She's 9 - almost anyway!

Sunday night we celebrated Dani's 9th birthday - a few days early, but she sure didn't complain! Her birthday is actually on the 12th.

It is great for the younger kids to have such loving, big brothers and sisters. They are so generous with what they give each other for gifts. Dani was so excited with her presents. You know they are good when she comes home from school the next day telling me how all her friends couldn't believe what great presents she got. That made her day!

Here she is with Carson before the big gift opening. Look at all those presents!

This is a sticker maker she got from Kendall and his friend Marie.

With the Hannah Montana purse (plus a Hannah Montana bath set) from Matt's friend - Xyonane (we call her Jo)

With her new Hannah Montana pajamas! (Get the idea she likes Hannah Montana?)

Her birthday present cake. It turned out really cute - and I even found these cute balloon candles at Wallymart!

The smilin' girl!

Trying to blow out all her candles (she didn't quite make it!)

Little Miss EmmaLee after eating her cake and ice cream!

Since EmmaLee was in his chair - Carson tried eating his in a regular chair. He didn't want anything to help him sit up higher either!

Dani eathing some of the mmm-delicious homemade ice cream!

Let's see now - what else did she get for her birthday (besides what you saw above)? From Jeremy and Jo - a trip to the movies to see High School Musical 3 (which I haven't had time to take her to yet!) Matt and Mikel went in together to get tickets to the Cheetah Girls concert. (Mikel is taking her). Dani is so excited to go - her first concert and she is on the floor on the 16th row! Wow! She also got the High School Musical 3 cd, another cd for tweens from Deseret Book, ear phones for her CD player, a 24 pack box of popcorn, a littlest pet shop toy, and a trip to Build a Bear for her own stuffed animal! How's that for a great birthday. She won't even need any presents for Christmas!

Happy Birthday Dani.

'Tis the Season.........

...for Christmas music? It seems to be here. A couple of radio stations are playing their Christmas music 24/7 now. I love Christmas music and the Christmas decorations - the whole celebration of it, but I'm not sure I'm quite ready for all the hype the stores (and radio stations) are doing so early. How about you? (I did try to listen to it for a bit - but Doug and Jason were in the car and said "NO WAY!") Oh yea - this is one of my favorite Christmas CD's. Got it last year!

Hey - I had to wear a jacket to the football game last night. First time since last winter. Finally - cooling down!

By the way - Gas was only $2.33 today when I filled up (it is still Saturday here as I am writing this). Not quite the $1.99 that Jana has - but getting closer! I like my van - but I really liked my SUV and am now missing it!

Crazy day and long post!

First off - I said in an earlier post I would show pictures of Kristi's and Dani's pumpkins they decorated a couple of weeks ago for our block fall festival.

Here they are! Dani did the two bats and Kristi did the mummy. Great job girls!

The crazy Halloween day begins with me making rolls and White Chili for Doug and Mikel to take to the banks pot-luck luncheon. Well - actually the day started before that getting my kids out of bed at 6 to get ready for school - then preparing the food. I also helped Jo out by watching EmmaLee that morning while she did a bridal photo shoot. Good thing Emma is so mellow (especially compared to Carson). Anyway - at 11:00 I took the food to the luncheon - and of course the White Chili had to spill in my van. Yuck - what a mess to clean up later! Carson and I were able to join Doug and Mikel for lunch - so that was nice. Home we went to get Carson a short nap. Then - it was costume time. I needed to get Dani and Carson in their costumes and go back to the bank for a trick or treat to the cubicles for the kids. Carson wasn't sure about wearing a costume or carrying his buckets. However - once he figured out FREE CANDY - he was on the go. He kept going back a few times to the cubicles to see how much everyone would give him!
Here is Dani and Carson waiting for Jeremy/Jo and EmmaLee to come. Carson still isn't sure what this is all about. (And - he wouldn't even wear some of his custume, little stink!)

Here is Emma visiting Mikel. Jo took a lot of cute pictures - check out her site at http://www.joalldredgephotography.blogspot.com/ (She is a very good photographer for anyone looking. I LOVE her pictures! Hmm - would you call this a plug for her? You bet!)
Carson would hurry so fast to each next office/cubicle that he kept spilling his candy!

Dani and EmmaLee helping him pick it up.

Here is Carson with his haul the day after. I think his older siblings will be helping him eat it all. He was so much on a sugar high Halloween night and the next day too!

