Christmas...the condensed version.

Merry Christmas 2008!

Jared, Rachel & Ellie by the big Christmas tree on Main Street at Disneyland.

You'll never guess what Jared asked Santa for...yes, a sword.

Rachel stills believes in Santa...Ellie didn't want to even get close to Santa.

Getting the Christmas Tree. My brother David being eaten by the tree.

Christmas Morning...

We had a full house...my parents, siblings, my family, my cousin Brianne, & my sisters boyfriend.
Later the missionairies and my cousins friend came over also.

Jared LOVES watermelon...How did Santa know?

Rachel wanted an Easy Bake Oven...Poor kid we still haven't opened it.
Ellie playing dress up with her new accessories.

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Rachel's Ballet Recital!

Rachel loves to dance. She especially loved her ballet class. She is a little hesitant because she doesn't want to get it wrong but when she doesn't hold back she is so graceful and fun to watch. Rachel had been working really hard for her recital and was SUPER excited.

Rachel waiting...

Rachel is on the left...in the back.

Her Class

Isn't she just beautiful. I think what makes Rachel so pretty is that she is just as beautiful on the inside ans she is on the outside! Of course...we had to go and get ice cream afterwards (well, frozen yogurt from Golden Spoon) Yum!
Rachel & Auntie Mame.

School Award Ceremony!

I am so happy that Rachel and Jared are working so hard in school. Their elementary school had a trimester award ceremony. Rachel recieved student of the month for October. (I don't have a picture of her because my batteries died in the camera) I am really glad that Rachel got an award early on in the year. One because we were moving and two because she is so quiet and reserved that sometimes she goes unnoticed to the more outgoing students.
Jared got and award for showing good character. Jared getting an award came as a bit of a surprise to me...not that I don't believe Jared is a good kid. He's a great kid, he just has a lot of energy and likes to be the comedian. When Jared started kindergarten I had prepared myself for notes home from his teacher about his behavior. But when I went for teacher/parent conference his teacher said that Jared was one of her model students. What?! Are we talking about the same kid?! I love Jared's personality...I love his comedic relief around the house, I love that he is so easy going. I'm so glad that he has learned when it appropriate and when it is not.

Jared is 2nd from the right...the one covering his face.

Jared getting his award!

Ashley

My brother Kyle became friends with Ashley through playing an online game. Through that he was able to meet her and share the gospel with her. Now she is a family friend and we all love her. Mother's Day last year she was baptised and this past weekend she went through the temple.

The picture isn't that great...but that is my brother David, who since coming home from his mission has become friends with Ashley. Ashley and Andrew, who taught & baptised her in Michigan.

Thanksgiving!

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Bill's family. We went and saw the movie Bolt. What I saw of it, it was really cute. (Ellie and I fell asleep. oops!) Jared and Rachel wanted to see it again. After the movie we headed back to the house to get ready for the feast.

Grandpa Denos Carving the turkey, & Grandma Denos sneaking a piece before dinner.

Usually you take a nap after dinner when you are so stuffed that's basically all you are capable of. Jared fell asleep before dinner.

I'm sure Amy will appreciate this picture. Love ya!


Ellie loved the sparkling grape juice. I think she had 4 or 5 cups.



The feast.

Disneyland

The day before Thanksgiving friends & family headed to Disneyland. It was a little bit rainy but that was good, it helped keep people away so that it didn't get too crowded. Sorry there are so many pictures. It was just a really fun day filled with lots of memories!

Isn't Sleeping Beauty's Castle amazing?! Seeing all of Disneyland decorated made me excited for Christmas.

This our family in front of It's a Small World.
(This is at the end of the day...we all look a little ragged.)

This is my Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, & Mom on the tea cups. Uncle Dave is notorious for spinning the tea cups incredibly fast. They where laughing like high school kids...it was hilarious, especially when they tried to get off the ride.

My Aunt Sharon & Uncle Dave on the Carousal at California Adventure. How Sweet!

My Mom and Ellie on the New Toy Story Ride. Lots of Fun!

I'm so sad this picture turned out blurry. It would have been great.

"R" is for Rachel!

Most of the gang...Tyson, Chelsea, David, Bill, Rachel, Cynthia, & Ashley

Cynthia, Rachel, David, Ashley, and Jared on Splash Mountain. We all plugged our nose for the picture right before you take the plunge.

I hope this isn't a preview of how Ellie's driving skills.

Jared at the shooting gallery.

Cinnamon Rolls...

My mom makes the BEST cinnamon rolls! Rachel & Ellie decided to help. These are SOOOO good! I think Ellie is wearing most of it. I'm just bummed I didn't get a picture of the finished product.

Wild Animal Park

A Day of Fun with Grandma Denos...

Puppy Heaven

Ellie just loves my parents dogs. It's a love hate relationship with them. Ellie loves to snuggle & play with them but she also loves to squeeze them, pull their ears, and push them off the couch. The dogs love her, they come up and lay on her, give her kisses but they also like to jump on her, knock her over & steal her food right out of her hands.
One of the dogs favorite treats is ice cubs. Whenever they hear someone getting ice from the fridge they run over in hopes someone will give them one. Grandma told Ellie she could give the dogs some ice and this is what happened...

There was probably 30 or more ice cubes all over the floor. The dogs were so excited they didn't even know what to do. They ran all over the floor trying to pick up as many as they could. It's a good thing I caught her...who knows how many she would have tried to give them.

Potty Training Can Be Dangerous

Ellie has been my hardest child by far to potty train. Last Friday my husband so graciously let me go out with some of my friends. Before I left I emphasized that Ellie had "big girl pants" on and that she needed to be reminded to use the potty...

A couple of hours go by. I return home to find Rachel in bed with a wet paper towel on her arm. I asked, "what happened to you?" She gave me one of those embarrassed, you really don't want to know look. Rachel said, "I slipped in Ellie's pee! " Ellie had an accident on the tile floor Rachel slipped in it! Gross! Who knew potty training was so hazardous.

Jared's last game of the season

Jared had so much fun playing ball this fall. He improved a lot from his first game to the last. I really enjoyed going to his games, seeing his excitement, getting a chuckle as the boys learned how to actually play baseball, and watching Jared be a part of a team.

This is Jared receiving his trophy from Coach Trier
Jared waiting patiently on first.

The whole team.

Jared & teammates in the dugout.

Jared & his teammate

Waiting for coach to talk to the team.

Having fun in the dugout.

One of his coaches telling Jared what position to play. Jared normally played 3rd base.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was pretty much a blurr. It was a very busy week. The kids had a lot of fun and got tons of candy. Ellie was tinkerbell. She talked about being tinkerbell for weeks. Jared was a Ninja...he just wanted a costume with a sword and I told him he couldn't be a pirate, AGAIN! He was very excited to get a ninja sword. Rachel was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I made her costume. Once again, I don't know what I was thinking since I can barely sew. I bought a pattern but the pattern was so confusing. I didn't know any of the terms. So I just went for it. I guess it could have been worse. Rachel liked it, that is what counts.