CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas Eve Bowling with the Nelson Clan
(One of my favorite things about Christmas)

Sage, Jake, Adam, Will, Sadie, Alex, Chloe, Annie,
Lindsey, James, Rachel

(missing: Morgan, Cylia, Jaxon and Ellsie)

Melanie, Amy, Mom and Me

The Nelson Gang
(minus: Troy, Cylia, Jed, Mandy, Jaxon and Ellsie)
Christmas Eve Dinner at the Deans

Judy, Roger, Me, Mike, Spencer, Michelle
(John and Tonya were at the Wade's for Dinner)
So excited to go home and go to BEDChristmas Morning!!!My 7 kids:
1) Rachel, 2) Mike, 3) Diesel, 4) Jake,
5) Sadie, 6) Will, & 7) Baby Alive (Sadie's new toy)
(She really poops and pees so its just like having another child,
doesn't that sound fun?)Christmas Breakfast at the Nelson's

Us with my parents: Robert and Ruthie

Christmas Lunch at the Dean's
Judy and Roger with their 7 Grandkids
Parker, Will, Jake, Taylor, Rachel, Abby and SadieAs I was putting away the Christmas Decorations today I really had time to reflect and think about this GREAT Holiday we just celebrated. The parties are over, presents have been unwrapped and mostly put away, holiday treats are almost eaten and gone, Christmas cards are starting to fall off the door, husbands will soon be back to their regular work schedules, and thank heaven kids will be back in school soon, but how lucky we are to always have the gospel and The love of Christ in our lives.
I have a quote I keep in my kitchen:

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life"

I hope we always remember Christ and His great love and sacrifice for each one of us. I am so grateful for all of the examples of GREAT Family and Friends in my life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Traditions...

My friend Nikki has been posting her families Christmas traditions for almost a week now and I have really enjoyed reading what they do. I decided to write down our Christmas traditions:

* The kids draw names for each other and we all go to the store and Mike takes 2 kids and I take 2 kids and they help pick a $10 gift for the one they picked. Mike buys a gift for me and I buy a gift for Mike. It is alot of fun especially trying to stay away from each other at the store.

* Bowling on Christmas Eve Day with the Nelsons. We have done that for as long as I can remember. My dad brings coins and gives money for strikes, spares, gutters, low score, high score. It is alot of fun. We all bring some snacks and hang out for a few hours. The funny thing is we see the same families there every year. I guess other people have the same tradition.

* We always put all our Santas on our fireplace. (I love how they are all placed together.) I always put the olive wood nativity I got in Jerusalem on the kitchen table so each meal we eat together we can be reminded of our Savior and why we celebrate Christmas.

* Christmas Eve the kids always open their present from me under the tree. It isn't too exciting because it is always pajamas. I sure love picking them out some new PJs each year.

* My mom gives the kids an advent calendar over Thanksgiving. It is fun to take turns opening a piece of chocolate each day until Christmas.

* Mike puts the lights on our Christmas tree and the kids decorate it all by themselves while I set up the Santas. I love to see what a GREAT job they do.

* We alternate Christmas Eve dinner with our families. If we have Thanksgiving with one family we have Christmas Eve with the other. It works out so nice because than on both days the kids aren't overly tired. (The year it is at my house we act out the Nativity)

* Christmas Day can be a little crazy but we love getting to see both families. We always go to my house for sweetrolls and Christmas egg casserole, than to Mikes for sandwiches and funeral potatoes. We try to get home around 5:00 so the kids can play with their toys.

* We always go downtown and see the Christmas lights at the temple. After we like to go and get hot chocolate.

9 Days until Christmas!!!

OH...Christmas Tree, OH...Christmas Tree!!!

This year we decided to go and cut down our own Christmas Tree. It actually was alot of fun and the kids had a great time walking around trying to pick the perfect tree. We took our snow clothes so they sledded/snowboarded while we were there. The tree sure looked alot smaller in the woods than when we actually got it in the house. I think Mike had to cut off almost 4 feet of the tree so it would fit in our front room. I sure love the smell of a real tree but I can't say I love all the pine needles that constantly drop and having to water it (kind of a pain).

RACHEL
JAKE WILL

SADIE Even DIESEL came along.

The finished product: The kids decorated it all by themselves. I think they did a GREAT job!!!

16 Days until CHRISTMAS!!!

WILLIAM ROBERT DEAN

Happy Thanksgiving I mean "Birthday Will"

WILL'S "8" YEARS OLD TODAY!!!

Will was born on November 27th, 2000 @ 2:30 PM.
I was due on December 7th and after Jake was 10 lbs. my doctor wanted to make sure and induce me 10 days early so he wouldn't be as big as Jake. Will weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 inches. He was such a good baby. He was born at St. Marks Hospital with Dr. Catherine Wheeler. Will was named after both of his grandpas. Grandpa Roger William Dean & Grandpa Robert D Nelson. He is a very energetic and happy boy. He gets so excited about everything. He loves to play with his friends and hang out with his family. He loves most sports and does well at all of them. He loves amusement parks. He loves the computer and says when he grows up he wants to be an engineer or an archeologist (like Indiana Jones). He is a very good student. He loves math and is learning to read so well. People say he looks a lot like Mike but it is amazing how much he looks like my dads pictures when he was a little boy. I love him so much and am so glad I get to be his mom.

