A Short visit

My oldest sis is so good with kids.  It was fun to watch her interact with the kids she tends during the day.

And it was fun to get to know my niece and nephews better.....we had fun joking and laughing and such.......getting to know all about a job at chick-fil-a and its grand opening, and watching an awesome claymation movie made by one of my nephews, and teasing one of them about a dating schedule.  =)


And they treated us to some seriously awesome snow cones!

I am grateful that we could crash at my sisters for a couple days and visit with them before we had to leave FL.

Sisters

I am thankful for sweet little moments

Ring a Round the Rosies

I just love that my 1 1/2 yr old can get a 6, 9, and 13 yr old to play ring around the rosies. 

They just couln't say no to her.

And look at the smiles on ALL of their faces.

Love it.  =)

I am thankful for fun.

Auditions

Today was auditions for the youth theaters Wizard of OZ.

When we got there was just a very light dusting of snow on the ground.

And 2 hours later, when we left, it was coming down pretty hard!

I am thankful that my oldest doesn't even have to be asked to help out.....she just does it.

Getting Along

I am grateful for good play buddies.

Sissy's

I am grateful for sisterly love.

New Years Eve

Our Annual New Years Eve Shindig!!! 

Let the fun begin!

Merry was awesome and planned some Minute to Win it games!  They were tons of fun!

Everybody (even Piper) stayed awake to greet the new year!

I am thankful for how wonderful 2012 had been to my family.  For all the ups and downs and for all the things that I have learned.

Here's to another great year!

Sweeties

I am thankful for sisterly love.

Taking turns

These girls fight a lot over who gets to hold the baby.

Today I found all of them trying to blow raspberries on her tummy at the same time.

And then, of course, it turned into a rough house over who gets to blow the raspberries.

I am thankful that it was all fun and games and that no one lost an eye.

It's a girl thing

I am thankful for my little girls.....but I am a bit nervous for those teen-age years with all of those girlie mood swings. yikes.

Said goodbye to Shauna yesterday. It was so good to see her. We had some good chats. We even had a mini theraphy session with each other...which was really really good. Lots of tears, but good. I felt like I had bonded with her, gotten to know her a little more, and felt closer to her. I dropped her off at the airport yesterday.....I was fine until she started to walk away and I started to drive away.....then the tears came.

I am thankful for love.

Hey there Sis!

Well here is a glimpse of my weekend. We were going to see Shauna on Sat, but Ashlyn was at the end of being sick and I didn't want to take a chance and spread it around. Sunday Ashlyn felt good and so we went and visited family in Springville. And I got another chance to see my Grandpa....he was still lookin' good and was joking around. On Monday took Ashlyn to the Dr. because her coughing was keeping her up everynight. He said that more than likely she had the H1N1 flu....that is pretty much what all the flu that he has seen has been. He said that when her fever was gone that she is no longer contagious (whew! That means we didn't infect eveyone we visited). After that we went to Springville to get Shauna and see Grandpa again. Then we headed to my place. Scott and Merry's family came to visit and I couldn't pass up the chance to sing Happy Birthday to Shauna. Hey how often do I get to see either of my sisters anywhere near their birthdays!

Oh, one thing that really made me laugh was how every few minutes Acadia would point at Shauna and say 'What's her name?' She just couldn't remember it! And then today when she saw this picture she got all excited and pointed to the picture and asked the same question.....'what's her name?' ha ha!

I am thankful for big sisters

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts!

Here's the bunch of coconuts that kept Weston and I entertained the whole time! They are so fun to be with!

I am grateful that Weston was able to get some time off so we could all go.

Party! Party! Party!

Being in another mood to not take pictures I didn't take my camera with me today. Turns out, I was very grateful that at least my phone had a camera on it becuase who wouldn't want to miss taking at least one picture of Garrett's birthday party! It was so fun to be able to go to one of my nephews birthdays!

Then after the big shindig, we all went to check out the Herriman "beach." When I first told the girls that, they thought that we were going to the 'real' beach at first until I explained to them the whole thing about lakes/ponds can have beaches too.

All I have to say is that I am absolutely loving having more family close by.

(Now I just need to figure out a way to get everyone else out here....)

Look what I can do!

I am grateful that I was able to hang out with my brother and his family again. They are so cute and it is fun having a sibling close by now. We had a bbq and then swam and then went to a fireworks show that was right by their soon-to-be house.

And here is one of my nephews saying 'Aunt Carrie! Look what I can do!'

Ooohhh! I just love how they can make me laugh!

Happy Birthday, Bro!

I am thankful that I got to celebrate Scott's birthday with him!! I think the last time I did that was about 12 years ago. Don't you just love that grin on his face! Silly Scott!