Anything you can do, I can do better!!

I can do anything better-an-you!!!

" No you can't!"

"Yes I CAN!"

Well, clearly this picture showed us that she in fact, can ;) Mom, Dad, Audrey and I were rolling with laughter witnessing this amazing spectacle that is Elle. Elle and her go-get-um, Annie-get-yer-gun kind of attitude. She wanted to show us how good at hoola-hooping she'd become in the short time we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa's.

Any command Audrey could think up, she would proceed to do, and NAIL IT! It was the funniest thing, she could let the hoola hoop go up, down and then back up her body, she could jump up and down while keeping it going, get it up to her neck and back down, swing it on one leg... it seemed never ending!

It sure made for a fun night of entertainment for us! I guess we better get this kid into the circus! Or any other competitive sport where her skill and persistence are tested!

Way to go Elle, you're our little SUPERSTAR!

Reindeer Games With Grandpa

Back in January, we were up at my parent's house. It was a short visit but it was fun to be there during the winter season when usually our visits are pretty limited to summer thanks to the treacherous driving conditions. This day, Grandpa Ladd decided to indulge the kids requests that he come outside and play with them. First item of business: dressing for the snow - since we didn't bring our snow gear ( knowing our trip was short ) So instead of letting that stop them, Grandpa raided his closet and dressed the kids in a mix of his hunting clothes, some of my old hats my Grandma made and Audrey even wore her Grandpa's boots. The result: adorableness. Plus a good time with Grandpa.

Grandpa being terrified to sled down the driveway...

Oh Grandpa, we love you...

Not only did Grandpa Ladd serve as a great babysitter/playmate/ pack-mule/ entertainer - he completely dominated the snowfight. Handily beating out his three pipsqueak grandkids with a big dose of snow shovel tossed goodness.

Back log of the Birthday... and more!

Reese! Our resident lego master, and all around great guy turned 10 back on Dec 6th. He is always so excited for his birthday and each year plans way in advance ( we're talking Feb/or March here )  - He started out the morning in traditional fashion with opening his presents from family. This way, his day at school isn't spent daydreaming about all the cool stuff he'll be getting. We're so proud of Reese, he's talented, hard working and tries so hard in all he does. He loves getting good grades in school, building amazing creations out of Legos - recently has even been working on creating lego stop-motion videos that have been done with such creativity and humor. It's been so fun to watch him.

After school I took just three of his best friends, the girls and one of Audrey's friends ice-skating. It was nice not to have a huge group of boys to wrangle - especially since Sam was at work and wouldn't have been too much help anyway with his post-op knee. No skating for him. The boys had a lot of fun - it was for sure a noisy ride there and back but we made it!

Here he is, the Birthday Boy! How can 10 years go by so quickly?!

We're so blessed to have Reese in our family, we've loved each year and can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll do with your life. We love you Reesey!

Now for the local performances of the Nutcracker - Audrey was cast as a principal dancer as the snow queen, and also participated in her class numbers as a tree sprite (green costume) and danced in the waltz of the flowers. She did a beautiful job and it's been so fun to see her dancing skills grow along with her. I thought she was so cute with her icy makeup and her earmuffs on after the performance - what a pretty girl if I do say so myself.

Here's a few more pictures from during and after the performance - the one with the frowny face is pretty typical of how she looks after each performance because of how squished her toes feel right after taking off the point shoes. She loves it though and we're happy she's happy to continue. Elle tried ballet when she was three or four and it was a little too slow paced for her - but now after seeing so many performances this year she said she's ready to give it another try. Maybe for her we can throw in a little jazz dancing to put her high energy to good use.

 

PJ lovers rejoice

I think I've run out of ideas to title this post.... but the kids were extremely excited to each get a pair of footie pajamas this year. Thanks to Grandma Nyleen and Grandpa Ladd. Also, I'm happy that this will sum up our Christmas posts. This first collage of pictures was after we got home from Audrey's matinee performance on Christmas Eve. I thought Elle looked so cute in her dress, I had to get a picture.  These are the poses she came up with this time- Funny girl, but then I started making some cookie dough and fruit salad and she settled in to play by the tree. It was such a pretty day outside and it was so peaceful in the house; Christmas music playing, good smells swirling, I felt blessed to have my little girl playing next to me while I worked.

