Christmas Memories...

Why can't I rearrange the layout of these pics after I upload them? help!!!! They look just right in the create post and then get all messed up in the preview and actual post...

I wanted to post a few more pics with my other kids and extended family members. It was fun to have all the kids together here for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. We tracked Santa on the NORAD radar on the computer and the kids watched Christmas movies till they fell asleep. It was so nice that they actually stayed up late enough to let us sleep in till almost 8am! which was good, since Santa's helpers were up till almost 4am finishing wrapping gifts. etc. Christmas morning my mom, Patrick and Morgan came over from Pt. Angeles to exchange gifts and have our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of Waffles with Strawberries and Cream. We also got to see our adorable "Kambry" via web cam, she was smiling and laughing so cute!

We had to reschedule Christmas eve at Grandpa Del/Grandma Pearl's due to the weather, but were able to get together the Sunday after Christmas. My sweet-sweet grandparents, were able to join us as well as my brothers, Ian and Treavor. Having a white Christmas would have been even better if we hadn't already had a white week-and-a-half! It was nice to see the snow and know we could spend the day at home playing rock band, wii games, and most of all napping!!

(that's another one of my favorite Christmas day traditions!) Then we wake up, make a big dinner for everyone and enjoy feeling the true spirit of Christmas together again...

Mom's goin' crazy for Christmas!

I think that the extended school break caused by the crazy snow, ice and below freezing temperatures has actually caused a case of brain freeze! Those minor sledding accidents have left a bruise or two and we're all on ridiculous schedules now! We're up late and staying in our pajamas past noon and more than one thoughtful bearer of goodies has witnessed it--not a pretty sight! I do shower daily it's just between the hours of 3 and 8pm. I am so far behind now on my "Christmas" to-do list that I'm sure that I'll be lucky to finish by New Year's Eve!

Christmas Traditions-Pics from Last Year

For the past few years the kids and I have gone
to downtown Seattle on Christmas Eve-Eve.

We go to Pacific Place and watch the snow fall inside, and check out a few of the stores that we can't usually afford to buy anything at. Then we hike down to Westlake Ctr. for dinner at the food court, a little more shopping and then across the street to the Carousel. We all go for a ride since it's fun and for a good cause. We love being downtown seeing the carousels, nutcrackers, window displays and all the lights! We don't really go downtown much, so this is a fun time.

Last year, David joined us and even though he wasn't too thrilled, he went along for the family's sake! He's the kind of guy that just doesn't really get excited about much unless it's Big, Red, has "SUPRA" on the side and Wakes are involved. Don't worry honey, only about 4- 5 more months and you'll be back at it!

Kambry

Too cute!!

Be Grateful

I'm thankful and grateful for many blessings-Most of all Family! Last week we went to a baby shower for our neice who's expecting her first baby. A baptism for another neice's daughter and were also out to dinner with 3 of David's siblings. The day before Thanksgiving we visited with my sweet sweet grandparents, that makes them Brady's, great-great grandparents. Not many kids these days get to visit and eat cookies with their great greats! Then on Thanksgiving day we spent time with both sides of our family. Mom, Patrick, Sean and Nani came over and it was our first time meeting my newest neice, Kambry. She's even cuter in person than she was on their blog! Then we went down to Dad's for our traditional Turkey Day Feast prepared by Momma Pearl. My brothers Ian and Treavor joined us for dinner too. What a feast it was! We ate dinner, relaxed, napped and then ate homemade apple and pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream for dessert. Then we took the usual family picture that nobody really wants to be in, but looking back, we're always glad we did. We count family #1 among our many blessings!!!

Shalane's Birthday-Nov 17th, 2008

A bittersweet birthday--In loving memory of our sweet angel Shalane--She was born in 1988, 20 years ago today-It's hard to believe...

She said so much, without every speaking a word. She was a teacher of faith, hope, patience, appreciation of the big & little things in life, and most of all, Unconditional Love. We loved her unconditionally and we believe she loved us in the same way. We know that taking care of Shalane for a little over 18 years was our greatest trial and also one of our greatest blessings. We miss her dearly and treasure our memories of her as our daughter. We know that she was a truly special, strong and valiant spirit that was sent to earth in a fragile body, to teach us to be faithful, valiant and true to our covenants. Thanks to all those who supported us, helped take care of her and made her life the best it could be. We truly love and appreciate all of our family and friends. We are so thankful for our knowledge of the gospel and our faith that Families can be Together Forever.

We've got it good and it's not even our Anniversary!

