Christmas 2010

I have found through the years, my whole perspective of Christmas has changed. As a child, the gifts were always such a huge part, not only getting stuff, but the giving, I remember shopping for my brothers and sisters, and how excited I was to give them what i had found, just for them. In high school, i remember a family of a good friend of mine that really needed help, especially at Christmas, so we as a girls cross-country team would make ornaments, and sell them to raise money to buy gifts for that family. I remember going with my dad to take a Christmas tree to them and seeing how excited they were. Nothing felt so good as it did to take them Christmas leave it on their porch, ring and run, then hide in some bushes across the street and see the looks on their faces, and the tears coming from their mom.

Now as a mom and grandma, I love to see the joy on the faces of my family as they open their gifts, but even more than that, the fun they have drawing names, and finding that perfect gift for each other.

I love being with myfamily. both my own little family, and my extended family. That is now, what brings me the most joy.

I love the Christmas spirit, that the celebration of our Savior Jesus Christ brings.

Here are a few pictures of this most wonderful day!

Our ward does a Christmas Eve breakfast every year.

This year, Santa dropped in for a brief visit

Mia loved Skyler's harry potter glasses, and opening gifts

All the guys got nerf guns. It was full on war at our house. Bullets were flying everywhere.

Who would have thought these "grown" men would have so much fun?

The girls in their reindeer jama pants

Logan made a cloak for Skyler, and got him some harry potter glasses.

The Addis Family

The Mauchs

Logan finally found the pickle... every year, one of he sibs would find it, She was determined to find it this year, and her determination paid off.

Santa came to our house...and stuff to each other.

Christmas crafting

I have always wanted to decorate the outside of our house. So this year, I decided to start a major craft project... we made these giant ornaments to hang on our porch.

Mark cut all the ornaments out of masonite

Nicole and Kelsey painted...

and glittered...

I painted and glittered some more...

Until we had made 12-15" , and 18-10"

ornaments. I am still finding glitter throughout my house.

Thank you to my wonderful husband, who hung all these

while I was at work one night. He is such a trooper to put up with all my seasonal decorating.

9 years ago today....

...Our sweet little Skyler was born. He has been such a blessing to our family.

He makes us laugh. He makes us cry (happy tears), he is very sensitive to the spirit, smart, loves to make voice impressions, loves harry potter books and movies, loves legos, being with his family, and playing with friends. The past 9 years have been tons of fun. Love ya Sky!

Skyler at our family party, yay for Harry Potter legos!

We went bowling for his friends party, They had a blast.

I tried to get a serious picture, not one! I didn't even ask them

to pose goofy, this is just how they were the entire time!

Then back to our house for cupcakes and ice cream.

We missed you Aiden and Kyler!

Halloween 2010

I think like having Halloween on a Sunday. It spread the festivities over a three day period.

Friday was the school party and costume parade. Saturday was filled with carving pumpkins, making sugar cookies, and then trick-or-treating. Sunday was just a nice relaxing day with a nice family dinner. (I did decorate the table all halloweenish).

The only one I don't have pictures of is Logan. She and her roommate Mare were Mario and Luigi. Hopefully she will post their fun pictures on her blog. All my girls made their own costumes. Ya, they are pretty amazing!

Here are a few pictures of our weekend of fun.

Little bumble bee Mia

The Addis Family as bees and bee keeper, Nicole made all of their costumes.

Army Man Skyler and Mia

Kelsey with her skeleton shirt that she and Nicole made.

Skyler posing

Chaz,Skyler,Mia,Nicole, and Kelsey

Mia and Skyler

The finished pumpkins

Mark and Skyler

Skyler ready for the parade at school

Skyler's third grade, has been learning about economics. They had to make some products to sell, then sell them at school. He (with a little help from mom and sisters), made pinwheels and bookmarks. He had a lot of fun, but was a little bummed when he found out the money they earned, went to their classroom fund for field trips.

Fall Fun

I love The Fall Season. The weather starts to cool down, and it is the start of the holiday season. I took this past week off work, and enjoyed some time with my family. A few of our traditions this time of year were captured in pictures, so here goes... we went to our family cabin for an evening of dinner and games.

Mare-Kels-Logan

Skyler- Sharon

Nicole-Mia-Chaz

Kelsey -Riley

Mark-Skyler

Mark and Skyler at Cascade Springs

Skyler and Sharon and Cascade Springs

Mark-Sharon-Skyler, every conference weekend, in between sessions we drive up Provo Canyon to enjoy the fall leaves.

Nicole-Kelsey-Mia and Logan at the witches festival at gardners Village

Mia at Gardners Village

Kels-Nicole-Mia-Skyler-Logan-Sharon

Me and Skyler spent Some time on Sat. at Cornbellys

Skyler climbed the rock wall

We went on a hayride...(I have no idea who that random guy is.)

Skyler

Which way do we go? We even tried the corn maze.

It was a beautiful week to be off work.

Family Vacation

We loaded up the car, and headed up north to Jackson Hole, WY. and Yellowstone. Mark, Skyler and I drove up and Chaz, Nicole, and Mia met us up there. Chaz and Skyler had never been there, so we were excited to show them what it was all about up there. I can sum it all up in one word...AMAZING!

It had been about 13 years since we had taken the girls there. So Mark and I were pretty stoked to go there also, not to mention Nicole who was so excited, she had her list of animals she wanted to see. The weather was perfect, the scenery beautiful, and the animals... we saw everything we wanted, except a bear.

Here are a few pictures of our trip.

The famous arch in Jackson

view of Tetons

Mark and Skyler, Alpine slide

Sharon and Skyler waiting at the top of slide

One of the Bull Moose we saw

Lewis Falls, Yellowstone

Tetons, See that tallest peak? my Brother Andy

Hiked to the top of that. CRAZY!

Old Faithful, and a few of the Buffalo we saw.

Moose just chillin

Castle Guyser

Nicole, Chaz and a very tired Mia

Jenny Lake in the Tetons.