Good Bye 2009

Our New Year's Eve was full of playing the Wii! We all set up our Mii and we fit programs, and made goals. Aidan was underweight, Mike and I both overweight (remember I am with child, so my goal will be easily attained) and Madisyn was our only healthy one of the bunch. Our Wii Fit Ages were a little off the charts, except for Mike who lost 5 years in his age, because he has excellent body control. The kids loved playing all the games, and made for a fun night. The kids stayed up until 1 am. CRAZY!! When I was little I could have never done that, but when I was little we didn't have a Wii either. (thank you Chelsey for the Wii Fit we LOVE it)


Madisyn and Aidan have grown to LOVE Mario Cart. Given to us again by the lovely Aunt Chelsey who I know spent way to much on our family gift exchange. They both run into walls, and fall off the track, but they love that they are driving.



Right before Midnight we got out our Peach Sparkling Cider and the kids all toasted to the New Year. We watched the the ball drop in times square and then Madisyn and Aidan wanted to play the Wii again. All in all a great great night! Happy New Years Everyone!!

Rock'n Out With the Family

We went over to my sister's house to play on Monday night. Mike played rock band with Max, Kai, and Irelynn, and Madisyn played Simms with Chynna on the computer. She made her and her boyfriend, Payton, what am I going to do with that girl? Thanks for letting us come over and play, we love you guys.

You're Gonna Shoot Your Eye Out

Mike and Aidan got a bee-bee gun for Christmas, and Grandpa Dave took them out to go shooting. Aidan loved it, and was actually a good shot. Thanks for the great gift.

Barbie Doll House, Diego Water Adventure and The Wii

This year Madisyn wanted a Barbie Doll House, with an elevator and Aidan wanted Diego Water Adventure (he actually purchased this with me, but still continued to ask Santa for it, even though it was wrapped under the tree. :) But Santa came through with more then that!! Aidan got Spike Jr., Star Wars Dudes and Ships, Star Wars Lap Top, Handy Mandy Tool Bench, and lots more.

Madisyn got her doll house, plus a Gabrielle Barbie (HSM), American Girl Bed, Desk, Camping Set, with working little camp fire (way cute), and lots of over things as well.

The best present of all was our Wii!! Madisyn opened a present from Santa that had a clue in it that led us to 5 other clues leading us to the Wii, and TOY STORY MANIA!! The kids were excited, but once we started playing they didn't want to stop.


Mike got a Star Wars Transformer for Christmas, along with guitar hero. He decided that the transformer was going to stay the Millenium Falcon. It was a little complicated, but Aidan loved the fact the ship had guns with bullets that shot out.

The Wii has been a GREAT family gift! Everyone can play and Toy Story Mania, for a Disneyland Family what a GREAT gift. Thanks Santa.

Nativity, P.J.'s and Smores

This year we celebrated Christmas in WARM Las Vegas, with weather a beautiful 71 degrees. We had Christmas with Mike's family, and every Christmas Eve it is tradition to do something around the Nativity. This year we all acted it out. Madisyn was a wise man.

Aidan insisted on being the star, but he made a cute star.

Mike and I were the coveted Mary and Joseph, being in my condition it was perfect, except the baby stayed in my tummy. The little girls kept saying how great it would be if it would come out. :)

After the Nativity we read a story called "Come and See" a great Nativity story about the young children coming to the baby Jesus and singing and dancing out of joy. The little kids really liked it. After that we opened our NY Pajamas. The kids loved dressing the same, it is crazy how the three girls look so much alike.





After we all got comfortable we made smores, in the fireplace, and Julie played the piano as the kids all sang their favorite Christmas Songs.

My Star Perfomer

Aidan performed for the Grizz Kids Preschool today. They sang 4 different Christmas Songs, and Jingle Bells and Wish you a Merry Christmas were definatly his favorite. In the middle of one song he turned around to make sure that all of the kids were singing with him.


After they sang Santa came and each kid got to sit on his lap and then get a yummy candy cane.


