February in a Flash!

It's been ages since I last posted, life blows by so fast and I just hold on tight for the ride. So, February...yeah, I know it's nearly April, has come and gone, so here's the quickie look at our February!

February is Sasha Jeaner the Jelly Beaner's birthday. I believe in Birthday Months, so we started out with her actual birthday. She could hardly wait to open her presents, so why make her? She happily ripped into them.

Next we were off to Five Guys for some DELISH burgers and fries with the grands & a few cousins.

Then back home for a mini cake and ice cream celebration.

Not really sure which of my girls blew out the candles! Riley should know better!

Next was her birthday party. Check out the gorgeous cake my sweet friend Brooke made for our Sasha. Thanks Brookeee!

More cousins to play with! The house was full of kids and Sasha loved every second of it!

And BLOW! (Riley still can't contain her self! Luckily she's farther back!)

After all the partying we take a well deserved (and rare for me) nap. I had no idea the kids took this picture, we were seriously out cold.

To finish off the month, Sasha lost a tooth!

Every time she looses one I cry a little inside. Sappy I know, but it's the last front bottom tooth I'll ever pull, or the last top right tooth, or whichever, but it's the last! Sigh, where does the time go!

Max totally gets me as he snuggles up to Sasha's brand new toy. Like the rest of us he can hardly believe my baby (don't tell Max, he thinks he's my baby!) my little sweet Sasha is seven! We adore our Jelly Bean, Happy Birthday!

FHE & Bowling...a good combo!

A few weeks ago we took a break from the usual FHE activities and took the kids bowling. It was a such a fun night! 

 Riley, Me & Sasha stirke a pose.

  

Josh gets ready for his turn.



Sasha...is that ball bigger than she is??? 

Aryn has totally got this. And boy did she, she took second next to her dad. I wonder if the bumpers had anything to do with it? Hmmm....



Chris...the super bowler takes a moment with his number one fan. Many, many, many years ago Chris' dad taught bowling at Weber State. He had all the boys on a bowling league with him and they were good...oh so good. Riley, laughed until she cried upon learning this. :) 

What better way to finish off the night than with pizza! Yay FHE!

Drill, drill and more drill...still!

 This last month has been drill filled. This is competition season for drill teams wide and far, and it is insane. But in a weird fun way. Riley volunteered me to stay overnight with her team in Jordan last month, at first I was a bit.....grumbly about it. It's no secret in my youth I mainly wanted to push cheerleaders and drill team girls down. However, since my daughter is one now, (and has let me push her down, so it's out of my system now) I am learning the ways of this maddening world. And loud world.

Here's the team at the Mayan for a team dinner. Cute Royalaires.

 Look what the girls found! The divers were more than happy to pose with them all..weird. :)

And the whole silly bunch again before we headed back to the hotel.



Here they are doing their dance routine. Insane the things they do with their bodies. I have a whole new respect for dancers after watching Riley this year. They really are athletes.



This is their Kick routine...pre-routine. They are a funny bunch aren't they? 

And here they are rehearsing for their Military routine.

More of the same...head stands...yeah you should see the things they do on their heads.





And so now you know (because I know you were so concerned) what our last month has entailed. Dance is a strange world, but 2 of my three girls love it, and so then must I. (did I mention it's an expensive world?) Only one more competition left and they'll call it a year. Riley has had a tough year dance wise. Things have always come easy to Riley. This has not been easy. We wondered what she would do as we watched in the back ground; would she hang her head, or put her nose down and work? She put her nose down and worked her tail off. She climbed mountains and is now standing at the top grinning. Riley learned she is made of tough stuff. These are life lessons that are priceless, and it has been inspiring to watch her grow.

 Way to go Riley and the Royalaires!

Taking Stock

Because I'm to lazy to upload the New Years pictures there aren't any...yet. Maybe later, one can never tell. However, never one to see a holiday pass without proper recognition, Happy New Year!

Lets talk about New Years resolutions, why not? Everyone else is. I've never been one to parade about declaring New Years resolutions. Mostly because I never do them.(I could seriously rationalize my way to hell) But, last year I quietly set one for myself, and I am proud to say I did it! So this year I thought....

 what the heck, I'll do it again.  And so I have. I am pleased to report a whopping 3 days into the year, I have resolutely kept my New Years resolution. Fingers crossed for the next 362 days.

At Family Home Evening we also declared our personal resolutions, and then set one as a family. Most of the kids wanted to have personal scripture study daily, except for Aryn. She would like to get her toe touch by the end of this year.

