Silent Night, Holy Night

One of my favorite photos this year was taken at our Stake Nativity.

My little angels joined by the Koenigs, Manns, Petersons & Teemants.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Our Christmas in pictures for your viewing pleasure...

The results of a gingerbread house Family Home Evening, truly a group effort.

Our traditional Paintbox Christmas Cookies. Yum-O!


Our little bit-o-everything Christmas tree right after Santa left.

The gifts Cara and Jordyn bought for each other... :)

The Parks mall had $5 ice skating on Christmas Day. We had a blast! Cara is quite the skater and, well, Jordyn hasn't quite got the hang of it yet. But there's always next year!

A Thanksgiving to Remember

We asked Bryan's brother, Trent, to come down over Thanksgiving to help him put a new roof on our house. My in-laws decided that sounded fun and they came too. We don't get too many visitors around here so we welcomed the company.

The boys got up on the roof to investigate what they were dealing with. Here's what they found...

10 layers of shingles.

Most houses have one or two. We thought we had three and that was pushing it.



They decided they did not want to take off 10 layers of shingles and we would hire professionals to take care of the roof. At the time it sounded like a good idea.

So, after the next morning's soaking rain that leaked all kinds of havoc into our house, they tarped it all up. Now, no roofing company is going to do the job until it warms up a bit... I'm sure I'll update that situation when I have better news...

My girls love Uncle Trent. He's tons of fun to play with and talk to. Ask Jordyn... :)

We enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner (if I do say so myself)! The only thing on the wish list of food that didn't get made was the mincemeat pie my father-in-law asked for. It's not on my list of specialties - yet. But everything else was delicious especially the turkey that Bryan was in charge of.

The next day we braved the mall and went to Dick's Sporting Goods where Cara and Trent scaled the rock climbing wall. She's tried it once before but only made it halfway up before letting the heights get to her.

Getting the gear on and instructions from the wall workers...

Trent made it up the advanced side of the wall in record time.

Cara made it all the way up to the top of the beginner's side. She did AWESOME!

Grandma & Grandpa Boyer are turning their mission papers in (if they haven't already) and we're glad they came to visit before they leave. We love you!

Leven Thumps author, Obert Skye

Recently Cara got to meet Obert Skye, author of the Leven Thumps books. When I say recently, what I really mean is October but who's keeping track anyway??

If you haven't read these books, they are quite enjoyable. It's about a land called Foo where "nothing is impossible". So the fourth book, The Wrath of Ezra, came out on September 30th and he happened to be in the DFW area on October 2nd!

He actually spoke at several schools in my district the same day (including the one Cara used to attend before I took last year off and the one Jordyn goes to now for Pre-K) and Cara and I were sad to learn he came to River Trails last year and we missed him... There was an on-line podcast I showed in class where he gave kids some great advice to "Dream Big and to Be Great" and two other things that I can't remember because it was way back in October, allright?

BUT Bryan took her to Barnes and Noble to see him that night.

They stood in line for a LONG time but when it was her turn he signed her book and poster and offered her some candy from Foo. Normally I don't condone taking candy from strangers but, hey, it was from Foo... Before she went, we practiced lots of things she could say to him like, "I'm LDS, too." or "I think Clover is the funniest character." but alas, she said nothing. He was very nice and Cara was star-struck, I think. :)

The picture is from Bryan's cell phone but the look on her face says it all!

Happy Mega-Late Halloween

So, I had a request for Halloween pictures from my friend, Tobi, at Army Wilkinson's...

How lame is it that these are all I took???

Seriously.

On the way home from trick-or-treating with the Gee's in White Settlement... Her name should be Sleepy instead of Snow White...

Candy Face. Enough said?

Cara was Hermione from Harry Potter again. You can see her Hogwarts tie in the photo. Long story.

She wanted to be Padme from Star Wars but all we could find was this costume.

Sorry, too sexy for a 10-year-old, in my opinion. Searched and searched for an alternate.... Thought she might like to be a jedi knight instead. Nope... that didn't work...

...so even though this is last year's picture, this is how she looked again...

Thinking about doing a staged photo shoot for my little princess - we'll see...

Five Fun-Filled Years

Happy, Happy Birthday Jordyn, Dear...

