True Spirit of Christmas

Blogger Anniversary

This is kind of a belated one year Anniversary of my blog. My very first blog was the first day of school 2008 and now before I know it, it is the first day of school 2009! The girls are growing so fast I feel like I can't keep up. Shouldn't they all stay three forever so they will cuddle, be so innocent and not roll their eyes at me.

Molly is in 7th grade this year and it is her first year of 7 classes in the day. She seems to be doing great (she isn't one to tell all). She is taking dance again this year and is hoping her mom will get around to help her choreograph a jazz solo with her. Molly is playing the flute for her
second year and is fabulous at it. I hope she doesn't ever quit playing.


Grace is in the 5th grade this year and she gets to experience middle school in this town a little early. She is loving school and her teacher (who hasn't taught elementary in 20 years and seems to be LOVING it.) Grace is trying clogging this year. She is liking the clogging part but doesn't like that she is in a beginning class with younger kids. She is in her first year of playing the viola and can't wait to use the bow.


Olivia is in the 1st grade and LOVES it! She came home the first week of school and told be that I should call her "doll" because her teacher told her she was a "little doll". She is very social and loves to play with friends. She has put dance aside and is taking power tumbling. I had no idea of the things that girl can do. She is a natural.


Where did my babies go?


Aren't they so cute waiting for the bus in stair step?

Summer Vacations 2009

We have had the best summer!! It was jam packed with vacations. In July our neighbor invited us to go river rafting on the Colorado. It was a blast!!

The views were amazing!


The company wasn't bad either.



Tony trying his hand at rowing. It wasn't as easy as it looked.



Molly had so much fun and we wished we would
have taken Grace with us. Maybe next year.



The first day down the river we had 17 boats in our group.




The first week of August we went to my sister's house in Roseville, California. The kids would have been happy if we would have just stayed at her house to swim in her pool. But we had some adventures.

Panning for gold at Sutters Mill. I liked the blackberry bushes there. Yum!



Grace cooling off in the river.



Molly hoping to find gold.



Coloma, California



What a fun day. I love vacations!




My sister and her husband own TRICKS gymnastics.
My girls got to take advantage of free classes at the gym.
We couldn't hold Lyndie back from going to class. She did GREAT!



You can't go to N. California and not go to the Jelly Belly Factory.
Notice all of our loot in the bags.



The smell inside is amazing! They were
making lemon jelly bellies the day we were there.



We went to the beach at Santa Cruz beach boardwalk.
The water was cold but it was too fun not to play in.



The sand was SO warm.



Olivia loved playing in the sand and collecting sea shells.



Molly raiding the cooler. It was a little breezy that day.

I LOVE this picture. It was Grace's first time on a

ferris wheel. She insisted on riding it alone.

She wasn't quite sure of her decision when she got to the top.

The girls loved riding the ferris wheel. Especially when it "tickled" their bellies.



Look how gorgeous!! The view wasn't bad either. (:

Lyndie insisted on riding the airplanes. She was so excited

that while on the airplanes she wet her pants. Poor kid.



Molly wasn't sure about riding this but after she

was ready to ride again and again.

We stayed an entire week but could have stayed another to do everything we wanted to. Oh darn, I guess we'll have to go back later.

Wow What A Fun Four Months

Life has been so fun and busy that I just haven't wanted to keep up with the blog. But I think it is time to document and share our happenings. It is kind of a novel so beware. You may want to sit back and get comfortable if you care to look at all this.

Easter

We stayed home for Easter this year. The girls can never get enough of dying eggs. I really don't like to waste food, but that is just too many deviled eggs for me.

I went back to my childhood and showed my kids the art of paper mache. The eggs turned out so cute, but didn't dry in time to use as baskets this year.

Here is the booty that the Easter Bunny left. I LOVE Easter candy!

Olivia's 6th Birthday

Olivia wanted a party at the pool with her friends. I was happy to oblige. What an easy party and everyone had a good time.

I keep doing this flower cake with variations because it is so easy and you get cake and cupcakes so everyone is happy.

I keep telling Olivia she is not allowed to grow up. So how in the world is she six already?

I think she liked her make-up, but I'm not sure (;Her sisters were a little envious. Olivia has been playing with her sisters remnants of play make-up and finally got her very own.

