Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Random pictures

 It's Hump Daaaaay! (Thanks Sydney) So I decided to update the blog a little......
 We rang the New Year in with the Francis', Harwoods and Argyles.  Always a good time and everyone looks forward to the gingerbread house burning!
 I bought this chair with birthday and Christmas money from my parents.  It's going in my (our) office! It's pretty and cheerful and makes me smile!
I did a photoshoot for Amanda and her friend, Chezney.  Amanda and Chez are seminary, skiing/boarding buddies.  They went to Snowbasin almost everyday during Christmas break, every Saturday and this past 4 day weekend (MLK day and teacher work day).  They go to all the parties together....cute girls!
 Sydney came along to help me out! She looks excited, right? Or she's checking out the $5 corn dog truck across the street. She and I checked it out during the summer and it's pretty good :)

We had thought about getting Mike a beta fish for his office as a Christmas present. Then, we ran out of time.  Sydney, Brandon and Mike had gone to St George over the MLK holiday (I stayed home with Amanda so she could go boarding), and got talking about a fish.  Mike mentioned to Sydney that he would like a fish and that was all she needed.

Last night, after she got home from babysitting the Lloyd twins, we ran to PetCo and picked out this tank, plants and the prettiest beta fish ever...next to Gil, Sydney's beta fish.  But, he has issues.  He won't swim down. It's almost like his big fins don't work.  We are watching him, but aren't sure he's going to make it.  I did get him to eat 3 pellets today and he tries to swim down....it's so weird! I'll need to call the store.

Those 3 had fun in St. George.  Shopping (Mike was amazed at Sydney's shopping talent), bike ride, movie, rest, hike, eating out.....I was alone most of that time. Amanda was boarding or out with friends for the night.  (She did a kicker yesterday-a big jump that she did twice!)  One night, Ally Megill slept over.

We went to church (still not on time). As a Primary Presidency, we are working to help the kids learn the Articles of Faith. Missy Couser does a fabulous job teaching and helping the kids to recite each week.  Sunday, we made it a pass off day.  The kids came to us after church and recited the AoF and we gave them a piece of candy and they got to staple a #1 to the board.  Huge success!  We even had the 3 year old Morgan twins recite the whole Article of Faith to me! Amazing!   So much fun!

Brandon started ski lessons.  He hated the first week.  Mike bought a $20 Little Cat (bunny hill) pass the first day and thought that he and B would just practice after his 2 hour lesson while Amanda boarded for the rest of the day.  Well, B hated it and wouldn't go down more than 2 times.  Mike & Brandon ended up in the car waiting for Amanda.

The second week, he did better.  They didn't practice afterward because Amanda had a charity show for her studio.

Amanda and I spent the day at Corner Canyon High in Draper for dress rehearsal.  Sydney stayed home and waited for the boys.  Then, they all came for the performance. My Mom & Dad and Cozette and Elyse came, too!  So awesome to support her!  Turns out we had a relative at the charity (Utah Parent Center), Jenny Gibson.  Anyway, my parents recognized her and reconnected.

The show was amazing!  They had 3 studios total.  The Pointe in Orem and AED from Draper.  Mike had Baileys be a sponsor, so their name is on the tshirt.  Woot woot!  It was a great day and a great show!  Amanda's team did a hip hop (pictured above) routine that after the rehearsal, two of the teachers sought me out and told me how great Amanda danced! She loves hip hop and you can tell in her dancing.  They also did a contemporary routine with just 5 dancers.  She looked very pretty and very graceful....even with a bunion that is killing her!

A quick stop at Cafe Rio for old times sake. When we lived in Draper, that was about the only place besides Neil's that we would eat.  It's changed so much out there!  I drove past the farm and it looks terrible.  The people who bought it from Bud & Kay do not take care of it like Bud & Kay did.  It was a long day for everyone, but I loved every minute and wouldn't change a thing! I wonder what we will do to keep busy once we don't do our kids things every weekend! I'm in no hurry to find out :)

