MAYLIN2007

Leading up to Christmas, Jay had a list of a few things he wanted to do as a family. The first was to go to the lights at Thanksgiving Point. We do this every year. We get a milkshake at JCW's and then we eat it while we drive through the lights. It is so cold every year, you would think we would pick cocoa instead, but nope! Those milkshakes are just too good. Me and the girls always get grasshopper. Alex gets cookie dough and Jay gets Oreo. For the record, Austin would either get Oreo or pineapple. I had planned on taking pictures of our traditional night, however, most of the time the kids spent it fighting so I forgot to take pictures. I was too busy playing referee. So much for that "Christmas Spirit activity." When we got home Jay and I just sat in the car for awhile trying to regain composure and our nerves. It wasn't good. The next one was to go downtown and have dinner at Cheese Cake Factory and then go see the lights at Temple Square and the candy windows ...

Alex has been waiting and waiting for the day he would get braces. That is here now and he is not so thrilled like he thought he would be. Apparently, we weren't kidding when we told them they hurt. His mouth has been sore for a few days. I told him it would get better in a few and next month he would get them tightened and he would go through it all again! These are such funny pictures, I just had to share. They sure do braces differently than when I was young.....they are even different from when Kenzie had years 4 years ago!

After last week's disheartening letter, I was pretty worried about this week. Austin shared with us some pretty difficult things he was dealing with. The were tough situations even for us as 40+ year olds. We were sad that our son had to deal with such tough things, yet hopeful that he would be able to make it through this. I got his letter today while in line at WalMart. I read through the second paragraph and was in tears. My son not only made it through his trial, but he made it through with compassion, charity and a willingness to sacrifice for others. It is a little thing, but the fact that a 19 year old (okay, this happened 3 days before he turned 20) recognized the importance of a small detail to someone else and worked to make it happen for them is amazing. He made us proud with this little act of kindness. Hey family, Thank you so much for everything for my birthday! It was surely appreciated. I loved it! I had a great time opening it and seeing everything. I felt...

I forget so many things that happen in my life. I have been terrible too about using my camera. Its so big and bulky to carry around that lately, I don't. Thank heavens that cell phones just drops into your pocket. That is a bad thing too, because pictures aren't as good on the phone and I don't know how to down load them or I forget to. Yesterday, I swore that I took a picture of something I wanted to use on our Christmas card. After looking through all my camera photos, I realized it must be on my cellphone. I had Jay do a download, and I found TONS of photos of great things I had forgotten about! It was awesome to find them so I can share them. They aren't in any order. That is another bad thing, I don't know what dates these things happened. On the bright side, at least I know they did happen. First up: This is our door mat (old one, after taking this picture I realized it was gross and I got a new one). One day I came home to this. Maylin had decorated it ...

Thanksgiving morning, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. Not to put in the turkey, like many were doing, but to the sounds of Maylin throwing up. Yep. Happy Thanksgiving! The day went just as it had began with the vomit and the fever. Jay's nephew who lives with us had it the day before, but he stayed away from us.....at least we thought. Jay took his parents and other nephew and the kids to a movie during the day to keep them away from Maylin. I stayed home and cooked and took care of her. We finally ate dinner around 6:30 p.m. only to have Jay's niece come down with it too, so dinner was now minus 2. I do have to say, dinner was pretty good. The favorite was Nonnie's mac and cheese. Jay's mom makes a mean southern mac and cheese! Maylin would wake up periodically and would say, "I've been waiting for this day for so long and now I'm sick." Poor thing. Here is how Maylin spent the day.....or in the bathroom. I love how she puts her fingers through her hai...

It was the Homecoming dance at Kenzie's school. Everyone 14 and up can go, but only those 16 and older can bring a date. Unfortunately  Kenzie didn't get asked....even though I spent a lot of time asking Heavenly Father help some boy ask her. I was bent out of shape about this at first, but apparently He knows more than I do. Things worked out better than ever imagined. On Wednesday of last week, we went to Austin's best buddy's house to watch him open his mission call. He is going to El Salvador by the way. He has always had a special place in our heart. After that night, Kenzie decided if she didn't get asked by Friday, the day before the dance, she would call Austin's friend and ask him to be her date. No offer came.....even though I had been praying. So, she called Tyler. He said he would love to go with her! Hurrah! He drove her and took her to the dance. They had a great time. Just being friends and knowing each other for years...

After some minor, and  one not so minor adjustment, the pink palace is complete! One big adjustment that made the greatest impact, was having another wall painted in the dark pink! This dark pink on a second wall really took away the glare we were getting! No more blinding pink. Fabulous. We also found a bedspread, a wrought iron wall hanging, a shelf etc.....these little details have made it an incredible room! It is warm and inviting! On the Maylin front, she is hysterical! Her way with technology is also amazing! Man can this girl text, email, download apps and songs etc. What have we created? Enjoy the pictures she took of herself on my phone. Also, Austin sent a picture to us recently. We were all shocked by how much he had grown. Kenzie made this side by side picture that she calls "The before and the now". Tell us if you think he has changed. A girl loves her crown....and a cell phone with a camera! ...