Christmas 2009

Happy Holidays!!!

My friend Joni took these for us. It was freezing outside, so we busted these out in about 10 minutes. I think they turned out really good and I think my kids look great.

Our Three Special Gifts~

The kids in their Christmas outfits...Looking Sunday best!

CLASS PARTIES

Class Christmas Parties~Gingerbread house making, pizza, games, gift exchanges, lots of parents just sitting there staring aimlessly at eachother...you know how it goes!

Super Ann takes a fall....

Our "Super Ann" (Dave's nickname for Cara) tripped in the church and hit the corner of the lamp table. She was so brave and her only question all night was "would she be able to go to her school party the next day"??? Of course she could. The doctor glued her up and sent her on her way. Look how happy she is for being in the Urgent Care late at night. So does this mean I get some sort of workers comp from the church haha!

AGE MEANS NOTHING!

Daddy turns 39!!! It's so funny because the kids have been calling Dave a grandpa lately because he has a "few" grey hairs. I chuckle silently to myself because I know it just drives him crazy. I love that I'm a few years younger. That's the one thing I can always rub in his face. I know, I know my times coming.

Dave got to celebrate his Bday at home this year. He's been flying the past "who knows" how many years so that was the best gift he could have received. Dave your 30's are almost over-

LIVE IT UP!!! Oh and I think grey hair is very distinguished...aka Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Pierce Brosnan (yep they could all be my Dad haha).

RYLEIGH'S PRESCHOOL CELEBRATION

Ryleigh performing in her Preschool Nativity as one of the angels. Isn't she the cutest little angel! They sang "Away in a Manger" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Her favorite part was singing....now bring us some figgy pudding. She thought figgy pudding sounded so funny.

He hit the double digits!!!

This handsome boy of ours turned 10 on the 8th. I can't believe how grown up and good looking he has become. It's funny how so many things change once they hit 4th grade. Girls are a little more on their minds, their looks are starting to change along with their height and weight, and friends are starting to teach them a little more than their teachers (Scary)! Fortunately this boy of ours hasn't become too cool...YET! He still loves being with us and Mom and Dad are still super cool in his book. Happy Birthday Carson boy!

Carson and Cara's Birthday Party
We decided to have the kids celebrate their Birthdays on the same day and same place. They don't mind and they have a lot of the same friends in common. They chose to celebrate at a place called "Crossfire Commandos". It had a spy theme to it. They let the kids jump in foam pits, ride the ziplines, and jump on the trampoline with a harness. They had a blast! I can't believe how quickly the past year has flown by. We're truly grateful for these two VERY BIG blessings we have in our lives.

Putting up the tree at the Rees Household.....Dad gets the tree and ornaments out of attic, Mom hangs lights (hate it-time for a prelit tree), Kids hang ornaments, we reminisce about old ornaments, Dad reads a Christmas story and Mom turns on the lights and takes a nap under the tree....HAHA~yep that sums up our Family Home Evening of putting up the tree!

We went with some church friends to the Memphis Zoo Lights. It was lots of fun and the weather was perfect. It definitely helped us get in the "moo"d for the Hoidays!

On December 1st we celebrated Cara's 6th Birthday. She'll celebrate her birthday with her friends this weekend. Cara definitely lights up our life. Lately she's become kind of a drama queen but amongst all of the dramatic performances she puts on we still love her to pieces. Here she is showing off her new outfits she got...gotta love Grandma's! Happy Birthday to

"SUPER ANN"

BEST SHOW I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME!

Thanksgiving 2009

(warning picture overload)

Dave's family came into town for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun and we had a great time. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, shopped, got a little bit of Memphis Action in, and watched LOTS of football. Dave's brother Danny and his wife Amy weren't able to make it. Danny is overseas with the Navy but we were definitely thinking of them and missing them too.

Grandma and Grandpa with their 5 grand kids in front of the Christmas tree at the Peabody Hotel.

Chow time! This was the first year I cooked for more than 10 people and YES it was lots of work. But it was lots of fun cooking with my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws. Everything turned out super yummy!

Grandma and Grandpa took us on a Carriage ride downtown. Memphis is such an OLD city but there is a lot of history here. It's always fun to learn facts about the places you live. Cara loved the ride and was so excited that she got the Cinderella carriage.
Beale Street and the Peabody~WARNING!!!! When on Beale Street do not park your car in an uncovered parking lot, do not make a wrong turn on Crump Blvd., do not stop at the gas station in the ghetto, and always have your eyes open....we had a few scary moments, ones that had us all missing sweet, little Utah instantly.

We decided to eat at B.B. Kings which turned out to be a LONG, LONG wait but well worth it and the kids and Grandma loved dancing to the BLUES!

So of course having 5 brothers means there's lots of BIG TALK going on during games, but these brothers love to be around each other and they never take one another too serious! I love that about all of them. Take Dave's personality and times it by 5 and you have a room full of laughter.

Swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel.

Crafts, Guitar Hero, Playstation, Football, and Eating pretty much sums up our week.

What a wonderful week we had. We definitely have MUCH to be THANKFUL for!

I'm a nut (click,click)-I'm a nut (click, click)-I'm a nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty, NUT!

My kids knew I was super busy trying to get ready for family to come into town...So these kiddos of mine helped rake up 11 bags of leaves...I knew I had kids for a reason haha!