Sunday, January 26, 2014

Bengal Dancer Camp



One of Emily's birthday gifts was to go to Bengal Dancer Camp. She had a blast going to the 3 hour camp, dancing at the men's basketball game, hanging out with mom and dad, and seeing her favorite Bengal Dancer, Miss Shelby. Miss Shelby just got called on a mission to Lubbock, Texas, she is a teacher in Emily's dance class and will leave in June. I am so glad that my girls have good women to look up to at their dance studio.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Happy 6th Birthday Twins!

 Today was Emily & Elizabeth 6th Birthday. I know people say this all of the time, but time really does fly by. They requested rainbow pancakes for breakfast with a sparkly 6 candle in it. Today they brought 60 mini cupcakes to school and 60 juice boxes. I think they felt pretty special.

 Abigail and Carson gave the twins sparkly high tops for their birthday. They got to wear them to school and thought they were pretty awesome.
 They had to pose in front of the door before we left for school to show off their new shoes. These girls are so lucky to have each other BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

Sometimes having twins can be difficult when it comes to negotiating birthday wishes. This year we decided to let one friend choose the place where we would eat their birthday dinner and the other twin chose the cake. Guess who chose Super Mario Cupcakes? Elizabeth chose the cupcakes and Emily chose to have family dinner at Costa Vida. 
 Grandma and Grandpa were able to join us for birthday dinner and cake and ice cream.
 Happy Birthday Dear Emily & Elizabeth!

Grand Nan (former All-American Cheerleader sent this cheer costume for Emily)
 Grandma & Grandpa gave the twins this beautiful church dress that sparkles when you twirl. Emily was proud to try it on and show it off.
 Oh My! Emily was in heaven when she got some custom made Aztec print leggings  & headband and the LAST I heart DSDS shirt.
Elizabeth was thrilled to get a hot wheels track from Grand Nan and Papa. (Please excuse the dirty shoe and messy bedroom). I don't make kids clean their room on their birthday.

Great Green Glob of Greasy Grimey Gopher Guts

 Monday night we were cleaning up after dinner, when all of a sudden it got very quiet. Any parent of young children knows that silence is usually not a good thing especially when you have a toddler. Meet Vaseline Boy when he was discovered painting himself and his bedroom in the gooey gunk, the picture above is before his bath and the picture blow is after his bath, still very shiny. It is very difficult to get a water repellent substance off a squirmy, slippery baby. What's next? Or dare I ask.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year!

 We spent New Year's Eve having a game night with the Slater Family. All 10 kids had a blast and the adults got in a lot of laughs and played a 3 hour game of Phase 10. The kids loved counting down and yelling Happy New Year and no one fell asleep before midnight including the two babies.


Little Model

 Alyona Oborn, who took our family pictures in October, just loved Elizabeth's shyer personality and invited her to do a FREE photo shoot for her Photography Business's Christmas Cards. These are the pictures she took. Isn't Elizabeth breathtakingly beautiful? She really didn't love the photo shoot and didn't quite understand what the big deal was. She was kind of a stinker for the photo shoot, but that is why Alyona chose her because she knew she wouldn't be giving a superficial, cheesy grin like my other two camera hogs.



Merry Christmas


We have had a nice, pretty low key, Christmas this year without too many plans, which has been a good change from our busy every day schedule. We spent Christmas Eve at Grandpa Del & Grandma Mimi's house and ate a yummy ham dinner. The kids opened their Christmas pajamas on Dec. 23rd and we drove around and looked at Christmas lights and drank hot chocolate. Santa barely made it to our house as the kids were awake at 10 pm, 12 am, 1 am, 3 am, 5 am, and we finally just gave up on sleep at 6:45 am.
Abigail got Heelys, an Elephant comforter, duck tape doll dress craft, snow pants and winter coat, and a board game.
Emily got a pogo stick, scrapbook, ice cream playdough set, and Heelys
Elizabeth got a skateboard, scrapbook, fire truck, dentist playdough set, and Heelys
Carson got a baby book, and Little People Toys
Misty got curlers, a recipe book, and some preschool teaching tools.
Notice all of the Animal Chairs from Grandpa Del and Grandma Mimi - the kids love them.
Darin got a Soda Stream, Buffalo Bleu Chips, Black Cherry Cream soda, and Nutter Butters
You might have been married for 10 years if you are excited that your husband got you a new digital scale for Christmas, and no my feelings are not hurt. I lost 37 lbs in 2013 and am trying to keep up the good work with my health. This will help me be more accurate.
Elizabeth was so excited about the basketball hoop that Grand Nan and Papa got her. She said "YES!"
Carson's favorite was definately this riding toy from Grand Nan and Papa.
Elizabeth got a bow and arrow from Heather & Shane and she LOVES it!
Each year the kids get an ornament and this year Abigail's ornament says "Love to Dance" JPC. JPC is for Junior Performing Company which is the name of her competitive dance team.
The kids also always draw names and Emily got Abigail an Easy Bake Oven.
The kids got me some Aztec Print Leggings and a DSDS Mom Shirt.
Grand Nan and Papa got Abigail a Bike for Christmas. She can't wait until it warms up and she can ride it.
Elizabeth playing with her Dentist Playdough set.
Emily decorated her jewelry box from Heather.
Abigail designed some duct tape dresses.
Abigail also got her DSDS company sweats and wore them for 3 days straight.


"All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" was Elizabeth's theme song this year. She lost one on the Sunday before Christmas and the other on the Sunday after Christmas. Both times her Primary Music Leader pulled them. She sure did make singing time exciting two weeks in a row.


Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Posing for a picture in front of Grandma's Christmas Village.
Each of the girls helped me prepare something for our Christmas Eve / Day festivities. Abigail made Jalapeno Corn, Emily made our traditional Breakfast Morning Casserole, and Elizabeth helped me make Lemon Lush dessert.
Abigail crashed on the kitchen floor in the middle of the day after a restless night and lots of excitement.
Christmas Eve Lunch consisted of Popcorn Balls, Orange Slices, and Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Abigail scored a Quad from mom and dad. She has the goal to finish the Book of Mormon this year.
Snowflake departed on Christmas Eve and was found hiding in Darin's Stocking.
Christmas Pajamas.


Opening Christmas Pajamas before looking at Chrismas Lights.
Decorating Cut-Out Gingerbread Cookies for Santa.

The Sunday before Chrismas everyone was in their festive church clothes.



It isn't Christmas without the DSDS "Magic of Christmas" Show. Elizabeth was caught back stage waiting to go on and do her Drummer Boy Hip Hop Dance.
Emily and Brookelle before Jingle, Jingle, Jingle
Slater and Ralphs Sisters
Kassidy and Abigail before Fall Softly Snow
Emily and Brookelle before Madagasgar
Abigail's Dance Team Action Shot of These Boots Were Made for Walking.
 
We were even dazzled by these three ladies and their tap dance, they are such good women and amazing teachers. The audience loved it! Especially when Mrs. Dana (Age 57), did a cartwheel into the splits at the finale.