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Christmas Eve - Gibby Style

As previously mentioned, we did the Gibby Christmas Eve.  We stopped on the way from skiing at Tepanyaki and got our tradition sushi dinner.  Sydney did Chinese with the Gibbys and they did order us some wontons!
Here's most of the grandkids in their Christmas jammies!  Evan & Jamie couldn't make it out this year, but we are hopeful for next year!
Brandon and Zach after the cousin gift exchange!
 Here's the family sitting down for dinner! Merry Christmas!
 The next day we got to face time with Jim & Renae from New Zealand!  It was good to see their faces and we are getting excited for them to get home in April!  We also visited my parents and then went to a movie.  We also had dinner at Bucca de Beppo...the only place we could find open on Christmas besides McDonalds :)

During December and Christmas Break

Before I blog Christmas, here are some of the things we did in December.  Nicole and I held the 8th annual neighborhood donation party.  We had Amanda help pass out flyers and deliver the donations as part of her YW Personal Progress Value Project.  I got her out of school to deliver everything to Safe Harbor Womens Shelter in Kaysville.  When Landon Kartchner heard she was getting checked out, he asked if he could come. I said yes if his mom called the school....which she did, so he came along!
 As usual, the Shelter was so appreciative.  Our donations were down this year. Not sure why, but not as many people came that night.  But, we still gave them over $1000 and these items.  After we delivered everything, Amanda and Landon started asking questions about what the Shelter did, so we had a nice discussion about how blessed we are and how there is always someone worse off than us.  We went to lunch at Cafe Rio and then back to school they went!
I held a piano recital on Dec 23rd, the first day of Christmas break.  It was short and sweet and very casual.  Brandon played, but the girl refused. Mom fail....
 Nice sunset on the way to pick up Mike to go see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. Super fun. Super crowded.  We had dinner at Cheesecake Factory.  Good family memories!  And, we found the best picture taking spot ever!!!

 Amanda is learning to drive. The best story so far is that we told her she could drive if she could identify the gas pedal. After pointing to the brake pedal, we made her wait.  But, she's been practicing.  This day, I had her take Brandon to the church without me because I was teaching.  It was so cold out that he couldn't ride his bike.  Obviously, she and Sydney were liking being without mom!!  She was parked when taking this, just fyi!
 Amanda's jr high won the basketball championship. She got a ride to the game on the spirit bus.  Looks like a party!  Her friend Ally Megill is sitting by her....
 Amanda did lots and lots and lots of snowboarding during the break!  She has a pass to Snowbasin this year along with all her friends.  Mike has driven her up there about 5 times so far.  She's getting so good and we are so glad she loves it!

This is Amanda and her friend, Taylor Woods, taking a different approach to getting down the mountain....on their bums instead of on their boards.
 Amanda's friend, Chezney, is a hard core skier, so the both of them went a million times during the break!
 Some more of the friends at Basin.  These guys she boards with push her to go faster and be a better boarder. They also make her try the tricks and rails, etc....which scares me, but she loves it!
Mike & Scott took the girls skiing on Christmas Eve at the Canyons.  I drove up there with Brandon so that about half day when Sydney was done, I could pick her up and let Mike & Amanda still ski the day out.  My plan was to take B and Sydney tubing at Gorgoza Park after, but an unfortunate incident involving the inability to get snow pants off in time to pee, left us running to WalMart instead to get Brandon some new clothes to wear to the Gibson Christmas Even dinner.....Oh well.


 More Amanda and friends...

 Max takes lots of naps....he's in a lot right now because the temps are frigid!

We also got Monopoly for Christmas and played a few family games. I was the winner every time....but Sydney and Amanda both gave me a run for my money!!

Stay tuned for Christmas post!

Christmas 2013

So hard to believe that we have experienced another Christmas and now are onto a new year!  The kids went back to school today, so I find myself with a quiet house. After 2 hours of ironing, I decided to sit a bit and try to update!
 Well, I had a birthday.  Forty-four.  When did this happen? Ugh....My family was awesome and we had dinner and the cake (Mike ordered it a few days ahead!!!)  We saw a movie together.  All in all a great day except for the turning one year older!





Texts from my brothers and friends and a phone call from my parents. It's so nice when people remember my birthday during this crazy busy time of year!  It means a lot to me.

 Amanda has been taking photography in school this semester.  She's becoming quite good! I find pictures on my Canon camera a lot these days. Here are few fun ones....








 Amanda and Sydney took the camera out one day to take pictures on the rail trail behind our house...so cute!