Insight Bowl 2010

Adam won tickets to the Insight Bowl through Intel. He and I had a great time at the game. Missouri & Iowa were playing and Iowa ended up taking the game in the last few minutes of the game. This was Adam's first bowl game and I think he enjoyed all of the festivities!! We had great seats right on the 50 yard line!! The bands were a highlight for me of course!! We were able to see skydivers bring in the game ball & fireworks :) We stayed for the first half and then finished watching in the warm comfort of our living room!!

Arizona Cardinals Kids Camp

Adam was able to attend a football camp on Wednesday inside the Arizona Cardinals practice facilities. He had a great time participating, but I think his dad had an even better time watching his son!! Adam was able to catch a ball tossed to him by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29. He even signed Adam's ball and lunch box :) Adam was excited to have his picture taken with Big Red as well :)

Adam's favorite activity was hitting the tackle dummies.

Dad was very impressed with how well Adam did on this exercise. He said that Adam was very fast and thorough :) When Adam came home and told us about his day he showed us his 2010 Cardinals team picture and how he wrote on the back. He wrote Seshlday (Special day) Football Camp Dec. 28th 7 yrs old!!

Christmas 2010

Smiles All Around
Christmas morning was an early one even for our early risers!! We were all nestled in our beds until we heard a big bang coming from down stairs. Our creature stirring was none other than Alex!! He had fun looking at the tree and just had to touch :)
Santa brought letters to Adam, Addison & Alex this year to express his gratitude and thoughts on them giving up their presents from Mom & Dad to provide for children less fortunate than them. Earlier this month we took the kids to a store for Family Home Evening & gave them $25.00 in ones for them to buy presents for children their own ages. The toys went to the Children's Abuse Shelter of Phoenix. Addison had a fun time picking out the gifts, but when it came to paying for them and giving them away tears flowed and she truly had a heavy heart. I think it made her feel very good to know that Santa was aware of her and that Heavenly Father was proud of her. Adam and Alex were excited for their letters as well. Adam was happy to be given the title of a "Good Young Man". Alex was excited to see that Santa knew he liked pirates. He even took a picture of himself dressed as a Pirate Santa (peg leg & all) and put the picture in his letter!!

Amelia's First Christmas
Our littlest angel enjoyed her first Christmas. She wasn't completely sure what was going on, but she knew she liked it! She had fun opening presents with Daddy & figuring out it was okay to tear the paper and have it make noise :)

All of our little ones enjoyed their gifts. Adam worked for a few hours and built his Lego Star Wars figures. The rest of his day was spent playing with his Legos and new train. Alex has enjoyed playing with Veggie Pirate Ship. He loves it so much that he brought it to Christmas dinner. Alex also got a Sit & Spin which he has enjoyed. He sat an rocked back and forth while watching a movie last night. Addison received a new doll as well as barbies and a lot of clothes and purses.
As our Christmas season is coming to a close we are very grateful for our wonderful family and friends. I have truly enjoyed each Christmas card and family letter. The pictures have been wonderful. May you each enjoy the rest of this holiday season and have a fantastic New Year. Thank you for your love and continued prayers and happy thoughts! Love, Jennie

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was full of fun family...we enjoyed Sombrero Dip, Green Chili Enchiladas, Homemade Salsa & Empanalitas. We set our a few luminarias outside after dinner. The kids had a great time following Santa's route on the internet (Lil Adam even called Grandma, Grandpa & his cousin Jacob in D.C. to see if they had seen Santa yet!) and making him a plate of cookies & cocoa. The kids enjoyed their own cups of cocoa with marshmallows and then we read the story of the first Christmas.

Garden Christmas Lights

Our family has created a fun tradition here in Arizona during the Christmas holiday. Dinner at a fun pizza joint called Organ Stop and then going to the Mesa Temple to enjoy the lights & the Nativity. We went on Thursday night and it was nice to listen to the kids and how they wanted to see Mary & Joseph. Adam knew that beneath the star he would find the Baby Jesus. Amelia enjoyed the lights and music.

Happy Thoughts

Zoo Lights
Saturday night we took the kids to Zoo Lights. We have always enjoyed the lights in the shapes of animals and bugs!! We had to wait in line to get in which ended up being the only pictures that we took all night. We enjoyed seeing the dancing trees and Jengo the talking giraffe. Jengo talked to Alex and Addison and he even knew their names :)

Tulips in December
I went out to meet the bus last week and there was a 1-800-Flowers box propped up against the wall. I was overwhelmed and then I opened the box and tears started streaming down my face. I was excited to see my favorite flowers lying in the box just waiting for me to take them out and admire them. I have enjoyed watching them this past week and am very grateful for the happy thoughts I have had every time they have caught my eye. Thanks Mom, for thinking of me!

Our Christmas Elves
A family has chosen us for the 12 Days of Christmas. What a joy this has brought to our family. We have had a fun time putting the stocking on the door each day and checking to see what our Christmas Elf left us each morning. This has truly been a highlight of the holidays for us this year. Thank you Christmas Elves!!

35 Years & The Best is Yet to Come!

My parents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today. Growing up I can always remember my parents loving one another. I can remember while I was in high school...my parents flirted in the kitchen and enjoyed showing affection towards one another. I was weirded out then, but am very grateful now for the example of true love and companionship. Looking back that affection brought comfort to me, knowing that they loved one another. I know how lucky I am to have had such a great example of true love and devotion. No matter what they were having to conquer at the time (school, work, raising 5 kids, house burning down, etc.) my parents have battled together. Now that I am a parent and raising my own children and trying to be my best, I recognize what an extraordinary task that was and is.
I am grateful for loving parents and their example, they are truly a strength for me on my hardest days. I hope that in 35 years I can say that my sons/daughter served honorable missions, all of my children have graduated from college and gone on to further their educations, been married in the House of the Lord & are raising their own families in righteousness. I am smart enough to know that without my parents efforts not only to themselves, but our family I would not be who and where I am today and I am grateful.

Congratulations Mom & Dad!

From here until Eternity!