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. :)