Special Angel

This sweet ornament was given to us by Sam's grandmother for our very first Christmas. We've hung it on our tree every year since and as we have, we think of Nana B

(Naner B) and how much we love her. She passed away before any of the children were born but each year they remember her as we hang this special angel on the tree.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.........

Snow in Las Vegas??? Yep..... This was the scene at our house the other day when it started snowing. The kids were soooo very excited!!! It snowed and rained all day long and by the night it was melted. Well.....it's started again today (two days later) and it is a winter wonderland outside! It has snowed for hours and they're reporting 3-6 inches...this for a city that is lucky to get 2inches of rain a year! WOW.

The kids played in it tonight and loved it, for all of about 15 minutes. TOO cold but so fun.......and look closely, their snowman is holding a toy gun! Hee Hee.....

Christmas Letter & Picture

So now I have posted this in about 3 different spots and you might have gotten an actual card also....hee hee! We're speedily preparing for Christmas along with a renewed commitment to blog more often. Well wishes to all......and to all.....happy blogging!!!!

LOL

With the kids just about loaded I made the comment about one of the teachers at school

"She's kinda a crabby patty..haha..."

Baili's friend Siona says in a highly offended voice.."SHE IS NOT!"

"Well I'm just saying...it seems like she's always yelling at the kids after school"

(Because about 50 seconds before I made the statement, she was yelling at Ryan for running on the sidewalk, I mean what was he thinking.....running - how dare he....phfissss)

Siona, "Well she has a heart like everyone else and if people just looked inside, they would see that she is a kind and loving lady!"

Did I just get told off????

*so I decide to play this out*

Well she is always crabby and yelling and stuff......"

Baili, "I think she's had a break-down or two"

Siona, "SHE HAS NOT....she is such a sweet, nice, loving lady and if you had 1000 students to teach and they were mean and called you names, you would be sad too, if you just look into her eyes, you would see, she is a kind, sweet lady....(did I hear this before somewhere???)

I couldn't help laughing out loud and after about 10 minutes in the car (with a total of 8 children) Siona was still defending the poor teacher.

Baili asked as we pulled into Sionas driveway if she was still talking about the teacher? I answered yes and Baili yelled....."YOUR STOP SIONA...." lol

KIDS....HILARIOUS :)

Zimbabwe Relief Effort

Before this years Relief Society Womens Broadcast I sat and listened to stories of school children in Zimbabwe. I was touched and reflected on how comfortable our lives are in the US.

Brother Gourley told how, while on a hunting safari, he promised some young school children that when he returned he would bring school supplies back to them. He showed pictures of their run down school-house, no more than a shack! No tables to work on, just small wooden benches to sit on. Writing paper scarce and one little girl unable to attend school for the want of a pencil. Oh the things we take for granted!

He shared how "miracles" occured with getting the huge amount of supplies from Las Vegas to Zimbabwe and then a photoslide of the children with their new school items. He also brought items from our stake here in NW Las Vegas that sisters had put together over the months, hygiene kits, dolls, bracelets and books. I thought to myself how it doesn't take that much effort to make a difference, especially when we work together.

I'm so grateful to belong to the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest womens organization in the world! The motto of which, Faith, Hope and Charity burns in my heart and encourages me to serve others, beginning first with my own family.
After such meetings, I feel uplifted, edified, inspired and grateful for all that I have.

GLASS-TIC

I bought these Polycarbonate tumblers that look exactly like they're made from glass.

We own glass ones but because Im so OCD I don't want to use them incase they get broken.

Today Kami asked me to get her some water in one of the GLASS-TIC cups!!!

YES.....I fooled the soon to be three year old and she created the perfect word for these things....hahaha!

A Day at the Park

Now that Sam's busy time is over at work, we finally have him back! When we got back from Florida, he was still playing catch up so Saturday was the first day we really had a full day together. We started the morning off with Baili's soccer game, then got ready for our picnic. Floyd Lamb State park is litterally about a mile away from our house.

It's so nice to have some water and trees nearby when you live in the dessert! It's really pretty there and we felt so relaxed having our picnic and watching people fishing and playing with their families. It was very peaceful and I felt as though I wasn't in Vegas for a few hours!

We brought some bread to feed the ducks but they were totally out of control. Once they realized we had food and were giving it to them........they started chasing us. Run away......

Jacob was funny and froze still saying "get them away from me..." Kami on the other hand, screamed her lungs out and the peace of the park ended for about 7 minutes! lol.....

She was terrified because one of the ducks plucked a piece of bread out of her hands!

We left the ducks....really quickly.....and walked around the man-made lake in the park. It felt so nice to spend time together as a whole family and to have "daddy" with us!

Then to ruin that nice moment, the kids found a rotten catfish that they thought was awesome. I took a picture of them looking at it, it was way to nasty to photograph - blah!

When we got back to the carpark the kids unloaded their bikes and rode around the lake. They had a lot of fun because we don't usually make time to do this. Kami was trying but got too hot and gave up......we hung out on the grass and watched the others!

Ryans Preschool

Ryan on his first day of preschool!