Jensen turns 12!!!

Jensen turned 12 on Sunday. She wanted to go ice skating so on Saturday she invited 4 friends and we all went to the 7 peaks ice rink. Everyone had a lot of fun.

Makadie, Jensen, Emily, Ashley, and Jessica

Lexi and Hope

Oakley and Matt (Oakley isn't looking too happy here because this is his first time around and he was pretty unstable. He got pretty good by the end, was skating around by himself, and he loved it.)

Addi and mom

After skating for a couple of hours we headed home for presents and cake.



Jensen got to go to Young Women on Sunday. She's been so excited to be in Young Women. Happy birthday Jensen, we love you!

New Calling

So you know when you get that call from the Executive Secretary that the bishop would like to meet with you and your husband after church? Oh great, a new calling. You start wondering, am I going to like it? Hate it? How hard is it going to be, how much time will it take? You start imagining the callings you think you would love (anything in Young Women, Enrich committee [I know it's not called Enrichment any more so what would it be, Relief Society meeting committee? That 's going to take some getting used to]). You start imagining the callings you dread getting (scouts, Adult Sunday school teacher). Then as you sit in church they release one of the Relief Society teachers and don't call a new one so you start thinking, "I don't want to be a Relief Society teacher. I mean it is only once a month which would be nice but I can't stand up in front of all those women who are so much more spiritual and knowledgeable than me and try to teach them, I'll feel like a fool." So you go to meet the bishop. He calls your husband in first and asks if he'll support you in a calling. "What is the calling," your husband asks. "I'm not going to say, I just want to know if you'll support her," replies the bishop. This goes back and forth for a minute and then finally your husband says, "yeah, I'll support her." Out comes your husband and the bishop has you go in. "So," he says, "do you have a lot of extra time in your life." "A yeah bishop, I've only got five kids a husband and two dogs, plenty of extra time on my hands." Okay that wasn't really my response. I actually said something like, "Not a whole lot of extra time with five kids but why do you ask?" Again he wouldn't give me an answer just yet. I assured the bishop he was making me really nervous. He called my husband in and proceeded to ask me if I would accept a calling as the Relief Society President. Yeah, I know, my jaw hit the floor too. I believe my first response after almost bursting into tears while laughing hysterically and barfing all over the bishop's desk was "Are you serious?" I was sure he must be making an early April Fools joke. Apparently he wasn't because today I was set apart as the Relief Society president. And to think I was afraid I was going to be called to be a R.S. teacher, HAHAHAHA! That'll teach me to think that I don't want what now seems like a piece of cake calling. Anyways, I'm still not sure how this'll all pan out but I guess I'll give it my best and hopefully it'll be a great adventure. I'm very humbled and will admit I've definitely felt the spirit as I've prayed about which women to call to serve with me in the presidency. I guess the Lord knows something I don't and we'll just have to wait to see what it is.

Girls night!

My awesome sister Noelle invited all the girls over for a girls night and a sleepover. Everyone made it except for Kristi, Kera, and Aleyah. Noelle made all of the nieces "Girls Night 2010" shirts. What an awesome aunt!!!

We had soup in bread bowls for dinner, YUM!

Then Noelle pampered all of the girls with pedi's and mani's.

Heather helped the girls make a bracelet or necklace.

Jensen showing off her bracelet.

Addi showing off her glitter nails.

Addi and Livvy hard at work on their "best friends" necklaces.

Jensen getting her nails painted.

Addi showing off her necklace.

Lexi, Livvy, Noelle, Scout, Camryn, Jensen, and Addi in their "Girls Night" shirts and "Girls Rule" sleep masks.

After everyone was ready for bed we watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, one of my all time favorite movies! We all had such a great time. Thanks Noelle!

Addi's birthday!

My baby turned 5! I have to say I'm really sad. She'll start kindergarten next year and I'm going to be so lonely. She's growing up so fast and she is such a sweet heart. She wanted a castle cake and a friend of mine made this. Addi loved it! All day long she kept saying, "I love my cake!"