We were so excited to welcome Olivia into our family. It had been four years since we had a baby in the house. She is such a good girl, a great student, a big help with her little sister, and a huge tease to her big sisters. We love you Olivia!

Spring Flowers

I absolutely love this PINK flowered tree in front of our GIRLS windows.

I finally took the time to take a picture of the blossoms.

Molly's Dance Competition

This was their Military dance. They did an awesome job!! I was so pleased.

This was their lyrical dance. I loved this costume!

We got very silly on the way home. We all had the "I'm so tired" giggles.

I thought that this was a great look for Olivia (;




The girls were laughing so hard when their dad asked, "How can get some of those crowns?" at Burger King. We all wore them all the way home, cracking ourselves up the whole way. I love family getaways!!

Youth Conference

So I had these really great pictures of youth conference but my awesome husband accidentally erased them from my camera, so you will just have to use your imagination.We got to go to Salt Lake and stay in the Olympic Village. It was like college all over again. Lots of junk food, and staying up all night chatting. The next day we went to the This is the Place State Park. We went on a tour learning about pioneer life and pioneer etiquette. They could "text" each other from across the room with a handkerchief. We had a blast trying the signals out on each other. For example, a brush of the lips means you would like to get acquainted. A brush of the right cheek means I love you. A handkerchief thrown to the floor means that this conversation is over. The dabbing of the forehead means someone is watching us.

That night we had so much fun at a good old barn dance. We dance a bunch of the old and some of the new. Line dances, limbo, hokey pokey, GOOD TIMES! We spent the next day at Temple Square. We saw the Joseph Smith movie where a lot of testimonies were strengthened. Then we took a tour of the Conference Center while it poured rain outside. Then we had the opportunity of hearing from one of the Young Women General Board members. There was a lot of sleeping after a long day, but the talk was far from a snoozer. Our ward ended youth conference by going to a Bees baseball game. We did some cheering, some dancing and the fireworks were fabulous! Then I went home and crashed after having very little sleep.

Girls Camp

We worked so hard to get ready for girls camp. The Stake Leaders had some awesome activities planned. But the rains decided to come and come and come. We survived the first night by leaving camp and squishing 150 people into the town hall. We did get to do our skits which were hilarious. Then we played some games and talked till late. The rest of camp was canceled so our ward stayed at camp as long as we could playing games but our fatigue won over and we went home. There is always next year.

All of us crammed into town hall watching the skits.

This was our little tent city trying to keep out of the rain.

Our gateway to our "Kingdom" of princesses.

Molly looks so happy to be there. She did have fun whether she wants to admit it or not but was disappointed that camp had to end early. Camp was her very first young women's activity.

Aren't we all so cute in our pink shirts?

This is how we act most of the time. What a fun group of girls and leaders. The Sunday after camp I was called into the Primary Presidency. I will miss these times with the girls.

Molly's 12th Birthday

This birthday was such a relief to have come to pass. Molly wants to grow up RIGHT NOW. And being a good head taller than all the kids in primary and even taller than some of the leaders, she fits in a bit better in Young Women's. She wanted to spend her birthday with me without all of her sisters. I hope she always wants to hang with me. We call these days M&M days (Mom and Molly). We cruised the mall and stocked up at Bath and Body then had a tasty lunch. It was a fun day for both of us. I love you Molly!

Family Reunions
We had Tony's family reunion at Cherry Hill. It rained the entire time but we still went to the water park and had a great time not having to deal with crowds. And we had fun at the yearly raffle and came away with lots of fun treasures.

Our tent was pretty cozy in the rain.

Plenty of room to play around in.

My family reunion was at a cabin at Otter Creek. We have these reunions every other year. We tie dyed shirts, played games, made crafts, and had a 70's/80's party that was a riot.

My entire family minus my oldest brother.

We have always been a family who likes to play games together.

An age old tradition of playing hearts and the loser has to do the dishes.

Let's get physical, physical.

Grace and her cousin sporting the 80's look.

Remember this look? The crazy thing is all of these clothes I got in the store recently.

This is just like a dress I wore when I was about Lyndie's age.

70's frock meets 80's jock

All who attended Ekins Reunion 2009

Grace's 10th Birthday

Grace got to spend part her birthday at the family reunion at Cherry Hill.

She and I got to go try out the new Mexican restaurant in town. Yummmyy!