Aidan's candy cane broke. He showed his Big Buddy Braxton what had happened, so Braxton, who just broke his ankle hopped down the stairs in the commons to get Aidan a second candy cane. I guess I'm not the only one that spoils him.

Good 'Tithings' we Bring to You and Your 'Kids'

Madisyn had said that she wanted to go caroling, and so I told Mike that for Family Home Evening on Monday that is what we should do. So I made Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge for the first time, GO ME, packaged them and off we went.

We went to all our friends' houses in our neighborhood, and had a ton of fun. The kids both sang really well. Aidan at first though wanted to leave the treat and hide, but we explained that is what you do for Halloween, for Christmas we sing and then give our friends the treat. So he finally warmed up to the idea when he got to be the gift giver. We sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and both kids kind of added or changed the words a little. For Madisyn tidings became tithings, (hey we teach gospel principle at our house :)) and for Aidan it was to you and your kids (to a kid what is a kin anyways, we should change it to kids).

The kids and both Mike and I had a blast. Thank you to all our neighbors that listened to us sing, you were all great! Well on that note, We wish you a Merry Chirstmas, only 3 more sleeps!!

Our Vist to the Big Man!

We went to Fashion Place Mall today to visit with the Man of the Hour, SANTA. I told Madisyn that Santa had some bling (check out the belt) and she asked what that was, I tried to explain the belt. Latter that day she told someone we visited Santa and he had "BLING" too cute. Aidan didn't cry this year for the first time!! YEAH! He was actually really excited. Aidan asked Santa for the Diego Underwater Adventure, and Madisyn asked for the American Girl Doll Camping Set and Bunk Beds. We will have to see what happens when Santa comes in 6 nights. The kids were great in line, we read "Who Will Guide my Sleigh Tonight?" and "Fancy Nancy Christmas" both great books.

Aidan Can Do Things Too

I feel like I have posted and facebooked so much about Madisyn's gymnastics, that Aidan has been pushed aside. So here it goes.

Aidan is also in gymnastics and loves learning tricks like his big sister. Not that I encourage competition between my lovely kids, but Aidan does much better when I remind him that Madisyn can do that trick. :) Here are the pictures from today's Gym class.





He was in a beginning class, and they moved him up to an advanced class with ALL GIRLS that take gymnastics a little more serious then my little guy, but he still likes doing all the tricks. I think BEAM is his favorite.

Graham Cracker Houses

Thanks to Windy and Whitney, my most AWESOME, neighbors Aidan got to make his own graham cracker house. He asked for a square one like a present and then as we were decorating it he said it was a Movie Theater and then asked if we could go see "Avitar". :)

WHOA! Guys Look at That

Aidan and Madisyn both loved the lights at Thanksgiving Point. They are wonderful this year. I love that you go though all the fun toys, reindeer, Santa, ect. and then end with the real meaning of Christmas. It was wonderful, highly recommended.


Aidan would tell you it was amazing he didn't have enough words to explain to us what he was seeing, he was just in AWE, and kept says GUYS LOOK AT THAT, over and over until we would acknowledge every light display, and I mean EVERY light display, and there were a lot.

Jolley's Christmas Performance

Madisyn got the chance to show off her AMAZING gymnastics skills again, but this time to Christmas Music and on stage. She performed to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and loved getting all dolled up to perform. She wore eyeliner for the first time, and thought she was the cat's meow. Our Video Camera wouldn't work again, so we only got the video from my camera, and it's not the best. She is the 5th girl from the left, (stage right) and has a WHITE bow in her hair. She did a great job. We love you sweetheart.





Thank you Kristine for coming, you made Madisyn's night. She loves you so much.

Mike's Dad is a SUPERSTAR!

Mike and I flew down to Vegas (without the kids) this weekend to hear Dave sing in the choir with Andrea Bocelli in the MGM Grand Arena. We ate with Mike's family at Hash House A Go Go (yes that is the name of the place, but it was REALLY GOOD) where Mike was able to try Chicken and Waffles for the first time. He said it was GREAT!



