I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

It started snowing today at 11 am and didn't stop till 11 pm wow we got a lot of snow!!! The kids had a great time palying in it, catching the snow while Ryan was snowblowing!

A Holiday Weekend!

I know Christmas is over but here's the Family parties we had the weekend before!!!

This was Ryan's family party. It started with a blizzard so one brother's family (Doug, Heidi , Brittany & Ashley) and one niece Kelsie did not make it to the party. Which led to extra shopping trips to get the gifts needed for the Sub for Santa Family. But after some really yummy pizza and a conversation with Grammy & Grandpa over the Internet (which involved a singing performance by all of "I'm Wishing On A Star" except me who does not sing, but I did laugh!). The 2 older girls (Kira & Sam) got to run and deliver the gifts which was fun for them (you have to be 8 to run the gifts, so the others looked on longing for their turn to come!)! I must mention the sweet 14-year old who opened the door (while we all were hiding) who just saw the food (not the gift cards & gifts!) and yelled "Thanks" into the night brought a tear to my eye! We listened to a story recorded by Grandpa Crockett & opened our small gifts to each other. Then together we watched our year in review video (made by Uncle Gregg, Thanks!) which all the children love watching, and actually sit still for! I love the feeling I get leaving this party we spend so little on each other and so much for a family in need, it helps me remember the true meaning of Christmas. And no gift can fill as much space in my heart as giving!

Here's the (scary) singing, sorry about the lighting. It is short and sweet though!

This started because Ryan's Mom Kathy loves to sing and all the big group calls have included her singing at lest one song. So last time the sister-in-laws sang a song just to be funny, but then at Christmas the kids were all singing their songs from their programs. So Robby started singing This and by the end EVERYONE joined in!!!

The Brenner Family Party in Colorado!

We traveled to Colorado for my Mom's Brenner Family party. It was fun to see everyone form all over and get to visit for hours when we rarely see each other. We actually made it between 2 huge winter storms so that was lucky! The kids got to swim in the hotel pool, and see Santa. Thanks so much Joy for hosting the party and feeding ALL of us!

Straight No Chaser (Awesome)!

I wish I knew how to post this but here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E

It is a group singing the 12 days of Christmas It is so funny and amazing!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging family & friends! No hobby has brought my such joy as blogging. I have cried, laughed, prayed, shared, and loved with you all so many memories. I have been able to grow closer to those I already knew, reacquaint with those I had lost and learned about those who I have never even met! Thank you for sharing this year with me and my family & for sharing your memories and families with me also! I have been very blessed this year and have the memories written down (blogged & printed) to share with my children for years to come. The next RS meeting on Family History I can actually say done!!!! Wow that's a first! Thanks you guys & love you all tons!!

Sam's 4th grade Christmas Program

Samantha had her 4th Grade Christmas Program (she has been singing the Song "Surfing Santa" for weeks!)! She was an ELF and only had to sing and dance, no speaking parts is what she wanted (that's my girl!!!!). These are some of her friends:

Aubrey, Sam, Madalyn, & Rachel

Aubrey, Sam, Madalyn, & BrookeHer Famous Debut!

Miss Ashlynn on Petite's

Ashlynn got her warm-up suit for her dance company! She was SOOOOO excited and has been asking when it would be done since September when she was sized for hers! She loves dance!

Seeing Santa!!

Look how cute they are!!! Jaxsyn was not even scared,

she walked up and asked him if she could sit on his lap!

Our Star Wrestler!

Coleman was quite a wrestler this year and won all of his matches. At his tournament this weekend he won 1st place. He takes his medal with him everywhere and is so proud! Here's a clip of part of one his matches!

Mommy I cut my bangs!!!

As cute as she is she is still 2!!! Jaxsyn in 30 minutes painted her OWN fingernails with nail polish (all of her hands too!). Then she walks in and says "Look Mommy I cut my bangs!". Then I found crackers all over her bedroom smashed onto fake plates and mixed with lip gloss(She made dinner!). Good things she is so cute and says "sorry mommy I pomiss (promise) not to do it again"!

Way to cute!

Jaxsyn has started falling asleep by her gate. Since she HAS to have her door open at night, we had to put her gate on to keep her form waking up the other kids!!!

Look how much I saved!!

Okay my sister-in-law were talking about doing the savvy shopping (coupon clipping!) her neighbor does it and was spending the same but her food storage was huge & growing. So Christy started it and taught me how also!! Okay 3 weeks later, I've saved a lot before today, but this was awesome!!
I spent only $39 for all of this!!! I saved $99!!
5- Bisquicks
4- Kix
4- Cinnamon Toast
6- Potato mixes
9- Helper mixes (great for food storage!)
1- Muffin mix
1- Frosting
2 of each grands Biscuits & Cinnamon rolls
2-Evaporated milk
2- Lg Yogurts!
3- enchilada sauce
4- cookie mixes
5-veggie steamers

Ashlynn's Student of the Month!

