CHRISTMAS MORNING 2009

Well, I had real good intent to capture Christmas on my camera but, I enjoyed watching the festivities more then I did recording them. I'm such a slacker! I did however capture a few pictures of my kiddos exploring their Santa gifts. This year I was a bit disappointed because, it seemed like my kids didn't have the PURE EXCITEMENT as they have in the past. My dad and mom said that all of my brothers got less excited the older we got so I guess it's just part of growing up. Only one of my kiddos knows the Santa "secret" and maybe that had something to do with it. Don't get me wrong it was still a WONDERFUL Christmas and their was excitement but I noticed the maturity in my kids and that made it a bit gloomy for me.

We had Grandpa & Grandma Smith over for a hearty Christmas breakfast with all the traditions I grew up with. Kev really like the breakfast part of the morning. After breakfast we opened the presents under the tree and then everyone played with the new toys and Kev read his new book, "Going Rouge" by Sarah Palin and I started the clean up. That afternoon we went to Christmas dinner at Grandpa & Grandma Smith's house and saw all the cousins which we saw Christmas Eve when we got together at my sister Shanna's house for dinner and our tradition program. All in all it was a marvelous Christmas ans we enjoyed it to the fullest. The decorations along with the tree have
been packed away for another year and we are ready to bring in 2010!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY!

Today my thoughts are with my Grandma Smith. It would have been her 99Th birthday today. She was 94 when she passed and I remember that night so vividly. I watched her draw her last breath of mortal life and at the same time I watched my own father become the only living member of his immediate family. I remember leaving the room to give my dad time with Grandma and to say his good-byes as I walked to the lobby of the hospital and started the phone calls to informed the family that Grandma had gone home to be with Grandpa and Uncle Rand. This was a reunion I wish I could have been witness to. I feel so blessed to have had a relationship with both sets of Grandparents but, I was very close to Grandma and Grandpa Smith and know they were both gone. Grandpa passed away on the same day my little Keaton turned one. Grandma had moved from her home in Idaho Falls to Gilbert AZ to live with my dad and mom and had only been here about five months before she fell and broke her hip. It was down hill from there and Grandma passed a little over a month after her fall. I am glad she was here and was close to those who loved her the most. I miss her like crazy and talk to my kids all the time about the memories I have of my grandparents. I am so glad they remember her and hopefully they not forget those memories they created with her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Grandma! We LOVE you!!!

This is Grandma Smith with the then 3 great grandchildren in front of Grandpa's casket! ( Now there are 11 great grandchildren)

This is my dad with his mom, my sweet Grandma Smith.

This is Grandpa & Grandma Smith holding Keaton, the 1st great grandson.

This is the MOST in love couple on Grandpa Smith's 90Th birthday!

FUN FILLED WEEK & WEEKEND!

Well this last week was a busy one for us!

Monday was a rainy day and I spent the day indoors baking sugar cookies that would be frosted and decorated later in the week. It was rather enjoyable to bake on a rainy day while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music!

On Tuesday after school Keaton & I hurried to Scouts and then right after we had to HURRY to get ready for his Christmas Band Concert. It was a great concert and I think the trumpets were FABULOUS but then again I may be biased since Keaton plays the trumpet! They have come a long way since the beginning of the year. I was so disappointed because my camera battery kept dying but I did manage to get "Jingle Bells" all the way through the first time they played it.




On Wednesday the kids had a half day at school. The kids were thrilled with the short day however, I wasn't because I didn't get to do the things done that I wanted to do while they were at school. Bailey Rose had Achievement days at 4pm and I had to try hard not to forget since I have done just that during the month of November. I felt so bad since she loves Achievement days so this time I was determined not to forget. They made chocolates with Christmas candy molds and dipped pretzels in the chocolate. She had a blast and was sweet enough to custom make a candy for everyone in the family. She couldn't stop talking about how much fun it was!

On Thursday it was a normal day except Kev had to work the part time job that night since he missed Tues. night so he could attend Keaton's concert. He had the day off from Coca Cola so the two of us did the grocery shopping and ran other errands. He spent alot of the day getting ready for school which he starts on the 14th. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that he is going back to school to get his degree in Business. Yes, he is going to be an even busier guy with two jobs and school.

On Friday Bailey Rose had her Brownie Troop meeting where they crafted up a storm. She had loads of fun as always! That night the kids frosted and decorated the sugar cookies I baked on Monday. They had fun for a while and then moved onto something else leaving me to finish the frosting and decorating. Not my favorite thing to do but I managed to finish up. However, there is still more holiday baking to do!





Saturday Bailey Rose and I went with my two sisters and my mom and two of my nieces to see "Little House on the Prairie, The Musical" as the ASU Gammage. It was just fabulous! Melissa Gilbert played the role of "Ma" Ingalls. I grew up with the TV series and still love it today. I have read all the books and now my little Bailey Rose is watching the reruns and wants to begin the books. I'm so glad that she is enjoys it just as much as I did when I was little. She thought is was fantastic to be able to see the person who played Laura Ingalls in the TV series. Melissa Gilbert did a wonderful job as "Ma". Bailey Rose LOVED! LOVED! LOVED it! She is still talking about it this morning and asked if she could have braids in her hair like Laura. She is just TOO cute! She also told me that next year for Halloween she wanted to dress up as Laura Ingalls. We will see if that is still the case next October.


Bailey Rose and her cousins, Brianna and Taylor with their binoculars during intermission. We sat in the top balcony in the 3rd row. Even though they were far away we saw the Musical really well.

Since we couldn't take photos during the Musical I tried to take a few before hand.

Lots of FUN had by all!

RUDOLPH !

Thanks to my sweet and creative Bailey, I get a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer all to myself! She is so excited for Christmas!