Great Birthday

Last weekend, Michael called me and offered me an all expense paid trip for my birthday to Queen Creek to spend it with my grand kids! Well, how could I turn down an offer like that. Rich and I went on Tuesday and I was treated to a movie and lunch with Sarah and then she made a birthday dinner of Sweet Pork salad. It was soooo good and then we watched a movie. I got lots of love from my three beautiful grandchildren and then to top it off, I got to bring Weston home with me. Michael and Sarah are coming for the weekend so Rich and I have him for an extra day. Here are some pictures of him here this morning. He and Grandpa went to gather eggs and check on the chicken.

Kirsten's Challange

Kirsten challenged me to write about five things I love and then pass it on. So here goes.

#1 I love my husband, Rich! He has been my very best friend since I was 17. We never run out of thing to talk about. I love to travel with him as we always have a great time. He is always very tender and loving with me.


#2 My Children
Michael's creativity and imagination. Sarah's thoughtfulness and awesome mothering.

Lauren's beautiful voice and strong testimony. Andrea's ambition, efficiency, beautiful smile and piano.

Tra's amazing ability to do anything he sets his mind to and his willingness to always help.
Alec's smile, positive attitude and mechanical talents.

Sean's determination, obedience and amazing trampoline abilities.

#3 My Grandchildren

Playing with my grand kids, kissing my grand kids, thinking about my grand kids when they are not around brings more joy than I ever thought possible.







#4 I love creating things with my hands. All kinds of needlework and sewing. Cake decorating has become a new hobby that is so much fun.


#5 PEARLS !!! They are my favorite gem. I just think they are so beautiful,.

Lauren Went Back To School

Last Friday, Rich and I took Lauren back to Flagstaff so that she could start her new semester. She has moved out of the dorms and into an apartment with other LDS girls. It will be much cheaper than the dorm and she can cook which is cheaper than the cafeteria. She was glad to get back. On the way we stopped in Winslow for her to take a Christmas present to Kyle. She had made a tied quilt. He seemed very pleased to see her. This is one of the slowest relationships I have seen, but I guess that is good. They are best friends and that is a good way to start and if it doesn't go anywhere she still has a good friend. Now that Lauren is gone, it seems like the holidays are truly over. It has been a good time. Now back to normal life. I even got all my decorations down last week. Alec and Sean have started rehearsal for the Spring play. They both are salesmen. I think the play is sometime in April. Everything else is just normal life.

New Year Visit

We had a wonderful surprise on New Years Day when Michael and Sarah decided to come a visit us. It was so fun to have them here for three whole days. We played games, watched movies and football games and enjoyed the grand kids. Mike and Sarah took the kids and Sean and Alec up to the mountains to sled in the snow. We broke out all the old ski clothes. They all looked very 80's! But at least they were warm. Thanks for coming Sarah and Mike. We love you!

It snowed last night and so the boys had late start for school today. They didn't have to be there until 10:00 am. I think it was kind of nice to not have a full day on the first day back. After two weeks of holiday they got to ease back into the daily schedule.

New Years Eve Dance

Christine and Carroll, Rich and I all were asked to chaperon the New Years Dance. I'm not really sure why they needed chaperons as it was a family dance. We only lasted until 11:00 pm and now we're home.

Alec seemed to be having a good time. He danced all the slow dances. We've got to teach our boys how to swing dance. Maybe Michael will give them some pointers as he is quite the swing dancer.

Sean just finished dancing with Jessica Greer. He was smiling until Rich pointed the camera at him. In the next picture I caught him smiling with Spencer and Bryce.

Happy New Year to everyone! Mike and Sarah are coming to see us tomorrow so I am in heaven. Grandkids!

CAMPING IN THE SNOW!

Yesterday afternoon, the twins told us that they wanted to go camping with Karen and Spencer. I thought they were nuts! It is sooooo cold. But they decide to camp just outside of town on Dr. Pews property that used to be Grandpa Davis' farm. Rich called Dr. Pew and he said go ahead. They originally were going to eat what they killed (Rabbit). But I pack them up some turkey (left over) sandwiches and chips and sent hot chocolate. They came back into town about 9:00 pm to get some eggs. I thought they had given up on the camping. No way! They wanted to cook eggs over their fire. I can't wait to hear about the night (they aren't home yet). I don't think they took a camera so I won't have any pictures to post. I should have thought to send a camera.

Sunday Dinner

Rich always loves a turkey dinner and he bought a turkey right before Christmas. Because it was frozen, it wasn't thawed enough to cook until Sunday. So we invited Grandpa and Grandma and Chris and Carroll's family for dinner. It turned out really good. Rich actually prepared the turkey himself. We made potatoes and gravy. Grandma made dressing. a cranberry salad, carrots,and asparagus and Christine brought a ham and salad. After dinner the kids wanted to teach Grandma to play guitar hero. She actually did really well. No surprise with her musical talent. After she and Grandpa left, we play some games and enjoyed being together.

Christmas 2008

You can see Rich's decorations. He went all out this year. Three whole strings of lights on the fence and tree. The neighbors aways put us to shame.

Christmas day was not a white Christmas but the wind started blowing Christmas night. I thought it was going to blow the roof off. By the next morning it was snowing and it snowed all day until about 5:00 pm. The boys went sledding with Karen and Spencer. Sean was in heaven he loves the snow.

The weekend before Christmas, Rich, Sean, Alec and I went to visit Michael's family. We really enjoyed being with the grandkids. We went to church with them and had a wonderful Christmas visit. Craig and his girls came out and had dinner with us Sunday night. Sarah made the most amazing dinner. It was my favorite part of this Christmas season.

We had a quiet but very nice Christmas. Alec and Sean are lounging around after opening presents.

Football Awards Banquet

Last night we went with Sean and Alec to their football award banquet. After a Mexican food feast (it was potluck), Coach Morgan proceeded to honor the team. Every boy received a state champion plaque with their name and number on it and also a certificate from the state football association. After that the coach gave certificates to those boys who made the all region teams. Sean made all region second team and Alec received an honorable mention. About six boys made the first team and five made the second team and three made honorable mention. We were very proud of the twins.

Last Sat. night was the christmas electric light parade and Alec put lights all over his car. He dressed like Santa and Spencer was in the seat next to him with a black wig done up in a beehive hairdo with lights all through it. The sign on the front of the car was to advertise Kirsten's Salon. They were sooooo... cute. But the weather that night was terribe. It was freezing cold and the wind was blowing about 40 miles an hour. Spencer's hairdo was blown to pieces. We sat in our car until the parade got right next to us and then we got out and watched. Rich bought a flashing light sabor and a flashing whistle from a passing vender and blew his whistle and waved the sabor during the parade. It was him and all the kids. I should have taken a picture. I guess some kids never grow up.

It has been so good to have Lauren home for Christmas. We spent the day yesterday tying a quilt for Kyle. I helped her sew the top and bottom to get ready to put it on the frames, but she did all the sewing. Then after we got it on, she started tying it and I went to Grandmas to make tamales. Carolyn and Paul are visiting with Grandpa and Grandma. So Grandma, Christine, Carolyn and I worked for about 4 hours and made about 15 doz tamales. Ryan and Brianna have moved to Albuqueque, NM and Paul and Carolyn helped them move. Ryan and Brianna came to visit also. It has been fun getting to know Brianna better. She is such a cute girl. When I got home, Lauren had finished almost half of the quilt, so I sat down and helped her and we finished tying it about 9:oo pm. She is now going to put points on it to bind it. It will be really nice.