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While Ashby was off track we had so much fun together at home. We did a lot of playdates with friends and cousins. We had our Ward Christmas party at the beginning of the month. It was a nice turkey dinner with all the fixings. A special visitor also showed up at the end of the night. The kids loved seeing Santa (all except Brooks that is) and telling him what they wanted for Christmas. Dalton had a preschool Christmas party at his school that we went to. It was a lot of fun. We decorated gingerbread houses and ate homemade popcorn & cookies. Dalton loved showing me all his friends and his awesome classroom.
The
Nativity turned out so cute. Mom had bought these great costumes
last year on clearance from Deseret Book. The kids loved dressing
up in them! They all looked so cute and delivered their lines pe When we got home we did our tradition of allowing the kids to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. Which in our house is always Christmas Jammies & slippers. The kids loved their P.J.'s. Dalton was just thrilled with his slippers. I think they were one of his favorite gifts. Christmas morning was spent at home with our family. It was very relaxing and fun to have no where to be. The kids made short work of their presents and stockings after eating a yummy Christmas breakfast of sticky buns (another family tradition). Ryan's parents stopped by for a quick visit and the kids enjoyed showing them all their new toys. One fun thing the kids got this year from Santa was a couple of different notes telling them where their last presents were hidden. They loved it! Ashby's last big present was a Princess Castle hiding in the Laundry room. Dalton's last present was a bike hidding in the garage, and the family's last present was an air hockey table hidden in the exercise room.
My parents and David came for Christmas dinner later that night. We had a yummy meal of Tortilla Soup, hot artichoke dip, and later ice cream crepes for dessert. It was a wonderful night of visiting and enjoying being together. We are so blessed to have so much family so close. It was truly a Merry Christmas.
My sister Kristi and I are very excited to announce that we have started a Custom Digital Photo Card Business. We have some great custom cards for all occasions, Holidays, or invitations. customphotocards.blogspot.com
A few things I would like to remember about Brooks at this age: -He
can stand up all by himself without holding on to anything and
will take a few steps to get from here to there. -He
loves his Daddy and is very comfortable with him
even when I am in the same room.
-He is on a great sleeping schedule. He still goes to bed early
but sleeps 12 hours. He usually takes 3 naps a day.
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December
was a wonderful month for us! We made so many
memories and enjoyed spending the time with family and friends. Ashby
was in school for only 3 weeks then she was out for Christmas
break for the remainder of the month. Her last day on track
all the 1st grade classes had a Christmas sing A
long. Ryan
and I were able to go along with Grandma Bellows. It was
really cute and we loved watching Ashby sing.
Christmas
Eve we spent with Ryan's family in the morning for brunch and present
opening. We had a yummy brunch and the kids really enjoyed playing
with their cousins. Later that night we did our traditional
dinner at my Mom's house along with the grandchildren acting out
a live
Nativity. Dinner was delicious as usual with Ham, Funeral Potatoes,
salad, and dessert. 
rfectly. Ashby
was asked to be Mary this year. She was sooooooo excited
and happy to be able to do that part. Dalton was 1 of the 3 wiseman.
After dessert my Mom let the kids open 1 present (Jammies from
Grandma and Grandpa). 
Ryan
is still loving his new job thus far at NV
Energy as its Assistant General
Counsel!!! It
is already less stress and less hours
so everyone is happy.Ryan
is still enjoying his new calling in
our ward as a High Counselor. He recently
was asked to conduct the dedication of the new
church that was built in Sun Valley. I
was able to attend as well as Ryan's parents
(My Mom was able to watch the kids for us . .
thanks Mom!!). It was a beautiful dedication.
The building is gorgeous. What a blessing for
the people in that area. Ryan's assignment is
still over the spanish branch in
Sun Valley. He is enjoying
using his spanish from his mission he served
in Chile Ryan
is still very much enjoying his Judgeship. It
continues to be a welcome change from the same
old and even very
rewarding. 
I
have been keeping busy with the kids and all
their activities. It has been a busy but fun month. Ryan got me
some of my favorite Christmas gifts this year including
a chocolate fountain, a Family Home Evening board to hang on our
wall, a sweater,
scarf, and jewlery, and a book I have been wanting to read. It
was a great Christmas! I feel very blessed to be near so much family
and have such a wonderful family of my own!
Ashby is 6
years old. She had a great Christmas! Some
of her favorite presents were Zooables, Collection
of Barbie Dolls & princesses, Razor Scooter, Air Hockey
Table, & Baby Alive. She started 1st
grade in
July and she is loving it. While she was off track
for November her class had a reading contest. She became
pretty obsessed and ending up reading a ton each day
during break. Her new favorite book series now is Harry
Potter. I think I am going to read
them with her. We
just had her parent teacher conference before she went
off
track
for the
month
of November. Her teachers
just love Ashby and said she is such a sweet girl.
They also reccommended her for the GATE program(for
gifted and talented
learners). We feel so blessed to have such a bright,
sweet child. Yay Ashby!!
She still adores
her two teachers (one happens to
be her dance teacher too). She loves
eating lunch at school and
playing with all her friends. Ashby
is our little bookworm and
when it is quiet around the house Ashby is usually
curled up reading one of
her chapter books somewhere. We enjoy watching Ashby's
spirituality grow. She
is very
intuitive
and sensitive
to the Spirit. It is neat to watch this quality in
her continue to grow. She loves reading the scriptures
with us as a family
and loves going to church and learning the Gospel with
her friends.
Dalton
is 4 years old. He
had a great Christmas. It was so fun to watch him open
his presents. He was ball of joyous energy! Some of his
favorite presents were: Star Wars Lego Wii game,
Star Wars tent, General Grevious light saber, Star Wars
battle ship,
ZUZu pet, Captain Rex Helmet. Dalton is a
great little reader. The
stories he is reading during his reading lessons are at
a solid
2nd grade reading level.
Not too shabby for a 4 year old! He has
a good memory and we have
been working on the 30 sight words for Kindergarten.
He knows them all now. He loves
going to preschool 2 days a week. He
is so happy and excited when I pick him up. We
have been having several playdates with preschool
buddies. Dalton
LOVES friends and cousins. Dalton contiues to love
his CTR 4 class at church and
is learning a lot. He loves
to
read
the scriptures
with us
as
a
family and is really interested in all the 
stories.
He is quick to remember things we have read together.
He
really loves having
and playing with friends. He misses Ashby at school
but is enjoying time with me and Brooks. Dalton
is a great big brother.
He will get me a diaper when I need one, hold Brooks,
and is very gentle and loving towards him. It is
really cute
to watch
him. He is
getting pretty good at writing his name.
He also likes drawing pictures of people. I
love when they start to do that it is so cute.
He is pretty proud of himself
for memorizing our
phone number and will call it with Daddy's
cell phone. He thinks that is really hilarious!!
Some of the things Dalton says are so funny.
He is really into how old he will be when Ashby
is 12, 14, 20, 40 etc. He asks me daily these types
of questions.
Brooks
is 10 months old.
We are sure enjoying
this little guy that is for sure.
happy
being held by different people.
