And That's a Wrap!

As we wait for Ryan Seacrest and the Jonas Brothers to "get this show on the road," we have a few final December memories to post before 2008 draws to a close! Christmas with the Gus's was postponed on Christmas Day due to a threatening storm. We ended up celebrating at Annissa & Jeff's the Sunday after Christmas. They were great to host and we were all great to spend Christmas Day relaxing in jams!

Jeff giving the tour of their basement they are finishing.
Jennie took on the huge project of the Gus family video this year (pictures of all the families from every month of the year). It is always fun to see how everyone changes throughout the year. Thanks Dopps for taking one HUGE one "for the team" as we know it was a major pain! My favorite part was seeing all the grandkids (right down to the youngest one) pull up a blanket on the floor and watch the entire video without a peep. All the cousins love to see each other in all of their various activities through the year. We all try to sneak a few funny ones in to keep everyone laughing!

The next favorite tradition is the Gus adult gift exchange (done this year as couples--this year was one present per couple at a $50 limit). It is always fun and exciting as people use the "steal" technique to keep it fun! We actually scored with Desert Star Playhouse tickets for the whole family! Jon is shown above, mentally calculating his every move and the consequence...

Grandma & Grandpa Gus gave each of the kids gift certificates (their favorite) and also had awesome "white elephant" gifts for the adults. They are always so thoughtful!

Back to Christmas at our house--we went light but it actually turned out to be one of our most enjoyable days together playing games in our jams!

The kids haul. They actually received another wiggle car from Aunt Karen's family too so they can have races with the cousins in the driveway this coming summer.

Precious babies on Christmas Eve:)

Earlier in the month, they all fell asleep in our bed.

It reminded me of the "visions of sugarplums" and I had to take a picture.

They were excited all month about Christmas Eve and had many "sleep-overs" in the same room together. They are all at such fun ages!

Mikelle had her NOVA graduation this month (program was called DARE back in the olden days when Steve & I went through it). I probably already posted this, but some things were a bit of a blur earlier in the month:) The program does a great job of creating awareness and having the kids make commitments about no drugs/alcohol and making good choices in life!

Mikelle will miss Officer Anderson! He was so great with the kids!

Our nephew Mark (Joe & Wendy's son) returned home from his mission (in freezing Minnesota)! It was great to go to his "non-welcome home" and visit with him. He is doing great and plans to get right back to school.

What an awesome example all of these RM's are to our boys!

December was also filled with YW activities, one of which ws a trip to the Food Coalition in Provo. We (Beehive class) put together "snack bags" for the kids to take who come through the food bank line each day. We were able to donate small toys/candy etc. to go along with the other standard juice box/granola bar stuff. I was shocked at the number of people who have to access that each day and it felt great to serve/help in some small way.

A Mom of one of our beehives made gingerbread houses for the girls to decorate the first week of December. They had a ball and it was a fun way to get into the holiday spirit!

And finally...Dec. 31st! The kids had some friends over for our annual New Year's celebration and we only have one more hour to go until 2009!

Zak, Mikelle & Christian ready to rock in the new year!

The party animals!

The last photo of 2008! (Let's hope this blog prints into a book nicely:) Until next year everyone...we wish you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Sixteen Years ago Today...

We may have a few more gray hairs and wrinkles than we did 16 years ago, but we are enjoying every moment today, celebrating with movies, going out to eat, and just being together! My sisters were so kind to "pay us back tending," and take the kids for 2 1/2 whole days! It seems like we never get any "unrushed" time together anymore so needless to say we are in complete heaven! We started out with watching Mamma Mia at home this morning and to borrow a line from the movie...("dot, dot, dot!!!!") (You'll have to see it to get it:)

We have had the chance to reflect today on the great times we have had and laugh about inside jokes (one of which is always trying to be one step back from each other in pictures so one of us looks smaller (skinnier)! Looks like I backed up just as the camera clicked tonight--

Gotcha this time!:)

After a lite lunch at Rumbi's Island Grill, we were off to the Benjamin Button movie. We both LOVED it (even though it was a little depressing/tear jerking at times); very thought provoking and a great reminder to live in the moment and take advantage of precious time that you can never get back! We then joined the hundreds of other people at the new Olive Garden in AF to use our gift certificates from Christmas! Very yummy apricot chicken and halibut! Just taking a quick "food digestion break" (to "journal" this before we are off for "another DVD:)" We highly recommend this economy-friendly anniversary get-away!! We are most relaxed at the Dimond Anniversary Inn and it is very easy on the wallet! We have made it through some tough times together and know there will be more trials to come, but for today, we are enjoying the moment!

Happy Anniversary Steve! I Love You!

Happy Birthday Kennedy!