The kids were so excited to get started with our Christmas Eve routine. They even convinced me to open their jammies before dinner. I think it's getting earlier and earlier every year.

It was a bright and early Christmas, after finally hitting the sack at 3am, 6:30 comes up pretty quickly. Christmas is still my favorite holiday, even if it is a crazy amount of work. I love to see my kids so excited, and I love to see them get the things they'd hoped for. We don't really buy toys for them other than Christmas or Birthdays so I feel like this is my chance to do my best to spoil them. This year Audrey wanted braces. Yup, braces. Coincidentally, she apparently needs them. Not to straighten her teeth but to reposition her jaw. She's pre-disposed for TMJ and I thought this was just an orthodontist trying to drum up business, but as it turns out her jaw has become increasingly sore when she eats or even lays on her side. So, braces for the next two years, here we come!

One of Reese's current obsessions is a cartoon called adventure time. The cartoon features a young boy (who constantly wears a funny white hat with ears) and his magical dog and all of the crazy adventures they share. He wanted a hat just like on the show so I enlisted the help of my good friend Christie and we were able to make the hat into reality. Elle's requests were really simple this year, which was nice. She wanted a lalaloopsy doll and a play dough pizza maker. Easily do-able. Elle has also said she wants to start taking piano lessons. Rather than bringing my mother's childhood piano (which I look forward to having in our home at some point) into the depths of our basement, Santa brought the kids a keyboard. We'll see how it goes. I still have my childhood piano books and I plan to give teaching a whirl.

This year with Christmas being on Sunday it gave us the chance to go to Church. It was such a great way to celebrate Christmas and I loved singing all the Christmas hymns.

 We hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas season! Love from our Family to yours!

Finishing up at Capitol Theater

Well, with Audrey's 11 performances behind us, I think it's safe to say she's been officially bitten by the big stage bug. It's been a very busy and exhausting time (for her and me both) but she's built some memories that will last a lifetime.

                                  

Here she is in her "lady in waiting" costume. "The dress felt like it weighed 20 lbs" is what she said. She was cast for her grace, height and beauty. There were several playing her part in their early 20's. She didn't dance ballet in the show but did a promenade type of waltz around the stage and was also on the stage to keep watch during the sugar plum fairy's dance. She looked very beautiful and we're so proud of her!

The dressing room for Audrey was located under the stage behind where the Orchestra performs. So needless to say she's now extremely familiar with the beautiful, classic music. She also said while they waited she and her fellow dancer friends would wander the corridors underneath the stage, exploring and meeting other performers from the show. She also got plenty of exposure to the professional ballerinas and their beautiful dances.

My parents came and took all the daughters and grand-daughters of our family to see the show. It was so special to be able to share the show with my family. We had quite a few of us. Oh, and of course my cute brother Kyle came along for the female-charged outing. We made sure to pour on the love for him!

After the show we headed to the Gateway for some frozen yogurt. We showed up just about 15 minutes before the shop closed. To the attending employees' dismay I'm sure-but they sent us the message when they started blarring the song "Closing Time".....you don't have to go home but you can't - stay - here.

The Last show was on New Year's Eve. A matinee show. Our good friends the Hoopes came from Logan and my sweet friend Jessica and her family came. The performances on the 30th and 31st were converted into the "Nutty Nutcracker" which was a lot of fun. They throw in all kinds of crazy surprises and after seeing it so many times it was a fun change.

 It's been a fun Christmas break, now I think we're ready to get back to reality!