We got home from the bank - just in time to help Kristi get ready with her costume and to eat some dinner - or at least TRY to get the kids to eat dinner. Then off it was trick or treating on our street, then up to the ward trunk or treat. (I wish they would have had this another night!)

Here's Carson ready to head out again. At least this time I got him to wear his patch and earring!

My cute Raggady Ann! Isn't she a doll?

The Fun Jester! She didn't want to have her face all painted - but oh well!

We headed up to trunk or treat - where our good friend Suzanne took the kids with her to finish going around the neighborhood and took them to her house afterwards. Thanks Suzanne- you are a great friend!

Doug and I were off to the high school football game. Jason had just got called up as a sophomore to play on the Varsity team. Not just play - but to start! There were only 3 kids from JV pulled up to start Varsity. Way to go Jason. He had a great game on defense. Too bad the defense had to be on the field so much - since the offense kept turning it over. Jason also played on the kicking teams - kick-offs and receiving. He also got in on the offense a couple of times.

Jason is number 44. Here he is on special teams.

Jason is the one on the line - closest to us - ready to go after the other guys.

Here he is again on the line - front right side. You see the second "4"

He will be playing again this week on Varsity. He has done great in football this year - one of the leaders on the JV team. We are very proud of him for his hard work and determination. Not only did he do great in sports - he had a 4.1 grade point average. Now that is super!

Speaking of grades - Kristi also got a 4.0 and Dani got all A's too. Congrats to my hard working kids. You are the best!

Talented People!

I was sent a link to these very funny youtube video's from a ward talent show. Hope you enjoy and laugh at them like I did! (I thought of you Danette when I saw these)

Watch this first one through to the end - you'll see why!

In this one they really are using water in the talent show!

People are so creative. I love it!

One of these days -I'll figure out how to put my own videos on the blog!

Happy Halloween to all You Ghouls and Goblins!

Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!

Day off for Fishing!

On Friday (24th) Doug took the day off of work so he and I could go fishing. We haven't had much opportunity to do that this year. Well, Kristi wanted to go so we let her tag along! It was up in the nice cool mountains. What a beautiful day it was - and very relaxing too.

We brought home 7 nice trout - threw back 4 (too small). So, it was a fairly successful day too.

Kristi enjoying herself. Well - I think she was. Does she look happy to you?
The man with the controls!

On the way home we stopped at one of our favorite places to eat in Payson - the Beeline Cafe. It isn't a big place - pretty small - and one of the old time places there. The food is good - you get a lot - and pretty inexpensive. All my kids love to stop there too. So, the next time you go to Payson, stop and try it. It is on the main road as you head to Mesa, next to Big O tires and across from Chile's.

Fall Block Party

On October 18th our street had its annual Fall Block Party. It is so much fun for the kids. Our street is great with the activities they have for all the kids. Here are ALOT of pictures from it.

It was just me, Kristi, Dani, Carson - and my granddaughter EmmaLee who went. That's okay - they are the ones who enjoy the parties the most anyway!

Here they are getting ready for the hayride. Carson wasn't sure about it at first, then really enjoyed himself. Can you believe it is an October evening and kids are still in shorts?

Dani bobbing for apples. She put her head down quickly and one bob - had an apple! Dang she was good - got wet, but good!

All EmmaLee wanted to do was go- go-go. She wasn't very happy with me when I had a neighbor hold her for a second to get her picture. She has the hat and glow stick from the fireman that came.

The Firemen let all the kids shoot the water hose. What a hit that was! Here's Kristi helping EmmaLee with the firehose. They had cones set up for the kids to try and knock over - and of course the neighbor kids had to be there to try and get wet too!

Dani enjoying herself!

Selena (neighbor) held Carson. He enjoyed watching, but didn't want to do it himself. Silly boy.

There were three naked scarecrows - which the kids had teams for a contest of dressing them up in a short amount of time. There was a box of items to choose from to dress your scarecrow.

Dani with the scarecrow she helped dress.

Little miss EmmaLee. Isn't she cute! (and I'm not prejudiced at all being the grandma!)

The Mesa Swat team also came with their swat vehicle. They let the kids get inside the front and back. Here is my crew looking out the top.

The also had a pumpkin decorating contest. I'll have to get pictures of the ones Dani and Kristi decorated. Dani made hers into bats and Kristi did a mummy pumpkin. Kristi won - but they both did a really good job!