Family photo time!

okay so I finally get everyone looking cute and ready for family pictures and it ends up being windy cold day. Thanks to sis' Amy, and her nice camera we ventured into the wind chill to hopefully get some pictures worthy of cards and such. Here is some of my faves...

Buddies!

Aren’t these pictures so cute of Baylee and her good buddy Braelyn. Thanks to Arabeth who took these photos after their Kindergarten program.

Kindergarten Christmas Program

How darling was this short and sweet Kindergarten program. I totally forgot to bring my camera, so much thanks to my friend Arabeth who took this photo. Baylee's class sang "Oh, what a Miracle". She was beaming on the front row and really got into the actions. She loves performing- I know she didn't get that talent from me. She really wanted to be singing Feliz Navidad, and it was all she could do to keep still when the other class sang it. I loved the hats Mrs. Romney made for them - she has been such a good teacher, who cares so much.

Santa's Lap

Lydia keeps saying "Santa Claus" but refused to sit on his lap when she saw him.

Holiday Highlights so far...

***The girls collected toys to sell and set up a garage sell in Mesa. They earned money to buy presents for family members. The toys that didn't sell were donated to a family in need.

***Mom and kids went to the Town Lighting with hot chocolate and cookies. We got to see a live Nativity. Lydia was most thrilled to be able to pet the real animals (sheep, goat, pony, dog). Baylee and Kami got to sit on Mrs. Clause lap for the first time. Kami asked the important question "are you the REAL Mrs. Clause and Elves?"

***Lydia and I got to go to Uncle Glen's wedding reception. Quickest trip we ever made to the valley. We are so excited he finally met a wonderful girl that captured his heart (a Christmas miracle). Glen and Chanel both seemed so happy and perfect for each other. Dallan catered an awesome Luau dinner. Grandma Bevell worked hard to make it perfect for her last child getting married.

***Dave drove to St. George, UT for the Christmas Dickens Festival. He created an English style booth and dressed up Dickens style selling his artwork. The big event was a great success and he worked hard for 4 days 10am-9pm selling his work. It got him in the Christmas spirit and he was excited about the goods he bartered for to give as presents.

***I hosted the first annual Santa Bingo girls night, with Amy's help. Getting Mom's together for a night of visiting and laughs has proven to be a necessary outlet for their sanity.

***I baked the Christmas goodies and my "elf helpers" delivered them to friends and neighbors.

***Dave got to sing "White Christmas" in the town's Christmas Spectacular. It was a wonderful production full of great costumes and props. Amy and I went to see it with all the kids. It was quit humorous to try and keep the children quiet through the whole thing. By the last number we were standing in the back with the kids, waiting to see Dave and Rustin perform. Next thing I know, Lydia is missing - panick- I found her heading out the front doors -relief.

***Baylee performed in her Kindergarten Christmas Program. So Cute! Her teacher made them all knit hats to wear. They learned Silent Night with sign-language. And Baylee had a little speaking part.

***Kami's favorite song has been "Oh, Christmas Tree". She sings it while standing by our tree, posing as girls do, smiling for all its worth.

***Lydia's favorite song is "jingle bells" while bouncing up and down, and "Silver and Gold, Silver and Gold...".

***I have enjoyed several late nights wrapping presents and watching Christmas movies.

***Dave has kept the home fires burning, while enduring the cold to take care of the animals and get the wood. We love waking up to a warm fire.

***Another Christmas miracle - Nana and Papa got called on a mission to Florida, leaving January 7th. We are so excited for them and yet are going to miss them, especialy since they leave so soon. The panick of preparation has set in and we hope to be able to help them get ready to go.

***Exciting announcement! Dave got to go with me to my ultrasound appointment and thrilled to find out we are having a BABY BOY!!! due May 10th. He can hardly wait! and seems to be extra attentive to my well being. We are all excited for the new experiences a baby boy will bring.

Our lives are full and blessed with Christmas highlights yet to come...

Counting my Blessings!

So I was contemplating how blessed I am and what a great year it has been. My kids are growing up so fast, and sometimes I don't fully appreciate life unless I stop and look back at all that has happened and all that I have enjoyed. Though I haven't written my new years resolutions, my goal was to make December a meaningful month full of meaningful activities and remembering the Christmas spirit. With great expectations, however, days roll by so quickly and not all my lofty goals actually happen. But, we have managed to do some wonderful things. Sometimes those wonderful things were simple, like snuggling with my children and reading stories of Christmas, being reminded of child like faith & love, or when my kids decided they wanted to suprise mom with acts of service. The fun thing about girls is they get these high pitched excited voices when they get to add decorations to the house, or bows on packages,when playing with baby Jesus in the manger, or when they get to make a delivery.
Luckily, We have had only one fatality with the porcelain Nativity. Baylee calls me on my cell phone to say "MOM! Something horrible happened. I was playing with the baby Jesus and I accidently dropped it and the head broke off." I consolded her devistation and laughed when I got off the phone - grateful it wasn't a real emergency.

Christmas is Coming!

So the girls couldn't wait to finally start putting up Christmas decorations. They took over and I had to go back and rearrange a few things (or all things). It is fun to see them so excited. Such girls! Uncle Troy cut us down a beautiful tree from the forest. We just love it. Something so cozy about a real tree in the house and a warm fire.

