Kayla's new friend.....Kisses

For Christmas Kayla got a trip to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Just the girls (Mom & Kayla) went Saturday and had a wonderful time. Kayla was so excited to bring a new friend home for Leopard. Although now I think i've really created a monster. Last night Leopard for the first time got kicked out of Kayla's bed because as Kayla said "Theres not enough room in my bed for all of us." I had to laugh. Kayla could literally sleep in a pillow case because she is so small and she sleeps in a full size bed, with a 9 inch leopard. Now because of "Kisses" her long time friend Leopard had to sleep with me. Hopefully over time there will be enough room in Kayla's bed for everyone to share and get along.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful.......

While we were at Grandma & Grandpa Branch's in Safford Robert and the kids took a trip to Mt. Graham to see the snow. They had a lot of fun, but it was very, very cold. The wind was blowing and they didn't last long, but just enough to get some pictures.

The main event....Christmas Day

Santa brought Kayla a new bike. She was in need of a bigger bike. We were so excited she finally outgrew her tricycle.


Kyle and Nathan both got Rip Sticks from Santa. Now they're having fun "ripping" the skin off their elbows and knees trying to learn how to ride them.



The boys both got digital cameras from Mom & Dad this year. They have been following their poor sister around like the paparazzi. I bet they both have taken a million pictures of her. We're glad they're enjoying them. At least we don't have to pay for developing the film. Just click, save or delete. That's the only way to go.


Kayla also wanted a lap top. So mom and dad bought her a lap top, and a pink one at that so the boys would leave it alone. I don't think it worked though. They don't seem to have a problem with it being pink. They still have fun playing with it also.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent at our house decorating Gingerbread Men and having dinner with my mom and brother. The kids had a lot of fun. Granny let them open her presents to them. That really got them excited.


Granny made a cute apron for Kayla to wear when she helps me in the kitchen fixing dinner or other treats.

The boys got Binocular digital cameras. They magnify what you're looking at like binoculars, but then you can take a digital picture with them. They are having a lot of fun with them.

Pre Christmas Eve Party

We had our family Christmas Eve Party this year in Tucson at my sister's house. The $5.00 gift exchange was fun as always. We had lots of great laughs, great food and fun times and new memories for all.

Kayla and Emma. Granddaughter and Great-Granddaughter

Granny and her girls. Kayla and Emma

My brother-in-law Steve got a "Sugar Daddy" pillow case, and what do you know..... he just happened to have the matching pajama bottoms in his room.

Criag got a folding bucket.

John Wayne Toilet Paper. As it says on the wrapper.....It's rough, and tough and doesn't take CR#P off anyone. That was a favorite. This is actually it's second time around the $5.00 gift exchange. Someone saved it from past years to recycle this time.

Small World's Fair

This was the end of a long journey. All quarter Kyle has been working on this extensive project called Small World's Fair. Each kid is assigned a country and must research it, find artifacts, create a pamphlet, pictures, make a costume, and make the flag of that country. It has been a lot of hard, hard work. Kyle finally had the opportunity today to display his project along with everyone else in the 6th grade.

Kyle did an awesome job. I'm so proud of him. It was a lot of stress and frustration, but he hung in there and got it accomplished. Way to go Kyle. He looked so cute in his costume as well. He was dressed as a Traditional English Morris Dancer. It's actually called the Morris Tradition. It's kind of like our May Pole dance.

My friend Jake

This is my friend Jake. He has been such a joy to work with each day. I will truly miss him, as tomorrow will be my last day working with him on a regular basis. I am looking forward to being a sub when his regular teacher comes back though. Anytime she is absent I will be able to go in a sub for her. I secretly hope she's gone a lot, with a new baby and all, maybe she will be.

Jake has such a positive outlook on life. He is always smiling and just brightens the room when he's in it. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.

Thanks Jake.

Just a Squeak

Not much new here....that is except for my brand new voice. I now have the voice of a mouse. I had a sore throat beginning on Sunday afternoon and by yesterday it was very raw. I called to try to get in to see a Doctor on Monday, but was told there wasn't anything available until Wednesday afternoon. Then this morning I woke up with no voice at all. I got back on the phone, with my squeaky little voice, and low and behold......what do you know....The doctor's office had an appointment time for me at 10:45 this morning. No questions asked. I guess it just depends on how sick you really sound when you call. I'll have to remember that next time I get the put off answer of.....oh we can see you a week from NEVER.

Don't mind me, I'm still grumpy. The medicine should kick in tonight and hopefully I will be feeling much better tomorrow.

On the up side though....this squeaky little voice sure does get a lot of great attention from the kidos. They are so quick to help and love and do anything they can to make mom feel better. It's really nice to know they can kick it into gear and get along when the going gets rough(for mom). I love them all and am grateful to be their mom.
Thanks kids.

Our Angel

Last night was our Ward Christmas Party and they did the story of Christmas. Kayla was asked to be an Angel in the production. She had so much fun. They have so many children each year that want to be in the story that they have finally had to start drawing names to be fair. We were luck enough to get one child in.

Then of course after it's all done and the closing prayer has been said, then in comes Jolly Old Santa.



Nathan wouldn't sit on Santa's lap but he would at least let me get a picture of him standing next to him with Kayla.....Kyle was no where to be found...you know, he's too old for that kind of stuf now. Even though he still does believe in Santa. I'm letting that one go as long as I can for the other kids sakes.

New Christmas Dress

We were out shopping yesterday and Kayla fell in love with this dress. It's hard to find her dresses that she likes. She definetly has her own opinion with clothing. I'm used to the boys who couldn't care less. Just had them something and they'll put it on. Not Kayla.....it has to be just so. I was just relieved to have found her a Christmas Dress. She loves to twirl in it. She always wants me to take lots of pictures of her twirling.

Oh yeah...don't pay any attention to the tree in the background. It's far from finished. I had a really bad day yesterday and the kids wanted to decorate it. So they had a blast doing it and then tomorrow while they're off to school, I'll have to finish it. There's still no garland or glass ball ornaments. I really didn't feel like having to dig glass out of anyones paws (hands) yesterday.