The most wonderful time of the Year!

The weeks leading up to Christmas and our trip to Utah were of course filled with a bunch of craziness. Besides the typical baking, shopping, wrapping and parties the kids all had extra little performances to show off at!




The stake Nativity festival - formerly known as the creche festival was held and both of the girls were in choirs that performed at the event. Hayley was apart of the youth chorus which is always so powerful and so great. They had practiced every Sunday night for a few months, there are about 150 youth involved and it is amazing what the choir director can get them to do. Abbys chorus group from school - the Traildazzlers were also invited to perform part of their Christmas program, they did great!

Abby had her Christmas piano recital and performed Joy to the World and the 12 days of Christmas - dont worry she didn't do every day of the 12 days!

Luke held his first big Christmas performance, which we missed because of Utah but I got to go to the last rehearsal which I truly believe must have been better. I was the only parent there - therefore I could get as close as I wanted for pictures and video, and stand the whole time if I wanted. They were not shy at all and sang, well shouted so loud the songs and exaggerated the dance moves - it was truly entertaining. I guarantee that the real performance was not as entertaining!


Oh how did this get in here - I had fun playing in the rain with my new rain-boots. The side of the yard flooded because our drains got all clogged!

Trent kept us busy with his basketball and flag football games and practices. He was so sad that he missed the superbowl in his football league where they went in undefeated and then lost the big game. We were in Utah and he was a little upset, Chad too, he is the coach!
Abby and her BFF Maddyn. Abby had 3 performances of her Cool Yule! She was one of Santas elves and thought it was great that she got to stay on stage for so long. Alot of work was put into it and they had a blast and did great! Good job Abby!

12 courses of deliciousness

Yes you heard right, the other night we attended a little get together that served 12 courses of such good food. Our friends Byron - the master chef and Chessa threw a little Christmas dinner party for about 20 people, which meant a whole lot of work on their part and all we had to do was show up and eat! The evening was full of a large amount of amazing food - really who would have thought that brussel sprouts on a a bed of pumpkin ravioli would have tasted so divine, but when you add olive oil from Dubrovnic and all sorts of other delicious concoctions and sauces his results are pure heaven on a plate.


The chef himself - notice the chefs apron, all he is missing is the hat!


When it came time to serving we all got in on the action, under strict instructions from the boss. This goes here, this amount of this, drizzle this much here, a spring of this there - get the picture!




The idea was to sit at one of 3 tables for a course or two and then switch, we all got a little lazy and only switched a couple of times, that is until the end when we wised up and put all the girls together. Besides eating there was a whole lot of laughing going on - thanks to Jen and Jason that have a story that made us all laugh hysterically! You wanna hear it then you have to ask them, no one can do it justice like they do!



Thank-you Byron and Chessa for a great night of food, full bellies and laughing!

Hotel Gharring

Three days after my brothers family left, my sister and her family arrived from Down Under. Of course we all were so excited. We tagged along with them to Knotts Berry Farm on Friday - but I left my camera at home on accident and then while the kids were in school we did what they enjoy best over here and that is to shop.

My kids and the Lekias cousins


The sunset was just so pretty I couldn't resist more pictures of it. I made the kids do the little High school musical jump and the Aussies told me that they call it the Toyota commercial jump - the funny thing is that I can totally remember that one! Oh What a Feeling Toyota!


I had plenty of helpers in the kitchen, especially for Sunday dinner, they decided to look the part and dress in all of my cute aprons, don't tell Luke he looks cute in his, because that is a cool boy apron o.k.!

We are meeting up with them in Utah for Christmas again - crazy I know. We thought that last year was this once in a life time white Christmas thing with all of my family and it is unbelievable that some of them are back again. I guess we just showed them such a good time, they couldn't resist coming back, oh and my nephew gets baptized in Provo too, that has a little to do with it!
The kids tried on their ski gear to see if it still fits, and for the most part we were in luck.

The Lekias family left for Disneyland and other adventures Monady morning and then my parents arrived in the middle of the night the night before for a few days - like I say Hotel Gharring but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way! We are taking reservations if anyone is interested.

Turkey Time

My brother and his family got out of the cold in Provo to spend Thanksgiving with us in sunny Southern California. It was to be their very first Thanksgiving celebration (remember this holiday is not celebrated in Australia, surprisingly I am asked that question quite regularly).

