Elyse became a pretty good "tumbler" this year. Her end of year show was fun to watch!

Our house is back to normal!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that our house is as good as new! After that very strange accident, we have had it completely repaired and looks exactly the same as it did before, except for a painted front door...next time I hope they ruin our floors...I really need some new floors!!!

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!!!

Thanks to wonderful weather in AZ this time of year we have been lucky enough to have several visitors. We got to see Arianna(forgot to take pictures!). It was so great to see her! And the next weekend Rebecca and baby Bradley got to come for several days for her birthday. Kate and I were in heaven with 2 "girls weekends" in a row!!! We shopped, ate, and of course talked! It was very fun and want anyone to know they are invited here anytime!

2009...busy start!!!

Basketball season has kept us kinda busy. Mitch has been starting for Gilbert's JV team. He has 2-3 games a week and their team has done really well. Tanner just completed his Greenfield Jr. High team. They won the state tourney and also just took first in the city tourney. The coach on the opposing team told Tanner he was the MVP of their last game which they won by only a couple of points! Way to go Tanner! Tanner also plays on a competitive team on Saturdays. Austin is also playing on a team that is struggling a little bit...But he loves it! Elyse hates basketball! Nicholas loves basketballs, but is TERRIBLE at the games!!!

Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas despite the unfortunate event earlier in the week! The McEuen family came for our traditional ham dinner on Christmas Eve. We also did a gift exchange with the kids. Tanner picked out the perfect BRATZ doll for Licity which earned him a big hug from her! So cute! Christmas day brought fun surprises for everyone. Nick loves his new hoop...but so do his big brothers! New Year's Eve we had our friends from Utah over for lots of food and fun! We are glad to say goodbye to 2008 and welcome the New Year with lots of goals and resolutions...good luck, right?! Here are a few of the "greats" from 2008:Nicholas turned one! Elyse-Hannah Montana concert, sleepover with cousin. Tanner-great baseball and basketball season-pitched 16 strike outs in first game of the season! Mitch-Football and Basketball-hit 6'3 and would love another inch this year! Had a great time at EFY Flagstaff. Austin-Suns game, shirt signed by T.Chambers,Gilbert Golden Scholar. Darin-trip to the Masters with Dad, Uncle Jim, and brothers, Leslie-trip to Boston to visit Rebecca and sisters trip to Las Vegas for a BIG birthday. Family-great trips to California and Lake Mead.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...2 days before Christmas!

So, we had an interesting afternoon. I was having a nice conversation on the phone with Rebecca when all of a sudden there was a loud crash and parts of the ceiling came down where I was in the living room. We looked out the window and a truck was right on our front porch. Unbelievable! The boyfriend was teaching his girlfriend to drive his grandpa's truck that he had taken without asking. She apparently lost control and ended up in our house!911!!! The police, fire dept.,city building inspectors, parents of the drivers were there screaming at the kids,Channel 5 news crew, friends, neighbors, and strangers came for a looksie-very exciting afternoon! Fortunately, there were no injuries. Elyse and friends had just been playing in the front yard-less than ten minutes before the accident. Just when I think life can't get worse...it gets worse! We decide to laugh instead of cry! But we count our blessings that no one was hurt-we are safe and healthy with just a mere broken house ! Merry Christmas! We're hoping for a better 2009!!!

Christmas card pictures...sooo fun!!!

Every year about Thanksgiving time I start to panic thinking about the dreaded Christmas card photo. What to wear, where and when to take the photo, what and where to purchase the card...etc., etc. I spend WAYYYY too much time and effort in attempts to create the perfect card that invariably is NEVER perfect!!!This is the picture I really wanted to send because anyone who has ever tried to take a photo with a toddler would really appreciate it!!! Why do we pressure ourselves to create the perfect Christmas card when in reality our lives, looks, and kids are far from perfect?! Every year I think maybe next year I will totally skip the whole Christmas card pressure...but then I recieve the first Christmas card from far away family and friends with their darling picture perfect family photos and it gives me such pleasure to look at each and every card I recieve that I'm sure I will succumb to the pressure every single year and send out some type of card in hopes of keeping in touch with those we may only hear from once a year...but sooo look forward to that correspondence!