Merry Christmas!



My Love Affair

I have a love affair with....

New York City!

A month ago I was

lucky to take a whirlwind

trip with Scott again to NY.

My 3rd in 8 months.

Beware...lots of photos!

The weather was perfect!

The Chrysler Bldg on a beautiful day

Flatiron Building

It is a triangular building

We came upon a model and a

fashion shoot on the street corner.

It was cold that morning

and she had very little on.

This shoot lasted all day.

I think she may need to

actually eat something.

Soooo skinny!!

My favorite treat of the trip...

Pretzel Croissant from

City Bakery

You must try!!

Delicious!!

Fall colors and a pretty view

We walked many miles to Soho,

where I found my new favorite store.

C. Wonder

The ex-husband of Tori Burch...Chris,

has opened his own store.

It is lovely beyond words!

His pricing is more affordable.

Somewhere between Anthropologie

and Banana Republic.

So many wonderful things.

Jewelry, clothing, shoes, purses,

housewares and even items

for your pets.

The store just opened its website

www.cwonder.com

Check it out!

I was too early in the month for

Christmas decorations and windows.

These pictures are from

Macy's.

They had the inside of the store decorated.

Boy, was it beautiful!

Central Park with all the

fall colors.

I am so enamored with this City.

I will drop everything for a

couple days in New York.

I love the hustle and bustle,

walking everywhere, food,

shopping is amazing and

the energy the city puts out

is so fun!

Thanksgiving

Wishing all our family and friends a

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a fabulous day.

I am so very blessed.

My family is so helpful, hard working and fun!

The Christmas decorations are up!!

Pies and cranberry sauce are made

and all is under control for the big feast.

I am thankful for my amazing husband and children.

For the beautiful home we live in.

The travel adventures we are able to have.

For the support, love, and friendship of fabulous friends.

But, most of all I am so grateful to be a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Happy Thanksgiving!





Nutcracker Tea

This year we didn't think Jensen would

have a part at the Nutcracker Tea.

However, she was asked to dress

as Clara's mother.

It was an honor for her.

Jensen and her dance buddies.

They have danced together for the

last 8 1/2 years.

Not only did Jensen get to dress as Clara's mother.

She introduced the dancers and

read the Nutcracker story to all the kids

in attendance.



These are a few of the cute girls at one of the Tea's

It was fun to have Jensen be a part of our final

Nutcracker Tea.

The Nutcracker has been a big part of our lives

since she was 8.

It was bittersweet as we said goodbye.

Lots of memories and friends.

Thankful Tree

Every year we make our "Thankful Tree."

This year was a little more difficult.

Kenzie is away at college, Scott has been traveling,

and so that left the three of us to carry on.

We did call Kenzie and Scott to get a few of

their Thankful items.

It is hanging in the kitchen as a constant

reminder on what this time of year

is all about.

Hopefully we will be able to remember

all year long to be Thankful and show

gratitude for all that we have.

I love this time of year!

Kenzie comes home tonight, short school week,

yummy food for Thanksgiving, family,

Holiday decorations are going up as I type

(I know I am crazy).

Happy Thanksgiving!

First Day of School

The first day of school came and went.

But, I must document it.

Jensen started her Senior year of High School.

Even though she is technically a Junior,

due to the upcoming move she is

graduating a year early.

She is not too happy about that,

but is handling it beautifully!

WOW! I can't believe she will be graduating.

So many changes!

She is such a fun, pretty and amazing young lady!!

Alec started 6th grade.

He does not like me taking his pictures.

It seems like only yesterday that I was taking

him to Kindergarten.

This year it was not cool for Scott and I

to walk him on to the playground.

Although, he let Kenzie.

Oh, to be a big sister!!

He is very involved with school this year.

VP of Student Council, Service Club and

early morning choir.

He loves his school!

He is riding his bike to school...

that is when he doesn't have to be

there early.

Loves to hang with his friends.

They have great air soft battles at the park.

He is becoming a fabulous young man

and we couldn't be more proud of him.

It won't be long and he will be taller

than his sisters and me.

My little boy is quickly becoming

a young man!

FYI....

Who doesn't love a handful of M&M's?!

Oh, Boy do I love M&M's!

Peanut, plain, peanut butter, almond, mint and more!

Yummy!!

Here is a little bit of info I read this week.

If you eat just "one" M&M...

you will need to walk one length of the football field

to work off that M&M.

YIKES!

This makes me think twice before

grabbing a handful.

Don't you love the BSU field?

Happy Monday!

There are days that I sit and contemplate life....

I can't believe that I will be relocating in 9 months,

that my husband is gone a greater part of the week,

that simple family things are harder to do or missed,

that I have a daughter in college, one getting ready to

graduate High School and my baby is in 6th grade!

Disappointment and discouragement are from Satan!

Oh, boy he wants us to feel them and lately I have

felt my own share of them.

Last week it was if a light bulb went off.

I was ready, able and willing to carry on this crazy life and load.

I no longer wanted the heavy feelings that Satan was

putting on me.  Adios!!

I am truly blessed!!

No matter the hardship, my blessings far outweigh them!

I love this quote from a great Prophet (info here).

I am not sure what facilitated the change last week.

I do know that somewhere someone said a prayer

or two on my behalf,  friends supported and uplifted,

and I felt the spirit awaken my soul.

It is a new week with new and old challenges.

I will "Carry On".

For now this is my path.

It is up to me to learn, grow, Be Happy, Believe

and endure.

Happy Monday!

Big Brother

Alec adopted a "big brother."

Tanner is a young man from our ward.

He is currently serving a mission

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tanner was Kenzie's friend first

and then Alec decided that

Tanner could be the "big brother"

he never got.

Alec has been enamored with writing

Tanner while he is serving his mission.