You have brightened our lives immeasurably, little one. You have lots and lots of love to spread around. You make us laugh every day. You are a ray of sunshine in this world!

You and your 'noculars.

Harriet Potter

One of your most creative pieces of art...

The scariest week of our life was when you had RSV at 2 years old and were the tiny girl in a bubble. Thank goodness for bunny...

Bluebonnet Beauty

The awesome stroller at the themepark in Branson, MO.

3rd birthday - 2006

There's no place like home... my favorite smile.

4th Birthday - 2007 Princess 'Tea' Party

You are sure growing up nicely, Jordyn.

I lub you.

No, My First Name Ain't Baby....

....it's Janet. Miss Jackson if you're Nasty!

Flashback.

1990.

Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour.

Frankfurt, Germany.

Me, Samantha, Chris, Laurie, Ryan (and probably other really important people that I'm forgetting. Shar, were you there?)

It was awesome - to say the least! I remember Ryan and Chris just dancing all night. I'm pretty sure if I tried hard I could remember the distinct odor of sweaty Europeans. I remember laughing and singing and staying up so late driving home.

Now Flashforward.

Last night.

Rock Witchu Tour.

Dallas, Texas - American Airlines Center.

Me, Suzy, Janet. Again.

Janet and I are both eighteen years older now and we're both a bit chubbier but she worked it! The dancing was awesome. There was a lot of choreography from the music videos that was easy to recognize and made it so much fun!

Bryan was able to score tickets for me to the concert. His company has season tickets to EVERYTHING at the AA center and when the family he works for isn't using the tickets they offer them up to the staff. We've seen things from sporting events and the Ringling Brothers Circus to Blue Man Group and the Harlem Globetrotters for free - with parking passes. I know, it's a sweet perk of his job.

I was fresh off the disappointing news that New Kids on the Block (my first concert ever!) tickets were offered but they were playing on a Sunday, when Bryan called and asked, "How much do you love me?" I knew it was something good and I was RIGHT!

The concert rocked! An incomplete list of songs that I can remember:

The Pleasure Principle

Control

What Have You Done for Me Lately

You Want This

Alright

Miss You Much

Come Back to Me

Let's Wait Awhile

Nasty

Doesn't Really Matter

Escapade

Love Will Never Do (Without You)

When I Think of You

All for You

That's the Way Love Goes

Black Cat

Rhythm Nation

Runaway

She also played at least 4 songs I didn't recognize from her newer album as well. The costume changes were fabulous. And did I mention she danced her tail off? Aside from one of Bryan's co-workers who was extremely inebriated and one racy, S & M influenced song (yikes!) it was fun, fun, fun and brought back memories of my fellow 'Bergers.

Major points, hon. :)

5 Things Tag

Got tagged by my niece, Amanda :)

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Had a newborn daughter. Cara was born in August.
2. Was living in Taylorsville, UT
3. Working the over-night shift for First Security Bank in the balancing department
4. Had been married for two and a half years
5. Was nearly convinced that no one would ever hire me for a teaching position

5 things on my to-do list today:

1. Field trip to the Amon Carter Museum of Art in Ft. Worth
2. Jordyn soccer practice
3. Pick up Rx from Kroger all the way across town
4. Hook up replacement Dish Network DVR
5. Finalize details of Mock Election I'm in charge of at school on Monday

5 snacks I enjoy:

1. Marshmallow Popcorn
2. Lemon Poppyseed Bread
3. Chips and queso dip
4. Kit Kats
5. Brach's candy corn and pumpkins

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Pay off all of my parents and in-laws debt and bills
2. Pay off our debt
3. Travel Europe with Bryan
4. Take my kids to Disney World
5. Upgrade the living quarters and hire a cleaning service - Pronto!

5 places I have lived: (just five??? There's MANY more!)

1. Ft. Ord, CA
2. Ft. Rucker, AL
3. Heidelberg, Germany
4. Provo, UT
5. Arlington, TX

5 jobs I have had: (again I had to pick and choose...)

1. HYA Summer Camp Counselor
2. BYU Bookstore - Twilight Zone Cashier
3. Rustic Inn Motel - Moab, UT
4. First Security Bank - Teller/FSR/Balancing
5. 5th Grade Teacher

5 people I tag: (I can't remember who's done this one...)

