ChRisTmaS mEAnS...

Christmas means giving, joy, laughter, not stealing, learning of Jesus' birth, caroling, having Christmas lights in my bedroom window, decorating gingerbread houses, and doing family activities together.
-Miles


Christmas means giving to others, love, drawing Christmas pictures for friends and family, drinking hot cocoa with a candy cane and a lot of marshmellows in it, watching Christmas movies with my family, and singing Christmas songs at school.
-Marley


Some of the Christmas traditions that we have are acting out and telling the Christmas story, picking angels off the Christmas tree to buy gifts for others, hanging up Christmas lights, decorating our Christmas tree in November, picking out a new ornament for the tree, reading Christmas books, drinking hot cocoa...even occasionally for breakfast, going to the temple lights, seeing the Nutcracker, sending out Christmas cards, and making a gingerbread house for FHE.

Brad showed up with all the ingredients to make his families special Coach Meyers fudge. He made fudge with the kids while I was giving my final presentation at ASU last Tuesday night. He got containers of fudge ready to deliver to friends in my ward. Brad's family gives out Christams fudge every year. The kids loved making fudge with him!

Home Depot Workshop

Marley and Miles are quite the builders. They love going to Home Depot to make fun projects. This time they made fire station banks. We met Collin and Peyton over for a day of fun last Saturday. Just to keep things straight...Dad we are BIG Lowe's fans. You have to schedule in advance the activities there and I am quite last minute these days, so we went with HD:)

Thanksgiving

I didn't take pics of Thanksgiving this year, but I did get pics of the kids on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at school. Marley's class had stone soup and Miles' class had their own Thanksgiving feast. They both helped cut veggies and get their food ready for the big day in their classrooms. I was able to go over and volunteer and spend some time with Marley in her classroom and Miles in his classroom while my class was in PE and Music. It was so fun to be there with them.

On Thanksgiving Day this year we all went over to Brad's family and extended families for a dinner and then to my mom's for dinner. It was so nice to spend time with family and friends!

My 31st BiRthDaY!

On November 22nd I turned 31. I had such a fun birthday spending time with friends and family. Oddly enough, I was having so much fun that I only took one picture at my mom's. I requested ice cream sandwiches before we headed to the Malone's for cake and ice cream.

Brad and the kids spent the Saturday before my b-day with me and then Brad hung out with M and M while Ash and I went shopping and out to eat together. When I got home the kids had decorated my bedroom with a million balloons and signs. M, M, and Brad you are the best!

Then yes, I had one more birthday day...on Monday Romie had my class decorate my classroom while I was in Marley's classroom working with her teachers for a little bit. They all hid in the dark and jumped out when I entered my classroom...all the kids ran to hug me...what a big surprise! I am so blessed to have so many great people in my life!

M and B

Cheering Miles on with orange smiles....

GO Stingrays

Miles had a great soccer season. We had so much fun going to his practices and games. He learned so much in just 3 months. At the awards ceremony Miles was so excited to get his trophy that he worked so hard for. Brad made a team highlight DVD to give to all of the players. The kids enjoyed watching it together after the ceremony. The boys are going to miss each other. They all became such great friends. We are going to see about joining another team with some of his old teammates for the spring. Way to go Miles!!

Urban Fishing Clinic

Brad and I try to find fun little things to take the kids to do on Saturdays. On this particular Saturday there was an Urban Fishing Clinic for kids. The kids loved fishing, looking at and touching different kinds of animals, and learning more about the police department. Marley may decide to follow in Aunt Ashley's footsteps and do forensic work and Miles may join the SWAT team. You never know....they say they are going to be crime fighters like the DARE doggy. At this point Miles may stick to his original plan...to be a Lego builder... Ash and Mike, btw these pics are for you:)

Gym

Here are some pics from Gymnastics and Open Gym. I have been taking a lot of pictures of Marley at gymnastics because she really wants Brad to make her a highlight video just like he did for Miles for soccer. I think I may have enough pictures soon. Mars loves loves loves gymnastics class!