Alec updates him on sports, video games,

school and life in Gilbert.

I love that Tanner is such a great

example to Alec.

(pictures taken in 2009 at Winter Formal.

Alec and Tanner playing Nerf.)



I Will Never Forget

It was one of those moments....

I will always remember where I was,

what I was doing and what was

happening across the United States.

I will Never Forget that day and

the days that followed,

as we sat glued to the TV.

The memorial in New York is

a gorgeous site.

I can't wait to see it in person

in one month.

Game Day

College Football is starting today!

We are a divided family.

With the start of football one would

think that Fall would be here...

not in Arizona!

It is still HOT!!!

Go BSU!!

Charlottie

 This weekend Scott and I were in Walnut Creek, Ca.  His sweet Grandma passed away.

We all called her GGma.

She lived a full life...95 years old. 

All the handsome grandsons and grandson-in laws were pallbearer's.



GGma loved the color pink.

She was a fabulous lady.

Always made sure she had her lipstick on and nails polished.

When you would visit her she would make sure to treat you

 to sourdough bread and homemade jam.

She loved to send birthday cards and always wanted to

know what was happening in your life.

She will be missed, but oh how happy she must be

to be reunited with her husband and other family members.

ALERT....extreme crankiness

Record yesterday....114!

What?! In late August. You have to be kidding.

The kiddos can't have recess, the pool is 96,

both our AC's quit working, so that made it

90 upstairs and 87 downstairs.

UGHHH!!

Hence, the Extreme Crankiness.

They say it is a dry heat.

Who cares! It is way too hot for anything!

Boys are trying to have football practice...crazy.

There is nothing pleasant about this weather.

We have had a heat warning all week and they

have now extended it through Friday night.

Gotta love AZ this time of year!



~Change~

In life it is inevitable that there will be change.

I do not like change nor do I adapt well to change.

That makes this past year hard...real hard!

We have had LOTS of changes and we

are still having LOTS of changes.

For the past month we have spent a lot of

time in discussion, prayer and fasting with Jensen.

Jensen came to a cross road in July.

She was reevaluating life and choices.

With moving looming in the not too distant future,

Jensen was beginning to realize how much life

was already changing.

This week Jensen decided that she was done

doing ballet on a pre-professional level.

Last night she informed Ballet Etudes

that she would not be returning.

Not an easy decision...

especially since she has been dancing

at this level since she was 8 years old.

It saddens me that we will not

get to see her dance in another

Ballet Etudes production.

This has been such a huge part

of our lives for a very long time.

Ballet Etudes has been a second family to Jensen.

It is a hard transition to make.

I feel as if a hole has been left.

I know Jensen will miss expressing herself

through ballet, her ballet friends and teachers

and most of all performing!

But, at this time this will allow her

time to adapt to moving, time with friends

and not being so VERY busy.

This is her Senior year and we all

know how busy it is being a senior in High School.

So we bid a fond farewell to ballet

and all that it brought into our lives.

Who knows what is in store for Jensen.

I am proud of her and how she went about

making this difficult decision.

Her ability to discuss it with Scott and I

and going to Sharon to inform her of her decision.

Very mature and responsible.

Thank you to everyone who has supported

Jensen through her ballet endeavors...

friends, family, ward members, teachers

and Ballet Etudes.

the week ahead...

~Get Scott ready to leave...his weekly Utah trip.

~Get my Dad's Father's day gift ready to send.

~Get Scott's Father's day gift

~Spend 2 days here with Alec and friends.

~Send Alec on his first scouting camp out.

~ Attend a wedding reception.

~Saturday Scott and Kenzie will arrive home...

Woo Hoo!!

Kenzie is taking finals this week and

will be taking the summer off.

It will be great to have her back

with the family.

Oh, how we have missed her!!

What a week it will be!

Les Miserables

Scott, Jensen and I had a great evening of

bonding....Gecko Grill and

Les Miserables.

What a fabulous production.

Man, oh man can they sing!

It was a lot of fun to be with Jensen.

We had some great discussions.

We are so fortunate to get to

experience things like this.

~11~

This year Alec got two birthday celebrations.

Scott had to fly to London on his actual birthday.

So, we celebrated all weekend long.

On his actual birthday with

his tower of gifts and

the yummy cheese balls

that his sisters gave him.

Brownie Sundae

His all time favorite.

What could an 11 year old

be so excited about?!

a cell phone, of course!

His sisters died that he got a

cell phone at 11.

I guess it pays to be the youngest

or have your dad gone on your birthday.

Hard to believe that my little boy

is 11 and entering the 6th grade.

Alec is such a fun boy!

I love you buddy!!

Sleeping Beauty

Jensen danced in

Sleeping Beauty

in May.

It was a beautiful production.

 Here she is in her tutu for

"Silver"

Breathtaking!

 Look at all the cute girls that came

to support her.

The cast of Sleeping Beauty.

Thank you to everyone that came

and saw the production.

We appreciate all your support!

Ballet Etudes is simply amazing!

Look who is driving...not

Look at this happy face and jump!

What a big day.

Jensen became an official

driver on April 14th.

Not so fast chica...

On May 11th

Jensen wrecked on her

way to school.

Poor car....

Poor Jensen.

It was a hard life lesson.

And a costly one.

Luckily,

noone was hurt.

Just a bruised ego.

April Birthdays

Jensen turned "16" in April.

She got a piece of Tiffany jewelry.

 Her Birthday dessert....

Lemon Berry Trifle

 Sweet Sixteen Roses

My Birthday is in between my girls 

My favorite flowers...

Tulips 

 Kenzie turned "18" in April

and left for college

 Our tradition...

tower of birthday gifts

 A cool new camera for the

college girl

April is crazy.

We have 3 birthdays in 7 days.

Busy and expensive.