think she was in labor for 3 days! She had five puppies, but one didn't make it at birth, and then we lost another one 3 days later because she had a cleft palate and probably several other midline defects. That was hard on the kids - she was beautiful and little and the favorite of the girls. One puppy was posterior and we finally helped her deliver that one - and then we weren't sure if she was going to make it - but she finally perked up and is doing great. The last two were born 3 hours apart from the others and each other! That's unusual - usually the most has been 45 minutes before. Anyway - here they are - pudgy and cute!

This is Gray - he's the only Salt and Pepper puppy and he'll probably be a light one.

This is Sara - the one that got stuck, but she's doing great!

This is TJ (Toby Junior) - we think he'll look just like his Dad, Toby.

The litter

This is Gray again - Erin took this picture by putting the camera down in front of it and pushing the button - didn't it turn out cute?

We're excited for them to open their eyes so they have a little more personality and don't freak out as much when we hold them!

100 days of school!

It's been 100 days!!!!! Our school does a fun ceremony for those kids who haven't missed any school since the beginning of the year. This year Kelcie got to be in it!!! (we didn't even realize she hadn't missed school!) It was really fun!

Kelcie holding her balloon before "let-go"
Here they go!

Congratulations, Kelcie!!!

I LOVE projects!!!

I LOVE a good project around the house!!! Over Christmas Break I had HAD IT with the backpack situation at our house! I knew it was too much to ask to have the kids actually take their backpacks upstairs to their rooms every night (silly mom!), so I tried having them put them in the closet under the stairs. That worked when they actually put them there, but created another problem. You see, that's also the closet where the jackets are and where all the media equipment for the TV is - which meant we were stepping on and over backpacks to get a jacket or put on a movie - NOT WORKING!!! So, I bought a board.........had my dad router it (it has to look pretty!)..........painted it to match the trim.........screwed it to studs in the wall (do you know how heavy some of those backpacks are?)...........pur on hooks...........and put their names on it (thanks to my sis-in-law). This was the finished product! AND, as soon as the kids came home, they put their backpacks there and only took in their homework!!! Oh, PLEASE keep that up!!! Even if they don't, now I have a place to say "Go put your backpack away!". Oh, and I hung it in the garage so I don't have to have the clutter inside! Whew!.........THAT WAS FUN!!!!!!!!

Student of the Month

Kelcie was Student of the Month for December!!! I think the theme was something about being helpful. Her teacher wrote: "Kelcie is a very kind young lady. She is a good friend, a hard worker and very helpful. Kelcie is always ready and willing to help out and does it with a smile. I am very lucky to have Kelcie in my class this year." Great Job, Kelcie!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas 2010

Well, Santa found us..........

The Tree - Christmas Morning
The kids - waiting to come down :)

Erin - Epic Mickey

Erin - beanbag (been a request for many years....)

Ethan - cool Erector set RC Car that plays your MP3

Ethan -Ipod Alarm Clock

Jamie - Sewing Machine and Cover

Laura - Pillowpet

Laura - Friendship Bracelet Maker

Kelcie - "American Girl" type doll

Kelcie - CD Player

Talin - Big bike!

Talin - Helicopter

We had a great time just playing and hangin' out with family! Great Christmas!

16 YEARS!!!

16 years!!!

We've been married for 16 years! We celebrated:

Breakfast at Joe's BBQ - yummy scrambles!
Temple
Nap - rare around here!
Pedicures - yes, my husband set it up and went with me and even got one himself!
Texas Roadhouse - Prime Rib - yummy!!!
and Narnia - so good, btw!

Thanks for a wonderful Anniversary Date, Lafe, and an incredible 16 years!!!

FOG

So, we NEVER get fog here, and the other morning it was FOGGY!!!!!! It was so fun! Usually, it will burn off as soon as the sun even touches it, but this time it stuck around and even got worse before it got better! I know - not a very exciting post, but we thought it was SO COOL!!!

Stake Christmas Program

Every year I think it would be neat to be in the Stake Christmas Program in various stakes, but I've always had a baby or something and talked myself out of it. This year, I went for it - and took half my family with me. I was in the choir, Erin was in the orchestra, and Jamie and Laura were in the childrens' choir. It was such a neat program - beautiful music and an incredible message. It was so much fun and so wonderful to sing in a choir again with so much feeling and expression........ and the Spirit. Just an amazing experience that I really can't figure out the words to describe. So glad I did it - and glad my kids did it (sometimes against their will :) ).

Elementary Winter Sing

Friday was the Elementary Winter Sing - which always end up being so fun! This was Kelcie's first year and she did great! It was fun for her because it was the same stage they were on for the play so she was sharing memories.....

This picture came out blurry, but here's Laura - their songs were SO FUN!
I'll try and get one of Jamie off the videos, but they had the 5th and 6th grades doing 3 part harmony - awesome! Ethan had a very small sax part, but he was the echo in the back of the auditorium, so I didn't get a picture.

And, a picture of the cousins! Jamie, Emma, Laura, Sophie, and Kelcie

Junior High Concerts

Last Thursday, the Junior High had their music concert, and I was SO excited because I actually got a picture of my SON!!!!!!! He's always right in the middle of the band, so even if we can find him he always has a stand or another person in front of him (or the conductor :) ). This time we sat on the bleachers in the very back, and we could see GREAT!!!!!! So glad I have a good zoom!

