For Joy

The kids received a letter from their Aunt Tami telling them that in honor of Joy she would like each of the kids to buy a toy that a 3 year old would love and donate it to someone who needs it.  For our enrichment, we were gathering items for a safe house for women and children from abusive situations.  The kids and I picked our presents and donated it to them.  Kaci had the hardest time because these are all toys that she LOVED!!  "I love it mommy.  I want it.  It is mine because I love it."  We were able to persuade her to let me take them to enrichment but not without a few tears.  The kids enjoyed the project and hopefully some little girl will see the gifts and have something to smile about.  Thanks, Aunt Tami for the great project!!

Kaylee's TaVaci Concert

 Kaylee has been doing this little singing and dancing group called Tavaci for a couple of months now and she loves it!  Her first concert was Saturday and she did great.  She has had so much fun but is looking forward to next semester when they are learning songs from Annie, Hairspray and High School Musical.

Here are Kaylee and her friends Rachel, Savannah and Rachel.
There are three videos I put on here for the grandparents.  If you are only going to watch one, watch the third one as it is Kaylee's solo!  Great job Kaylee.  Can't wait until the next concert.

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Tough Choices

We got a call last night from a Competitive Basketball team coach.  The coach had seen Jackson at Rec League tryouts and called to invite him to be on his Gold Crown team.  Jackson has really wanted to play Gold Crown ball but never tried out or really looked into it because most of the games are on Sunday.  I told the coach that Jackson would be so excited that he was asked but that we would have to say no.  As I told Jackson about the phone call, he was excited that the coach had asked him but said the games are on Sunday so I can't.  I told him that I knew what his answer would have been and I already told the coach that.  I was proud that Jackson had already made the choice not to play on Sunday.  It is one of the things that makes living outside of Utah hard.  He has been having to make that choice since third grade.  Most baseball tournaments end on Sunday and he has had to miss many games because of his choice. Thankfully, we have had understanding coaches who are okay with that.  He has always played rec basketball because the games are always on Saturday.  While he was a little bummed, I reminded him that he is playing rec ball, playing for the junior high basketball team, starting life guard classes and that baseball practices were starting up this week.  Plus, he is going to school and doing piano.  (He's not busy at all!)  The good thing is that because the coach asked, he knows that he is good enough to be wanted at the competitive level.  Hopefully that boost of confidence will translate into a good basketball season!!

THE TURKEY BOWL

We headed down to Cedar City for Thanksgiving after some time up in Draper. What Thanksgiving would be complete without a Turkey Bowl. Jason went and purchased some flags so that there would be NO fights at this competitive game.  The teams were divided up -- COLORADO vs UTAH (except Grandpa got put on Colorados team because they had an extra man!)  The game played out pretty evenly until the end.  

Can you tell that this family is very competitive?  Just look at the intensity on their faces.
It was pouring rain but that didn't stop them.  They kept going and going and going . . .
Here they are at halftime.  
Now, grandpa claimed he was neutral but he did throw an interception that turned into a touchdown for Utah so his neutrality comes into question but fun was had by all!  

The elves!

The kids loved the witches at Gardner Village during October so we decided to try the elves. Although they are cute and fun, they are not as fun as the witches. The kids still had fun running from elf to elf and, of course thanks to Aunt Tami, (even though I still had to pay) a trip to the candy store.  Kaci wasn't as scared of the elves as she was the witches but she still wouldn't take any pictures or get anywhere near those elves! 

Here are Chase, Kaylee and "Babers" a.k.a. Layla!  (Kaci calls her babers cuz her mom calls her babers.) 
Chase loves the Hershey Kiss elf.  YUM!!
Kaci crashed on her way there and I couldn't resist taking a picture.
We had a fun time with the elves although if I were to do it again I would do it at night when all of the Christmas lights are lit up!!

GRANDPA is the BIG 6-0!!!

We started out our vacation by watching a big game but we won't mention anything about the game especially since someone forgot to tell Hall that he wears blue!  

On Sunday, we celebrated grandpas 60th birthday.  Grandma and Tami fixed grandpas favorite Sunday meal -- Roast beef, burnt carrots and dark gravy.  YUM!!  Then we had cake and opened presents!  Here are the kids singing happy birthday!

As a kid I remember 60 being so old but now I think how young he looks!!
Here are the grandkids with Grandpa!  
Layla was touching grandpas present and playing with the ribbon and Kaci kept telling her NO! "No Layla.  That's Grandpas present!"
We had a fun time celebrating with Grandpa and we were glad that we could be there for his birthday!  Hope you had a fun one dad!!  We love you!! 

The LONG drive home!!

I thought I would start by telling you about the end of our vacation.  After a very fun 10 days spent with family, we got in the car and headed home.  We had been watching the news and travel conditions but the weather people -- who are way over paid in my opinion  (I want the job that you can be wrong 50% of the time and still get paid $200,000+) -- insisted that the storm would be done by Sunday morning so we woke up early Sunday and headed on our way. We flew through Utah and hit Vail in 7 hours including a lunch and gas stop.  No weather issues.  Sunny. Great roads.  Then, we hit Vail.  There was only a couple of inches on the ground and the roads were clear but idiot people drive to slow or to quickly and cause problems.  10-15 cars in front of us there is a wreck so both lanes are shut down while they clear it up.  We sat in PARK for about 45 minutes.  When we FINALLY got through, we followed the other cars --who were driving way too slow -- down to Silverthorne where they had everyone exit.  I-70 had been shut down.  There was maybe six inches of snow on the ground,  the roads were plowed, not too slick and they were shut down.  Growing up in Idaho, if they shut down the road for these conditions we would never go anywhere!  It was almost dinnertime so we tried to find a place to eat.  The first place, the wait was 2 1/2 hours.  LOVELY!!  Then, we found Chipolte and went in there.  It was only about 1/2 full so we were able to get some dinner and a table.  We would have been fine staying there except some GRUMPY guy at the table next to us kept blaming Jason and anyone else who lives in Colorado for the freeway being shut and him missing his flight. (Like the rest of us are happy about this.  Buck up mister and just deal!)  We found out that they had opened a shelter and headed there.  We were sent to a school gym.  Jason had brought in the kids pillows, blankets, gameboys, ipods etc.  Anything to pass the time.  

Kaci actually was really good and sat and read books!
Chase was getting bored but loved playing the game boys.

Here is everyone along the wall waiting for any news.  (Thank goodness for internet access phones.)
Here is Kaci playing around on the gameboy!
Jackson was trying to go to sleep.  It was pretty loud so I don't think he had any luck!

We watched some lady attempt to do yoga.  She had her mat and was doing all of her moves.  I really wanted to take her picture so you could see how funny she looked but her friend was sitting next to me and I didn't want to have to explain why I was taking a picture of her friend. After we left, Jason said I should have had one of the kids stand in front of her.  Too late!  After about an our hour, they opened the road back up and it was a mass exodus to the freeway.  At that point it was 8:30 and we had been in the car for 12 hours!!  We chugged along at 5 MPH to the Eisenhour tunnel where we were able to speed up to about 20MPH.  As we exited the tunnel, there was a TON of snow.  45 inches in 48 hours.  The roads were still pretty good but we did have to go slow for about 5 miles.  Then there was only about 6 inches of snow and then about 10 minutes later NONE!!  The roads were clear and we could go 50-60 the rest of the way home.  It was crazy how 2 miles could have so much snow and then hardly any!  Anyways, our 8 1/2 hour trip turned into 15 hours!  The kids did great and being the AWESOME mom I am I even let them sleep in and be late for school on Monday.  I rock, don't I!