Days of Presents

There is one perk to having divorced parents - holidays go on for DAYS.

When you factor in that these kids have Christmas with Harley and his parents, Colby and I and then presents or parties with both my parents and Colby's - that is a lot of celebrating and gift giving.

Christmas

Christmas Eve getting ready to open up our traditional pj's.

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. 

For Mom and Dad's viewing pleasure the kids got wax lips in their stockings.

Santa Presents

These faces are what making the Christmas madness worth it. 

I love these two.

We truly are so blessed. 

Not just in material possessions but, it has been a year rich in blessings.

2011 could be one of the best years yet.

Since it's FB official

I can post these pictures I took of my baby sister... 2 days after she found out she was pregnant.

There's a baby growing in that there tummy.

Yay for being an Auntie!!

Congrats to Andrew & Rach!

Kyah the Brave

While taking pictures, Uncle T found this little lizard running around.

And who do you think was the first one to want to run and hold it?

None other than my princess loving daughter.

She seriously thought it was the coolest thing.

Please don't stone me for admitting this - but I'm not a huge animal person.

I like most of them from a distance, truthfully I'm mostly just scared - there I said, but regardless, we just don't really do animals - and more than any kind we don't do any kind of reptile/amphibian. Period.

Snakes?  No way!  Salamanders?  Newts? Lizards?

Nope. Nope and Nope.

SO, when Kyah runs to hold one, there is a part of me that wonders where she comes from, but I love that she doesn't have my fears and reservations and that this is proof that we come with our own personalities - at least on some level.

Then if the lizard wasn't enough... she found a stick bug and wanted to keep it as a pet.

It's a good thing I've become immune to looks like this.

My Sisters

This would be the "Charlie's Angels" shot.

Rach, my babiest of baby sisters and partner in late night game play.

Ashley, the cheeseball, the blonde, Boo.

Oh how I love these girls!  Aren't they fabulous and beautiful?!?!?

I really am so blessed to have the family that I do and to be surrounded by such amazing people.

I love having so many girls, it just means I was born with more friends than most people.

Oh Wait!!  That one on the left - totally not a sister.  That would be my fabulously young looking Mom.

Every day I pray that I will age as gracefully as she has.  She is my best friend - really if there is new news or something I need a consult on or just to check in on my day, she's the one I call.

The Faces of my Family

One of the things I am the most thankful for today and everyday is my family.

All of them!

It seems such a general statement that it lacks the emphasis that I feel for it.

I simply can't think about how much I love these people and how blessed I feel without tearing up and being compelled to thank my Heavenly Father for them.

I love this boy!  He made me a Mother, he is quiet and thoughtful and to the core diplomatic.

He's a boy, but he has a heart of gold.  His sincere love makes me happy everyday.

These pictures show exactly why I love this girl.  She is definitely the bright spot of our home.  She is wildly emotional - good and bad.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and it doesn't take longer than 2 seconds to know just how she's feeling.  She is so passionate.  I love my Banana girl.

I'm sorry, but I just think he's so handsome!

He truly is a blessing to me and to our kids.  We are so happy to have him as a Dad and a husband.

He brings a solidness and consistency that our family has lacked.

I am one Lucky Lady!

By way of Information

I've just realized I didn't post any of the actual family pictures or the explanations or where all these coming post photos came from...

For Thanksgiving we went to the lovely and WARM St. George to celebrate with our Grandparents.  They live next to this lovely gated community/golf course so my Mom planned a little family photo session.  When you are taking family photos with this many people there is some definite down time between posings and such, so I brought along my trusty camera and had a little fun.

I will add some of the actual family photos when I get them from Mom, but until then, the photos posted we from us playing and having a good time.