Funny Girl

Allie was opening a present on Christmas. She got so excited and said, "WOW, I have wanted one of these my whole life! Thank you so much, I love it!" One of the other kids asked her, "do you know what it is?" Allie replies, "No, what is it?"

FYI - It was a bank that keeps count of the change you put in it.

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Jacob and Allie were discussing Santa Claus. Allie asked where Santa lives and I told her at the North Pole. Allie asked how we get to the North Pole and Jacob replied, "I think you go South."

Happy Anniversary

December 19, 2011

14 years

Michael and I went to dinner for our anniversary. The best
part about that was when we got home the kids had done a fantastic
job cleaning the house for us, it looks amazing!
Thanks Emma, Gracie, Jacob and Allie - We love you!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Uncle Chris came up from L.A. to celebrate his birthday with us!

We love you Chris!

3rd Grade Awards

Gracie's awards at the end of 3rd grade-

She is such a cute girl!

Amazing Artist

 

These are all paintings, not decals, on the wall in the cafeteria at Gracie's school - aren't they amazing! I thought it was such a cute idea!

Father-Son Campout - May 2011

Isn't he one of the cutest boys you have ever seen!?!

I don't know where they went this year, but they had a lot of fun together!

Pre-school Graduation - June 2011

Jacob and Mrs. Hitchens

Jacob loved pre-school last year,

but he couldn't wait to go to kindergarten!

Poor Maggie

We came home one day and found Maggie in the back yard like this!

I have no idea how long it had been on her head, but she couldn't get if off-

It was SO funny, she would walk around and crash into things!

Classic SOUR Faces

Sour candy, you've got to love these faces!

Jacob's is definitely a genuine sour face - Gracie might be faking (a little)!

Halloween

Jacob the pirate - LOVE his socks!

Allie my sweet little witch

Emma as Ginormica - again

Gracie - our short hair Hermione

Proof that Michael and I are indeed with the kids!

We never seem to be in any pictures with them!

I must be CRAZY!

Chewbacca

 Meet the newest member of our family. A couple days before Halloween we went to Target and a man was selling this little guy. His name is Chewbacca, we call him Chewy. He is part Shih-Tzu part toy poodle. I know we already have two dogs, but this is the kind of dog I wanted before we got the other two. He doesn't shed and he won't get very big, I just couldn't resist! He is a playful little puppy and we just adore him!

Cute Girl

I love this girl!

Happy Birthday Gracie and Emma

Emma and Gracie had a combined birthday party this year because all of Gracies's friends are sisters with all of Emma's friends. We thought it would be fun to get everyone together! We borrowed a Wii from a friend and a couple of Just Dance games and the girls all had a blast!

Gracie, Katelyn, Alayna, Alyssa, Celena, Kathleen, Sydney, Taryn,

Jacob, Lily, Emma, Sydney, Chole, Julia, Allie and Taylor

Not Up-to-Date

I have found more pictures! More fun activities that we did over the summer and fall that I can now add to the blog. So, there is more to come! Yes, it will be out of order, but at least it will be on here, RIGHT! I hope to start January completely up-to-date!

Jacob's Revenge

The Moore family are close friends of ours. They have three daughters, Katelyn 12, Chloe 10, and Sydney 5. Jacob and Sydney are in kindergarten together and they were in preschool together last year, they're great friends. Emma and Katelyn are best buds. Emma continually tells Jacob that if he marries Sydney, Katelyn will be her sister. I think Emma is already planning the wedding!!!

Yesterday Jacob was angry at Emma for something and he shouted at her, "FINE, then I'm not going to make Katelyn your sister!"

What a funny kid!

Up-to-date

I might be up to date now with my posts. I say might because there aren't any more files in my photo folder, but there are a few things I know happened that I haven't come across yet. SO, unless I didn't take pictures for Emma and Gracie's birthdays, there is a file somewhere on my computer to find!!! Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Michael

September 19, 2011

Emma bought Michael this cake for his birthday, what

a thoughtful child! We love you Michael!