I have to admit Chris and I struggled not to chuckle.  But then, since it took her a week to master the leg extension,

 something tells me it won't be too long until she's touching her toes. That girl lives to dance. (can you believe I even know all these funny dance moves? Me either!) I digress.

As a family we have decided to focus on family scripture study....

 and finish the Doctrine Covenants and the Book of Mormon this year. We've been reading the D&C for the entire last year. Honest. It is taking us forever. Perhaps its the lack of dedication? Yes, maybe. So, with that thought in mind we are plowing through the last bit with the BOM as the end goal.

I love this book. We started reading it daily as a family when Sasha was a year old, and with the exception of last year when we read (or attempted to read) D&C, have read it every year since. I will admit that while we were on our BOM sabbatical, I missed it. It has such a quite strength and comfort in this busy world we live in. So I read it on my own.

For Christmas each of the kids got their own big copy of the BoM, D&C and Pearl of Great Price, and are excitedly following along. So, I know that each of the kids are anxious to settle back into the BOM once again. Riley will continue to hold out for Captain Moroni, I will swoon over Teancum and Josh will dream of being a Stripling Soldier. Aryn will love each time her name is mentioned even if its not spelled right, and Sasha will do her best to hold still, and protest that her name is not mentioned.

 So it is with great anticipation that we finish the D&C and again pick up our own personal Liahona, the Book Of Mormon. I challenge you all to do the same!

Happy New Year!

Christmas

Christmas always starts with Christmas Eve. Odd, I know. So, we load up and head off to our annual Christmas Eve feast with the Thiel family.

Then to the Gillelands for our reenactment of the Nativity. This year Riley was upgraded to a shepherd from a donkey. Way to go Ri. Then off to bed to wait for the big day.

Riley got her letter jacket.

Josh loves his Lego's!

Sasha and her numerous little toys. The littler the better. 

Aryn mounts up on her new mountain bike.

Then back to the car and off to Christmas breakfast at Nenee's. 

Followed by lunch at the Kemp's. Isn't Riley just lovely?

Another wonderful Christmas!

 Merry Christmas!

Couples Christmas Party

Last Friday we had our super fabulous friends Christmas Party with an ugly sweater contest. Justin & Holly hosted it this year (and last I think too) and what an absolute blast it was! For the record, Justin & Holly are must haves to any party.

Here are Chris & I in our 'Ugly' sweaters. (Mine was courtesy of BoBunny trade show toss offs, brilliant, no?)

This is a fun version of the candy bar game. The twist is you have to dig for the candy with work gloves and unwrap it before you can have it. Chris and I stink at it, or at rolling the dice.

Kevin scores and Brooke's turn ends.

And Justin takes it to a whole other level! I do think he got one though.

Next was couples family feud. Justin tucked his kids in and came back down wearing this....

Oh yes, it's a glittery gold blazer. The game was delayed due to roaring laughter. He was a superb game show host. I do believe he missed his calling!

It was another fun filled night with good friends, yummy food and lots of laughter. What a great way to kick of the holiday season. Thanks Holly & Justin.



Merry Stitchmas!!!

It was a CRAZY fun (mostly crazy, truth be told) weekend for us. A few parties, and a drill competition equal a need for another weekend.  But I digress, last night we had the annual Kemp Christmas party. The kids look forward to this all year, family, friends and the fat man. What more could a child want?

All the kids get in on it. Here's Riley minutes after leaving the dance floor, and onto Santa's lap.

And Josh, who thought he would be tricky and ask for a real live flying reindeer. Stinker. We'll see what Santa delivers!

Aryn had her turn. Stage fright set in and seconds after she got off Santa's lap it occurred to her she had forgotten to tell him what she really wanted!!! Lucky Santa is magic and already knows.

And Sasha. Well, she loves dogs, and dogs love her. However, dogs don't love when you shine laser lights all around them and then run screaming in their direction. My sister in laws Great Dane was no exception. Poor little Sasha was lovin' her some Great Dane when the Laser Light incident of 2010 occurred. Yep, before the she could even set eyes on Ole St. Nick, she was rushed out the door as Riley and I walked in, to the doctor and is now the proud owner of four stitches. She is the third (and final??) member of the Stitches Club in our family.  

The Great Dane is a sweetheart of a giant. But a giant none the less. Apparently 170 pound dogs have huge paws with equally huge claws. Bless her, she was ever so brave and now wants to say..... 

Merry Stitchmas to all and to all a good night!