PJ

Addie and I were going through old pictures and and we were laughing at all of the mischievous and facial expression pictures of PJ.  He is such a character.  So I just posted some of my favorites for your viewing pleasure.

fun events

Addie and Trey attended the region reflections contest assembly.  Trey Won the primary division in dance choreography and will be moving on to the state competition.  Addie received an award of merit (same things as second) in the secondary division also in dance choreography.  They both did a fantastic job and it is quite an honor for them to have made it this far.

Addie was in a dance performance " Alice in Topsy Turvy Land" she was a sugar lump. She was the very cutest brown sugar lump on the stage.

The class I teach was also in the dance program.  they were hopping bunnies and boy could they hop!

It was a good program. 

out with the old in with the new

 I am now the proud owner of two white mini vans. yes, that is right.  I purchased a new van. Just like the old one it is white with gray interior.  However, it is much nicer than the old one.  It is a 2010 Chrysler town and country.  Landan is so disappointed in me.  He can't believe I would choose to buy a new vehicle and get another mini van.  Well, I will bear my testimony of minivans.  They are super convenient when you have kids.  They are cheaper than most SUV's and they get better gas mileage.  So there!!  We are trying to sell our old one.  So if you know anyone that wants a salvage title 2005 Saturn Relay with 138,000 miles on it and stained carpet, permenant marker on the seats and missing ceiling lights, send them our way.

 Trey, PJ and cousin Waylon, started playing basketball at the city.  It is a group for 3-5 year olds.  My boys think it is pretty awesome.

 Trey is showing some skill in basketball.

The Unified Special Olympics tournament was on Tuesday. Unified means that each team is made up of two special Olympic athletes and two non special Olympians (peers)  All of our teams did great.  The one I play on got the silver medal.

January

 We started the new year out with an awesome party!  which meant, I played with the kids while Landan watched the Jazz game and then I sent them to bed at 9 p.m.  They didn't know any better.

 PJ had  a field trip to the fire station.  The was a big deal because PJ is afraid of fire trucks.  He cried twice but other than that, he did great!!

 his cute little class

 My boys are really into playing in their band " the Utah Rocking Utes"  they recently competed in a  rock competition in my kitchen.  They were awesome!!  Thankfully, they were in the only participants.

 Trey went to the dentist.  He was the best kid ever!  I was so proud of him.  He actually fell asleep in the chair.  He had to get a mini root canal.  They gave him some amoxicillin in case his tooth got infected.  He took it and we soon found out he was allergic to it. He vomited several times, had breathing issues and broke out in big welts all over his body.  I hope this doesn't ruin future dentist visits.

Just going through my pictures.. It is hard to remember Addie this small!  What a cutie

Christmas

Christmas Eve, we have the tradition of eating German pancakes and bacon.  We also open their new pajamas in the morning because we have parties until late at night and usually at least one of my kids is a sleep before we get home.  They also wear them all day.  Right now they love it.  I am sure there will be a point when they don't want to wear them all day and everywhere we go.

 They are some pretty darn cute kids.

 After breakfast we went to see "the Muppets"  I thought it was too long, but kind of funny at times.

 We went to two parties.  The DeGraffenried and the Grandma Patty party.  They were both fun!  The kids were pretty tired and ready to go to sleep so Santa could come.  Christmas morning, the kids opened their presents left under the tree.  Once they were done I told them that Santa's biggest surprises they had to find.

 Trey found his in his bedroom.  The Arcade hoops.  He also got the orange cones you see by his bed.  He has already issues  citations to all have crossed the cones.

 Everyone is enjoying the basketball game. 

 PJ found his surprise in the toy room that said "PJ's mechanic shop"  He got this car that can be completely taken apart and then rebuilt.  He has already changed multiple tires, changed oil, rebuilt transmissions etc...

 Trey is also loving the car

 The kids got a cash register for their gas station.  They always play gas station in the little area under the stairs.  They pull up to the window in the little car and order diet cokes. 

 Addie's big surprise, the number one thing on her list was an orbeez foot spa.  I have to admit is pretty cool.  She loves it! Christmas day, all the grandmas, myself and Pj got foot massages from Addie.

 Addie was also thrilled to get a Justin Bieber shirt and leopard print purse.

 She also got Just Dance 3, We Cheer 2, and Sing it

and a new church dress...  We had a great Christmas!!

a whole bunch of craziness

Addie was in the nutcracker again this year.  She was a medium mouse.  Hopefully when she is in it again two years from now, she will get to be something different.

 After the Nutcracker, Addie and I rushed to the Heelis Party to see Santa.  She made it in the nick of time.

 We made our annual sugar cookies.  It is nice to know I can still decorate cookies better than 3 people in this world.

 We had our family pictures taken.  The DeGraffenried Family Photo. Pretty cool, I think.

Landan and I have our first updated picture together since 2002

 So I had a crazy experience with the Santaquin Church fire. I drove passed the morning we heard about the fire.  I happened to see that my dad was there.  So I decided to see if I could go in.  I walked in, no one said a word.  So I walked down the hall and up the stairs to where my dad and Bones were talking to the investigator, church architect and firemen.  The church architect handed me a flashlight and told me to look around.  I was horrified with what I saw.  I got out my camera and started taking pictures.  When I got home I wanted to show my local facebook friends that there was a lot of damage done to the church.  I had no idea my pics would spread so far and so fast.  I was contacted by the Santaquin paper who asked if they could use them on their website. After checking to make sure that was ok I gave my permission.  What I am extremely shocked about, however, was to see my pics on FOX 13 news.  I never gave permission to anyone.  They were just there with my name above the photos.  I was kind of freaked out that my pictures had traveled that far. So I found out the reason my pictures were so high in demand is because the media was not allowed in where I had been taking pictures.  Who knew my pictures would actually be the only ones out there?  I sure didn't.

It was horrifying to see.

Below is the link to the actual news broadcast that my photos were on.

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-arson-suspected-in-santaquin-lds-church-fire-20111215,0,571227.story