Thanksgiving Feast

We had such a fun Thanksgiving. Four fun packed days in the valley with lots of family. Mom's house was packed with Bowmans, Merrills, and Bennetts. It started with a pie baking marathon and turkey pit cooking the night before, a fun tradition. A lot of extended family got together for the feast on Thanksgiving, with tables set-up on the the carport. It really worked out great. Good food, good company! And everyone pitching in to help with food prep and clean-up. We wore of the full stomachs with everyone playing Ultimate Frisbee. Aunty Sean got a bunch of us mom's into a late night showing of New Moon for free. That was fun to be spontaneous and irresponsible, even though we had to get up at 4:40am for the Black Friday deals. I went with Amy, Aunt Sheri and Aunt Linda to do the Friday shopping. We got some good bargains and had some good laughs. Dave and Uncle Curtis got in a fun round of golf. The kids were content to eat and play outside most of the days. Lots to be Thankful for! We love being with family!

A Montessori Feast !

At the girls preschool, Mrs. Merrill arranged for a fun Thanksgiving feast that the kids helped prepare, as well as, making their own costumes. Baylee was thrilled to have Indian braids and a feather. Kami loved her pilgrim bonnet.

Happy Halloween!

Too funny! Baylee loved the glasses and clown nose she won as a prize!

This is the life !

Go Fish!

Cake Walk

The girls loved watching Nana dress-up as Cruela Divil.

Well the long awaited dress-up day finally came. We had a Halloween party at Aunt Amy's and boy was it a party! Good food & treats, lots of fun games, and good company of the extended Merrill clan and my parents. The kids even got to trick-or-treat door-to-door inside Amy's house. We had a chilli dinner and I made this really good white chilli recipie of my mom's. It was so tasty!

GO GO Baylee!

Baylee just finished up the soccer season and loved it. Her team was the PINK panthers. She was much more aggresive at getting the ball this year and never wanted to sit out - an improvement from last year when she stood there and hoped the ball would come to her. She said her favorite positions were forward and goaly. It was fun to watch her run and get after the ball. Way to go Baylee!

Carlsbad Beach Trip

Too funny! Lacey's googly eyes. the kids did crafts at camp


Nana and Papa



Skateboard fun by the campsite


Dave loved the hearty camp breakfasts made by Dallan.






Well we had a fun October break going to the beach with Nana,Papa,Chelsey, Dallan & Bobbi's family, and Durfees. We camped on the bluff and played by the ocean for 4 days. We all had such a fun time-great food, great company, great fun. Baylee really got into boogy boarding and drip castle building. Kambria swam in the ocean with her floaties. Lydia liked the ocean at a distance, but loved all the puddles in the sand. Dave ocean kayaked with the men and boogy boarded. He got tumbled pretty good in the rough waves. I played on the beach with the kids and got brave enough to enter the cold water and boogy board. Much Fun! The only sad part is that when we drove back to the valley and visited Dave's parents in Phoenix, my camera got stolen out of the car and all my great pictures are gone forever. I had some really great ones, too. I am missing the pict I took of Lydia in her bright green cover-up sticking the top ofher head into our sand pond we built, with her naked bumb up in the air. Another favorite was Lydia guarding the water faucet by our camp. She was in her pink pajamas sitting next to the water faucet with her bucket, waiting for whoever to come along and turn on the water so that she could play in it. She sat their the whole time we packed up and got soaking wet and muddy- laughing & loving every minute of it. So, needless to say any pictures I post are thanks to Bobbi, who had some picts of our family on her camera.

Montessori At Last!

Okay, so Kambria has been asking me sense Baylee started school if it was her school day yet. So Monday night when I told her school is tomarrow she was thrilled and got her backpack all set out. Then she comes into my room at 6:00am fully dressed in her school clothes and says "mom, I'm ready for school" and then falls asleep at the end of the bed for another hour. After I did her hair in some tight curls to look cute for the first day, she later noticed herself in the mirror and said "I look like George Washington" --where did that come from--I guess GW had tight curls,too. Anyway, it was an exciting first day of Montessori for her and Baylee. Baylee reported that she is going to challenge herself in Montessori 'cause kindergarten is too easy. Kambria felt special getting to stay at Montessori a half hour longer, since Baylee catches the bus early,--and she couldn't stop talking about how she was "specially" chosen on the first day to take the snack basket home. oh, the simple pleasures. Dave and I were chuckling the other night about the dominating dinner conversations of our 2 school goers. --just one in particular --Baylee has a spanish girl that rides her bus to kindergarten. Baylee heard her speak spanish (she thinks) and decided she wanted to speak spanish to her too. So, she says she gets on the bus and says "Ola" "Como Esteh"-only the girl never responds. But, Baylee keeps trying. Then one day the spanish girl waved to her on the bus, and another time she got Baylee's backpack that was left on the bus. so I guess the friendship is budding. Only, maybe she doesn't speak spanish.

Anyway, our little Lydia feels a little left out in the backpack department, so today when she was saying "packpack, packpack" I found one in the closet her size and she drug it around all day.

A Super 6 Birthday!

Baylee had a great 6th birthday. She is so easy to please and so enthusiastic about the simple joys of a birthday. She got to do 6 special things that day. 1. Dad made her german pancakes for breakfast. 2. she got to take a treat to share with her classmates at school & found a note from mom in her lunch. 3. She got to choose whatever she wanted for dinner (pizza). 4. Choose her cake. (mom made an nummy apple cake, and dad drew the horse on top) 5. She got to open great presents. 6. She invited Merrills, Willis, and Braelyn over for a pinata bust. Lydia got the first hit and Rustin made the smashing bust of the pinata. It was really a great day for her and she felt so loved. Baylee loved each one of her gifts and has played with each on of them. My Baylee is growing up.