Then we headed over to the MGM with lots and lots of other people to watch Andrea Bocelli sing. As you can see we defiantly had the best seats in the house. The first half of the concert was famous operas, and the second half was Christmas songs from his Christmas Album. Silent Night was my favorite, he sang in Italian first and then in English, it was breathtaking. Mike made fun of me for bringing my binoculars, (they were a little big) but I was able to see the whites of their eyes, and Mike looked in them a lot admitting that it was nice to have them. Dave sang background to more then 8 songs, Italian, French, and English, it was unbelievable. I will have to say I am not a Bocelli fan, but the concert was really remarkable, and the Christmas songs were fun to hear, especially in a different language.



After the show we went and got Pie, Dave's favorite thing to do after a concert, and I presented Dave with a picture that Krisine helped me find. Dave said that his Mother was with him through out the entire experience, and that The Lord's Prayer was always her favorite. This is a picture of Dave in High School singing with his Mom.

The Princess and the Frog

In My Family fashion, I talked Mike into working from home today and taking the kids and myself to the first showing of the Princess and the Frog. I got the kids ready like normal and off to school and playgroup, not letting them in on our little secret. After Aidan's playgroup we went over to Madisyn's school and kidnapped her and took her to the movie, saying off course that she had a doctors appointment. Madisyn was extremely confused, and when they called her up to the office the teacher didn't hear that she needed to be ready to go, so Madisyn did not have her backpack or coat. I had to send my confused child back to class, but before I did I told her we were going to see The Princess and the Frog. She told her teacher and class what was up when she went back to get her backpack and coat, we will need to work on her "getting out of school" skills for next time.



We all loved the movie. I loved the fact that it wasn't in 3-D, since my kids are too little to enjoy that, and how Disney worked the Princess thing in since it was based in New Orleans, and Madisyn and I both cried and laughed too many times to count.
Yeah for the new hardworking Disney Princess, Dreams do come true, but Wishes only take you half way there. Great MOVIE!

Etta Lane Party Tonight

DATE: Tuesday Dec 8, 2009
TIME: 6:30-8:30pm
BLOG LINK: ettalane.blogspot.com

I am having Jen come over one last time before Christmas to do a watch party. These are interchangeable beaded watches and this is the best price around, they make a GREAT gift for sisters, daughters, moms, grandmas, yourself, any women in your life.

The party is at my house Tuesday Dec 8 6:30-8:30 pm. If you need to you can bring the kids, come have fun.

Our Little Angel

Madisyn was asked to be an angel at our Ward Christmas Party. She got to wear her new white dress that Irelynn passed down to her, and she felt like the queen of the ball. The nativity was to music and written word, and Madisyn's part was to sing with the choir of angels at Christ's birth. She did beautifully and so did all of the other little angels involved.


I had to take this picture, because I feel my son is odd...



When eating any cupcake he insists on taking off the wrapper and then putting the cupcake upside down and then eating it "how the little piggies eat" (Christmas Story Reference, you MUST see the movie) I know all kids like the frosting, but not mine. Oh well I still love him.

A BIG thank you to everyone in the Ward involved in the party, it was a HUGE success.

Deck the Halls!!

Both kids have been so excited to set up the tree. Since we were in Vegas for Thanksgiving they had to wait for Monday to set up all the Christmas Decorations. Mike is adimit that we can't decorate until after Thanksgiving. Each box led to the kids getting more and more excited for Christmas. Aidan just kept saying "What the Heck?" and Madisyn just loved that she got to help put on the tree ortaments. Every year the kids get to pick out an ornament that represents them, and it is always fun when they remember that that ornament is theirs, and then they HAVE to put it on the tree "All by my best self." as Aidan says.




Last year we got our stockings (I LOVE THEM), and yes we have 2 more in storage without names for any future members of the family. Merry Early Christmas.