My Christmas Wish

I did not send out Christmas cards this year, in fact I did not even attempt any homemade projects and can honestly say that it made a world of difference for me.  This year seems to have flown by.  I can remember last Christmas so clearly because it was last Christmas when my dad was in so much pain not sure what was going on and then only a couple weeks after Christmas we learned of his cancer.  What a ride this year has been.  We did get the greatest gift this Christmas.  We learned that dad's cancer is now in remission.  He will still have six more months of chemo, but it was the best gift I think we could have all hoped for.  I want to wish all of my dear friends and family a very Merry Christmas and let you know that I am thinking about you.  I wish for you all a year full of health and happiness.  I hope that this Christmas will bring many joyful blessings. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Nutcracker

Hallie Jo was able to participate in the Nutcracker again this year and landed the roles of the "Party Princess" in the first act and was the tumbler in the Buffoon number in the second act.  She did an amazing job.  She seems to be a natural at the acting part of ballet.  It was really a struggle for her this year because she has been suffering from severe anxiety so she was a mess in the weeks leading up to the performance because she was so nervous and anxious.  I am so proud of her for overcoming her fears and doing such a good job.  You would have never known that she was so nervous watching her on stage.  She performs like a pro and her tumbling was amazing.  What a special little girl!  These are the only pics I have right now but I am hoping to have some more soon. 

The Party Princess

With Clara and all the Party Girls

Waiting for Stage Call

Enjoying a little down time.

All her Buffoon Fiends

The best Buffoon Tumbler I have ever seen.

Halloween

So I decided to try and make Cody's Halloween costume this year.  I love the fact that my children are still young enough that I can help them decide what they would like to be and I can encourage them to do a pair costume.  This year Hallie Jo went as Little Red Riding Hood and Cody was the Big Bad Wolf.  I found this great wolf hat and made the rest of his costume.  He loved it at first but it did not stay on him very long because he could not move as fast from one door to the other so piece by piece his costume came off.  At the end of the day they were extremely exhausted.  Cody is my little sugar boy.  He loves sugar and would eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner if I let him.  Hallie Jo on the other hand doesn't really care for it which is great except for the fact that she will give her candy to Cody. 

Itty Bitty

This year we are enrolling Cody in what they call Itty Bitty Ball at the rec center.  Each session focuses on a different ball sport for boys.  We are hoping that this will give him a chance to experience a wide variety of sports of see if he takes to one more than the others.  At the beginning of October he participated in Football.  This was his first experience participating in a disciplined activity (besides gymnastics) with teachers other than his mom.  He was really nervous and shy at first but by the end of the session he was participating fully in each of the activities.  They did a really good job of exposing the boys to the most basic aspects of football and by the end of the session the 3 and 4 year old boys were kind of playing flag football.

He learned how to kick the football.

He learned how to make a goal and how to play defense.

He learned how to throw the ball (he has actually got an amazing throw).

And at the end they got to meet Leo the Lion.  This was the only picture we were able to take with Leo and I think that it turned out GREAT! (Somebody walked right in front of me holding a balloon when I snapped the picture)

Birthday Time

September 4th comes pretty fast.  It always seems to creep up on us but what a wonderful day.  Seven years old this year and every day I wish she could just stay as small and as sweet as she is.  We really have been blessed with such a wonderful daughter.  She has the sweetest personality and is so helpful and kind to everyone.  Her birthday was a good one and like always lots of fun.  She was able to have a swim party with her friends this year.  It is probably the first year I have let her have a "party," and I forgot my camera.  She enjoyed it immensely but it was pretty stressful for me.  So grateful for wonderful friends and the wonderful families that they come from.

Birthday Morning

She wanted Disney this year.

All in a Summer

It definately does not feel like it has been the whole summer since I have blogged.  The last three months just flew by.  Our summer was filled with laughter, excitement, tears, sweat, lots of water and even some chocolate.  It seems as if Hal is working as if it is still busy season and with luck not on our side this summer we were not able to travel much and only took a few trips to the cabin.  However, it was still an amazing summer and here are a few highlights of how quickly it went by. 

End of Year Gymnastics Recital. . . By the end of each recital each year I have worn myself out to the end of my rope and end up sick the following week, but each year it all comes together nicely and there is even chocolate to eat at the end of the day. 

Kindergarten Graduation and Hallie Jo's two best friends.

