Lunch with Old Friends

We were pleased to go to lunch with Stacie's childhood friends from Lehi. I love these girls and felt like they were my own girls when we lived there. We have missed them a lot and had a great time catching up. Thanks, girls for letting me see all of you again! Love ya!

Manda's 80's Dance

Manda and Brittany attended an 80's Dance and had a Blast! Manda made her hair so BIG that I actually thought it was cute. I guess I'm old fashioned.

TAG

Stacie Tagged Me, so Here Are My Answers:

8 Favorite TV Shows

So You Think You Can Dance

The Biggest Loser

The Human Body (Discovery)

The Apprentice

Judge Judy

Desperate Housewives (Shhhhh!)

I Survived or I Shouldn't Be Alive

CSI Miami

8 Favorite Restaurants

5 Alls (VERY FAVORITE!)

Market Street Grill

Outback Steakhouse

Geckos

Spaghetti Mama's

Chart House

Kimo's (Maui)

Any Fresh Fish Place

8 Things that Happened Yesterday

Gary got stuck in Colorado Springs (Bummer!)

Had lunch with Stacie and her Lehi friends

Tweeked my neck

Got take-out from Chili's for the little kids and me

Helped Ty build his Lego Batman sets

Read a book

Won the "Guess Isabel's Weight" contest!

Talked to Jake

8 Things to Look Forward To:

Gary's Retirement

Summer

Australia

More Grandkids!

A Clean, Organized, Smooth-Running House

Good weather when we can have family parties outside

Time with my Mom and Siblings

Anytime all my kids are together

8 Favorite Ways to Spend My Free Time

With My Family

With My Grandkids

Going to Lunch with my Friends

Computer Games

Reading a Good Book

Watching a Favorite Show

Watching "Pride and Prejudice" A&E Version

A Fun Run

8 Things I Love About Spring

THE SUNSHINE

Green Everything

Spring Flowers

The Temperature

Easter

The Easter Egg Hunt

Spring Break when the Kids are off School

Being in the Mountains

8 Things On My Wish List

Gary Could Retire

No More Aging

I Could See Ireland

Lots of Grandkids

I Could Be a Natural Organizer

I Had My Dad Back

No Stress

I Could be in Tip-Top Shape

8 People I'm Tagging

Heidi L.

Carole B.

Kaylee Day

Bethany T.

Caitlin A.

Cassi S.

Jennifer D.

Brittany D.

Fun times!

Kenadi stayed a few days last week and had a fun time with Rachael in the snow. It takes so long to put their snow stuff on that I wonder if it's worth it, but they sure have a lot of fun!

Isabel came to visit while she was there. Kenadi tried to keep Isabel entertained and even climbed under her toy with her to keep her company. It was very cute.

Happy 1st Birthday, Rhyder!!!

I remember the day you were born! I was so excited to see you! Daddy was there and helped Mommy while you were getting ready to come.

You've always been a smiley little guy. Even though you'ved had a hard time being happy all the time, you're a real cutie when you are!

I really love the picture where Ty is holding you, and you're pulling Chan's hair - typical. I like your bat costume, too. Look at you dancing to the singing bears, and the picture at the bottom where you're throwing a tantrum on the floor. Funny, huh?

You had a fun party on Jan. 1st, then a small party on your real birthday. It was fun watching you eat your cake without your hands. There were lots of people there to sing to you and celebrate your birthday. You really loved balloons, too. Happy Birthday, Little Guy! We love you!

Ski 2008

Gary took the kids, who were able and willing, on the annual ski trip to The Canyons. Gary, Shaun and Lisa, Jake, Manda, and LaCinda went on the first trip, and Gary and Chris went on the second trip. As you can see, I'm not a skier or snowboarder, so I stayed home with the grand kids and Ty and Rach.

They're getting ready!

On their way! Looks cold to me.

Here they go! Upper left show Shaun helping Lisa and Manda get the feel for the board. Bottom left shows Chris going strong....and wiping out! Top right shows Shaun boarding and Jake skiing thru the trees. Next is Manda on the board, and finally Lisa on the board. They had a lot of fun together.

Ty in the spirit of Christmas

Couldn't resist this picture of Ty getting into the Christmas spirit. Totally not like what you think of him, huh?

Fun in the Snow!

Ty and Rach spent some time sleding in the backyard. They had a lot of fun and Gary got some great shots!

Here they're jumping off the rocks in the backyard. They had a lot of fun.

Lights at Temple Square

Gary took Ty and Rach to see the lights at Temple Square. It was so cold and there was so much to do, that I didn't go, but they braved the weather and had a good time.

Twas the Day After Christmas...

Josh, Kim and Chloee came down the day after Christmas to visit. We opened our presents to each other and had dinner. Josh, Jake and Ty played Star Wars Monopoly. Gary and Kimberlee visited, and Chloee and Rach modeled their new pajamas. They gave Ty some pajamas and a beanie, and we gave Chloee pajamas, so they posed for a picture in them. They also gave Rach some fingernail polish and stickers, so Rachael painted Chloee's and her fingernails and put stickers on them. We had a great visit!

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful, thoughtful gifts and the fun visits! Christmas would be nothing without family!!!

Christmas Day 2008

We had a great Christmas when it finally came. The prep was hard, but Christmas itself was a lot of fun. On Christmas morning we were fortunate to have with us Stacie, Tim, Chan and Rhyder; Shaun, Lisa and Isabel; my mom; and of course, Manda, Jake, Ty and Rach. It is so much fun when there are kids, which brings more excitement and magic into the event. Don't get any ideas about inviting Mom (Grandma Jones) for next year - we've already spoken for her!

Ty and Jake put together his new Lego General Grievous. He was pretty excited.

Gary's boys did a fantastic job on our outside Christmas lights this year. We have always wanted more than the single strand, but I didn't want Gary up on the roof, so this year, they made our dreams come true! We had many compliments on it and hope they'll do it again next year. Below the house picture are my attempts at working with color in the photos.

Gary is always taking pictures of scenery, so I decided to use a few of them as backgrounds.

We were very pleased that we were able to see and visit with EVERY ONE of our kids this year! As they grow up, they go on missions, go to school, or decide to move away (against my better judgement) and they get harder to see. It was a great holiday!