1. Suzy
2. Samantha
3. Shar
4. Tobi
5. Gwen
...or anyone who want to!

The Orange Folder

This calendar is in Jordyn's orange folder. It's a way for her Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Mathis, to communicate with me about Jordy's behavior every day at school.

She made it through all of September with green smiley faces. But because I know Jordyn so well, I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop and, as you can tell, it seems it has.

Her first yellow face, on the 3rd was for being "disruptive at group time - out of seat being a dog." Sorry, but that cracks me up. It's very Jordyn-like.

The other, on the 8th, was a green face until at the end of the day it was crossed out and became yellow. This time Mrs. Mathis needed more room and wrote her note on the back that says, "playing with friends around her 'spanking' them. I asked her to stop, settle down & pay attention but a minute later she slapped Drew really hard on the bottom." We had to have the 'it's never okay to hit your friends' talk...

Jordyn is a ray of sunshine. I don't want to squash her personality or try to get her to fit into Cara's mold (although that would be a lot easier for me...) but trying to get her to understand that there are better times to pretend to be a dog - say, at the "home living" center - is difficult. She is very stubborn and head-strong (I haven't a clue who she gets that from...) and she does not handle being disciplined well.

It's a good thing she's so cute because it's pretty darn hard to be upset for long at this face.

My Top Five

Top 5 reasons why I haven't blogged recently...

5.) Teaching Language Arts, Reading, Social Studies to some awesome kids this year (1st 6 weeks done!)
4.) Rainbow Roses soccer
3.) Primary Program preparations
2.) Bryan's minor surgery in the nether regions - probably TMI...
1.) Did I mention teaching??

So tired... must rest... I promise to try a little harder to be a little better...

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

YOUR REAL NAME? Hilary Anne Boyer

YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name> plus'izzle') Hilizzle

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal) Green Tiger

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street) Anne Natches

YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name) Boyhiper

YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink) Red Rootbeer

YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (Men: father's middle name and mother's middle name-Women: mother's middle name and father's middle name) Faughn Lauster

YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one your {current or former} pets) Black Sugar

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Lady Town & Country

NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Tom William

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Willie Waterloo

SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Summer Daisy

CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow) Cherry Cami

HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Cheerios Magnolia

Give it a try... it brought a smile to my face.
:)

Rainbow Rose

It's begun. Soccer season. Jordyn gets to play this year and I'm ready!

Jordyn plays on a team of all girls called the Rainbow Roses. She's not the fastest player out there but I'm quite certain she's the most enthusiastic...

These were the smallest pair of shorts we could find (funny, huh?) and she didn't like the feel of a tucked in shirt so we went with the tied in the back look. On a hot tip from Suzy I found cleats at Kid to Kid for $7.55. Sweet!

Jorydn played the entire game, running up and down the field. I think it's the most continuous exercise she's ever gotten and she did really well! Bryan, Cara and I had an awesome time watching her have SO much fun and cheering her on from the sidelines.

She got to play all three positions - forward, defender & goalie. When I asked her what the best part of her soccer game was she said, "Running around and getting the ball! Mom, did you know you can't touch the ball with your fingers? If you do Coach Jack said we have to run around the ball 3 times..." I love it.

Pre-K Princess

I tried to get Jordyn into the Core Knowledge Full Day Pre-K program that my district offers before I started working this year. It would be tuition-based, meaning I'd pay for it, but it's just a little more than I was already paying Suzy to watch Jordy.

No dice. She was #20 on the waiting list and good luck, sista.

They called!! She's in!!

Before school

She's already been attending for a week but factor in my copious amounts of free time and you get a post with pictures today...

She's been singing songs, has her own packpack (as she calls it), locker, and nappy mat. In full day Pre-K they are mandated to have a one hour rest time - thank goodness!



Last week they had a unit all about apples. Johnny Appleseed, graphing apples, counting apple seeds, painting apples, apple pie, apple juice, applesauce, etc... Trust me, we heard a lot about apples. So far today she's sung songs about little fishies in a line and the G-R-E-E-N song.

After school

Look how small she looks here... my little girl...

It's good stuff!