St Nickolaus - Dec 6th 2008

One of my favorite Christmas traditions in St Nickolaus. We adopted this one from our missions to Germany. On December 6th the children put their shoes by the door and in the morning the shoes are filled with candy or coins or presents. I had to laugh this year when the kids put out their snow books in hopes of getting more surprises!

We started doing this when Dylan was small and it was just candy. One year the kids placed there shoes by the door an were excited to see brand new shoes in their place the next morning. Another year the kids shoes were replaced with snow boots.

The tradition has really evolved. A few years ago we also added Christmas Church clothes to the St Nickolaus surprises. This way we can enjoy our Christmas clothes all throughout December. And then we added concert tickets. Every year we pick some event to attend as a family all dressed up in our Christmas finery. We've seen the Forgotten Carols and the Tabernacle choir to name a few. This year we got tickets to attend the First Presidency Devotional at the Conference center. It was really incredible but Jenna wasn't able to attend as it was only for 8 and up. So, we had to add another event. Next week will wee see VOICE MALE in concert. They are one of our favorite a capella groups.

I love to get everyone dressed up and go downtown to see the lights and have dinner. We always seem to end up eating at PF Changs! Yum! I'm so glad the kids like it! While it's not easy doing these activities with 3 children. I hope they will enjoy these "cultural events" and learn good manners by going to fancy places all dressed up.

December 6, 2008 - Wild Day

Saturday, December 6th, 2008 was one of the busiest days I have ever experienced!

We Started the day with Tithing settlement at 8:30 am.

Left for the Festival of trees at 9:30 am.

Alesha danced at the Festival at 10:30 am

We walked around and Looked at the trees with Grandma & Grandpa Bailey

Left the F O T at 12:30,

Ate at Costa Vita YUM!

Went home to change Jenna into her dance stuff.

Took Jenna to the grocery store for her dance performance at 3:00

The guys went to Dylan's Basketball Game at 3:00

Met at home to Change for Piano Recital

Arrived at Piano Recital 5:00pm

6:3opm Made Salad for Christmas Party

7:00 pm Went to Christmas party. WAY FUN!

9:30 Pm Worked on Primary stuff

12:00 AM Opened the door for St Nickolaus. Wink Wink!

12:30 AM Fell into my bed!!!!

All I can say is that I lived to tell about it!

100 Things - Dec 12 2008

I saw this on Brooke's blog and thought I'd copy it.
Thanks Brooke!
My Answers are in Purple.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris – Only the Airport
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea – Does Lake Powell Count?
14. Taught your self an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning – I hate Subway
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (as close as you can get after 9-11)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping - don't read this mom!
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse (sun & moon)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David –At Caesars!
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant –
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted – by those cartoonists
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie –Only of my own Creation (and these are the Rolls)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car -2004 GMC Yukon - Love it!
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Book of Mormon or Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - does fish count
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day – More times than I can count!

Fire Station Field Trip - 24 Nov 08

Jenna and I belong to a great co-op preschool with 5 other kids and moms. We take turns teaching and making field trips.

On Wednesday, November 24th we visited our neighborhood fire station. The fire fighters were really cute with the kids and the kids had a great time climbing on the engines.

I love to watch Jenna with her little Friends. They are all great kids and live close by. I wonder if they will be together when they graduate from high school like I was with my preschool friends. We will celebrate our 20 year class reunion in June. It's amazing to me to have the friendships for more than 30 years.

Utah 48 - BYU 24 - November 22, 2008

Utah 48 - BYU 24

How's that for a score!?!

We had a great day on Saturday at the Utah-BYU game. Branden gave the girl's tickets to his Aunt Maurie and Uncle Larry from Arizona so they came with us. Larry is a HUGE Ute fan and he was SO excited to come. At the last minute Dylan decided a day with the cousins was more fun than a football game (who is that kids mother?) so Grandpa Bailey joined us as well.

We had a fun tailgate party on campus with Grandpa Dave, Maurie & Larry and Aunt Tammy and Uncle Olaf. Good Food, Good People and Good Fun!

What a great game!!!!!!! The Rivalry game is always big and hyped but the game itself isn't all that great to watch. But not this time!! It was awesome. We were on our feet the entire game clapping and cheering. We have great seats on the west corner of the north end zone so we can see everything!!! After sitting together all season we know all the people in our section. So there were High Fives all around.

The row behind us is a general ticket row so of course we had BYU fans sitting there. I was really pleased that our section was really civil and didn't harass them. I know that wasn't the case everywhere. The BYU fans were good too and didn't get in our faces either. I felt bad when the BYU fans in another section were leaving early and were booed and mocked.

For us, it was a really awesome day! I always take the games so personally, even now that I don't work for the U. I wonder if that will ever go away. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to find out where we go for a bowl game but I'm already planning a party! Come Cheer with Us.

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a Child of God - Primary Program, Nov 9, 2008

Sunday, November 9th was our Primary Program. This years theme was I am a Child of God. As the primary Chorister I have been preparing for this program since November of last year. We sang some really great songs. If the Savior Stood Beside Me was a new song by Sally Deford. I had used her music when I was choir director and loved it! The song was beautiful and the children really enjoyed learning it. We also learned the American Sign Language for I love to see the Temple. It was really fun to learn the signs. I gained a much deeper testimony of the song by learning the signs.


All year we have talked about feeling the spirit. Every Sunday as we sing the Spirit is so strong. I always stop and point out to the children the way the spirit talks to you; Tears, Shivers, Goosebumps, tingles. I have felt very blessed to be surrounded by the children and singing these songs that instantly invite the spirit. I've encouraged the children to sing their testimonies. There seems to be in every song a part that if spoken it would be a testimony. I call it the testimony verse. My Favorite this year has been the last verse of Home CS#192


Home is where our Father,
Who dwells in heaven above,
Guides us in the way we live
And lets us feel His love.


I love that and think of it often. Through these simple words I have a greater testimony that I am a child of God and with that knowledge I can learn, do, & endure all that He asks of me in this life.

We ended the program with "Testimonies of Power". I reminded the children that we share our testimonies in many ways and one is by using the spirit to testify with power. We sang Called to Serve and invited all past, present and future missionaries to stand with us on the last chorus. It Was AWESOME. Reminded me of the MTC or a Zone conference. Then we sang I will be Valiant. This is a song I hadn't heard in a long time but I felt I HAD to teach it to the children. In the program they sat on the edge of their seats to sing the first part and then jumped to their feet when the sang "I'll stand for truth! I'll stand for Right! The Lord can Depend on ME!" I know it is true. The Lord can depend on these valiant children.




Each of the children had their own part as well. Dylan gave a short talk on how the priesthood blesses our family. He talked about receiving blessings when he was sick or before he started school. He talked about learning service from watching our home teachers. It was really sweet. It's hard to believe that at this time next year he will be a deacon.


Alesha gave a part from the song The Holy Ghost. "The Holy Ghost is given to us to guide us every hour". This meant a lot to Alesha as she was just baptized and received the Holy Ghost this past September. And I asked Jenna how she can strengthen her family and she said "I can strengthen my family by loving one another". So that was her part. It was super cute.





I guess it's time to pull out next years primary program booklet.

Daddy Daughter Date - Friday Nov 7th.

Alesha & Branden had their first Daddy Daughter Date for Activity Days at church. Alesha was SOOO excited. She counted down the hours until it was time to go. They had a great time playing games and even "brought home the Gold" for golf. Alesha's favorite part was doing Branden's hair. He had 9 pony tails and a big Pink Ribbon. Not Bad for hair an inch an a half long! Branden was a good sport but the ponies gave him headache! Alesha Can't wait for next year!