Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Christmas with My Family

A few days after Christmas we went to my step-mom, Maddy's, and her husband, Shawn's, for our Christmas dinner with my family. I love going over there and seeing my family!


CJ, Kaden, Zach & Lauren
Jordan
James & Elizabeth

Becky & Gavin

Shunae & Haylee

Maddy

Shawn, April & Keiton

Isabelle & Heather

Me and Mr. Hottie

Jessica (Ross's girlfriend), Ross & Lauren

Lacy, Keith, Keiton & Malibu
April & Keiton btw, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new camera!

Friday, December 26, 2008

CHRISTMAS MORNING . . .
Christmas morning was fun. The kids allowed me to sleep in til 6:30! The kids all loved what they got and when I asked them if they got everything they wanted they said yes! (OK, well, all except Haylee. Can't win 'em all!) I even got almsot everything I wanted! I definitely wasn't expecting it either. I got an iPod shuffle in the bottom of my stocking, hiding under all the yummy chocolate candies, including Godiva truffles...my FAVORITE! A little while later Jordan brought me an unmarked gift. It was a new, AWESOME! camera! I haven't downloaded any of the pictures from it yet, still have to figure that one out. Later on that morning I came into my office to turn my computer on and there sat a big present under my desk. A massage pad for my office chair! Half hour later I finally got around to pulling my keyboard tray out and there was another gift. Memory for an upgrade on my computer! My computer runs so much quicker now that Chris has installed it. And on Christmas Eve he installed a new light fixture in my bathroom. It looks great. Thanks, Babe! I love you!

xmas morning

CHRISTMAS EVE . . .



Christmas Eve we had munchies, talked about the true meaning of Christmas and had the kids open their present(s) from each other. They each drew a name a couple of weeks ago for who they were going to buy for. They really enjoy going shopping and picking things out for that person.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Keith's 21st Birthday

Sunday was my brother, Keith's 21st birthday. We had a surprise party for him at my step-moms. I LOVE living so close to so much family! It makes me so happy!

This is Keith and his daughter, Mali.

Happy Birthday, Keith!

Flegal Family Christmas Party

This year Chris and I were finally able to make it to the Flegal Family Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun and it's always good to see my family!
Chris & I
The kids with Santa Claus.

My sister Heather, my brother James and Me.

Me and my favorite auntie Linda!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Here's to hoping for a White Christmas!

Snow-dec 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Hope for Little Angels of Haiti


My friend has added more hand-made items to the Etsy Store for "Hope for Little Angels of Haiti". Please check it out. ALL items are hand-made and 100% of the proceeds go to help the orphanages in Haiti (one of these orphanages are where her 2 adorable kids are right now that she is in the process of adopting!). ANY purachse will help tremendously. Thanks for looking!

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission...

Yesterday we brought Kyle to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT. It was an awesome experience and made me decide that someday I'd like to serve a mission for the church too. I am so proud of Kyle for going and being such a great example to Jordan and all his other cousins that hopefully one day follow in his foot steps! We love you Kyle!

Temple Square

We went to Temple Square Tuesday night after Jordan's performance. Chris's parents, Coco and Lowell, and his sister Alison and her son Kyle were in town so they went with us. They're all here because Kyle went into the MTC yesterday. Somehow I managed to miss taking pictures of Lowell, Ali and Kyle while we were there to see the lights ( so unlike me!...hahaha, ya right!) And the pictures I DID take didn't turn out so great. I'm really starting to hate this camera!

Anyway, it was a nice time. This year wasn't as cold as the past two years, but it was still cold! The lights were very pretty, as always. There didn't seem to be as many lights as past years....maybe it's just me... But, the kids enjoyed it and so we'll be back next year!

Christmas Performance

Jordan's in the school choir and they had their 1st performance on Tuesday night. He did really good. It's been a pain driving him every Wednesday and Thursday morning before school, but he likes it so it makes it worth it. Good job, Jordan!

None of the pictures turned out very well. =( (dumb camera!) This is the only one that is clear and you can't even see him! Oh well!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

FMT Christmas Party

Me, Chris and my dad went to the Free Mountain Trappers Christmas Party last night. Free Mountain Trappers is the Mountain Man club we belong to. They're the ones that put on the Mountain Man Rendezvous at Fort Buenaventura in Ogden, Utah. The party was a lot of fun. It was a delicious dinner, followed by a raffle in which we won a few cool items and then a white elephant gift exchange. We had a lot of fun being there and chatting with some good friends of ours! I'm glad we made it, even though it's at least an hour drive!