Happy Birthday

Sunset

I always love a pretty sunset!

You probably know that about me by now!

Father Daughter Campout July 2011

 Michael asked why they don't ever have a father daughter campout, so they put him in

charge of organizing one for our ward! He took the girls and they had a fun time together.

The Hurricane

July 4, 2011

On the 4th of July it was sunny and clear. Michael and I had been working in the yard most of the day. Around 3:30 a few clouds had formed blocking the sun, it was nice. We cleaned up what we were working on because we had plans to go to some friends house for a BBQ and swimming. Michael finished putting tools in the shed and went to take a shower about 3:45. The wind picked up quite a bit and the clouds completely covered the sky and turned black. The clouds split open and rain DUMPED. Michael got out of the shower and I realized the windows were down in the cars. It had only been raining for 5 minutes when Michael closed the windows, but there was water dripping from the ceiling in both cars. They were completely soaked. The wind was so strong it was blowing things across our yard, trash cans, patio chairs, everything that wasn't super heavy! After our last strong wind and trampoline problem Michael filled five 5 gallon buckets with cement and tied them to the frame of the trampoline adding 450 lbs. or it probably would have blown away too! We watched from the windows as a huge section of our fence blew down into the neighbors yard, knocking down a chain link fence they had up. We saw two HUGE branches break off the tree behind our back wall and blow away. We lost two sections of fence in the front as well as the one in back. The kids were scared, and I must admit, I was nervous, I have never experienced anything like that in my life, it was so CRAZY! The rain and wind lasted about 10 minutes and then it just stopped. It was the craziest thing! At our friends house 20 minutes south of us it was clear as a bell. As we drove through Rosamond it seriously looked like a hurricane had hit. Enormous trees had been completely uprooted. Huge branches and leaves littered the roads. There were several trampolines that had blown over fences, and were completely destroyed. Fences were down all over the neighborhood. The power was out too.  It was the strangest weather I have ever experienced! Our backyard was underwater after 10 minutes of downpour and the next day it was a huge mud hole, so the kids played in it for a while.

We made it to the Knapp's house and had a great time swimming and eating and visiting. We also had a few small fireworks for entertainment. Thanks Ryan and Krista - we had a blast!

Girls Camp - June 2011

Emma fencing with President Beazel. He presided and conducted at Emma's baptism and ever since he has had a special place in our hearts. He is an amazing man who means a great deal to our family, we truly love him!

Below is the view from the top of our hike, it was amazing!

We had a lot of fun at girls camp. I am glad that Emma got to go this year and that I got to go with her. We went river rafting and I was scared to death! I almost didn't go, but I am glad that I went. Matthew was our guide and he was great. Emma was just as nervous as I was and he took very good care of her, he put her in the back of the raft right next to him (the back is the safest). He could tell she was scared and he kept trying to reassure her. He also promised that if the boat flipped he would save her first (she was the smallest), she liked that but then she freaked out and said, "but that's my mom!" He promised her that he would save me next. The boat never flipped and we had a great time!

Time to Swim!

This girl would live in the pool if I would let her!!!

Isn't she adorable!?!

Make-up Class

June 2011

Emma was invited by Aunt Joyce and Susan to come over and

learn how to apply make-up before going to junior high. This is

Reanna with Emma and Susan. Time goes way too fast, my baby

isn't REALLY old enough for make-up, is she?

Happy Birthday Allie

My youngest baby is 4 years old now!
I don't know what happened to the time!

Face Painting

Chloe and Sydney Moore came to play and everyone painted faces!

The L.A. Zoo - May 2011

Over spring break we decided to go to the zoo as a family, only everyone bailed. Gracie really wanted to go, so she and I went together. It was perfect weather and most of the animals were out and about.  Whenever we go to the zoo I end up taking way too many pictures! These are a few of our favorite pictures!