CHRISTMAS!

Christmas time is a CRAZY time of year for us-and only us (LOL)-With Trevor coaching we have very little time to spend with our own little family let alone the extended family, but we make do.  We were able to accomplish most things-one regret, we didn't get down to Temple Square in SLC to see the lights and take the kids to dinner.  Oh well, life will go on.

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents' house along with my brother and his family, my other brother, my sister, and my Brazilian sister and her family.  We, of course, played games, ate delicious food, opened the cousins' gifts, ate some more and played some more games.  We had a GRAND old time.  We also had a family home evening lesson on the birth of Christ and we were able to bear testimony of our Savior and how we feel His influence in our lives-even the kids participated.  It was a wonderful feeling in that room that nigh.

Here are lots of pictures and video clips...

 Our little tree...

 Sporty

 My sweet little nephew L

 Lolo

 Lolo again...

 My nephew B

 Z-man needed some  help.

 Diva

 Diva again...with cousin E looking on.

 My cousin Jill made these darling tutus for all the girls.

 My niece, Princess K

Fantastic night-I enjoy Christmas Eve so much and I especially enjoy spending it with family.

NOW ON TO CHRISTMAS!!!!!

For the first time in 8 years, our kids woke us up at 5:50am-tooo early!  Usually we wake them up around 8am, but I guess the excitement got to them!  We did the whole presents thing in the the morning, and then we made a huge breakfast for my parents, siblings and their kids.  It was a ton of fun!

Then we drifted on over to Trevor's parents' house to hang out and eat and TRY to play games.  It's like pulling teeth to get a couple sibling to play games with us-but the rest of us had a blast playing.  Their loss.  Gma Net is quite the gamer-I think in a former life she was a gambler  :)  I truly love Christmas time and having the kids home-and Trevor for that matter!  But I was definitely ready for ALL of them to go back to school that following Monday. 

Here is a clip of Roger and Annette giving our kids their present...



Sporty was a little excited-Diva was ticked she didn't get her VERY OWN gift.  Apparently we need a few more lessons in GRATITUDE!  YES!  We finally have kept up with the Jones'! lol!

 Gpa Ted and Gma Sandi came over for breakfast and showed off their gifts from us.

 Sporty and his flippin' huge gun (which Santa forgot to bring batteries for!)

 Diva and her princesses.

 Lolo and her fairies.

 Z-man loved the boxes-serious, you would think we would learn to just get him boxes!

 Great Gma and Gpa

 Gma Net loves to get the girls dresses.

 Sporty love anything UnderArmour!

Merry Christmas!

Conversations with little girls...

Me:  Girls, go clean your room.
Lolo:  YES Miss Hannigan!
Diva:  Lolo, mom is not Miss Hannigan.  Miss Hannigan is MUCH MORE MEAN!

Lolo's Program...and lots more posts, so keep scrolling.

Our little Lolo got to sing in her first Christmas program.  Her preschool was able to go to Christmas Village and sing their little hearts out.  Afterward, we were able to see Santa Clause and get some hot chocolate.  I LOVE Christmas traditions!

Lolo is in the pink coat with the white scarf...

Good times!

Belle...in training-we think?

Here is a wee update on Belle-my dog, er baby.  I seriously LOVE this dog.  She has been going to puppy school for 3 weeks now and we can see a difference all ready.  She still has a LONG way to go, but we have totally noticed how she is much calmer now and she stays still for longer periods of time-that is until Callie the psychotic kitten emerges to bug Belle.  HOWEVER, we also have noticed that when other people are around or even the first half hour of puppy school, she is so naughty-she acts like we haven't worked with her at all.  So I thought I would put a clip of her and some of what we have been working on, on the blog-she doesn't cooperate.  These clips are all very short so watch and enjoy as my puppy makes a fool out of me.  LOL!

She really does make me look like a fool...

Piano Recital

Trevor and I have made the decision that I will not be teaching piano lessons anymore-my kids need me, bottom line.  So this years recital was a little bittersweet.  Both Diva and Sporty participated and they both did very well.  We are very proud of them.

Sporty played "Jingle Bells"

Diva played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

I played "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful"

11 Years and he still can't get enough of me

On December 16, 2010, Trevor and I celebrated our 11th anniversary.  We decided to celebrate in style and.....go Christmas shopping.  I know, SNOOZE.  With Trevor's busy coaching schedule we felt like we needed to go shopping.  Plus, we had all ready made plans with our "soul couple"-Nate and Jill-to go out to eat with them on their anniversary which was on December 27th.  Nate and Trevor served their mission together and are seriously like best brothers-AND Jill and I should have been BFF's if we had lived in the same state.  This is the same couple that we went to Sacramento CA with-check out our trip HERE. 
So to commemorate the occasion I thought I would give a wee timeline on how things happened that led us to 11 years.

I have know Trevor since college-met at a "welcome back" fireside at the Institute.  We ended up having a few classes together that quarter.  His friends and mine would hang out all the time-lots of fun.  He left on his mission in April of 1997-we wrote every week of his mission, but as friends.  I realized about a year into his mission that his feelings for me were more than just friends.  He returned home in April 1999.  He didn't want to date anyone else (I told him I would support him dating since I had two years of it and he declined).   We started talking marriage in June, and on September 10, 1999, he proposed to me in front of the Salt Lake Temple.  Of course I said YES!

Through the last 11 years I have seen many, many great ups and some not so great downs-we have been through a lot, but we have grown a lot.  All I know is I am grateful for the choice that we both made and I have never regretted that choice.  I am thankful that Trevor is by my side and that we have each other to get through everything in this life and in the life to come.  I love you and appreciate EVERYTHING you do for me and our zany family!

I have missed A LOT!

So Dec 3, 2010, was my birthday-the BIG 3-3.  I celebrated it like anyone else would...I went to my PTA meeting in the morning, cleaned the house, put kids down for naps, and order pizza for Trevor to pick up on his way home.  I honestly didn't want to do much-just a quiet night in with my family.  BUT!!!  Two of my favorite gal pals came by and took me to get a birthday cupcake and a little shopping...it was awesome!  We laughed and laughed  AND laughed the entire time.  The little salesgirl at the "Secret" shop we were at was getting VERY annoyed with us and our laughing-sorry, but when you get sugar in me I.LET.LOOSE!  Good thing I am not a drinker...Thanks Carla and Kim-it was awesome!
Trevor sent me these....

He is the BEST!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!