Christma 2009 with Love

We had a wonderful Christmas Season.

We had many fun memory making times.

We had our special Christmas Eve Dinner... Prime filet roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, raspberry pretzel salad and homemade rolls. Our friend Russ made us a chocolate cake for our Christmas present and that was dessert. He makes them better than Magelbys.

A very yummy dinner and so much fun. We set the table all nice and have sparkling cider.

We had a Rock em Sock em tournament.

Neil is the winner every time.

We all think he cheats.

Nice GUNS Neil.

P.J's Aaron doesn't have his on but the girls and Tova do.

My girls! I just love these girls so much.

They make me smile.

My Kiddo's. I am one lucky mom!

We had Grandma as our special guest.

Grandma opening her gifts. We love Grandma so much.

She is such a special lady.

This is one of our many trees. I really need to take photos of all of my trees.

I have this tree which is our old fashioned tree.

With all the ornaments made and collected over the years.

I have a nativity tree (my favorite) and a penguin tree.

I Love Christmas. Which is obvious if you visit my house.

We were driven around a lot by this cute girl.

She is logging hours to get her license.

Sammy is actually a really good driver.

Love ya Charms.

Love this litte guy. His PJ's are red long johns.

Oh my he makes me smile.

We had alot of fires in the fire place. Ahh so warm and welcoming.

I love a good fire on a cold winter night.

Thanks Neil for building all our fires.

We played a lot of games, went to some movies, went bowling, out to dinner a few times and just had a wonderful time together as a family. That is my favorite part!

I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family.

A Homemade Christmas

Kinsey wanted to do a homemade or thoughtful christmas this year.

She made Neil a photo collage of his foundation and the JR Richards concert event.

Neil loved it and hung it up right away!

Kinsey also made me a homemade thoughtful gift.

She took different photos that looked like letters.

One said LOVE and the other said FAMILY.

Then she added some other photos of the family to it.

It was a really special present and it meant a lot that she took the time and effort on our gifts.

Thanksgiving Weekend

The boys were off playing football and Matt's kids were hanging with Sammy.

Sammy is so good at remembering to take pictures.

I usually forget so we don't have all that many of Thanksgiving Day.

It may look like a Christmas picture but we put up the tree not decorated when we bought it a few days before Thanksgiving. Sammy had each of the kids look thru the newspaper and cut out what they wanted to get for Christmas and then they sent them to Santa. They really put them in the mailbox and then we forgot and the mailman really took them.

A movie later in the day!

The Stone's spent the night on Thanksgiving and the next day we went to Pirate Island Pizza.

Pizza not so good and so expensive. But we had wanted to try it.

Sammy and Eason.

Sammy and Cora.

We did a photo shoot. The sun wasn't shining so the pictures are just so so and it is so drab no green or leaves or snow. I'll post more of the photos shoot later. This is just my family being their crazy selves. They can't help it! Or so they tell me. I love it!

Their funny faces!

Trying to stay warm between photos. It was soo cold.

Christmas with the Flash 2009

We went shopping as a family to help with The Flash Christmas.

The Flash is giving Christmas to 96 families in need this Christmas.

Neil and Aaron (using his Spanish) called families to find out their needs.

Kinsey and Sammy were master shoppers.

It is so fun and rewarding to give service and most of all to spend time together as a family.

Look at all the shopping carts!

The Second Chance Foundation Benefit Concert

Neil and Celeste putting up The Second Chance Foundation Banner.

This was an incredible night. This is our family with J.R. Richards after the concert.

Kobi and Tiffany were in town visiting.

Sammy, Maddie and J.R.

Sammy, Kinsey and Hannah.

J.R. Richards and Hannah Laursens family.

Hannah is nine years old. She has brain cancer and has had many surgeries, chemo and radiation. This is the famly The Second Chance Foundation helped with the benefit concert.

Read more about it here and here is a video that a BYU student did about the Laursen family.

Neil, J.R.,Celeste and Matt.

Celeste helped out so much. Don't know what I would have done without her.

Nate Mathis, J.R. and Neil.

Nate is a board member of the foundation and he was a huge help. The Prestwich family were also a big help. Russ is also a board member of the foundation. We are so grateful to all those who helped and for all the support from Utah Valley University and all the busineeses who gave food.

We had a VIP dinner before the event. We worked hard on getting the food donated. We had BBQ pork from GoodWood, Steak and Chicken from Texas Road House, Salad and Baked Potatoes from Ruby River, Rolls from Shirley's Bakery, Chocolate Cake from Magelbys and Pies from Marie Calendars. We were a little late starting with the food and we had A Lot more poeple than p lanned. But we didn't run out food and all in all it turned out really well.

Here is some highlights of the concert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RU8ezhIl64

Melody with Tyler Forsberg was the opening act. Here is one of the songs they performed.

I am so proud of Neil and his foundation. There were so many amazing and wonderful experiences the past few weeks. UVU soccer and Volleyball teams teamed up with the foundation in support of the Laursen family. We were crazy busy trying to put it all together but once we were sitting at the concert and listening to the music it was the time to take it all in. What an amazing concert J.R. Richards has an amazing voice. Neil and I sat front row and held hands and just took it all in. We have loved Dishwalla and especially like J.R. Richards new solo music. This all came together in amazing ways and we know we were blessed and we are grateful to be able to help the Laursens family. Helping others truly is the way to happiness.

Halloween 2009

Kinsey (Vampiress) Tova (pumpkin)

Sammy (Batgirl) Maddie (Biker Chick)

Kinsey, Aaron, Cora, Eason and Brevon...So cute!

Aaron (Al Harris) Gets taken down.

Aaron and Kinsey

Kinsey and Tova, Kinseys day costume (Mario)

Kinsey moving home

Kinsey has lived on her own for the last six months.
She has really liked being independent and being her own person. She has done so well on her own she is very responsible and hard working. She has decided that living pay check to pay check isn't a great way to live long term.

So she has decided to move home so that she can go to school and move on with her life. Moving forward and setting some goals. She has decided to go to Salt Lake Community College and she plans on being a nurse or maybe a Therapist. She is a not 100% sure what she wants to do but she has decided that she needs schooling. I am so grateful she realizes that school is important. She really only took off one semester so she isn't too far behind. I am so proud of you McKinsey you are an amazing girl. I am proud you are taking control of your life and making decisions for your future and especially proud of your tender heart and loving nature.

Welcome Home sweet girl! We Love You!