Ashlynn was one of the Students of the Month for November! She was so excited and SOOOOO happy she had cute hair for her picture at school!! Funny huh!

Girls Day Out!

We had a crazy Saturday so we decided to divide and conquer. Ryan & Coleman went to wrestling, Boston's Baptism & Boston's birthday party. The girls & I went to Mya's Baptism & to the Festival of Trees! It was really fun for 3 of the 4 of us, but Jaxsyn was in a crabby mood. My mom, my sister-in-law & I did a Festival of Tree's tree (our 3rd) and the girls really wanted to see it. They have a Kids Village and the girls made decorations and little crafts. It was a really fun day.

Ward Christmas Dinner!!

Here are a few of us making the dinner for the Christmas Party! Massive amounts of funeral potato's were made that night. I didn't take any pictures of the party because I was doing the party! But it ended up being the best activity, and I was released 2 days later!!!!!!!! Yea!!!
After 3 Christmas Parties, I was done too!!!!

Christmas Tag!!

Alisha I stole this from you!!! I have sooo many things to post, but of course instead I'm going to do a tag, and you'll have to wait for the posts!!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper & Bows & Tags!!
2. Real tree or Artificial? I love real, but a 15' foot tree is not economical every year, maybe in the basement next year!
3. When do you put up the tree? I week before Thanksgiving!
4. When do you take the tree down? The 27th 0r 28th of December.
5. Do you like eggnog? Nope
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Mall Madness, diamond earrings !
7. Hardest person to buy for? All Adults!
8. Easiest person to buy for? All Kids!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes,one from our first Christmas, one from St. Maarteen, a Little People one, and I few others scattered about.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, but with our blog address for the letter
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? As a kid- the one were the kids go to the North Pole to save Santa Now- Four Christmases heheheh or Any Christmas Flick really!!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It varies from year to year. I buy the bigger stuff early, and the finish on Black Friday except for the odds and ends!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, but only white elephant ones!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything, love Candy Canes
16. Lights on the tree? Lots & Lots.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary's Song- Amy Grant
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Visit those who live close, but always home Christmas morning.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I think so.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? On Christmas Eve - PJ's, Christmas book & Brother, sister gifts
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I love it all!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Changes I have Blue Silver & White snowflakes & icicles this year. But I loved my Red whit & green candies last year!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Thanksgiving dinner all over again!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing!!! For real! Just another happy healthy year with my Husband, kids, family, & friends!

Tag your it!

Festival of Lights!

The Sunday after Thanksgiving my family went to see the Festival of Lights, the kids have been asking for years if we could drive in the back of the truck and this year we did it!! They had a great time!

Black Friday & 4 Christmases!!

Nothing makes me more excited than, BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!! We made great time and I truly finished everyone on my list! I purchased gifts for about 15 different people!!! I think it is so funny to watch people run for a good deal!! We left at 4:00 am (my neighbor Jen joined my mom & sister-in-law and I! We were like a well oiled machine!! We hand 4 cart FULL in 10 minutes at Target with more than we needed, so we just passed it back to people behind us who had not been as sucessful (sorry to brag, but we are AWESOME!!). Later that afternoon my brother Shuan & his wife Tammy, my Dad & Mom, and Ryan & I (we missed you Nate & Ashley!) went to see 4 Christmases. We LOVED it I don't know why the paper gave it a D+ we laughed until we cried more than a few times!!

Thanksgiving!!!

We had an awesome Thanksgiving Dinner at my mom's house! It was just my mom & dad, my Grandma Hirst, Cousin Chantelle and her niece Danika, My sister-in-law Tammy (my brother Shaun was at the fire station working), my brother Nate, And then my kids & Ryan & I. It was so yummy I brined my Turkey which made it taste awesome!!! Then we went to pies at Robby's & Christy's with Ryan's side of the family. We sat and looked at ads for hours just deciding where we should go shopping!

O' Christmas Tree!

I LOVE Christmas trees!!! This is our tree this year! It takes forever & ever to put up, but I love it so much when it is done! The 1st picture has the kids standing there, so you can tell how tall it really is, 15 feet!

Pure Torture!!

We watched the sad loss of BYU vs Utah. We had friends over for the game which lightened the sting a bit.

GOOOOO COUGARS!!!!!!!!

I HAD to change my background from red to BLUE! It should be an awesome game tomorrow!!!! The Cougars are going to win!!

Coleman Wrestling!

Coleman has found his new favorite hobby, wrestling! He pretty good at it also!

Invention Convention!

Ashlynn's Hopscotch game for the "Invention Convention"! She did a great job on it, we played it the night before she turned it in at it was really fun!