Solid, Solid as a Rock,That's what this love is, that's what we've got...hahahaha or something like that. We recently got granite countertops in our kitchen, and they are solid-rock! I wanted to say how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful, (I didn't say, perfect) husband. This weekend we had the fortunate luck of going out on 2 date nights. We usually try to go out at least one night of the weekend, but that can be hard sometimes, depending on our kids social plans. But this weekend, we went to a movie on Friday night and then out to dinner and on Sat night. As I look back on the roller coaster of our married life, I realize that we were truly M.F.E.O. (made for each other) (I got that line from "Sleepless in Seattle") The longer we're married, the more we seem to be more like each other. David is a hard working, faithful husband, who is so patient with me through my emotional ups/downs. I worry a lot about a lot of things and he worries about a few things, so it balances out. I'm thankful that he holds the priesthood and is able to give a blessing of healing and comfort when needed. I tickle his feet and he lets me watch what I want on TV, usually reality shows, so it works out pretty good. We've been on some great trips together and that's something I love to look forward to! These pics are from our Anniv trip to the San Juan Islands this June-a trip he planned and surprised me with this time! I usually do the planning, so this was extra special!

TRICK OR TREAT!

We went to the church Halloween Carnival, Oktoberfest

at JHS & Trick-or-Treating

Kelsey is Beautiful in Blue!

Well it was an exciting weekend as Kelsey went to the JHS Homecoming dance with her friend Mitch. They went as part of a large group, most of them from the cross-country team. He picked Kelsey up and then they went over to our neighbor's for group photos. Kelsey had fun getting all dressed up and said they all had a great time!

Kelsey's thinking-- am I doing this right?

A couple of my faves!

Our Angel

We still miss our Angel Shalane and know that's she's watching over us

and waiting till we can be together again...

It was a SUPRA Summer

Well we did it! We traded in our good old (it was as old as Kelsey) Sea Ray boat-for a new improved wakeboarding boat. Dubbed by David as the "WAKE-MAKER" It's a RED HOT Supra 21V Launch. Brandon said that he might have to go to the hospital when he saw how "sick" it was. Anyway, enough of the teenage lingo.
Thanks to the new boat we now have a new addition to the wakeboarding crew! Alicia was successful on her 2nd attempt on the wakeboard. Now David, Brandon & Kelsey can even "Surf" behind the boat. It's really fun to watch and kind of hard to believe what a big wave the boat makes! I have yet to actually surf, even though I did try a few times, and provided a few good laughs, thanks to my total wipeouts!

Where's the Dam Gift Shop?

We were heading back to Utah to pick up our car, since we'd rented a van for the Arizona stretch-well worth the extra money, since it gave us the extra space we needed when David joined us. We used the handy-dandy GPS and put in either, "shortest distance" or "fastest time" not exactly sure which one, as we headed out from Phoenix, after saying goodbye to Tanya, Paul and their Family. Anyhoo, I was driving David was sleeping and somewhere along the way I realized that we were seeing signs to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the Hoover Dam. Interesting, hmm. Well since the GPS is always right (according to my husband) I just kept on driving...Low and behold a couple? hundred miles later, we were heading down to the Hoover Dam. Another amazing landmark, totally worth seeing, if you happen to get by that way. We took lots of pictures while driving 25 mph through this gigantic man-made wonder of the world! We stopped off at the lookout point, and then had to check out the "dam" gift shop. Alicia and Brady found some cool rocks, & I made my usual collectible "souvenir" coin. (The gift shop stop was considered a wasted of time & money, by David, but basically a given, when it comes to me and my girls!!)

Bryce Canyon-Is it worth It?

Well, on our way down to Arizona from Utah, we saw signs for "Bryce Canyon" I said "Oh, we've never been there before, can we stop? translation, can we drive 34 miles each way, from the highway to see it? I asked the kids and got a variety of moans and groans... Brandon, bless his heart, chimed in and said, "If mom wants to see it, I think we should go" So, David took the turn and off we went...Just let me say, the first views of the unbelievably red rock of the canyons, were even better than I'd seen on the travel channel! seriously! We got to the main entrance of the park and read that it cost $25 to drive through! David asks the park ranger, "Is it worth It?" she said, "Of course it is!" people come from all over the world to see this! So off we went...it was Amazing with a capital Amazing!!!! Of course it was totally worth it!!

Road Trips & More Summer Adventures

This summer started with a combo road trip to Utah & Arizona-We started off in Utah for a music workshop for Kelsey & Brandon put on by Jenny Phillips. While Brandon and Kelsey were in classes, the Alicia, Brady & I went sightseeing, shopping, swimming and out to eat! Yummy!

We rode TRAXX around Temple Square and to the Gateway Mall. It was at least 100 degrees during the day,so it was nice to not have to walk any more than we had to..The Gateway mall had outdoor misters to cool us off. Temple Square was busy, but we were able to visit all the places we wanted to. Brady & Alicia loved to see the temple and the church museum was great to see!