*Buddies*

Kyler was jammin' with James on Christmas! They both just happened to get guitars from Santa. He loves James so much and it was so cute to see how he looked up to him and copied everything James did.

Santa came to our house!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!! The kids made a haul...as usual!! I think for the most part, they all got what they wanted. Everyone is so thoughtful with the gifts they give each other & they had so much fun "giving",Jake gave a tie to Don. I love his creative wrapping:)!

These are some of the favorite gifts this year:

• James... Electric Guitar & Amplifier.
• Jake...Too many video games and movies
• Ashlee...Nintendo DS with some games.
• family...movies, movies and games.

All the kids got clothes, which is a Christmas Tradition.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Some of the funnest memories I have, are of the traditions that were started by my mom. From the time I can remember my mom would spend the whole month of December baking candy & cookies for Christmas. As a gift to her children and grandchildren she makes a Christmas Eve Dinner, that includes a turkey, ham and salads and lots and lots of sweets! It is a labor of love, and it is something we really look forward to every year. We are so grateful to her for all of the wonderful things she does for us.

Spending time with cousins....After all, isn't Christmas about spending time with those we love?

Tasha, James, Michael, Megan & JakeCute Ashlee!!Christmas pajamas are another tradition for our family, my kids LOVE to open a new pair of pjs to wear on Christmas Eve, I guess they want to look and feel their best for Santa:)! Here they are modeling their new jammies..

******Some things will never change*******

Family pictures

***There were just too many pictures to post, they were all so good!

Thanks so much Becca!

Dance, Dance, Dance...

Ashlee's winter dance program was last night. She did such a good job, and was so cute. I'ts always so rewarding to see your children's accomplishments. She really loves dance, and we often see her dancing in front of the mirror in our house. Your hard work is paying off, Ashlee! You did GREAT!!

CLEOPATRA

**Ashlee dressed like Cleopatra**
for her presentation...

Ashlee had her 6th grade 'Ancient Civilization Fair' at school this morning. Each child has to pick a topic or a person to do a report on, and then give a short presentation of it to the teacher, the school & parents. Ashlee chose to do her report on "Cleopatra". She worked really hard getting all of the information she could about Cleopatra's life. We learned some interesting facts about her. Ashlee did a great job on her powerpoint presentation... She even dressed up like her 'subject' to make it even better!! I give her 2 thumbs up:).

Tis the season . . . to be JOLLY?

Isn't Christmas supposed to make ya happy? It seems that people get SOOO cranky around the Holidays. The other day I was shopping at Wal-mart. I needed some chocolate chips, when I got down the aisle I noticed an older woman standing with her cart, right where I needed to get to. I politely said "excuse me".....she did nothing, so I politely said "excuse me" again, this time a little more loudly . (just in case she didn't hear me), and again she did NOTHING!!! So I tapped her on the shoulder and asked her if I could just grab some chocolate chips, she looked at me with an angry face and said "all you had to do was ask me to move"! Oh REALLY!!!!!!!

*****just some friendly advice.. When you are in the grocery store, be aware of those around you, and don't block the chocolate chips!!

#1 Utah fan~~~ whether he likes it or not:)!!

Any questions?!?

End of the Season Football Banquet

James

So the Football season has come to a close, and last Monday night we were able to attend a banquet honoring all of the football players. The theme was "Solid as a rock" for obvious reasons. Congratulations Titans on a great year!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for.....

I am so thankful for this time of year. I love all of the family togetherness and for the opportunity I have to count all of my blessings, which are many....

1. I am thankful for a roof over my head and food to eat.

2. I am thanful for goodly parents....for a mother who taught me the gospel and who was an amazing example for me in all things.

3. I am thankful for amazing children who although aren't perfect, try their very best to be the very best. I am also thankful for their knowledge and testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! They teach me things everyday to make me a better person.

4. I am thankful for the BEST Husband ever!!! Honestly I can't believe he's mine! He works so hard to support our family spiritually, financially and emotionally. He is such a good example to us, and is such a Christlike individual..., he would do anything for anyone & I am so grateful for that.

5. I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is the ONE constant in my life, the one thing that brings me complete joy.... Because of it I have direction and purpose in my life.

6. I am thankful for the atonement of our Savior. I am thankful that I don't have to be perfect, and that he loved me enough to suffer for my sins so that I can be saved. I LOVE him with all my heart & hope that i will always try to be like him in every way.

***sidenote:I am thankful for my sweet pets who give me so much love.

"New Moon" & a date with Jacob:)!!

Ashlee & I are big fans of the twilight series. I don't know why they are so engrossing, but as soon as we read the first book we were hooked!!! So for a while now we have been anxiously awaiting the release of New Moon....The 2nd book/movie in the series. Well today,we decided to have a girls day with our good friends, Erin & Jordyn. We went to the Gateway and had lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen! It was so delicious....I had never been there & I have heard lots of good things about it, I will definately go again.at lunch before the show

So after lunch we made our way to the movie theatres. It was so fun to see how excited the girls got. Jordyn's favorite is 'Edward' while Ash prefers 'Jacob'. I have to admit that I am a fan of Jacob also. Any guy who turns into a werewolf & hunts Vampires is alright in my book. Besides that, have you SEEN him! He is absolutely gorgeous!! Edward.....

and Jacob!!We absolutely loved the movie, it followed the book pretty closely....I am actually looking forward to seeing it again next weekend:)!! Can't wait for "ECLIPSE" to come out next summer.