Will's presents: a shirt, 2 puzzles, phase 10 dice, Roller Coaster Tycoon Wild, scout shirt and ski gloves!!!

Going on a ride at Knotts Berry Farm...Summer 2008

Jr. Jazz Winter...2008

Baseball...Spring 2008Soccer...Fall 2008
"Thanksgiving Day" Cottonwood Hgts 5k (3.2 miles) Turkey Trot.

Will loves to run so when he found out we could do a race as a family on his birthday he was more than excited. Rachel, Jake and Will ran with my sister Amy's kids Morgan, Annie, Adam and James. We left Sadie at home with Grandma Ruthie. After waiting for the drawing and the awards ceremony we were very glad Sadie wasn't there because she would have been very bored.

Jake and Adam did so well. They ran the whole way. They finished in just under 26 minutes. We were so happy for them. Jake crossed the finish line just before Adam so he placed 5th in the 11 years and under age group. They gave ribbons for the first 5 places so he was quite excited.

Mike ran with Will and he finished around 34 minutes.
Rachel and Annie ran/walked. They finished around 44 minutes.

We had such a great Thanksgiving today. We ate at my house with my whole family except Mel, Brad and Chloe (they went to Branson, MO with some friends) & Troy (he is in Colorado) & Cylia (she is living in Idaho with her mom). We all got a chance to go around the table and say things we are thankful for. I am so thankful for Mike, my kids, Diesel, my health, to live in America, great friends & family and the gospel. My little brother Jed surprised us when he said he was thankful that Jaxon and Ellsie were going to have a new baby brother or sister due on May 18th. What a GREAT SURPRISE!!!
Well I guess we will move onto the next Holiday...CHRISTMAS!!!!
Shopping anyone? :)

You're Invited

This is an invitation to an awesome boutique that a few of my friends are participating in. They have some great gift ideas...if you get a chance you should check it out.

JACOB MICHAEL DEAN!!!

HAPPY "10th" BIRTHDAY JAKE!!!

Jake was born on November 19, 1998 @4:32 PM. He weighed 10 pounds and 21 1/2 inches long. He was such a good looking, big, healthy baby. The nurses in the hospital couldn't believe how big he was. He was a very good baby and slept alot (probably because he started out so big). His labor was induced. I was due on November 24th, Dr. Irion let me have him early so I could be home before the Thanksgiving Holiday. He was our only baby born at Cottonwood Hospital by Dr. Richard Irion(he predicted Jake would be 8 lbs. (boy was he wrong)). Some other names we considered were (Joshua, Zachary, Nicholas, Andrew and Eli.) When he came out 10 pounds I looked at Mike and said he is definately a JAKE!!! (For some reason I pictured in my head as a Jake to be a good, strong person.) He is left handed. He is a quiet, very sensitive kid. You really never know what he is thinking. He loves, loves to hang out with Mike. He is very smart. He is fearless...he loves to skateboard, hike, bike, unicycle, rollerblade, snowboard...basically anything outside. He is a good artist and loves to play the piano. He says when he grows up he wants to be a doctor. I love him so much. I am so glad I get to be his mom.

He has a major SWEET TOOTH!!!

(His 2nd Birthday)

Our little family!!! 1999

(Jake is 1 year old)

He loves, loves DIESEL!!!

Jake's gifts: 3 pairs of pants, sweater, shirt and most favorite thing a new Skateboard!!!

Thank Heaven I never have to beg him to practice...he loves to play the piano.

More air you can get... the better!!!

He spent lots of time at Solitude with Mike and Rachel last winter.

Hiking Mount Olympus!!!

Hanging out with Ezra...one of Jakes most favorite things to do!!! They love to take pictures of each other doing pretty crazy things.

I know pretty crazy...Amy Jefferies can appreciate this one.

Halloween!!! 2008

A Little pumpkin carving!!! Thank Heaven Mike likes to help carve because I am really good at taking pictures and cleaning up...I can't say pumpkin carving is one of my favorite things!!!
It was nice that Sadie chose to paint her pumpkin because it was alot less work for me!!!

6 Deans in costume:
Mike - Swiss Boy, Will - Pirate, Rachel - Super Hero,
Sadie - Witch, Jake - U of U Fan and Me - pregnant Nun

The Nelson Halloween Party!!! (minus - Jed, Mandy, Ellsie, Brad, Mel, Chloe, Troy and Cylia)

Kids with Grandpa Robert and Grandma Ruthie!!!

Kids with Grandpa Roger and Grandma Judy!!!

Sadie's Preschool Ward Friends!!!
Gavin L., Gavin C, Landon, Sam, Ashley, Brooklyn, Zaniya, Sadie, Grace, Graice, Ms Laurie