Move It Party

In October a wonderful program started at our school and I believe to the whole district as well.  It's the Move It Program for 3rd thru 5th Graders to get moving and get healthy.  The sponsor for the program is Select Health Insurance which is part of Intermountain Health Care or IHC.  This is who provides the majority of our health services in town.  The first month each child could earn a pedometer if they exercised 30 minutes a day for at least 5 days a week.  The second month they were able to earn a water bottle if kept up the 30 minutes of activity a day, but added in drinking plenty of water.  The third month they could earn a surprise if they continued the 30 minutes of activity a day and drink plenty of water.

Each night they diligently marked their calendars and after Christmas break turned them in.  Last week they each came home with a green participation ribbon and an invitation to a swim party.  Our school had the highest participation and earned a night out to get active and swim.  What a great prize the kids loved it.

Not to crowded...Did everyone forget??

Finally, friends from school

Getting active and staying active.

The kids had a great time and didn't want to leave.  Rylee finally went down the large water slide with her friend Abigail.  Reganne had to show us how she could jump off the diving board.  That girl has very little fear and was soon doing flips, spins, other tricks off.  As I sat there and watched them play what better way to get kids active and healthy than by working with the schools & families to promote it and reward their efforts.

Awesome Sunrise!!!

7:00 am, Tuesday 

Who has time to watch the sun come up during the week?  Most days not me between getting breakfast ready, getting the kids ready for school, and myself ready for work.  All I get time for is to look outside and make sure what the kids need to take with them.  Hats, coats, umbrellas, or maybe just a jacket.

But this morning the kids were all commenting on how pink the sky was.  Each one had their iTouches taking pictures.  Rylee pleaded with me to snap one for her since she was still getting dressed.  As I looked up and around I was amazed at the variety of colors in the sky and how light radiated all around.  I snapped my picture and then paused for a couple of minutes feeling gratitude for the world around me.  It was a great way to start the day.

Basketball Saturday Game 5

This week's game started at 10:00 so everyone had time to sleep in and get a little be slower start to the morning.  Rylee was ready to play and had her game face on.  Time to warm up, but were are the refs they must has slept in as well.

Everyone finally arrived and time to get the show on the road.

Get that ball!!!

Darn I missed that basket...

Rylee scored her first basket and I missed it.  What kind of Mom am I?

Watch her go.

Who knew that basketball turned into football.  These girls are learning how to hang onto the ball.

After missing her first basket I kept my eyes peeled and told the rest of the kids to either watch or leave me alone to watch.  Wow!! by the end of the game she had made 3 baskets.  Of course the camera doesn't cooperate and I missed getting a picture.  Her coach after the game told me how proud she was of Rylee and how much she has progressed this season.  That put a smile on Rylee's face since she thought the coach didn't like her.

Time to go home and get Saturday chores done.  What fun!!!!

A New Year and.....

St James Chapel

A new ward, new time, different chapel, and new callings.  During the trip to Michigan they had a special meeting to change our ward boundaries.  Not only did they change all the boundaries but they changed all the names as well.  When I left town we were in the Little Valley 4th Ward.  I came back to the Red Butte Ward.  The great news is the economy must be turning around here in town with all the growth we are experiencing.  We now have too many wards for the buildings we have in our stake.  So once again we are starting over in a building a couple of miles away the St James Chapel.  We were also prepared for 1:00 church surprise once again we would be meeting at 1:30.

The best part of the change is being released from teaching the 9 year old Valiant Class, but what would be next?  SURPRISE!!!! We get to serve together once again but this time as the Nursery Leaders.  This is one of the callings I told Dave that I would really like to have right now.  The Lord answered my prayers and we have a cute class of 13 toddlers with two other ladies serving with us.

It's going to be a great year.

Pretty Dog...

Harley ... flower power!!!!

The dishes are done and the kitchen is clean.  Wait a minute was is wrong with Harley's ear?  A closer look revealed that someone was trying to make this poor dog look better by putting a flower barrette above his ear.  He didn't see to care but everyone else did.  The kids chased him down and tried to remove it.  After about 15 minutes it appeared again.  Who was the culprit???  Reganne who else could it be.  The funny thing was Harley didn't seem to mind and let her do it. 