Here's Ethan with his friends Tyler, clarinet, and Kody, fellow alto sax.

The concert was amazing!!!!!! I'm so happy with what the conductors are teaching! The band was doing better dynamics and definitely watching her better! And, the orchestra was fantastic and the choir sounded great - he's got them on multiple harmonies! Anyways, the band, of course, was the best (yes, Ethan is standing over my shoulder) and I need to tell their teachers how great a job they are doing. Thanks!!!

Erin's last band concert

Did you know that instrumental concerts are very difficult to take pictures???!!!!!! Tuesday was Erin's band concert at school, and it will probably be her last. They did a great job, and this was the best picture I could get.
She has loved playing the flute, but is just really frustrated in this band and has decided to change to something else for a while. It's been a struggle with the conductor - his focus is Marching Band right now because it's a new school and that's what is "seen". They've done really well, so his focus has paid off, but......... He's a percussion major, but he really doesn't know how to lead a symphonic band. Erin has been continually frustrated and relieved when guest conductors come in because they know what they're doing! He also fosters competition instead of the "team" to get the kids to work harder, I guess. That is not a great environment, especially for Erin. Lots of kids have been frustrated and he keeps losing members of the band. I wish they'd hire someone else for symphonic! I'm so glad she's played as long as she has and she will still always have that in her life. I wish I could help the conductor understand, but I don't think I can, and I don't want it to backfire on Ethan who wants to do Jazz Band next year (which is awesome!). Thanks for playing, Erin. I love that you have music in your life! And.........back to piano, my dear :)

Cross Country

Ethan decided to do Cross-Country this year. I was hoping he would because he runs well and has great endurance! He had his third meet on Tuesday (although he missed his first one because he had just had wisdom teeth removed along with 2 others -yikes! Didn't get that one blogged!) and he did great! They have a large team and it's so fun to see so many uniforms from your school!

Ethan about 1/2 way through the race

Coming into the finish line!

He finished #9!!!!!!!!! And, it was a hard course this time with hills, but he did awesome! It's really fun to watch! Great job, Ethan! (And, yes, he knows his shorts are too short - he's trying to get different ones. The last ones were HUGE, so we'll get it, hopefully!)

Students of the Month

Jamie was chosen as Student of the Month for her class for November!!! The virtue for the month was "Responibility" and her teacher wrote very nice things about Jamie! Congratulations, Jamie!

Temple Lights

Last night we took the kids (well, most of them) up to see the Mesa Temple Lights. Ethan was helping with the chairs, so we decided if we didn't just go, we might not get it in this year. It was so beautiful and nice to go on a night that wasn't so crowded! And, this was our first year without a stroller/little one and we were able to take our time and enjoy it! Erin is going with mutual another night and had lots of homework, so she opted out.

The Nativity Scene - the star is SO bright!

Our family (-Erin) at the Nativity

Inside the Visitor's Center they have a display of nativities from all over the world. This one was my favorite from Eastern Europe.

One last picture of the Temple - isn't it beautiful?

OH - and if you happen to go - take a listen to the narration at the Isaiah (adobe looking house) - That's my brother, Rick! We were listening to it, and Lafe turned to me and said - That's your brother! So, I listened for a minute, and we were positive it was him. So, of course, I texted him to find out. I remember vaguely my mom mentioning it once, but we haven't been able to stop and listen before (remember the stroller thing?). It was fun to discover it ourselves, though!

O Christmas Tree.....

Time to decorate the Christmas Tree!!! Every year we keep track of whose turn it is to put the star on the tree - we write in on the box :) It was finally Erin's turn again, but we realized that by the time she gets another turn.......... she'll be 21!!!!!!!!!! (not thinking about it, not thinking about it......)

Decorating the tree
We also have a tradition of eating a popcorn tin while we decorate the tree - do you know how much smaller and more expensive they are now??? Kelcie and Talin enjoying this tradition!

Pedicures

Laura and her cousin Emma each got a gift certificate from Uncle Eric and Sonya for a pedicure, so they wanted to get one together! So, last Saturday they got to get all beautiful!


The guy said they even had enough to do a design and get a manicure, too!
Really cute and so fun to watch them be so excited and enjoy this together!!!

My sister-in-law is in this cool Book - Give-a-way!!!!! Check it out:

http://melindajonescarroll.blogspot.com/2010/11/gratitude-giveaways-and-interview-with.html

Temple Groundbreaking

Yesterday, we were so lucky to be able to attend the new Gilbert Temple Groundbreaking!!! We fixed up our bikes and rode them down so we wouldn't have to deal with traffic. It was pretty fun! Although, the girls and I are still trying to figure out how the sister missionaries do that all the time!

Kids standing by the shovels

Family by the shovels - it was REALLY bright!
Golden shovels - cool!

Family by the artist's rendition.

The best picture I could get of the actual groundbreaking

The kids each trying to do a little groundbreaking!

It was a neat experience - so glad we went!!!!! All the speakers were wonderful, and I just was so glad my kids will have that memory. Erin and Ethan were able to do this once before, although they may not remember, when we lived in Missouri for the Nauvoo Temple.