New Years Eve

Today is New Years Eve and I can't believe that 2008 is over. Wow, each year seems to go by faster and faster. We have been cleaning house and cooking and getting ready for tonight. We are having my sisters over (Erin, Courtney, Holli and Holli's daughter) and Todd's sister Wendy and her 2 kids. My parents usually come too, but my mom is in Arizona visiting the new grand baby. The kids are excited to have cousins come and sleep over. We will eat meatballs, homemade potato soup, salami and cream cheese and lots of other goodies. We'll play games and probably Rock Band and party til midnight. We'll have people sleeping in each room and lots of giggles. I hope everyone has a fun night and be safe while driving. Happy New Year!

Christmas crafts

K reindeer

K handprint Santa

K stocking

B poem

B stocking

The girls have been busy making crafts at school this month. Instead of keeping all of them, I take pictures of them. They are really cute!!

Another Birthday party!

R getting ready to blow out his 10 candles.

Grandma used Trick candles!!

My sister Holli blowing out her candles w/help from Faith.

R loves Lego's, he got another Star Wars ship!!!

R got more military tanks and vehicles, his favorite!

Tonight we went to my parents for family birthday parties. My sister Holli had her birthday on the 23rd and R's on the 26th. We had Teriyaki chicken for dinner and yummy chocolate cake for dessert(thanks Aly). R enjoyed all his gifts. And his really loved the trick candles. It was a very fun evening. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Happy 10th Birthday!

R with his race suit on, and still in shock.

R with his helmet on and ready to go.

R getting ready to race.

R's racing.

After Todd & R's race, by the stock car.

Today is Ryan's 10th Birthday and I can't believe it. It just seems like yesterday. He has grown so fast. This afternoon, we took R to RPM for a training class and race. We didn't tell him where we were going, so he was so surprised when we got there. He couldn't believe it. He had a great time. After his class, he got to do 3 races. He made 3rd place twice and 4th place once. He was really good!
After it was over, Todd raced with R and a group of adults. It was a lot harder, they were really experienced and fast! He wiped out once. Todd placed 7th and R 9th. He definitely liked the first races best.
Afterwards we went to dinner with G & G Hanson and the cousins. It was a nice evening. Happy Birthday !!

Merry Christmas 2008 !!

Our Family on Christmas morning at G.& G. Hanson's.

R with his presents.

B with her presents.

K with her presents.

R & cousin B playing with their new Rubik's Magic Puzzle.

B got a gift card to Target, she's so excited!

K got Littlest Pet Shop animals and pet store.

R got a remote control tank. He loves military stuff!

We would like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. I can't believe it's all over. It always comes and goes too fast. The kids had a wonderful time with cousins and grandparents. The kids opened their presents this morning and played for a little bit. Rusty(dog) already ripped apart his toy. He loved every minute of it. We headed over to Todd's parents around 10am for brunch and gift exchange there. All the food was yummy, like always. The kids loved their toys. Grandma picks the right stuff. About 3pm we went to my parents house for gift exchange and dinner. The kids loved all their gifts and played with their cousins and Guitar Hero that my brother received. Dinner was yummy and then we played games and visited. Todd was under the weather, so he slept most of the day on the couch. I hope he gets better soon. Usually I'm the one sick at Christmas, so I know how he feels. It's NO fun. I hope everyone had a wonderful day too.

Christmas Eve

Great Grandma & Grandpa Altop with their gifts.

R with his gift, Square Up! (Daddy & B)

K with her gift, Blue Triggerfish Webkinz.

B with her gift, Seahorse. (cousin Ben)

On Christmas Eve we have dinner with my moms extended family. This year was a small crowd(30+). We enjoyed dinner, goodies and played games.(Hand & Foot was the favorite) We went together and got my grandparents a gift and presented it to them tonight. We got them lights to hang from the awning of their RV trailer, a couple mats to go out front of the RV door and some gift certificates to go out to dinner. They were very surprised and excited about their gifts!!
When I was growing up, we always opened a gift at Christmas Eve dinner and we continued that tradition until R was little. There just aren't enough little cousins that come. The kids were excited that they got to open one tonight. The excitement is so grand at the house!! I remember when I was little, it was so hard to fall asleep on Christmas Eve!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!! Merry Christmas!!

CatDog

Our dog Rusty likes to sit on top of the couch like a cat. We always call him our "catdog". Just thought it was too cute not to share.

Winter Performance/Party

K singing Christmas songs.

K loves the book mark she got from her teacher.

K made magic Reindeer food.

K making Snowman soup.

Best Friends!

We went to K's preschool Christmas party this morning. They sang a couple Christmas songs that had cute movements. The kids did great! Then we went to different stations to make Snowman soup(hot chocolate), decorate a cookie and put magic reindeer food in a bag. Her teacher also gave each of them a gift(2 books and book mark). It was very sweet of her, we love you Mrs. Wendy. K had a great time with her friends and daddy was in town too!

So Cold!!!!

R with his chunk of ice.

B with hers.

It was so cold last night that we had ice in the spa. The kids broke it up and wanted to hold it. Their hands were red and frozen afterwards. It usually happens a couple times a year.

Gymnastics Performance

K on the beam.

K doing a bridge.

K getting her award.

K with her candy cane and ribbon.

K had her winter performance at Byers this week. They did a little routine and then their teacher gave them an award ribbon and candy cane. She did a great job!! She loves to do the bridge. At home she is always tumbling, all over.

Piano Recital

All the piano students. (R is the only boy.)

Miss Patty and R & B

Ryan and Brittney started piano lessons in September, from a great friend. They love it! They have been working hard on their Christmas songs for the past 2 months. They memorized the Christmas songs and they also wanted to play some others. They did a great job! My parents and sister Holli & family came to watch. The kids were glad to have family there, they were the only ones with grandparents watching. They felt lucky! Ryan is really catching on and moving quickly. It's fun to see the difference in their styles.

Afterwards, I took their teacher out and we watched "Twilight!" It was a fun evening and she was ready for a break. Thanks Patti!

Nativity

B playing Mary, R is one of the wiseman(red outfit)

K is one of the bunnies in the field by Santa.

B holding baby Jesus.

The kids on Santa's lap.

We went to the church tonight for our Ward's Christmas party. The kids participated in the Nativity program. Ryan was one of the Wiseman, Brittney was Mary and Kimberly was a bunny. The did a great job!! We practiced the songs they sang all month. B had one line to say, "Joseph, let us take the stable. I cannot go farther." She did so good, even though she was shy to talk in front of soo many people.
Todd and I helped decorate and get ready for it. Todd is on the activities committee. The activities chair did a wonderful job! She's a great friend too! It was such a nice evening. 3 of my sisters came to watch, the kids were so excited!

My Little Photographer

Rusty sleeping

Cute little toes

"Marie" stuffed animal

Daddy sleeping

cute little smile ;~)

B and I got home tonight from a Brownie(girl scout), Mother-Daughter Bingo and surprised a little photographer. Todd was asleep on the couch and little K had taken 150 pictures on my camera while we were gone. He was supposed to be watching her and thought he closed his eyes for just a moment. Well, she got it on tape. He did just get back from a long business trip, but it was too funny!

Oops, mommy got home. Daddy doesn't know what happened?

The one behind the camera. K