MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS! WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR. I DIDN'T GET CHRISTMAS CARDS COMPLETED THIS YEAR.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO OUR SAVIOR AND HIS LIFE. IT IS SO NICE TO REFLECT UPON HIS BIRTH AND LIFE THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHAT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE AND TEACHER HE IS.

WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES AND REALIZE THAT YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO US. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST THROUGHOUT 2008.

:)

Fantasia

We lost a dear member of our family yesterday. Fantasia was my very first horse. My dad bought her for me when I was 4 years old. We were watching the Riverton Parade on the 4th of July and some kids went by us on ponies. I looked up at my dad and said, dad I want a pony to ride in the parade. The very next day my dad went and bought her. Is that spoiled or what? She taught all of us how to ride horses. I rode her in the Riverton City 4th of July parade the year after we got her and my sisters did several times as well. That first year I rode in the parade if I remember right my dad lead me while he rode on his horse.

The following year my sister Hilerie was old enough to ride so she rode Fanny and I had a new pony named Sasha, my dad had to work. I remember riding in the parade kind of sad that my dad wasn't there to see us. We got to the corner where the parade route turns by Dee's (not there anymore) and there was my dad standing and waving. He told his boss he needed to go see his kids in the parade and left work. It was great.

Fanny also went on many horse back rides in the mountains. Ali also had the privilege to ride her. It was really fun to get pictures of her on my very first horse. She has been retired for 3 years now. She was really old for a horse - 34. Once we (my siblings) were all to big to ride her we would take her with us in the mountains and turn her loose. She would just walk on the trail in front of us like a dog. We love her so much and it is hard to let her go. We love you Fanny! We miss you already.

Paint Project

Ali was very helpful this last weekend. She helped me paint Zach's room. I was a little apprehensive because I coudn't talk Zach out of the color orange! I decided to do the color he wanted. I can always paint over it. I am happy to finally have another room painted in our house. I have a lot more to do, and I must say...the orange doesn't look so bad. I think I am going to like it.

Breakfast with Santa

This morning was a treat for Zach. He was able to have breakfast with Santa at school today. Everyone in his class got to wear their PJ's. All of the kids were excited. I went with him for the fist half hour. It was great. Alicyn wanted to skip her classes today and go with him. Oh, if you're wondering...he asked for the same two items. Nothing more. LOL! I love it!

Visit with Santa

Zach asked Santa.....wouldn't you know it....for Car Mountain and a pack of "Cars Movie" cars.

Ali on the other hand....a nice long list - including a puppy (again).

Festival of Trees

One holiday tradition in our family is going to the Festival of Trees (minus Dave, he doesn't like crowds). We love to go and see all the beautiful trees, wreath's, gingerbread houses etc. Not only are we supporting a great cause but we have a really fun day together.

Lots of Crafts......

Calling one of Santa's Elves at the north pole.

Ali and Zach love kids corner.

This year Ali had a manacure.

One of their very favorite things is the giant bubble. They have a kids swimming pool with a stool in the middle. They stand on the stool and the booth worker pulls a hula hoop up around them and they are inside a giant bubble and get to blow big bubbles.

There are yummy treats and goodies and all kinds of crafts. We usually spend a good 5 hours there.
The past few years my best friend Joanie has been going with us. We would walk down an isle to see the trees and then switch over to the opposite isle. Zach kept going back over to the side we had just walked down, yelling Joanie, look at that one wow! We would say, Zach we just saw that one isn't it cool. He would say no we didn't. There are so many amazing trees every year!

I am also happy to say....I didn't lose sight of my son, not once... this time anyway.

Ratatouille Gingerbread House

Whinnie the Pooh & Friends Gingerbread House

Shrek at his Swamp

Putting up the Tree

We love Christmas, and putting up our tree is one of the highlights of this time of year.

More on Best Friends

Last night my mom gave Zach a can of sprite to take home with him. Zach and I were putting his seatbelt on, he held up his can and said mom, "I am going to save some of this for my BEST GIRL!" I said you are, who is your best girl. He said with a grin "ALI!" My heart melted.

Best Friends

This morning as we were getting ready for our day. The kids were eating their breakfast and talking. They were being kind of silly so I told them they needed to eat because we had to get Ali to school. Ali has been off track for 3 weeks. They have absolutely loved the time they have had together during this break. After I said that they needed to eat, Zach asked me if he is still 4. I said yes Zach you are 4. He went on and on about how he didn't want to be 4 anymore. "I want to be the same age as Ali". I know he was saying this so that he could stay with her all day. Ali, being the little mom that she is tried to explain that he doesn't want to be her age. She said to him "once you are in the big school you don't get to do the fun things that you are doing in preschool right now". I just sat there and enjoyed listening to them.

Zach is only wishing that he could be with his sister more. They sure love each other and enjoy playing and helping one another with different tasks. This is a great blessing to me, as I have worried that they wouldn't be good friends. I never had a brother, so I don't know what it is like to grow up with one. I see that my kids are truly blessed to have each other. Although I would like another baby, a sister or a brother for them. I am very lucky and blessed to have the two greatest kids on earth in my house already. I still cross my fingers that Dave will have a change of heart one of these days. Time is passing though and Zach is getting older, the gap between him and a new baby would be a big one.

Church

Every morning at about 4:00 am Zach has been coming in our room and climbing in bed with us. I have been to tired to make him go back to his room, so I just slide over and let him climb in next to me. I actually do enjoy this cuddle time that I get to have with him, as I am sure that he will grow out of that quicker than I would like.

Yesterday, at 8:00 in the morning we were lying there in bed and I said "Zach we need to get up now and get ready for church". He got his whiny voice and said kind of ornery, "I don't want to go to church, church gives me the hiccups!". Just they way he said it was the funniest thing. Dave and I got a kick out of that one.

I am waiting for next Sunday....I am sure Dave will try and use that excuse next.