Yesterday was Rachel's 10th birthday!

She ate her favorite for breakfast...eggs and toast. At school, she gave a book report. It always makes me a little nervous when Rachel chooses 'Other: BE CREATIVE' from the options on her assignment. She picked the book 'Judy Moody, The Doctor is In' and acted out a scene when Judy has bugs in her hair and is doing surgery on a zucchini. She said when she was finished everyone clapped really loud and said it was the funniest book report ever! Rachel is a delight and we are so thankful she is in our family.

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Rachel loves elephants! She has studied several books about elephants and knows so much about them. For her birthday, she received several stuffed elephants to add to her HERD. We also went to Funfinity in Springville where she built an elephant she named Lilo. She put wishes, kisses and giggles in Lilo before they closed her up . It was a lot of fun (and much cheaper than Build a Bear). Thanks to Grandma Lynda for the BIG Elephant, Ramoo.

We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel with Grandpa and Grandma Mel and Grandma Venita and then home for cake and ice cream. The kids looove there grandparents!!

~A few pics of the Birthday Girl~

Happy Birthday, Rachel!! We love you!!

No worse for the wear...

As much as I try to skip this day every year, another birthday has come and gone! Thank you, thank you for all the birthday well wishes from family and friends! Thanks to Georgia, Emily and Corinne for being the breakfast kidnappers! No better way to start your birthday than with Eggs Benedict and a Diet Coke from IHOP. If you haven't tried this scrumptious treasure...you must!

Heres to enjoying 42...

Getting ready...

Today is the day!

Ben has been counting the days until the father and son's sledding activity at Jolley's. Putting on a shirt, pants, socks, snow pants, boots, gloves, and a hat can be exhausting...

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I asked Alex if he would take pictures of Ben sledding...says he's allergic to cameras. I've tried, there's no changing the man I love.

Thanks Grandma for the snow pants and gloves!

Ummmm, mom....

I went outside this morning to take a picture of this...

and this...

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Rachel came outside and said, "ummmm....mom...that's an 'interesting' outfit!" I told her that I was going to dress like this for parent teacher conference today. It might help her teacher understand "where she gets it from"!

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Sooo...heres to all my pride going out the window...with each passing year...

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(photos by Rachel)

Did I mention how STINKING COLD it is outside?!!

Happy birthday, baby...

My baby turned 6 on the 6th (his golden birthday, so I'm told). His birthday cake sported Spiderman and "Happy Birthday, Cheeb". This is his self proclaimed new name...problably just in case he becomes famous someday and needs a stage name. We've been asked to call him Cheeb from now on, but I still slip and call him Ben 99.9% of the time.

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Ben (aka Cheeb, shnub, schnubby, schnubster, schnubbles,) is purely delightful. He provides constant entertainment. He is smart, witty and kind! He is so brave and faces his challenges with such a winning spirit! We are a better family because there is Ben...

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The many faces of Ben...

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Happy Birthday, Ben! We love you!!

A very special day...

Elli was baptized on Saturday, January 3rd. It was a special day filled with lots of love, family and friends. She was so excited! After she was baptized she said "I've been waiting my whole life for this day!" I was touched by the spirit as we were reminded of the simplicity of the gospel as we try to be more like Jesus and choose the right. We are so happy that Elli chose to be baptized and to follow Jesus's example.

Elli and her dad

Elli and Rachel, her best friend.

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New year wish...

Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

May this year find each of us at peace and surrounding each other with kindness, love, laughter, understanding and charity.

Heres to a great year in 2009...