Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year..... and we look forward to spending time with all of you in 2009!!

New Years 2007

Tonight we will again be going bowling with the my family and the Gilbert's which we have been doing at 5:00 every new's years since I can remember..... Then we are going to all come back to our house to ring in the new year.

Bonding for the Brother-in-laws

So here is my wonderful husband trying to sing with the Bros....... I think it was suppose to be Jon Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer..... Stand back ladies he's all mine!

Merry Christmas!!!! 2008

After seeing several of you in the last few weeks you have asked what happen to the Christmas traditions that I had promised you at the beginning of the month???? Well I just ran out of time and also I think I thought we had a lot more traditions then perhaps we do.

Just to recap our month:

• When we decorate the tree we each get a special ornament.
• Riding Trax downtown to see the lights on Temple square as a family. (Still haven't done it yet)
• Christmas Eve candlelight service this year we went to the service at Southmountain Christian Church it was really nice.
• Christmas Eve dinner at my parents (this year at the new condo) with close family friends. Before dinner we have a round of toasts with the group. Dad starts the toast he chooses someone and then that person picks someone else to toast you get the picture. Before presents are given between families the kids have to find the first star. (This year while driving to Grandmas DJ commented on how hard it was going to be given the weather conditions.)
• New Christmas PJ's - from Nana and Papa Chuck.
• Christmas morning: Open presents at home and then back to Grandma's for more presents and breakfast.

• Christmas night we get together usually at our house with the Nance family. This year Brayden's favorite gift was his new drum set (which I am sure David and I will regret soon enough. LOL)
  

While in PHX we ....

....of cousre saw Little Jessie....He was dedicated this week to the lord. So that was really nice to be apart of. .... celebrated Jasons birthday day! The big 28.

... and last but not least went to the zoo.

Rams VS. Arizona

This weekend we went to sunny and warm PHX to see the Rams vs. Cardinals game. It was a lot of fun.... David looks forward to it every year.

Christmas Traditions

Our family has several Christmas traditions and throughout this month I will be sharing some of these with you all.

Special Ornaments:
Our 1st Christmas tradition began in 1974 which was the year I was born (the first grandchild). Granny selected a special theme for each one of her grandchildren, and each year we would receive our special ornament when we decorated our tree. The list is as follows:

Me: Angels
Allison: Mice
Ashley: Rocking Horse
Aubrey: Toy Solider
Andrew: Bear

Here is my first Angel from 1974

When I started dating David my mother choose a special ornament for him. David had no idea 16 years ago that he would look so forward to finding out what his special ornament would be each year. Davids theme is NFL players / sports.

David's favorite NFL ornament

When my grandmother passed away my mother continued Granny’s tradition of giving each of us our special ornament each year. And once I had DJ my mother (DJ’s Granny) continued this tradition by selecting a special ornament for each of her Grandchildren:

DJ: Snowmen
McKinley: Barbie Doll
Brayden: Elfs
Beth: Cats
Maddie: Dogs
J.T.: Santas
Reagan: Pooh Bear
Jesse: Toy Soliders

DJ's first snowman

Brayden's first elf

As each of my sisters got married there husbands also started to receive a special themed ornament for each of them.

Jason: airplanes
Scott: sports

I love getting my ornament as does David, DJ and Brayden. I am sure my Granny had hoped that this tradition would continue forever and ever, but I think it has far surpassed her expectations. I am sure that she is smiling down on us.

Turkey Bowl 2008!!

Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed another year of the Turkey Bowl.. We had a blast can't wait to see you all next year :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to take a minute and tell you all how thankful I am for good friends and family. All day I have been thinking about last year. We were all so happy and healthly and if I had ever thought that within the next few weeks our happy little world would be turned upside down - I wouldn’t have believed you.

But last year two weeks after Thanksgiving, my little sister was involved in a horrible car accident and her son (J.T.), my nephew passed away at 5 weeks old. This was not only devastating for my sister and her husband but for our family as well.

Two months later (Feb 11th) my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia. She was admitted directly from the Doctors office to the hospital where she stayed until June. There were several times during this long hospital stay and the three other hospital admits that we thought she wasn’t going to make it, but I am happy to report that my mother is here with us celebrating Thanksgiving this year and is getting stronger everyday.

Like I said earlier thinking back on last year, I wouldn't have believed that our family would be tested in our faith as we have. I am so thankful for God's blessings.... He has blessed my sister and her husband with another child…. Little Jesse. He is so sweet and I am so happy to see my sister happy again. My mother while the road to remission has been hard - she has persevered and has beat this horrible disease again.

I am Thankful for husband and my two wonderful boys (DJ and Brayden) they mean the world to me…. I am also thankful for my awesome family and friends. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays!!!

UTAH vs. BYU Game

David was able to get tickets to the Utah game from RJ Sanford #25. Our good friends the Van Leeuwens invited us to spend the night in the tail gate lot on Friday night.. Can you say PARTY!!! It was a great weekend and we had so much fun. Thanks Jon and Chrissy for the invite.

To anyone who reads my blog you may realize I havn't posted much this month. It has been so crazy between home and work I just haven't had a chance to sit and think. So I am going to catch you up on our month of November.....

First Oct and Nov Birthdays.... I hope you all had a wonderful day...



With football over we had our team banquet at Rock Creek Pizza it was a great night. It was sad to say goodbye to all the families we meet this year but we also made some great friends. Coach Heugly said so many wonderful things about DJ when he was giving DJ his gift... he told everyone how DJ was a leader for this team and how much he had improved since last year. It makes me feel good as a parent to hear others talk about your son in such postitive ways.