Christmas treat

My adorable niece!!! Seriously can't get enough of her and her scrumptious rolls. YUMMY!

Well this is what is all about...FAMILY! All of my siblings, spouses, kids and parents together. We also had some extended family, Grandma & Grandpa and some friends too. Whew it was a house full and it was wonderful.












(Not pictured )Aunt Tammy, Cousin Josh, Cousin Jake, My Dad, Mom's husband Steve, friend Kathy H., friend Kathy, friend Josh, Nat's boyfriend John...ahh did I forget anyone else????? It could be easy as it was literally a house full.

Tumbling

L favorite part of the week is Wednesday. "Mom we go to gym and then tumbling at morning?" Is his usual question when he wakes up. It is hard when it isn't tumbling day. "oh just gym and then tumbling Sunderday." which is his definition of another day.


















Miss M has been making big improvements and can now do a back walk over. She is gumby and looks so cute too. A is also taking tumbling but he doesn't want any documentation, as he thinks it would be good blackmail for mom later on.

Santa

proud mommy moment

I was in charge of organizing the Reflections contest at our school this year. It was a big job but well worth it. The hardest part was getting the entries back from the judges with who had won. Ugh a little heart wrench for all those who had entered and didn't win. Thank goodness I didn't have to judge...I wouldn't be able to do it.
It was fun to be able to call up the kids that won and give them their trophies. The best part was being able to call out my son's name and see the look of shock and excitement. He didn't have a clue. On our committee we swore everyone to secrecy until the day of the assembly. No telling any of the kids including our own. That was hard but really fun to see the end result. (The Reflections contest was what started me on my love of art and especially photography. I still have my Reflections trophy from long long ago for one of my first photographs, when I asked my dad if I could use his camera to take a pretty picture. Thanks Dad!)

















Here is the picture. I have to say I was quite envious because I didn't see it when we were taking pictures. He said Mom give me the camera I want to take some pictures. I love when someone, especially my kid can give me a better perspective. We haven't heard any news yet on whether he is progressing past the next level. But he was thrilled with getting a trophy. He worked so hard this year to pick his best photo. Last year he was so heart broken when he didn't win anything. I shed a few tears with him because he was so upset. It was a good teaching moment though and look what he was able to do this year. It is good to not win sometimes.

turkey for me, turkey for you

I can eat turkey in a big brown shoe....
Even my youngest sings it and I LOVE IT! L was singing it this morning and I just wanted to eat him up. We had such a great Thanksgiving Day. So many things to feel complete gratitude for that I can't even begin to put words to the list.




I think this is a new tradition that we will do every year. Thanks Peen and Bear Bear. And we are not FAT because we got up early and ran a 5k. So all the rest of you that stayed in bed you are fat :P. I am so pleased with myself because I shaved off 12 minutes from my last 5k. WHOOT WHOOT!!! sorry just had to toot my horn for a moment. Can't even begin to express how grateful I am to have a healthy functioning body!























Hey that is 16 people in my kitchen....grateful for more than a one butt kitchen :).











Some pre and post turkey activities. Band Hero, Up and beat up on cousin Braden.








I sat back after all the stuff was over and felt peace, contentment and gratitude. Grandpa Price told us about in WWII when he was on one of the destroyer escorts and they were in the middle of the typhoon, while he was steadying himself on the metal walls as they washed back and forth he caught his wedding ring on a rivet and he was washed out on the deck and was able to grab a life line and then other sailors jumped on top of him and drug him back to safety. Grandpa Price said with a little choke in his voice, "That is how close all of this (pointing to all of us) wouldn't have been."

peace and quiet for a moment