Christmas Day

Christmas we usually spend some time at home and then go up to Jared's parent's house for dinner. The kids opened some gifts Christmas eve and the rest Christmas morning. I made each of the girls a doll this year. My mom made me a doll one year. I named her Tinsel. I still have her. I tried to make these dolls like that doll. My mom was a much better doll maker than me, but the girls love their dolls! Nathan got a watch. :)

Santa brought Alyssa a cell phone this year. She was thrilled!

We gave everyone in Jared's family marshmallow guns. We had a great marshmallow war!

Christmas Eve

Each year we get the kids new pajamas for Christmas and then take this photo of them looking at the fire. Well this year Arya wouldn't put on the matching pajamas and we didn't light a fire. Oh well. We still can see how much they have grown!

Taekwondo testing December 2010

Alanna had her first testing, Orange Belt, Savannah tested for Red Belt, and Alyssa tested for her Black Belt and her instructor certification. Happy to say they all passed and did amazing. Alyssa and Savannah had to break two boards each. They broke them both in one try!!!

Testing for an instructor is fairly difficult. Alyssa had to go back and do all of the forms and defences from White Belt through Red-Black Belt. Then she had to do her Red-Black form alone (usually they test with a partner). She had to break two boards, spar a Red-Black Belt and spar a black belt. She spared her friend Coral, who is a third degree Black Belt!

Santa

Most Embarrassing moment happened today

First the principal of my children's school called to tell me what sweet Savannah said all day around school on Tuesday. She said that I punched Nathan in the face. Fortunately the principal knows me and believed that I didn't mess up Nathan's face (he did that on his own riding his skateboard). So, I talk with Savannah about telling stories that turn into lies and I ground her for a week. Well, we have new neighbors that are moving in this week. Savannah opens her bedroom window, yells out, "I'm grounded and can't play because the principal thinks my mom is abusing her children." Yeah. So embarrassing. Savannah is now grounded for a month. She looks sweet and innocent, but looks can be deceiving.

Halloween 2010

We 'recycled' Halloween costumes this year. (Well most of them were recycled.)
Alyssa was a nerd, Nathan was a Dragonologist, Savannah was the Queen of Hearts, Alanna was Dorthy, and Arya was Tinkerbell

Jared and I even dressed up. Yes, we are from Hogwarts.

Musical Extravaganza

We have an amazing music program at our school. The children take music class from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Each year, at the beginning of the year they give a concert. They have only been practicing for about two months which makes the performance pretty impressive. The Kindergarten kids are simply adorable!!

Alanna:

Savannah:

Nathan:

Alyssa:

Alyssa auditioned and was one of three students that was given a solo at this concert. She did a great job singing On My Own from Les Miz. Hard song, but she did great.

Great for Savannah To Be Eight

Savannah turned 8 October first. She celebrated with her wonderful friends with a party on her birthday (that is rare in this household). She had a Fancy Nancy party. It was awesome. The girls were very fancy and the boys were very daper.

On October 10 (10-10-10)Savannah was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her family and friends were able to celebrate this special event in her life.

We gave her the traditional birthday quilt with all of the squares made from her clothes she wore while growing up. I love my fancy girl!

Sacramento Trip

At our school our fourth graders take a trip to our state capitol, Sacramento. We fly up on a Tuesday morning, early, early, and then fly back Thursday evening. It is three days of PACKED fun and site seeing. I loved this trip and hope I can go next year with Savannah. We require our kids to earn their money for it, so it is a trip they have to work hard for!

Here we are at the airport and then on the airplane.

Capitol building and a leaf that Nathan really wanted to bring home from Sutter's Fort.

Train Museum and some rocks that Nathan really wanted to buy!

No trip to Sacramento is complete without a visit to CANDYLAND!

We had a nice room with a view of the Capitol from our window. The next day we went to Sutter's Mill where we mined for gold. Nathan found a few flakes.

Above:Nathan started collecting pencil sharpeners from each place we stopped that sold them. Jelly Belly Factory and the Golden Gate Bridge.

My favorite part of the trip was the time we spent at Alcatraz. I loved the tour.

Cable Car Museum and no trip would be complete without fortune cookies!

The saddest part of the trip was when Nathan wanted to buy one of these and I wouldn't let him. I'm such a mean mother!