Kennedy turned 4 today! We still remember the sweet day she was born; missing her Pop's b-day by just an hour. It would have been fun to share special days but we are also glad she has her own day to herself:)

She loves anything "princess" and anything that has to do with painting, coloring or art!

You are so precious Kenz and we are so glad you came to our family!! Happy B-day!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Just before the stroke of midnight, we wanted to wish Steve a very Happy 44th B-day! In true Steve fashion he was up before all of us and made breakfast (at least we had a Happy B-day sign ready with rose petals leading up to it as we knew we wouldn't be able to beat him in the alarm clock area!) After breakfast, he wanted to get right to work taking down Christmas! We got 95% of it done and insisted on a break to take him to a movie (Bedtime Stories). We all thought it was cute! After a quick dinner and his b-day cake (Kripy Kremes), we tucked him into bed (but not before he started the turkey for the post-poned Gus Christmas gathering tomorrow). Don't worry Gus's...I will tend to it and make sure temperatures after cooking cool off to prevent pathogens from invading!! He is such a great husband and father! One day we will make it up to those with December birthdays for always getting the shaft! Happy B-day Pop!!

Cute Little Gumdrops...in the Nutcracker

Kennedy's School of Dance put on the Nutcracker again this year.
Kennedy and her friends were "Gumdrops."

Posing with the big mice.

Waiting backstage for their turn to perform. It looks like Kennedy got used to the costume being "itchy!" She even said to me (as we were watching the Sugar Plum Fairy,) "why doesn't she have to wear an itchy costume?" The fairy's costume looked even itchier to me! Kennedy was also so cute when she said to me during one of the dances, "This is so beautiful it takes my breaf away:)" We will miss our sweet little Kenz when she grows up!

Only a few strands of gold sequins had to be sewn back on in between Monday's matinee and the final show that night (after all of the backstage reindeer games:)

Yes I had to include all 10 pictures as they were so sweet!

Group hug!

Friends at preschool and at dance!

One last hug for the road!

Great job girls! Next year you probably move up the performing ranks to "candy canes!"

White Christmas...check!

We have got to catch up our blogging this week but here is what has been up...Tons of snow! Our neighbor John has been awesome to help us out with his 4-wheeler with a blade on it. I think we know what is on our Christmas list!!
More snow

We are a little worried about our "drip chains" pulling down our soffits sp? and rain gutters with the weight of the ice. They seem to make it through every year somehow!

Trying to get Kennedy to her last Nutcracker performances...we cleared the driveway just in time!

Steve Presented to New School Board!

I have learned over the years that if you really want a picture of something, you just take it and beg forgiveness later:)...a perfect example is last Tuesday night when we all got dressed up and traveled to Albion Middle School in east Sandy where the new school board was meeting that night. There was never a good time to snap any pictures once the board walked in (yet nothing but the table with microphones to take a picture of before the meeting) and I didn't want to "get busted" for taking pics at any other time during the meeting--so I didn't get any of Steve being presented as the new Director of Human Resources for the Canyons School District!

We still wanted to remember the special night,

so we did our normal photo shoot with ourselves!

Your girls love ya POP! We are so proud of you!

The meeting is just inside this auditorium door but they excused us after Steve's turn as I think they could see Ken-D was "getting tired":)

Way to go Pop! He had to stay (and we drove separate cars as we were anticipating this). We celebrated in Pop's honor at my alma mater employment (Chick-Fil-A:). (You have got to try the chocolate chip peppermint shake:) We were all in heaven! We must have been parked enjoying the shakes longer than we thought as Steve beat us home! It was a great night for Steve! It is a lot of pressure doing 2 jobs right now (doesn't officially start the new job until

Jan. 1, 09) but that doesn't mean the responsibility isn't already there!! I wish it meant double pay checks for December--but no such luck!

Ninja Cameron earns his Yellow Belt

This past Friday night (before the ward party) was Cameron's "belt advancement" held at Apollo's (large dance-type hall) in American Fork. We were trying to do some type of honorary lift here to congratulate him but as you can see, it was the thought that counted:)

Cameron let Christian use his "old white belt" now that he is a tough and cool yellow belt!

Contemplating all of the work he has done and all he has learned at karate 2x/week for the past 3 months to earn this puppy!

Congratulations Cameron! We are so proud of you!!

Showing off some sweet moves with a partner at belt graduation!

He has been such a hard worker learning his white belt form, kicks, and defense techniques. He has also passed off all requirements which include goal-setting (written and turned in to the instructor), forms signed by parent and school teacher that student is also showing respect and working hard outside of karate etc. It has been a great experience watching Cameron participate in martial arts! I love that he has found "his thing" and I have no doubt that he will "go the distance" for his black belt!

One last picture with Kolton! He was the first person we met when we went in to "check out" the karate school. This instructor is moving on and we will miss him! Until next belt promotion..."Aye-yah!!!!"