The funniest thing I have heard Reese say

Today I was driving, taking gifts around, I had all three kids with me.  We were trying to find Riley's karate teachers house.  I knew the area she lived but I didn't know which house was hers.  I did however know what her car looked like, so I knew if I found her car I would find her house.  We turned down a road and Reese said "what are we doing here?"  I said to all the kids, "keep your eyes peeled for ______ car." Reese started crying and screaming "I don't want to get my eyes peeled."  Oh my goodness I started laughing so hard.  Then Riley started laughing.  Then she was mad that we were laughing at her because she had to get her eyes peeled.  OH MY!! Later that day we were at Ninna's and she leaned over to me and said, "mom we don't really have to get our eyes peeled do we?"  Oh baby girl that is just TOO much.

Polar Express

 The kids with THE KING!! Raegan is in love with Elvis and I have NO IDEA why.  This was outside of a restaurant in Williams AZ.  We were waiting to meet up with our good friends the Scussels.

 Another shop--my kids are so cute.

 Every year we say we are going to take our kids on the Polar Express in Williams.  This year we REALLY did take them and it was a great experience.  Riley and Raegan

 Riley and Raegan with Mrs. Clause.  She was soooo nice.  The kids could write letters to Santa and do some fun crafts.  Notice Reese in none of these pictures?  She REFUSED to even stand by Mrs. Clause.  She kept saying she didn't want to ride the train.  She wanted to watch us all from OUTSIDE of the train--BY HERSELF!!  Stinker!

 They had this cool little model town with the train riding around. 

 Us with our amazing friends--Chad and Cassie and their cuties.  It was fun to go with our friends.  Jessica, Caleb, and Justin wore their PJ's which was so fun.  I knew my kids would not do it.  The adults were joking we all should have worn matching PJ's.  HA yeah right.

Waiting patiently for the train.  It was pretty cold.

Russ and Reese--see she FINALLY smiled and was happy when the train was actually going and she knew she was OK.  Love these faces.

They had the HELPERS dressed up and they passed out THE BIGGEST cookies ever, and hot chocolate.  The cookies were so good and the hot chocolate was the perfect-drinkable temperature.

Raegan was SO HAPPY and SO EXCITED when we FINALLY told the kids (on our way there) where we were.  She had a perma-grim the rest of the time.  She kept saying "this isn't the REAL Polar Express, that's not the REAL North Pole, that doesn't look like the REAL Santa."  UMMM

Reese and Raegan so happy.

Me and Russ

This picture is all the kids pressed up against the window looking at the North Pole.  They had a whole little village set up with houses and trees--everything lite up in lights.  Santa was there with his sleigh and reindeer. 

And then Santa got ON the train and came and talked to the kids.  He gave them all a bell. 

On the train we played games and sang Christmas songs.  They read the Polar Express book.  I hope my kids will have this good memory for a long time.  Merry Christmas.

Christmas programs 2011

 Here is Raegan at her Christmas program.  She was the cutest girl in first grade.  I wasn't able to get any good shots or video of her.  It was packed and I sat in the wrong spot.  I really didn't see her much during the program.

 You can barely see my Riley back there.  Russ and I were out of town on the day of Riley's program.  I was able to go to one of the practices just to see parts of it.  He got to ring the bells during one song.  He is not much into singing or performing as you can see from his face.

Reesie's little joy school class did a nativity program for the families.  It was really sweet.  Reese was Mary but you can't tell from her Hannah Montana get up.  She REFUSED to wear her costume from day one.  Stubborn little cuss.  Thanks Miss Cassie for helping the kids do this--it was great.

Dance recital Nov 2011

 Oh my goodness!!  My girls are SOOO SOOOO cute.  They were the cutest girls at the performance. 

 Rae took a cheer class this year and she LOVES it.  She wants to cheer at a game sometime.  We will see how that pans out.  She is a little natural and has always loved dancing.  We love to watch her.

 My little Reesie was such a sweet little ballerina.  ADORABLE!!

 This was her first ever dance class and first recital.  We couldn't believe how well she did that night.  She never did really good at practices.  But that night she owed the stage.  She went right out and did all the moves. 

 She wants to do RECITAL all the time now.  I hope she likes it enough to keep going.

It's fun to see my kids growing and being more involved in things.  It's good to see what each one is good at and NOT SO GOOD AT!!

Piano recital

 Raegan with Sister Sanderson.  This is Raegan's first recital.

 Riley with his piano teacher--Sister Sanderson.  He is doing well with piano but he needs to practice more.  I hope he will stick to it.  Some days are better than others.

Raegan has really liked playing the piano.  She picked it up really quickly.  She too needs to practice more.  I hope this is something both kids continue to do.

Halloween

 Raegan did her pumpkin all by herself this year.  She did a really great job.  See her consentrating?

 Riley has NEVER liked cleaning out the pumpkin guts.  He thinks it's gross.  His face says it all.

 Sweet little Ninna.  Always has fun being with the kids.

 OK so my face is silly but REALLY Reesie's pumpkin was petrified and IMPOSSIBLE to carve.  It was like cutting into a peice a tree.  She was completly happy with one hole for an eye.

Finished pumpkins.