Christmas Parties and more

The Christmas Parties started with Kayleas class performance of "Holidays Around the World" All the kids were amazing because of their wonderful teacher, Mrs. Putman. Thank you for all that you do!

Kaylea with her friends, Kaelynn, Bethany, and Jeffery.

Mrs. Putman surprised Kaylea with letters written to her from all of her classmates. What a special gift!

We celebrated Daniels birthday with pancakes for supper. It was great to have the Weavers join us for some singing! Happy 8th Birthday!

Daniel's class performed a rap called, "Twas the Night Before Christmas when all through the Desert." It was too funny. Daniel played the role of Santa. Daniel is so sad that he will not be able to finish out the school year with his favorite class ever. Mrs. Brown rocks in Daniels world. He loves her and will do anything she asks. Thanks so much for everything.

My friends are so sneaky... Lynsi surprised the kids and I with a Play date at the park. There were signs, balloons, and lots of great snacks. It was nice to be able to say goodbye to all of our friends before we leave for Australia.

My first ever cookie exchange... you have to try each one of the cookies to vote on your favorite. Boy, that was hard to convince me to eat! Thanks girls for a fun night out. Congrats Mandy to the Best Cookie!

Do you know what happens to a kid when you blindfold them, spin them around until they are so dizzy that they can't walk straight, and laugh while they try to play the game you made for them. They laugh with you, walk into walls, and fall on the floor. Yep! I had the kids play pin the candy cane on Santa's sack. That is one of my favorite games that is played at parties... I don't know who has more fun, ME or the KIDS?

Yes, I do love to laugh at the kids... Samuel and Mitchell both were using the "trying to peep out of the blindfold method."

What would you do if you heard some out of tune noise coming from the direction of your front door? Run away, turn off lights, and pretend that you weren't home? Well, I would, but since we have the best neighbors ever, they were great and came out to listen to these cute little kids sing... Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and We Wish you a Merry Christmas. Although the words were kinda wrong and the fact they kept starting over... they did a pretty good job. OK Scott, next year you have to take them.

The girls spent one afternoon with Julia and Jenna. They had a great time going to eat at Macaroni Grill, Costco, and Wal-mart, where they got to pick out a gift. Yep, Make Up! Can't you see it all over their face. Thanks, Annette for allowing my girls to tag along with you!

Who is the kid here? Each year Dr. Smith, (the one that is sitting with them at the table) invites us over to his house for their annual Gingerbread Party. My kids are always asking about going. They especially love the slide in their house that goes from the upstairs down into the playroom. But their favorite part is performing an act in the talent show. This year they decided to sing "Jingle Bells." Their friend Bella performed with them.

When you get an e-mail that says....

ugly sweater/white elephant

Friends,

We have decided to have an adult (aged group, not content) holiday party involving an elephant (the white gift type), warm knit top wear (the ugly sweater type) and unbelievable company (the all of you type). This will, by far, exceed any other party that you may or may not attend this holiday season. There will be an award for the ugliest sweater ensemble.

How do you respond? Well, I went and laughed so hard my cheeks hurt... (the face kind).

The best white elephant gift was...

along with a bra, and shot glass that had the words... I Can't I'm Mormon! Who thinks of these things. Great job Trent for not laughing too hard! BUT can you believe that it was taken from him! YEP! Marc wanted it to take to another party! What is going through their mind?!

And the winner of the ugliest sweater ensemble is....

Erich

Thanks guys for a great night!

Also, thanks goes out to Sister Cannon for coming over to watch my kiddos while I was able to slip away.

Thanksgiving with the Waits

It's always fun when Grandpa comes, when Grandpa come hurray! We certainly did enjoy Papa and Grandma Wait coming for a visit over the Thanksgiving holiday. We filled each day while they were here with exciting activities.

Scott took his dad and Daniel to a Phoenix Suns Game.

What a great guys night out.

Daniel ran the 2 mile Turkey Trot while Brooke and I ran the 10K.

Hanging out around the house and just playing is so much more fun with grandma... like, Finger painting using jello and shaving cream.

Grandpa showed the kids how to really Bowl a strike using golf balls and tin cans.

We Celebrated Daniel's 8th Birthday by taking him and his 8 friends hiking! They all rocked! Thanks, Tyler, AJ, Brady, Blake, Max, Robby, and Ben for making it an exciting adventure.

Each night it seemed like Papa and Grandma were playing games with the kids. They couldn't get enough of their attention.

Papa was very patient with the kids while they "helped" him put together the Christmas tree.

They loved Reading the kids stories before bed.

Of course they couldn't come and visit their grandchildren without bearing gifts. These were perfect for the long plane trip across the Pacific Ocean.

WE love you so much and thanks for such a wonderful visit, gifts, laughs, and of course the hugs! Come back anytime now, ya hear!

Cross Country

This year Daniel, Kaylea, and Claudia ran cross country at school. They mostly loved every bit of it. (by the end Claudia was not too happy about getting up to leave by 7:00 for the early morning practice run. She would rather sleep in a little later.) But they all did wonderful and have already talked about how they are going to be better runners next year. They are already practicing by running to the park from our house. Anyway here are a few shots that I had taken throughout the year.

Kaylea and her friends, Aiden and Bethany.

They were all number one!