Happy New Year!! 2008

Lot's of fun New Year's Eve, Steph and one of her girlfriends stayed home and partied with the little kids, and Charlee had a couple of parties to go to also. We went to the movies with friends; I am Legend, (not the most uplifting movie), but we did have a lot of fun trying to get a picture with the four of us in it.

Christmas...WooooWii!

We had a great Christmas! We were home on the Eve of Christmas, we talked about the reason we celebrate, and listened to Daddy read from the scriptures, the next morning, after the kids saw what Santa had brought them, we went to Grandpa Dave & Bonnie's house. We hung out with two of Loren's Brother's (Hunter & Dillon), ate and opened more gifts. Then on the way back home we stopped at Aunt Charlene and Uncle Jim's house, where we visited with all the cousins and Grandpa Joy. We missed Erin and the boys, and Matt, Jen and the girls, but we did spend some time with Grandma Wischmeyer, & Grandpa Bob, and Grama Rox. By Christmas night we were well aware how loved we are by are good friends and family!! We spent the rest of the 25th playing with our Wii!, Tennis is my favorite, although it's pretty pathetic how sore my arm was the next morning.

Love Fudge...

I am soo relieved to be on Christmas break! It means that everyone had their Christmas musical programs, parties, gift exchanges, teachers were gifted, and I am not on call for subbing, I can just relax a little, right?****** I have really learned to appreciate what it meant to be a stay-at-home-mommy, which could be a whole post all on it's own. Anyway, I am looking forward to some quality time with my children and Loren, today we played a board game, and started baking our goodies, the kids love both! We made my "special recipe, sugar cookies", and my beloved Grandma Joy's Peanut butter fudge. Loren and I have it down to a science, (the fudge making process is very intricate.) My Grandpa would stand beside Grandma, the way Loren and I do now, and assist in making the "love fudge" I was taught by the best! My Grandpa Charlie made sure I wrote down every detail of how exactly, the heavenly candy is made. It is one of my most favorite memories of them together, and a wonderful tradition, one that I'm sure will live on for years to come. The time I spent with my Grandma, learning how to make some of her best recipes, for example; Biscuits and Gravy, to name another, was one of the smartest things I have ever done with my time, I miss her soo much.

Use your light to change the life of a child....

Charlee's 16th...

16 is sweet...

Charlee finally got to have her party! It was very simple, but she had a great time. We played sand Volley ball and ate, until it got too cold, then we went to the mall and had a scavenger hunt. There were like 17 boys, but only a couple of her girl friends could make it, she was a little disappointed but she never said anything, that's Charlee she never complains about anything. She did have all of her siblings there and was totally great to them. Charlee also never asks for anything, the night with her friends is all she asked for, for her Birthday we are so happy to have such a great human being for a daughter!

People used their light.....

Yeah! we raised $320,000 for under privileged kids on the West side! And the Gala is over for this year! Everything in my department went beautifully, the decor came together and the vast hall I had to decorate looked great, it was so exciting when all was finished!I felt like I really accomplished something, I know I sound like I am giving myself a giant pat on the back, but it was the biggest project that I have ever been in charge of, for me it was a big deal. Of course there were other ladies, some who worked much harder to make the the whole event turn out great! Next is our scholarship dinner in the Spring, it's also a great night!