We escaped to Las Vegas on Monday. We stayed at the Sunset Station hotel, shopped and ate. Jake and I are not the best at driving around in Vegas so we made a bet that if he could make all of the right exits he could pick where we ate, and if he missed any, I got to choose! Luckily he made all of the exits, but unfortunately we had to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings! Jake was in heaven with the millions of TVs surrounding us and endless wings! The girls and I passed the time by taking pictures! Later we went bowling at our hotel. Jake was the big winner, and thanks to bumpers, Taylor and Paige kicked my butt! It was nice to get away and relax for a few days!

I guess my slideshow didn't work so here is a smilebox of our Christmas!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

We had a great Christmas in St. George with my 3 sisters and their families! We started out carolling around the neighborhood on the back of a wagon pulled by 3 beautiful horses! It was perfect weather and we had so much fun! The next morning I went to get my running shoes out of the garage and noticed some water on the garage floor. Later that day, we had a new water heater! Merry Christmas to the Nelsons! We had Christmas Eve dinner at the church followed by our annual Christmas play. Grandma Wray did a great job of writing the script and organizing everyone! We opened one present of PJs and a pillowcase from Grandma and Grandpa Wray. Christmas day was consumed with Nintendo DS playing, naps, and leftovers! Thanks to everyone for coming! We can't wait till next time! Hopefully my two brothers and their families will join us! We missed you!

Holiday Happenings

We are always too busy this time of year which is fun but crazy! Just a few pics of what's been going on!

We finally finished our last week of school before break! It seemed like the longest week ever with crazy kids mixed with snow! It was so great to have a day off on Thursday! I think the kids were excited for school on Friday so we could have our Christmas party. This is Paige and her good buddy from school, Teiana, with their favorite teacher! :)

We had an early visitor on Thursday. Apparently Rudolph is missing so Santa was in the neighborhood looking for him! He told us to tell everyone if they see Ruldoph tell him to "Go Home!"

Paige told Santa she wants a DS, books, clothes and Barbies!

Taylor said she wants books! He liked that answer!

The girls made a snowman while Jake and I were out shopping! It is still standing 6 days later!

The snowman looks like a Dixie Flyer fan!

We had a Christmas party with the girls I play cards with. We exchanged white elephant gifts and one of them was this life size picture of George! Just in case you thought he was really at the party!

And finally, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of my family for Christmas! Jake is so excited he can hardly contain himself! I wonder if he will look this happy by Saturday???

NO SCHOOL!

Oh yea! No school today on account of the 1/2 inch of snow that is on the ground!! The school buses don't have snow tires and we have no snow removal, so we get to stay home! That is great news for Jake and I being teachers, but I feel bad for other working parents!

We had to bust out our snow gear as soon as we got home! Paige was more into sledding then Taylor. Taylor was too worried about calling/txting all her friends to tell them we didn't have school tomorrow! Kallie was running laps around the backyard! I was just hoping it wasn't too dark to take pictures! Jake was already worrying about when we were going to have to make our "snow day" up! Overall, we are so excited! It makes it feel so much like Christmas which is perfect because we are not going to WY this year! Although I don't think my family thought they would be coming to a "white Christmas" in St. George!

I'm sure everyone reading this from WY or PA is laughing at the amount of snow we have! Hey, it's a lot for us!

Taylor had her choir concert last night. It was a cold and snowy night, so we had to take pictures of everybody in the snow!

Taylor is right under the girl in the red dress. At the very end of the performance the principal let all the parents come closer and take pictures. Thanks Mr. Sonju!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Wray for braving the snow and cold to come and support Taylor!

Paige had her first piano recital on Monday! She has been extremely nervous for weeks! She had to wait until almost the very end to play her songs which added to her anxiety (and mine)! She played "I'll be Home for Christmas" with her teacher, and The Czech Folk Song. She has only been taking lessons for 4 months. We are so proud of her! And she is so glad it is over!

This is Paige's teacher Dixie! We could not ask for a better piano teacher! She is so talented, cute, funny and VERY patient! We are so glad Rachelle recommended her! If you are looking for a good teacher she is fantastic!

Spreading some holiday cheer "piano style"!

More of that HOLIDAY CHEER!

We braved the wind and snow to make it to Taylor's first cheer competition at Alta high school this weekend. It was all worth it when her team took 1st place in their division! They were so excited! They have really improved since last year!

Taylor with her stunting partner Brinkley.

Getting her boots on to walk out to the car!


Taylor's biggest fans!

Madi, Ryan and Taylor with the trophy. Ryan is one of their coaches and the owner of RCC.

One big happy cheer family!

(You really can't tell in this picture, but I got my hair cut. Just imagine that the front is a lot longer then the back! Scary!)

Spreading some holiday "CHEER"!

Taylor had a cheer performance on Friday at the Washington Rec Center. Their first competition got cancelled so they decided to just have a performance for parents. Other cheer teams around St. George performed as well as all of the high school squads.

Gotta love the bow!

Friends Shayla and Teiana ready for some holiday cheer!

I love Paige's dimple!!

Taylor and Madi Odette

They are cheer/school buddies!

Below is a video of Taylor's cheer squad. She is the girl in the green/orange outfit with the bow! :) She is a base, so the only time you can see her is when she tumbles. She is the last tumbler that does a round off, backhand spring, back tuck! We are so proud of her! It has taken along time for her to get brave enough to do her tuck! Her coach, Alex, is sitting by us and says, "I taught her that!" right after she did it! Unfortunately, the category they compete in doesn't allow for back tucks! Maybe next year!

Happy 12th Birthday Taylor!

Taylor turned 12 on Wed. the 3rd and celebrated her birthday on Saturday.

She went to Evan's Hair School where everyone got their hair and nails done.

Then back to our house for some pizza and birthday cake!

So my batteries quit half-way through the song, but you know the rest!

Trick candles! She kept blowing, and blowing, and blowing. . . They get her every time!