Traveling Again....

January 5th we had another baptism this time in Spanish Fork for Brinton's special day.  How lucky we are to be able to spend it with him.  Lucky for us my cell phone was working and I found the address to the church since there was a church building in every subdivision and none were the one we were looking for.  We made it just in time.

Reganne & Brinton

This pose never changes for these two.

Father & Son

What's that stuff on Randy's chin???

A yummy lunch with family.

Grandma is the patient with three doctors in training.

It was a great weekend spending time with family that we haven't seen for a couple of months.  How proud we are of these three eight year olds in make this important decision to become members of the church and to follow Jesus Christ.  How lucky am I to be able to attend all three and now that the church is the same were ever we go.  Reganne is convinced that her's was different, but don't we all believe that about a special day.

Last Day of Christmas Break

Last day of Christmas break the decoration have all been taken down and boxed up for next year.  The mountains of laundry are done and put away.  The kids are restless and bored to tears.  Time for lunch out and then an afternoon of swimming at the rec center.

Playing games in the shallow end.

Too cold to jump in.

All in and playing 

Time for basketball practice, get ready for dinner, and make sure all assignments are ready for school.  Best of all back to our regular schedule.

Time To Travel

Morgan's baptism was coming up and I promised Reganne if the flights looked good her and I would go and take Grandma along with us.  We made all our flights with minutes to spare and arrived at Emily & Ryans' by 4:30 pm.  Reganne was done traveling by this time since we had to get up at 5:00 am to get to the airport in time for our first flight.

After the first 1/2 hour the girls became inseparable.  Everyone was headed over to a local hotel for dinner, swimming, and visiting with more family.  Oops I didn't bring a swimsuit who knew we would even need one in the winter?  The kids played for a couple of hours in the pool and with a lot of coaxing we got everyone into the cars to go home and get ready for bed.  I am so glad that Mom wanted to drive since I was so turned around and confused about were we were going or how to get there.    

Saturday morning dawned early getting ready for Morgan's special day.  

Two Peas in a Pod.

Morgan in her Baptism Dress

Cousin's vegging out playing games.

Lake Michigan

Ryan asked us if we wanted to do a little sight seeing and we replied sure, but it is so cold.  That doesn't stop them from wanting to share their favorite spots with us.

Wow!!! the most amazing sandy beach and it was on lake and not the ocean.  Ryan warned me that we would find sand in our clothes days after our trip.  He was right, it makes me laugh when more appears and reminds me how much fun we had.

Josh & Gracie showing Reganne how to climb on the rocks at the pier.  Poor Reganne was freezing to death our St George coats were not match for the Michigan weather.

Hunting for seashells

Beach, Water, Sand, and Snow

A very interesting combination, but these three kids loved running around playing, collecting shells, and wondering if there was enough snow to build a snowman.

It was a great trip that ended to soon. Trying to get home soon became the task of the day.  We sent Grandma home on the only available seat Sunday morning.  Reganne and I continued to wait.  Many thanks to a very patient Ryan & Emily in picking us back up in Grand Rapids and quickly taking us to Kalamazoo for a flight that kept jumping out at me to take.  After a stop in Detroit we finally made it to Salt Lake City at 7:30 pm.  Lucky for us Grandma still liked us and picked us up and took us home with her.  Monday morning dawned with snow showers and slick roads.  Dave agreed to meet us half way in Fillmore.  Off we went through the snow, ice, and wind.  There were so many cars off the road we almost turned back.  We made it home by 1:00 on New Years Eve.  I was greeted with mountains of laundry so much for celebrating the new year.

The kids made it to midnight, but I was done by 10:30.  Thank heavens Dave stayed up with the kids.

Christmas Jammies...

This year the Christmas Jammies came in the final hours of shopping.  There were Angry Bird Pajama Bottoms in everyone's size except Ryder.  Instead of red he got blue ones.  Everyone was all snugly and warm time for one more round of pictures before bed.  We also needed a family picture by the tree so let's kill two angry birds with one picture.

The kids

The whole family.  Dave's out of breath racing to group after pressing the button on the camera.

