January 2010

January has started off great! Dallin was named the Exchange Club Student of the Month. Jory and I got to go with Dallin to lunch at the airport where the Exchange club gave him a plaque, a $50 savings bond and $10 in McDonald coupons. You can guess what he's most excited about. He is a great kid and deserved it. It was nice to meet some community members around the Tri-cities and tell them about Dallin.
Jory T. got to go camping in the snow with his dad and the scouts. This isn't their first winter camp out. They go quite often and love it. He has great scout leaders that are making a difference in his life.

Kylie is busy playing basketball, trying out for the high school musical, rehearsing for her 10th Avenue show and studying for finals. She even skipped a skiing trip because she didn't want to miss any practices. So Jory T., Dallin and I left her and went snowboarding at Bluewood. I skied. Nell, I'm really going to snowboard next time and use that board. It's awesome and fits great. Jory T. took it on his scout trip and tried it out, but I'm waiting for Kylie so we can learn together.
Camri and Dallin started basketball practice and love it. Friday's I take Camri to tap dance and then straight to basketball. She's been playing for three years and can really dribble well.
Cody got to go to work with his dad all day while we went skiing. He is missing his siblings when they are off to school, but I'm trying to keep him busy. I hope next month is just as fun!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We opened presents in the morning and then went to the Ashtons for the afternoon. They were nice to remember us since we don't have family nearby to spend the holidays with. We hope everyone else had a fabulous Christmas.

Jory's $$$$$$mile

Jory T. finally got his braces off after a whole year and a few months, lucky kid! Now maybe we'll see his smile:) Actually he smiles all the time, just not for the camera! Here are the before and after photos..... I know, his hair is really long. I actually like it. It looks like Zac Efron in 17 again. And he takes care of it! We had some freezing rain the other day, so my kids enjoyed the ice and no school day. So did I:)

Happy Birthday Cody

Cody turned three years old on Thursday. I think the older kids enjoyed his birthday more than he did. They made me wait to have Cody open his present after they were home from school. He was playing the Wii when we were ready. We brought out the big box and asked if he wanted to open it. He said no, he was playing video games. Jory made him turn it off and he threw a big tantrum. He finally calmed down and actually looked at the box. Then, he attacked the paper. He tore and tore and tore and tore. It was pretty funny. He loved the train. Jory T. and Dallin helped set it up. Then, Cody had to fight to play with it. Dallin and Camri kept "helping" him. I think this birthday was more for us celebrating him as a part our family for the last three years. Cody really enjoyed the spanking machine. He went through about ten times! But he loved the cake the best. Jory decorated it as Star Wars with two light sabers. Cody wanted the piece right in the middle where the blue and red crossed. I caught him later that night on the cupboard having seconds:)

Update

Sunday we had the opportunity to have Elder Jeffrey R. Holland come and speak to our stake. Kylie and I went early and still were in the gym. Jory came an hour early and I was barely able to save him seats. The kids were fantastic. They survived three hours of church on hard chairs. Cody practically dragged me out when it was over. Elder Holland was amazing. I felt like he talked directly to me. It strengthened my testimony that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. It was an experience I won't forget.

Later that day, we ran to my friend's house and she took some family pictures for us. It was so easy. She's very talented and such a good friend to do that for me:)

Camri's third grade performed a Veteran's Day Assembly at the elementary school. Kylie sang as well. It was very touching. They sang while showing a slide show of some of the third graders' family who are serving or have served for our country.

Halloween

Thanks for the picture Amy!
Also, just for fun, Jory T. and his scout group are pictured on page 9 of the November New Era! Thanks to the Jones for letting us know!

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween. Cody went as Spiderman. He was so cute. I love taking them at this age. He did get tired and started sitting on the grass complaining about his owies. He'd say he needed to sit down because of his toe, or back, or leg. Jory went as a 70's character. We couldn't find a wig and so I curled his hair with a very small curling iron. It was super funny!
The hairdo did make him taller than me. He checks often and was thrilled to finally claim to be taller than his mom.
Dallin was an army guy. He enjoyed painting the pants, but not putting on the makeup.
Camri was a pirate. It worked out well because her eye got infected and buffed up, so she wore an eye patch. (We forgot the eye patch in the picture and her eye was getting better from the drops.)
Kylie had a concert all day, so later she and a friend went to her Halloween party as gospel singers. She was Pippy Longstocking at a mutual party, but I didn't take pictures because I thought she would dress up again. I'll have to get some copies. Kylie and I fasted through Halloween because she received her Patriarchal blessing Sunday morning. It was hard to pass up all that candy, but worth it. I made up for the candy intake Sunday night:(