Senior Grandparent Day!

Senior Center Grandparent Day! My dad is the director over city recreation where I grew up! Which includes the senior center. It was a Grandparent Craft day so we went! The kids had a great time making turkey's with Grandma Great & Grandpa!

Pretties!

Jaxsyn loves "pretties" that means lipgloss, I forgot that I had handed it to her while we were driving home & this is what we found when we unloaded from the car. She sparkled for 2 days!!

Christmas Letter!

Merry Christmas!

We've had a great year in 2008!

It's been a year of discovering new talents and loves.

Here's a quick update to catch you up!

Ryan, is still working at Blendtec and loving his new position that he started last year. He discovered his love of scuba diving while we were on a cruise with friends. He goes whenever he can fit it in! He is also loving watching our children grow and start playing sports, he is their biggest fan.

Chelsi, is still a busy stay at home mom! She loves the quiet time she has with Jaxsyn before the chauffeuring begins in the afternoon. She has discovered her new hobby of blogging and loves to save our memories on the computer instead to scrap booking (which she doesn't love)! She loves watching the children grow and and the crazy things they do that make her laugh (even though there are still times they make her want to cry!!)

Samantha, is the best babysitter-in-training. She loves to clean when watching the kids for mom's short trips to the store. She has discovered her love of gymnastics, she is getting really good at the bar. She loves "hanging-out" with her friends, and was so proud of growing old enough to be given a little more freedom, and sadly learning the consequences of pushing the limits of that freedom to far.

Ashlynn, is our compassionate little girl. She is very aware of the feeling others are having, and sincerely feels their happiness, or sadness with them. She has discovered her love of competition dance, she has begun dancing EVERYWHERE, she always is doing a dance move! She loves being mischievous and that spirit often gets her in trouble, but she always has fun until Mom & Dad find out.

Coleman, is our active young boy. He is always outside with his friends either playing flag football, bear in the woods (We could not explain the rules even if we tried!), jumping bikes, or just playing in the snow. He has discovered his love of sports, he was a star playing soccer and is loving his new sport wrestling. He loves being in Kindergarten, he is a great student and very helpful in his class. He loves being right and is very spirited in his ways of showing you, which is teaching both mom & dad much patience.

Jaxsyn, is still the charmer. She can charm anyone she meets, she also knows she can, so she often gets whatever she desires. She has discovered her love of friends & play group & nursery. She can play outside or inside with her friends for hours. She loves everything girl: pink, pretty shoes, her hair certain ways, and baby dolls. She has her normal 2-year-old tantrums, but actually is fairly reasonable.

Click on the other links below this letter link on the side bar, to see a few of our favorite memories this year! We will have our blog open until after Christmas and then we will make it private again, so if you would like to continue as one of our guests please post a comment including your email address.

Early, but too cute not to share!

I already took my kids Christmas photos, so they can wear there Christmas outfits to Church at Christmas time. They turned out okay, usually I am more impressed but it only cost $25 at Target for all the photos we need, so I can't really complain!!

Gratitude Turkey!

For FHE on Monday we made a Gratitude Turkey (idea from the Friend). Each kid had to come up with 5 things they were thankful for, and then Mom & Dad added a few so we could use it for a count down. I know one day they will realize how blessed they are, but until then I'll just keep reminding them!

Coleman lost his 1st tooth!!

Coleman was running around yelling "I lost a tooth!!!!" It was really cute even though he had tested my nerves so much earlier that day. That's what kids do, just when you are so mad at them they do something really cute! Ryan was out of town, so Coleman wanted the tooth fairy to leave his tooth behind. I told him to yell really loud and maybe she would hear him and leave the tooth. She did, but he lost it before Ryan got home (hehehe kids!)!

One More Halloween Photo!

My brother was the shower costume the kid from Karate Kid wore. It looked really good. That is Bailey my niece too. I think they all looked great this year.

Halloween 2008!

Halloween is always fun in our family for a few reasons:
#1 Ryan loves to dress-up, so it makes everyone join in the fun!

#2 School Parties & Programs

I helped in Coleman's Class Party!

Ashlynn had a Monster Mash Dance Program at school!

Jaxsyn almost fell asleep during the program.

She danced to the Monster Mash! She did great, she loves dancing. She dances around the house all day, everyday.

#3 Pumpkin Craving at Grandpa & Grandma Hirst's House

#4 Ryan's Family LOVES Halloween too, so Robby & Christy throw a Halloween Party! Here's a bunch of photos of the fun!

#5 Candy, Candy, Candy!

Sick Day!!

Ryan went buffalo hunting with Rick so we were just enjoying our weekend, when I ended up gettiing sick. That night Ashlynn got sick and then Samantha the next morning. So we took a sick day from church, the kids watched movies all day. It was actually pretty fun!