Not a bad picture while waiting and waiting for the flash to go off.

Maybe this should be our family picture for next year?

Sugar photo...Will they ever go to sleep?

Or should this one be the picture?

Check it Out...I couldn't have planned this picture any better.

Crazy Kids...Oops Ryder didn't even have his Angry Bird jammies on.

It was a great day!!!!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!!

Merry Christmas

Who knew that the night would last so long?  The kids all slept in until 7:00 finally Rylee came in and asked if  she could wake everyone up because Santa had come.  They had to wait until Dave and I came out...

This was the site that greeted me...How patient could they be and for how long?

Not very long...Paper began to fly.

Rylee... American Girl Doll Mini

Reganne & her American Girl Doll Mini

Shawn with his iTouch

Christiana with her iTouch

Ryder and clothes... Where are my toys???

Thanks Mom for the pants.

He was amazing stopping after each gift and thanking everyone for that present.  He took about 20 minutes longer than the rest of the kids.  Yet I think he enjoyed is the most.

It's official I am a soccer mom.  I know have an umbrella that will shade us & keep us dry.  I also have a collapsible wagon to put all the gear in to get the fields.    

Wait a minute...Dad's playing with the toys.  His present was outside in the garage.  Slide over Ryder and let Dad have a turn.

After dinner at Black Bear  Diner where the water main broke shortly before we got there.  Amazingly enough they kept it together and had service with a smile.  It was time for more presents with the Wheelers.

Be careful of what you say.  At Thanksgiving while cooking dinner I mentioned I needed to get married again  to get new stuff for my kitchen.  Who knew as I opened my present it would be full of new cooking stuff.  the kids looked at me like I was crazy, but I loved all of it.

What a day months of planning and secrets all ended with smiles.  365 more days until next year.  

Twas the Night Before Christmas....

Instead our activities started in the morning with a quick trip to the Rec Center to work out and get ready for the stress of the day.  Then it was off to get the last minute gifts and oops who forgot to get batteries.  The kids kept asking about presents under the tree.  Are you sure we really need those?  The kids were really worried and I was dragging my feet since I don't really like wrapping, but it must be done. 

The presents are all wrapped and under the tree.  Time to start baking treats to enjoy and to share.  This year there wasn't time for our official Cookie Party instead we did it just with the kids.  

Trying to frost the cookies...Was there more frosting on the cookies or the table?

They look pretty good.  Will Santa enjoy them or have a bellyache?

After dinner of spaghetti & meatballs it was off to temple square to enjoy the lights and enjoy the Christmas Spirit.

Good picture with my simple camera.  It doesn't show how cold it was that night.

Nativity Scene

Time to go home, get warm, and get ready for bed so Santa can visit.

Our Little Elf

Reganne's class this year had parents read their child's favorite Christmas story to the class.  Reganne came home with this project she had done after one of the stories.  If I had to guess it was Elf On A Shelf.  She really wanted to keep this project, but I convinced her that I would take a picture of it so she could keep it forever.  It was harder to get her to put it on for the picture.  Finally I was able to snap this picture and it is now priceless.

Christmas Vacation: Day 1 Tuacahn

Trying to fit in all our Christmas Activities has seemed hard than usual this year.  Time is running out too.  We are off to Tuacahn for Christmas in Dixie.  It was a little warmer but everyone needed to bundle up.  First order of business was dinner at the Pasta Factory.  Where but in St George can you eat outside on the patio with only heaters in December.  Full bellies and Christmas Music everyone jumped in the cars and we were off.

Look at the lights

Tuacahn's Christmas Tree with 6 smiling kids.

Look at those big green eyes.

Oops!!! Who broke their zipper at dinner.  We can't be to mad this coat is 3 years old and he is only 5.  Time for a new one.  He is requesting blue.

What a crazy family..Is everyone looking at Blake???

Warming up by the campfire.

This is one thing we missed from out camping trip due to the rain.

Everyone was freezing and with Hot Chocolate $3 a cup I promised everyone hot chocolate at our house even with marshmallows.  Everyone was tired and ready for bed.  To bad showers were still in the plans since tomorrow is Sunday.

3 days until Christmas......