Merry Christmas

I'll have to do quite a bit of explaining about this post,but I think I'll do most of it next time...This year not only was Audrey cast as the snow queen in her local ballet but she tried out for the professional production of the Nutcracker by Ballet West in Salt Lake City and made it for the part of a "Lady in Waiting". So, while I know that I need to post pictures of her as the snow queen, this is what's consuming us as of late. Here we are, at the Capitol Theater. She performs every day sometimes twice a day from the 22nd through the 31st except on Christmas day. These pictures with our little family are from the Christmas Eve matinee. She's not allowed to wear her costume out of the theater and I'm not allowed to take any pictures of it. We are allowed to purchase professional pictures from Ballet West's Photographer -of course..- and so I'll be scanning those in and posting them soon.

 

Due to it being Christmas Eve, Santa was on hand. Also, Sam's mom, her husband and her sister Michelle came for Audrey's performance on the 23rd. They left the 24th but we were so glad to have them even for a short time. I had to add this picture of Michelle, she slept in Elle's bed and Sam insisted I get a picture of his Aunt all tucked in nice and cute into Elle's little girl bed. Pretty funny.

I can't even tell you how many times I told Reese to tuck in that shirt!!

These pictures were from Audrey's first night - we had several friends come to support her. My friend Cassidy from Georgia came, Kate and Reagan from across the street and my Friend Brooke, her sister Heather and all their cute little girls. Audrey felt like a star!

As you can see in the group photo below, I finally didn't crouch - and the result that I usually try to avoid... I look like a giant. Oh well, Cassidy's right up there with me. I did, of course have heels on as well, so that probably didn't help. It was a great night and Elle said "that was the best Nutcracker I ever saw!" There really is something so incredibly magical about a professional ballet production. I actually got teary a couple of times. I think just seeing the amazing talent of the dancers combined with the live orchestra just made me think of how perfect and beautiful the human body is, and what a gift we're given by Heavenly father of amazing bodies and minds with talents that are beautiful. That and the fact that I was sitting in a grand, warm, historic theater, waiting to see my daughter take the stage - it was a little overwhelming. All in a good way.

Even though there's been plenty of driving back and forth to rehearsals and shows, somehow we've been able to squeeze in all of our usual traditions. We hope everyone has had an amazing and blessed Christmas season. With Love Sam, Kim, Audrey, Reese and Elle.

The Reason for the Season

Go ahead, Crank it up. Merry Christmas :)

Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.



Life's curveballs

Amidst all the craziness that this time of year brings along, Sam had knee surgery the day before Thanksgiving. Then, on Thanksgiving in the early morning hours, we found ourselves in the ER with what looked like a possible blood clot for Sam. They did lots of tests and the conclusion was made that it was a "Vagal nerve response" or in other words, due to the pain he was in, Sam's body was in essence trying to shut down "unnecessary" extremities. With that scare behind us, unfortunately more challenges were on their way. Sam's Dad, David passed away the week following Thanksgiving. He has been battling cancer but his death still came as a shock. We will miss him very much and possibly even more the missed opportunities that will have to wait for the eternities. But we are thankful for the knowledge of the gift of the resurrection and the the atonement for each of us made by the Savior. For this we can be thankful! With all of life's trials, we've still been trying to keep up the pace during this winter and holiday season and find joy in our everyday events. Here's some pictures from before Sam's surgery of a sunny day out sledding.

Beautiful Utah Sunny Day!

They Love their Daddy!

We decided to paint..... finally! Just cause we didn't have quite enough going on already...

We hosted Grandma Mary and Grandpa Tony for Thanksgiving, and thank Goodness they were there with all of Sam's shenanigans (emergencies...)We were so thankful for all of their help. Here's a picture after Mary had gone to Elle's Thanksgiving feast with her. So fun.

Some friends and I kept up with tradition and went out to the latest twilight movie. Not sure what we were going for in this picture. I think I said be serious, so some did, some didn't and I apparently went with the ol stand-by of  duck lips. The movie was about as good as this picture....

We've put up all three of our trees. This one is the "kids tree" so they get to decorate it. We did this one when Sam was gone so I got to be the one to boost Elle up. It's our family tradition to have the littlest put the star on the tree. She was pretty excited, pretty excited and pretty cute!

And for a post on another day, Reese turned 10! I can't believe how quickly he's growing up! We love you Reesey! More on this soon. We hope everyone is not only holding up but thriving throughout this busy holiday season!