Drew Singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain"

I love how Drew looks at the little girl sitting on the one side of him and starts singing louder!

Christmas Nativity at Drew's School

One of my FAVORITE things about living in El Dorado is Drew's darling Preschool Program. It is truly AWESOME! It is managed through the First Baptist Church. The teachers are very loving and really care for these children...as well as many volunteers including grandma's who help with music and story time. They adopt these children and are really sweet to them. It is so darn cute! Drew even came home one day with homemade mittens and hat. DARLING! He was a Shepard in the play with the Best Friend Mitchell, who is in the orange costume. They were so cute. Mitchell said, "what is that." Drew said, "who is that." Then all the Shepards said, "let's go find him." Ahhhhh. Drew's first acting debut. Way to go buddy! They also sang songs. You can only imagine how cute it was so see 15 little 4 and 5 year olds singing, "Go Tell It On the Mountain." I am so grateful for a good preschool for Drew.

Tyler's Spelling Bee!

So. Tyler has never been one to study-EVER! He WON his class spelling bee today. I guess there was a list of words they were all supposed to be studying. Of course, I had NEVER heard of this list. Tyler, pulled it out of his backpack and said, "this is the list." Nice! Anyway, he will now compete with the other 5 fourth grade classes! Good luck Tyler.

Look at DREW! It Just Makes Me Smile!

NOW you can see what I mean about Drew's smile. Love his smile in this picture! and LOVE the boys in their ties. Tyler has been asking for a tie to wear to church for the last 2 years. I finally got him one. He told me for an hour (while taking pictures) the tie was choking him. He hasn't asked to wear it to church yet. I think he is hoping I forget all about the tie! Ha ha ha.

Drum Roll....The REAL Christmas Card!

Every year, I make some sort of card. This year, I think I made about 10 different layouts and styles. It is JUST so hard to decide what to do and what to choose. So, this is what I chose. Fun stuff. I am slowly getting better at using Photoshop. Of course I am already thinking about what I want to do next year. I LOVE technology. It is always testing me! Merry Christmas ALL!

Meet Santa and "Bolt" the Movie

Soooo. There is no mall in our town. BUT Murphy Oil does have their annual children's movie day in December as a Christmas party and Santa is present. The children get to talk to Santa, get a free kids pack and watch a movie. We watched "Bolt." I wasn't thrilled with the movie. The whole idea of the movie was odd. The dog, Bolt, lives on a movie set. He thinks he has real super powers. One day, he accidentally leaves the movie set and realizes 2/3's of the way through the movie that he really doesn't have super powers. He is just a real dog. EVEN Tyler didn't get it. He asked at the end, "how did Bolt loose his powers?" The annimation of the movie was GREAT but, for a cartoon, the story line was way over the age group they were targeting. Why in the world would a super dog not be SUPER??? Oh well. Free movie and food is GREAT by me. Thanks Murphy.

Now about Santa...what's going on with the hair in your eyes??? You must be pretty good to see everyone with one eye! Funny! Drew was a little unsure about the whole thing. He wants a four-wheeler, Rachel wants a motor scooter and Tyler wants an I-Pod! Wooooo hooooooo.

The Christmas Card I Didn't Use!

OK. So I spent hours creating these photos. Then, I went with a totally different look and picture. You will see when you get the real card...and if I missed ya, I will post the "real" card later after they are delivered (in the next few days). We used the auto timer on these photos and I thought Drew's face was great. We kept saying, "whoever has the best smile gets $1." Fun Times and I definitely think Drew won on this picture! VOTE! Which layout do you like better?

Tyler's Fourth Grade Class

Here is a picture I made of Tyler's class for his teacher. There are 26 students in the class, so there are a few missing. Mrs. Waggoner is a WONDERFUL teacher and has really inspired Tyler to read more. Thank-you Mrs. Waggoner!

I am Thankful for...

This Holiday Season I am Thankful for:
my family
friends
Ricky's job
my little quirky town
shelter
food (especially chocolate)
computers
pictures
prayer
the gospel
good examples
The Journey!

Thank-you to everyone who has been a part of my journey this year and has made my life, in any way, a little brighter!

Drew's Best Buddy!

Drew's best buddy and family were able to come and Bowl with us for his Birthday! Yeah! The storm trooper is Drew!

Storm Trooper Mask for Drew's Brithday!

It's a perfect 10! Drew has been asking for this storm trooper mask for the last 2 months. This is amazing because he normally changes his mind about 25 different times prior to his actual birthday. He was SOOOOO thrilled by this mask. We went bowling for his birthday and he wore it. Oh to be FIVE! He was so sure he was getting this mask. He had no doubt he was going to get it. When he saw his presents all wrapped up, he went right to this one and said, "my storm trooper mask," before he even opened it! So funny!

P.S Check out our Christmas Tree in the background! We just finished it yesterday! Whoooo hoooooo!

Tyler Turns 10!

Notice the "Y" on the cake! I know...I am a real pro!

Tyler had a BYU vs Utah game party in addition to a friend party he had during the beginning of the month. We didn't get the channel for the BYU game (which turns out to be a good thing, since BYU lost...boo hoo). Instead, we had a OU vs. Texas Tech party. We had some friends over and it was crazy fun! OU is our back-up school if we can't watch BYU and OU made a great victory over Texas Tech! Tyler scored some fun things for his birthday!