I guess they bought the cold wet weather with them because it rained for the 1st time in a long time for the first 2 days of their visit. Thanksgiving morning the boys had a blast playing in the annual turkey bowl (a football game) in the mud and the rain.

We spent the day at Chads parents house. Here is Dave, Esther and their youngest Isaac.


Every year Abby gets so excited about eating the drumstick - her highlight of the day!

As always when they were together Abby and Savannah were inseparable. They were always off in a corner or room happily playing, we barely would see them.

The Feast - it was delicious and delectable and we all ate way too much as is expected.

Esther and I. The day after they arrived, Esther informed me that she had just finished the book of Twilight and really wanted to see the movie. Being the great host that I am we snuck out one afternoon leaving the men in charge to catch the movie - it was great even the 3rd time. O.K. I know thats pretty pathetic BUT I saw it first, then I had to take Hayley after I had previewed it and then I had to be a good host so you see it was purely not selfish!




We had all sorts of fun playing outside and up at the clubhouse and we are so excited to have some of my family living a few states away for 2 years.

THE Big Game

So you may think I am referring to the big game that took place today between BYU and Utah - no I am not, I do not care to mention that game at all because it was so frustrating. The big game I am referring to was our all girl flag football game Saturday morning against the Butterfield Stage ward. It was a showdown! My friends Jen and Kristen put together teams from each of their wards for a little friendly powder puff football game intended to be fun and light hearted - mmm that was out the door when they started smack talking.

We practiced 2 times, for most of us it was our first time playing football, so we had a whole lot to learn and then a whole lot to remember - you know all of that base right, sweep left, reverse, fake reverse and throw type plays! Our coaches Chad and Jason were studs! We showed up and I admit I was pretty intimidated by their uniforms, their numbers and the amount of spectators they had to cheer them on.


They probably had us beat on style - mind you I thought we looked good, but we were intent on having them beat in skills!

The rules are there aint no rules! Really there was blocking and let me tell you it got pretty physical!

This is Jens little victory dance - maybe it was after her awesome interception!

Kristen our QB has a great throwing arm. She was so nervous at the beginning because there was a little pressure on her being the quarterback but it was for no reason because she had an awesome game!

Oh yeah thats Brandy with a touchdown!

Hmm are we high fiving and celebrating again - maybe another TD or interception!

This was serious stuff - I really had to concentrate to remember what I was supposed to be doing each play and where I was supposed to be running!


Really any chance I had to sit - I was sitting, I felt pretty out of shape and realize that football gives you a bit of a workout. We all left pretty sore and tired - and in my case in need of some advil.

Our victory pose - we beat them 3 touchdowns to 1 and it felt so good! Who said winning isnt everything huh?
It was a great day and a lot of fun - there were all smiles at the end, so fun playing with and against friends. Bring on the next ward we are so ready!

TWILIGHT

So last night - well actually this morning at 12:01am was the long anticipated moment of the 1st of Stephanie Meyers books Twilight being released as a a movie. Along with every teenage girl and a lot of young mothers -we have been huge fans of the series for some time. We gathered a group of 25 ish and bought tickets weeks ago. The hype has been building for a long time, plans were made to meet at 8:00 for dinner and then stand in line. All day long news reports from the mall came in that people started lining up at 6:00am and that 12 theaters were sold out - we expected complete mayham. By the time high school let out, there was a long line. We finally decided to stop stressing the line, it is what it is, and then just show up when we were ready. After getting dinner to go we hopped in line and ate our CPK in line!

The line of 1000s moved fast and by miracle of all miracles by the time we got to the front for the mad dash of theaters, they had just opened a new one and we had our choice of the best seats in the house with our whole group together - aah relief and how great was that! I actually felt bad for all the people that had been there all day! O.K. so now we had 3 hours to kill in a theater! It was spent by chatting and wondering into other theaters, there were so many people we knew all over the place (and a ton of teenagers) that it was just a big socializing session.