Haylee's 1st Recital

Haylee's Piano Recital was yesterday. She's been taking piano with an AWESOME teacher since April of this year. She played Jingle Bells and Beethoven's "Fur Elise". She's been practicing both of them all year. She taught herself how to play Fur Elise and we are so proud of how well she did yesterday and at how well she's been doing about practicing. It's been 8 months and she still loves to go to practice and practice at home. Good job, Haylee! You did AWESOME!

Elizabeth stood by Haylee during most of the recital and when Haylee
went up to play Jingle Bells, Elizabeth decided to join her.
Haylee with her teacher, Sister Richins.
Haylee and her friend, Katriela, who is also taking lessons with Sis. Richins.

Haylee's Recital

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Party

My friend, Danielle, and I threw a Christmas Party this past Friday night. We had a lot of yummy food and tons of good friends and family came. It was a lot of fun and I hope we get to do it again next year. I wish I would have taken pictures. I'm always so bad about it. My friend, Jackie, took a few while she was there, though. Thanks to her I have at least these 2 pictures to post!

Danielle and I
Me and Jackie

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Help for Little Angels of Haiti

A friend of mine is trying to adopt right now in Haiti. During this very long process she is trying to raise money for the orphanage where her children are. Most days they only get one meal and many of them are sick and in and out of hospitals, including her little boy. Please take some time to look at this website and order some adorable blankets made by her mother-in-law and some cool banana leaf cards made by unemployed Haitians. ALL proceeds go to helping these adorable little children.

EDIT: They have sold out of the hand-made cards! Sorry! And I never had a chance to order any! =( I guess that's a good thing, though!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Oh! Christmas Tree

Every year while I'm hanging the lights on the tree, the kids have donuts and hot chocolate. We've done this every year since Chris and I were married.
The kids love it!
The kids take turns each year putting the angel on top of the tree.
This year it was Jordan's turn.
The 1st few years of our marriage we had a home-made star made of foil. =)
Me and the kids.
My mom will probably have a heart attack when she seems my kids aren't in matching pj's and a couple of them are 1/2 naked! Sorry, Mom!

Chris and the kids!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...


I'm always getting these e-mails and I never fill them out. I decided to do this one since it's Christmassy and just stick it on my blog. It was really long, though, so I cut a few boring ones out. Here it is...

Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
Ribbons or bows? Both!
Real tree or Artificial? I love the smell and feel of real trees.
Do you like eggnog? No
Favorite gift received as a child? Pretty much anything my mom gave me. The two things I remember most was a tiny pink radio w/headphones and a camera.
Hardest person to buy for? My husband. Luckily we’re not exchanging gifts this year.
Easiest person to buy for? The kids.
Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
Mail or email Christmas cards? I love to get them in the mail. But I know it can be costly. I just think of it as this is the one time of year most of my family hears from me so I think it’s worth it.
Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really don’t know
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Summer Sausage & Cheese & Crackers, Sparkling Cider, Breakfast Casserole on Christmas Morning, Bacon Wraps, Hot Cocoa, Wassail, Pumpkin Pie from Costco, Home-made Candies & Cookies, Goodies from Neighbors
Lights on the tree? Is there such thing as a Christmas Tree without lights???
Favorite Christmas songs? The ones without vocals! I love instrumental Christmas songs.
Travel at Christmas or stay home ? Stay home!!!
Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning and the kids each get to open one Christmas Eve. And if we go to grandparents houses Christmas Eve, they get to open those then too.
Favorite ornament theme or color? No faves. I like silver and blue, though.
Favorite for Christmas dinner? That we don’t have to go any where for Christmas dinner. One year we had lobster and crab. Last year I believe we just snacked all day.
What do you want for Christmas this year? A new camera, a massage pad for my office chair, a new PC (or this one updated/cleaned-up), an IPOD for the gym, my basement bathroom finished (ok, started too!)…I know, I’m totally dreamin’. =)
Favorite Christmas Movies? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! Hi-freakin-larious!!
White or Green Christmas? White! Living in San Diego, it just never felt like Christmas without the snow.

Monday, December 1, 2008

I'm a Esme! I found out through TwilightersAnonymous.com. Which Twilight Female Are You? Take the quiz and find out!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving it was just Chris, me and the kids. I was sad at first that no one was coming over. OK, sad is an understatement. But it actually ended up being a really good day. I spent the entire day in the kitchen. Then we ate around 2pm. I spent a few more hours in the kitchen making pies to bring to my step-mom, Maddy's, house. Then for dessert that evening we went to Maddy's and most of the adults (minus me and a few others) played Rock Band (or one of those kind of games...they're all the same to me). We had a lot of fun over there and it ended up being a really good day! I love having (most of) my family so close. For that, I am very thankful!




Thanksgiving 2008

Football Party

Jordan had a few friends over to watch the Utah State/BYU football game a couple of Saturdays ago.