Don't Look Now. It's a Hunter...I Mean Tyler!

Yikes. I NEVER have been in a hunting family and really am against guns and hunting in general. THEN, we moved to Southern Arkansas where hunting is like a religion. I am serious. Our good friends were telling us a story about when their son was born. As a gift, the grandparents purchased their new grandson his first hunting gun! I couldn't believe it! Last year, I spent the year telling everyone my beliefs against hunting and then...I realized...my thoughts about hunting were slowly changing. I listened as families told me their stories of family fun and wonder at the deer camp and couldn't help but understand a little better why they loved it so much. Tyler went deer hunting with a friend and his family. This friends family has a "camp" set up with 15-20 deer stands though out the property. The kids were let out of school early on Friday and "grandpa" came and picked up the boys at my house. Grandpa is a real sweet older man! He is cook of the camp. All the families have little rooms at this camp. There is no TV and no cell phone reception, therefor at night everyone sits around and tells stories...just like in the old days. Ricky was able to join them after work and was surprised..."it wasn't too bad." Both boys (Ricky and Tyler) had fun sitting up in the deer stand looking for wild life. For the record...this deer is an eight point buck (eight points on the antlers). He was shot by his friends dad...and yes that is his tongue hanging out. Eeeewwhhh. The whole hunting thing is very new to me, but I sure do appreciate the sweet friends Tyler has made here and their allowing him and Ricky into a little piece of their heaven. P.S There will be no guns under our Christmas Tree this year. :)

High ho, high ho....it's off to deer camp Tyler did GO!

Yikes! That deer still looks alive!

Tyler Wins Writing Contest!

This week is Education week at school and the students were asked to write an essay about the college they wanted to attend. Tyler's paper won! Here is what he wrote about BYU.

I want to go to Brigham Young University because there is a scholarship football team and a tremendous bookstore. I love and appreciate my favorite college Brigham Young University.

First, I want to go to Brigham Young University when I grow up because there is a scholarship. First, there is the El Dorado Promise that will give me free college money! I will be on the academic team and can compete with other schools. Also, I could be on the Brigham Young soccer team and that is what I really want to do.

Second, I want to go to Brigham Young University when I grow up because of the incredible football team. They always have some uniforms that are my favorite color navy blue and sparkling white. They play like dynamite in football and work well. They have a very big nice and fancy arena where they play on soft turf and have the field green as a brand new green sparkling jacket fresh out of the store. They always keep the field painted with a big Y on the center!

Third, I want to go to Brigham Young University when I grow up because of the bookstore. I have been inside the bookstore before and they have clothes in all sizes, hats, balls, and whatever you can think of. Every time I go to the bookstore, I choose something I will keep forever and always have. Also, college students go and buy books for classes or even calendars sometimes.

I want to go to Brigham Young University when I grow up because of the scholarship, football team, and the incredible BYU bookstore. BYU is the best college you can ever ask for!

WAY to go Tyler. He will be reading this to the whole fourth grade tomorrow! YEAH BYU! He also had a few teachers ask him where BYU was located...good little missionary. :) and you are RIGHT...BYU is the BEST college anyone could ever ask for!!!

Tyler Turns TEN!

Yikes. Check out my "little" boy. I guess he is not so little any more! Ahhhhh. He is growing up way, way to fast.

Although Tyler turns ten this weekend, he will ALWAYS be my little boy! Love ya Ty!

Oh How This Face Makes the World Go Around!

I adore this little face! He had so much fun throwing pine needles at me...that's what the smile is all about! I was dodging them left and right! It's the little things!

These smiles have to do with Christmas. We were talking about what he wanted...oh that brought the smile RIGHT out!

My BABY is almost FIVE!

Ahhhhh. What a little bribery and a lot of rocks will do.... Drew is not my most cooperative photo subject. I took him down to the train tracks by our house and as soon as he saw all the sticks and rocks, he knew he had found a little piece of heaven.

My little Super Hero! Blast OFF!

Happy Birthday Rachel! Seven! WOW!

I LOVE PowerPoint and had a blast making this invitation.

Eight Things I Love About Rachel:

1. She is so happy. She is always able to find a smile.

2. She loves her family. She is a great big sister to Drew and little sister to Tyler.

3. She can stay up LATE with me. A girl of my own heart. She LOVES the night.

4. Is a great shopping buddy. Is great at picking out fun shoes and clothes. This will really come in handy one day when we live closer to shopping.

5. She is passionate about sports. She LOVES soccer, hence her soccer cake. I also have her in ballet and gymnastics, but I think I have yet another soccer player in the works.

6. She loves to eat gourmet food. She is the only child I know that will pick a salad at Wendy's!

7. Chocolate makes the world go around! Just like her mom!

8. Loves musicals. Recently watched Hairspray and LOVED it! Can't wait to take her to "Wicked" someday!

Love Ya Rachel! You are so SPECIAL!

Rachel and Her Best Friend!

Best friends are so much fun to have. Rachel loves B.

Rachel's Skate Party!

Rachel had a super fun skate party with her soccer team and her best friends.

Tyler was showing Rachel how it's done.

Friends, sweet friends!