Christmas 2008

Annual trip to the Oakland Temple Lights

It is a tradition in our family to head to the Oakland Temple and see the gorgeous Christmas lights and Nativity scene. First we stop for dinner at the most yummiest pizza place, "Zachary's"!
Alysa and Dawson

Jackson

Maddy and Me

Dawson

The crew - Jackson, Maddy, Evan, Corban, Dawson, Caden, and Alysa.

Jeremy and I - we were married in the Oakland Temple and this is our favorite picture shot over looking San Fransico. We love being there!

Brother and Sistas - Bronwyn, Brad, Jack, Amanda, me and Jeremy!

Mom and Dad -and of course my children are right there in the action.

A blurry picture of the kids!

Tradition

I thought I would share one of our family traditions. Our family unwraps a Christmas book every night in December, counting down to Christmas day. The kids absolutely love it. They are so excited to see which book comes next and what new one they get. Madison is pretty funny, because she is the oldest, and she has done this the most, she is always like "oh, I know this book". Christmas is almost here!

"Sweet Fairy"

This post is for my cousins and siblings. This fairy sat on my Nana and Papa's tree at Christmas time and she was my absolute favorite decoration at their house - I used to just stare at her and think she was so beautiful. My Aunt Bev fix her up a bit - she is pretty old and things don't last forever - but memories do.

"Dancing With The Stars"

A good friend (Thanks Robyn) had an extra ticket to the Dancing with the Stars concert. It was really fun to watch and pretty entertaining. One of the Stars came out with his fly down and danced the entire routine with it down - it is amazing that we even saw it, but when you are wearing bright blue pants and part of his white shirt was peeking out - everybody saw it! Lance Bass had to come out with his down so he could be cool too. Toni Braxton sang two numbers and it was really cool! The whole show made me wish I had my dancing body back and could move like that with out the jiggles (but I do have three amazing kids to show for it- so jiggle away!).

And as if life wasn't busy enough - I made a castle cake for a friends daughter who was turning four years old.

Madison's 2nd grade Winter Party

Madison had her winter party at school. I planned it all out - but that morning became a little crazy for me, so I had a super good friend help me out and she got the party started off just right. I was able to get there in time for the book exchange. As you see Madison is sitting by Jimmy!

The Polar Express

Here is Dawson, about to board the Polar Express!
Madison and Caden excited to get the train moving.

Dawson and Evan.

Jackson, if you were to start to sing "Hot, hot," he would say "hey we got it". (For those of you who have never seen the Polar Express movie there is a song called Hot Chocolate - Jackson has the movie pretty much memorized.)

(I am just glad to be sitting!) Jeremy and I love watching our kids enjoy the excitement of Christmas.

My mom and dad - Thanks for getting the tickets!

The Conductor punching our tickets.

Jackson - studying his ticket, probably wondering if it could fly away and have an adventure.

The North Pole!

Santa, opening his sack to hand out bells from his sleigh.

Jackson getting his bell.

Merry Christmas to all!

Clogging!

My "Stompers" had their winter recital last Thursday. I wish I had taken more pictures, but when you have a million things going on all at once pictures were the last thing on my mind. These were the songs on the program:

1. Zip A Dee Doo Dah – Aly & AJ
(Little Stompers)
2. Wags Stop Your Barking – The Wiggles
(Little Stompers)
3. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride – Jump5
(Ages 6-8 class)
4. I Wan’na Be Like You – Jonas Brothers
(Ages 9-10 class)
5. Some Day My Prince Will Come – The Cheetah Girls
(Ages 10-12 class)
6. Christmas Vacation – Monique Coleman
(Ages 6-8 class)
7. Run Rudolph Run – Billy Ray Cyrus
(Ages 9-12 class)

This picture is my 7-8year old class (missing one, she was sick). Everyone did a great job I am very proud of all 15 students!

This is the "Upstage" group that asked me to choreograph a clogging number for them. They are a high school sing and dance group that get to travel and perform. Sorry the picture is so blurry - I need a better camera. They too did a great job - for only getting 31/2 hours with them, teaching the routine and never clogging in their lives they did a great job. I am looking forward to working with the entire group (28) this spring.

Dawson's Preschool Christmas Program

This my Dawson. He is a cute boy. He did an absolute great job singing and dancing at his school Christmas program. Before one of the songs he had to whisper to me "mom, this is my favorite song!" I can't remember which one it was, but he was really fun to watch and enjoy. Moments like these are one time deals, so I always have to remind myself to soak it all in.
This is Santa. Dawson has never been a big fan of people in costumes. When Santa came downstairs, Dawson jumped over his chair right in my lap. You would think that because he is 5 he would understand by now that Santa is a good guy.

Happy Birthday Maddy!

Sorry I added two cake pictures - the first one I had on here was pretty blurry!

What a big day we had today! Madison turned the ripe old age of 8! (I can't believe I have an eight year old - woosh I'm getting old!)
Here we are in the morning opening our first gift of the day!

woo hoo - clothes! Big surprise - she knew what was coming.

Then she got baptized and became a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She did a great job. She was ultra nervous suddenly when she realized people would be watching her, but I feel that she also felt the Spirit. I wish that I had taken more pictures - but when you are doing a million things at once - picture time passes by so quickly.

Maddy and her good friend Blythe

Maddy's Birthday Party! The top picture are the party favors.

The whole gang!

The girls played the spank machine and they thought it was hilarious!

Happy Birthday my big girl. I don't think any mother can express the feeling they feel for any of their children. There is something special about each one of my children. Madison being my first and only girl, I treasure every moment I have with her. The first three year of her life was mainly me and her and sometimes daddy - I am truly blessed and a better person with her in my life. She is my angel - I am proud of who she is and the young woman she will someday become.