Another year older:)!

Well another year has come and gone in my life. Sunday was my birthday, and I was showered with gifts from the people I love. Since Don travels on the weekends he sent me these amazingly gorgeous flowers, just so I knew he was thinking of me!! I am always a sucker for roses....he also informed me that my REAL present wouldn't be arriving until Wednesday!! I have been trying to get some clues about what it might be, but so far, No luck! My kids also helped me make some cupcakes. I got some gift certificates...& a White chocolate raspberry cheesecake from the cheesecake factory. mmmmm (MY FAVORITE)!!!!! The beautiful roses Don sent me.
The yummy cupcakes
Also my wonderful friend and Cousin, Andrea, came by last night with such a sweet and thoughtful present. Her grandpa (Uncle Carlos) who is also brothers with my dad wrote some sweet poems for me soon after my dad passed away. She had both of the poems in a frame, with a place in the middle for a picture of my dad. It was probably my most treasured gift!!! Thanks again everyone for making my day the very best. I am truly blessed with amazing people in my life!!!

Reflections '09~~and the WINNER is....................

ASHLEE!!!

Ashlee entered the reflections contest at school. The theme was "Beautiful". The name of her painting is 'beautiful nature'. She has been learning to paint from Grandpa Hulet(who is an artist). Since she already has alot of natural talent, he is just teaching her some basic concepts of art. & painting techniques. Well she entered her picture in the "Visual arts" category ... her entry was chosen to go to the next level of judging & she received a medal!!! She was really deserving of that honor. I think we may have another artist in the family. We are so Proud of you Ashlee, you're AWESOME.

Alyssa, Ashlee's best friend also won!!! Congratulations Girls!!!

The winning "Piece"

All of the winners from Crestview in the visual arts category!

D.C. Trip II

Daddy/Daughter Trip~~WASHINGTON D.C...DAY 1

Ashlee had the opportunity to go with Don this week to Washington D.C. She has REALLY been looking forward to this trip. They left early Friday morning and they will get home Wednesday night. This was day 1 of their adventures!! Ashlee was in charge of the camera, so I'm sure she will take pictures of EVERYTHING she sees!!!! She is just like her mom. At the Lincoln memorial.......

***Arlington Cemetery & the Grave of the unknown Soldier.

Don has had so much fun having Ashlee with him, it gets so lonely on the road. Having her there means alot to him.

"Monster Mash" Halloween '09

Sarah asked James to "Monster Mash" a halloween dance that area schools participate in. They started the night off at the Cheesecake Factory for Dinner and of course my favorite~Cheesecake~. They went to the dance and afterwards they went to the haunted house. James can never get enough of the Fear Factor, he loves it!!! As you can see they are dressed as a convict and a police woman. I think the night was a success. As you can see, in every picture that James takes he has some sort of silly pose. Ya Gotta love it.

Grandma's Halloween Party

Every year Grandma Smith has a halloween party for all of the grandkids and great grandkids! It has been a tradition for our family for many years. Everyone dresses up in their costumes and we have dinner and trunk or treating. This year Ashlee went as a hippie! She really was the cutest hippie EVER!! "PEACE"
Kylee, Samantha, Sadie and Mikayla Olsen & Ashlee

All of the grandkids/great grandkids.

Showing off their Spooky costumes....

James' Last game!!

So last night was James' last regular season game! It was Senior's night and all of the parents got to go onto the field with their sons. I was so grateful that the game was on a Thursday night so that Don could come and watch! It was a very emotional time for me, because this is the last time we will be watching James play. Each mom was presented with a rose and each dad an Olympus pin! They also had posters made of each of the players. Earlier in the week it was also time to order cap and gowns & announcements for graduation. I can't believe my baby is growing up! Where has the time gone?

An apple a day....

apples+Caramel=happy kids......Last year, one of the traditions we started is making caramel apples. The kids love to make them & we ALL love to eat them. I am always the one that has to unwrap all of the caramels.... It takes sooooo long and it's no fun, but this year as I was shopping I came across these caramel bits down by the chocolate chip aisle. I love them.....and hopefully I will never have to unwrap another caramel. Anyway, we all ate way too many caramel apples, but they were sure good!!!!

pumpkin time:)

The other night for family fun, we carved pumpkins for Halloween. I love all of the fun activities that come with this time of year. We always have lots of fun creating works of art., and spending time with each other...

Look how well they work together...Maybe that's because they all have knives in

their hands.

The "ROCK"

After the "BIG" game Skyline had to surrender the beloved rock to Olympus! The Senior's on Oly's Football team had the privilege of painting it and making it their own. Boys do things so differently than girls do, they just poured on some green paint, and called it good:)!

The guys painting the rock........

After alot of touching up, here is the finished product!! Yeah Baby!!!

Will you go to the dance with me?!?

Now that Homecoming is over with...Monster Mash is coming up! This is the cute way that Sarah asked James to go. She is SO creative! They have already bought their costumes and they couldn't be more perfect!