Because it was an odd birthday instead of an even birthday she got to pick something fun to do with the family and a friend instead of a birthday party. She chose Chuck E Cheese and invited her cousin Livvy.

After Chuck E Cheese we headed home to open presents and eat cake.

Guess who I met last week!!!

Chalene Johnson, the creator of Turbo Jam, was in Park City for the week of New Years. A friend of mine is an exercise class instructor and works for Chalene's company doing trainings. Chalene called her and said she wanted to do a class in Park City while she was in town so they set up a Turbo Kick/Hip Hop Hustle class and I was invited. I was so excited!!! I invited my friend Monica and my sister Noelle to go with me. We had so much fun!!!

Christmas fun!

We headed down to Blanding for Christmas this year (okay, it's actually last year but since it was just two weeks ago that's too weird to say). The fun started on Christmas Eve with a party at my mom's and dad's house with the Halliday clan. Getting together with this group is never boring and never quiet but oh so much fun!

We had a yummy dinner.

Then the kids acted out the nativity in the garage. These are all the chilly spectators.

Lexi as Mary, McCoy as baby Jesus, Carter as Joseph, Maxon and Jake as sheep, Oakley as a shepherd, and Addi and Livvy as angels. Cohen was going to be a sheep with Maxon but ended up in the hospital because he got really sick, poor little guy :(

Jensen, Logan, and Camryn as wise "people."

I bet you haven't seen a cuter nativity than this:)

And here's the entire cast, with a live donkey. The donkey was our Christmas present to our parents. My mom had already seen him so he wasn't much of a surprise to her, my dad had heard enough slip ups that I'm sure he was expecting a donkey but not on Christmas Eve;)

Paco

Grandpa meeting Paco. My parents love him! Of course we were all sure my mom would but the husbands were all sure my dad didn't really want a donkey and we (the wives) were nuts to get him. But he was a hit!

After the nativity we went back into the house and Addi and Livvy sang "I'm the Angel in the Christmas Play." They were so adorable and did such a good job.

Then it was time for the gift game.

Lexi and Kolton both stole what they wanted, a soft blanket and bath gel, yes, my 16-year-old son stole bath gel from somebody and was thrilled with it.

Camryn and Jensen also stole soft blankets which they love. I even ended up with one so our family made out pretty good in the soft blanket department.

After the party the grand kids all got to open their customary new p.j.'s from Grandma and Grandpa.

Livvy and Addi showing off their matching p.j.'s.

Christmas morning started off early with all of us meeting in Grandpa and Grandma's room for a reading of the nativity story and a family prayer. I love that we do this because it gives us all a few minutes to remember what the day is really about. But, I also remember how hard it was as a kid. That story was 10 times as long as it is now;) I thought it would never end! But of course it did, and then on to the presents. There were presents for 28 people so the family room was pretty packed. And can you say chaos?! But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love spending Christmas with my family!

What could it possibly be?

I think everyone made out pretty well.

One of the best parts of the day was a phone call from Josh in France. Everyone had a chance to talk to him and it was so much fun hearing how great he is doing. He is such an awesome missionary and such a great example to all the grand kids.

After the phone call we all went visiting down to Grandma Black's house. I love that Christmas in Blanding means not only seeing my immediate family but so much extended family too.

Grandma Black and Addi.

The Lyman clan.

Saturday morning we all got dressed in our winter wear and went sledding.

Addi and Oakley preferred sliding down the hill on their bums. Not so fast and scary!

Matt and Lexi

Kristi, Oakley, and Jensen

Matt, Addi, and Lexi (that's Addi's pink boot sticking out:)

After everyone had had their fill of sledding we warmed up with some hot chocolate.

Saturday night we had a Christmas party with the Lyman Clan. My dad rented a huge cabin up on the mountain. It was amazing and so much fun.

We had yummy soup and bread bowls for dinner.

Kolton and I prepared a song that we sang together at both parties. The kids acted out the nativity again, without the live donkey this time. We played the gift game again and everyone had a great time. I love Christmas in Blanding!