Birthday Weekend

Aliza's birthday is coming up on Thursday.  Some how, I'm not sure how it came about, we decided to have a little party for Aliza.  We decided to have her best friend Hannah come over and stay the night.  Her cousins, Kyla and Karissa, were leaving out of town.  So I didn't have a loud crazy house, we went swimming at the gym.  It was nice that it was family swim night.

Jodi, Sedley and Campbell joined us as well.  It was fun to see them.

Sam and Sammy went on a camp out.... in tents..... in cold snowy weather.  I'm glad I was home.

I'm trying my hand at a little photography, and thought this cool water fountain going into the hot tub would be a fun picture.  The kids had fun posing.

Sedley,  Maren, Kyla, Jackson, Karissa, and Aliza/Hannah

We came home, had ice-cream sundaes, opened presents, then took Kyla and Karissa home.

The rest of us didn't get to bed until 12:00, but the girls still had fun in the morning.  Baking some cookies on Aliza's Easy Bake, and painting toe nails green were a few. (Aliza's new favorite color)  

After Hannah left.  Aliza, Jackson, Maren and I went to "The Tooth Fairy", then to get Aliza's hair cut.  She was so excited.

Today we (Aliza mostly) baked her cake and decorated it.  I know it looks like a "Green" cake (saving the earth and all), but she just loves that color now, and wanted everything green, except the tiger, I guess she loves tigers too.   Clint and Amy and fam, and Kenny came over for dinner and cake (Jodi and kids drove to Utah to help her mom).  Aliza chose spaghetti, her favorite meal.  Fine by me, it was an easy make.

I am so blessed to have this little girl in my life.  She is so positive and happy.  More on her real birthday........

A Day With The Symphony

During the week, a man visited the elementary schools who was performing as "Pecos Bill" (a tall tale story about a cowboy who lassoed a tornado with a rattlesnake).   Maren came home very excited about him and wanted to go to his concert with the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale on Saturday.  I told her we would see, I had a meeting at the Stake Center.  

Saturday came, Sam and Jackson were going skiing.  My meeting was at 10:00 till who knew, and there were two showings 11:00 and 12:30.  So, the girls came with me to my meeting so we could go straight there.  I just had to take a picture of the roads on the way.  I know this is a scene well known to some of our states, but still, the roads weren't fun to drive on.

We met Amy and her kids there.  Maren is very excited.

I hadn't heard a live symphony in a while, and remember how much I enjoy it.  I wish Sam was more of a symphony kind of man.

Pecos Bill was very funny while telling his story along with great well known cowboy music.  He and the conductor were funny together.

We are blessed to have talented people in the world to share with us what they have.  We were even more blessed that it was FREE!  It was worth the drive in the storm.

My New Blog!

My sisters and I have a great relationship.  We are a lot a like, and we like a lot of the same things. When one of us sees a cute outfit, some of us will get something similar.  We call each other when there is a cute outfit for all of our kids to match in.  If you go to each of our homes, you might find one or two decorations that are similar,  three of us even have the same van, different colors thank goodness.  

So, when my sister Anny, started  a new blog about taking one picture a day to describe her day, and invited anyone to join her, I decided to take the challenge.  You can see her blog here.  She got the idea from a friend in her ward, Jen.  See her blog here.  I think this a great idea to help see a glimpse of each day throughout the year.  

I know it's the 22nd of January.  I actually have been taking pictures since day one, but it has just taken me this long to get the blog going.  I still have to tweak a few things, but most of it is done.  

It has been so fun to look at life differently each day.  I'm excited to use my camera in a new light. I hope I will be a better photographer by the end of the year as well.  Maybe some of you can join the club as well, just start in Feb.   I know it will be worth it.  See my new blog here

Ski Hour!

O.K., maybe it was an hour and a half.  Nonetheless, we did get up to the mountain and got a few runs in on Saturday.  Sam and Jackson came along, but we stayed on the "bunny" hill, while they went on the bigger hills.

Aliza on the first chair of the afternoon.

Maren was excited to finally get on the mountain.  She loves skiing so much.

Guess who we bumped into?!   The girls were excited to see Aunt Jenna from Utah.  She was able to take a few runs with us before she left.

First Meet

Friday we headed to Bozeman for the first real gymnastics meet of the season.  

Jackson did a wonderful job.  He moved up a level, and missed two months of practice due to football, but still did pretty good.  It is always fun to watch.

Jackson took 1st in vault

and 3rd in pommel horse 

He will only be competing in 5 meets this year.  He is missing two out of state meets because they are on Sunday.  He is pretty bummed, and so am I, but I am proud that he decided not to compete on Sundays.

His next meet is here in Billings, February 27th at 5:00.  Come and watch some awesome talents.

Holiday Activities

Dakota, Tyra, Aliza, Paige, Zack w/ Blake, Jackson, and Max

Besides Christmas and New Year, we enjoyed some other activities.

Sledding was a big hit.  The kids went three different days.  It was nice of Nick and Hayley to let us use their sledding hill.

Boy it's great to have connections.  Damon was able to get the keys to the high school one evening, and we went over to shoot some hoops.  I think the girls enjoyed acting "pregnant" more than anything.  It was nice to see Sammy doing something other than ipod.

Some other activities included:

ice fishing (the boys)

spades with dad

a little exercising for the girls

lots of swimming

and Campbell's baby blessing in Beaver

A special thank you to Megan, Damon and his parents for the use of their cabins.  Nick and Hayley for letting us invade their home as well.  We do so enjoy coming to Tropic.

Blessing #52 A NEW YEAR!

A New Year is a wonderful BLESSING!

Out with the old habits, in with the new.

A time to look back and refocus, refresh, and renew.

This year, we spent New Years Eve at Bryce Canyon again. Anny and Kass with their families came down. Dana and Tony stayed and we had a wonderful time.

We laughed, hung out, took lots and lots of pictures and.....

Danced! Jackson, Max and Zack had the same girls chasing them from last year. Paige stayed with us, so she was involved with the pleading to the boys to dance with the girls, I think they finally gave in. Aliza, who is only 9, danced for the first time this year with Hayley's nephew who is only 8. It was fun to watch, dance and take pictures.

Some of the crew bailed out early, due to tired or sleeping kids. But those of us who stayed, brought in the new year with a BLAST. (I think some of those kids look tired).

Hope you all have a wonderful, fabulous New Year!