This is the boy who really liked Hallie Jo.

 Down time at the Provo Beach Resort

A trip to Utah Summer Games the first part of June to compete in Gymnastics.  Hallie Jo placed third on Vault, Second on Bars, First on Beam and Floor and placed first All Around.  This was her last Level 4 meet.  She will be competing Level 5 in the Fall.  I really enjoy being able to be her coach.  She is a hard worker and an amazing gymnast.

 

Some of my "older" girls with Hallie Jo!  They all did great!

Here are clips of her Level 4 Utah Summer Games Routines

 

Can't have a summer without the Strawberry Days Carnival

Not Complete without Cotton Candy (and strawberries and cream, and chocolate)

Hot Air Balloons with Smokey the Bear (a recent tradition)!

Silly Faces

Funny Places and yes this is a full sized doberman sharing his kennel with Cody - They are best friends!

Backyard Firewoks!

Nights at the Cabin

Hikes to some Waterfalls to fulfill an intense Summer Intensive for Gymnastics!

Splashing around in some extremely fun parks.

More hikes and more high mountains for Cody to wander too close to the edge for comfort.

A birthday surprise for me.  My borther and sister-in-law broke into my house while I was at work on my Birthday leaving confetti, streamers and balloons everywhere (wishing I would have cleaned my house better the night before).  Thanks for the Surprise Jason and Heather, you guys are great!  A birthday complete with a trip to the Cheesecake Factory (my favorite restaurant) and some Hershey's Chocolate Cheesecake, YUM!

Tumbling in a Parade - - no injuries, no blood and no accidents YAY!

Some Very Cute Girls!

Learning New Skills at Gym and a Fun Summer Ballet Intensive

(Video's to Come)

  

First day of First Grade.  I think I was more anxious than her but she has an amazing teacher this year and I know it will be a good year for her.  I am really going to miss having her around all the time. 

Good Luck Sugar Bug!  I know that you will move mountains!

This Summer Brought;  lot's of time spent in Grandma and Grandpa's pool, Cody can swim pretty good now and thinks that he is invincible in the water.  Hallie Jo learned to dive and they both have great tans (I'm a little jealous).  Time spent by Grandpa's bedside (he is still really struggling with pain and a roller coaster ride of being sick and then better).  Hopes for a better year and possibly some new and exciting things to come for us (this is not an announcement).  Hopefully no more appliances give out or cars break down (knock on wood) and hopefully a brighter tomorrow. 

Picture Update

Like I promised here are some pics of the last few months!

They are still BEST FRIENDS!!

 My little trouble maker - - this is all in a days work.

This is because he knows he is in trouble!

 Over Spring Break I had some time to spend some one on one time with my munchkins and these are a few of the activities we did.

The first day we went to the Provo Beach Resort and played in their indoor jungle gym.  I did not get any pics of this but they had a blast.  The next day we went to the Dinosaur Museum.  They have not been there for a few years so they really enjoyed it.

This was a hit!  They could have played in the water for hours!

They were so sad when I told them that it was time to go, but they did get to dig for about an hour.

 The next day we hit Kangaroo Zoo with cousins!

I think that I wore them out this day!

 Next it was off to Discovery Park in PG.  I was not a fan because there were too many people and too many places to hide so we did not stay long. 

The last day of Spring Break we went to see the movie HOP!  It was an OK movie.  Definitely made for the little ones.

 Hal finished his busy season and we celebrated with balloons.

This is how happy Cody was that his dad would be home more.

 Hallie Jo has started to write pretty good.  She writes words the way they sound so it is a little hard to decipher sometimes but I could not resist taking a picture of this.

 Easter morning is always fun at our house.  The Easter Bunny left little piles of jellybeans all over the house and after seeing the movie HOP Cody thought this was the funniest thing. 

Always ends with new Sunday Clothes!

 Hallie Jo loves competing, these are some pics of her All American Meet.  She has one meet left this year at the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City on June 10th. 

 One of my Dad's favorite things to do is to launch rockets and see how high they can get them.  On a day that he was feeling good we all went out to his Sod Farm to launch a few rockets.  It was a fun day being able to have my dad there. 

 Hallie Jo did an amazing job in her Alice in Wonderland production.   It was really a cute production and I was able to watch it three times.  She gets so nervous for performances but always does a good job.  You are a beautiful dance Hallie Jo.

The END!