As a bunch of old mothers not used to staying up so late we kept laughing at how ridiculous we were - and tired! There was a lot of Diet Coke consumed let me tell you! The big moment arrived and I will spare you my whole critique but just say that it was very entertaining, it pretty closely followed the book, some of the characters were great, some I had a hard time with, parts were done really well, a little too much makeup was used but all in all it was good. Well - so good that I have tickets to see it again this afternoon! But let me explain - Chad would not let me take Hayley until I had previewed it first - much to her disapproval. All of her friends were able to attend the midnight showing and she has been pretty upset about it. I am completely fine with her seeing it, so straight after her early release today we will hit a matinee for a little mother daughter time. I have a feeling I will enjoy it just as much the second time- oh and I look forward to seeing the part that I missed because I had to run - and I mean sprint to the bathroom in the middle. How sad am I! So as we piled out of the theaters, dissecting the characters and movie - we couldnt pass up one more chance of a picture with the little billboard ( most of the gang had dispersed as you can see)!


A great night and entertainment - but it left me with no closure completely wanting the next one to come out - I guess we will be doing the same thing in about a year!

Seriously So Blessed

Really I am Seriously So Blessed have you ever checked out her blog, she cracks me up. Her blog is a complete spoof on the mormon mom, blogging phenonmena. She is witty, clever and so sarcastic, I love it! Anyway a few weeks back she was having a giveaway from her sponsers, all you had to do was leave a comment and then your comment would be randomly chosen to be the winner - and guess what - I WON! Hooray for me! I won a new blog header from making day dreams - in her words I was lurking on your blog and you seriously need this! Well I have been working with the people and they have been so great asking a million questions on what I wanted and what I like. I wasnt much help, I just kept saying that anything was better than what I had and what I could do. She not only created a blog header but also the wallpaper and all the pictures down the side, how great is that! So do you like my finished product - isnt it so cute, I love it and feel seriously so blessed that I have the cutest blog page in town - with no help from me!

Pick me pick me!

Last week on one of the many days off that the kids have this month we hit Sea world - our passes are sadly coming to an end - aah do I get them again for next year - decisions decisions! Anyway we went with the Billings and had the fun-nest day. I have found someone else who like me dreams of becoming a dolphin trainer. We decided this was our day to be discovered and be asked to work for them, sadly it didn't happen, but we did find out that the try outs are in February. I think we are going to go, just for fun and see if we can do everything that is required - like swimming from one end to the other under water (for 2 swimmers it doesn't seem to hard but we shall see!) We decided that it wasn't too late for us to have our dream come true when there was a very pregnant dolphin trainer and a Shamu trainer that was obviously much older than us!

When we were leaving the skies, like they were all week long, were just brilliant! We stopped in the parking lot and had to take some pictures - yeah why not do some high school musical jumps in the parking lot of Sea World!







If you have been to the Shamu show lately you may recognize what we are doing - da da da da da Shamu Shamu! It is the little hand movement and song that you do during the splash time when the kids got saturated and Sue and I stayed nice and dry underneath our poncho! We are not dumb!

Halloween Wrap Up

As always we had an excitement filled, sugar packed and crazy Halloween! We started by carving pumpkins in our garage - ghetto I know but cabinets were being installed in the kitchen and they were loud. We usually use templates for our carving but I tore the house apart and could not find them anywhere - I blamed it on my dumb kitchen problems! Chads parents and Brad and Chelseas family joined us for dinner and then Hayley and Trent went to the Baughs for a party and to trick or treat with their friends. It makes me so sad that they are growing up so fast and we arent doing it together as a family like we always have, but I knew that they would have a ball and they did.


The family halloween shot with our carved pumpkins




The girls took the kids out first while the boys manned the door and got in some good BYU football talk as well as I am sure some politics - BLAH, so over it! I made Chelsea and my mother in law dress up a little and they were happy to oblige!



The power rangers and monkey did great and scored pretty good on the candy


My little candy corn was accompanied by Maddyn and they went out 3 separate times, having a blast and hitting the jackpot.


Jason (our neighbor) had a cool setup at the front of his house. Nate was sitting dressed like this and scared the pants off so many people. He even chased me to my house with his axe! Luke was petrified until I explained that he went to church with us and when no one else was around I made him take off the mask. After that Luke thought he was great and even wanted a picture with him.

I was so glad Hayley and her friends made it up to our street, they were having such a good time together. Again Claire you are welcome for the picture!



I saw this on a site today and thought I would copy. This is what is left of our candy - besides Hayleys which is in her room the stinker. I think it looks so much cuter than one big pile, so much easier to find the candy that you want!