Summer's Dance

Taken by Taylor

Summer is loving high school.
She has especially been enjoying her dance class.
January was filled with lots of dancing, as her and her classmates prepared for their upcoming show.
She would be dancing on the big stage.
Wearing makeup for the first time.
And spending hours dancing her toes off to get all the moves just right.

Fuzzy girl right in the middle

Finale

Of course I had to see her perform both nights.
And both nights I just smiled and smiled watching her dance.
Both dances were perfect for her personality.
She was beautiful, graceful, and hip-hop-happening.
I was so proud of her for all the work she put into it.
I was just happy to see her so happy.
And being cool, collected, and so sure of herself, as she always is---
"I wasn't even nervous."
She is sad though that it is all over.
She loves the stage and wants to stick with this dancing thing.

It's a New Year!

Taylor and Joshua playing "JUST DANCE 2"
"Wall Art to be hung very soon" project in the background.

I can't believe it is another new year!
I know I always get sentimental, but I can't believe how fast time flies by.
We had such a great winter break and I was sad to have my kids go back to school.
I just love spending time with my little family.
My kids make me smile and laugh and I just love being around them.
Our new favorite thing to do together is play "Just Dance."
We all love it- Joshua included.
And Andy loves to be on the computer and watch us get excited about dancing.
Little things like that make me excited about a new year.
My New Year's Resolution is to be more calm and really enjoy life.
Calmness and Trust- are words I say to myself multiple times a day.
I am so blessed and I have such a blessed life!
I'm slowing down to see it all.

I love that my kids like to hang out with each other!

Yesterday was such a great day,

And I really really enjoyed it!

The kids had the day off.

We went bowling as a family, which Joshua loves!

We hung out watching Angelina Ballerina and Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.

Went to the park.

I made a white cake, which Joshua wanted for FHE treat, but I found out, he really just wanted to watch me make a cake.

(He didn't eat one bite of it.  I ate lots of bites of it.)

We did laundry.

Summer and I made homemade pizza.
And man it tasted so good when dinner came around at 7pm.

At Joshua's request, we played musical chairs.

That got everyone laughing.

Kate and I talked in her bed about friend trouble.

I actually plopped on the couch and watched a little Psych before reading in my bed before lights out.

I'm just grasping onto all of these little moments, 
like looking into my children's eyes,
 because time goes by to fast.

You have to make your own moments.

I plan on making even more of them in 2012.
I'm off to a good start.
Here's to 2012, all the ups, downs, and daily life, included.

New Years in St. George

Conrad and Kathleen Maxfield

I love this photo!
This is exactly how I picture Con and Kathe and this is how my children picture them.
I told you I was excited at Thanksgiving that they bought a home in St. George.
We took the first opportunity we could to visit them, winter break.
The weather and scenery beautiful!
Their new house is in the perfect location, secluded, but close to everything.
The kids really wanted to play in the snow.
We thought, "We can find both sun and snow close to St. George."
It wasn't looking to good-
Too much sunshine meant melted snow and avalanche at Snow Basin with no entry.
But Kate had prayed that none of our plans would go bad.
Her prayer was answered her way.
We drove up and up and found one little snow patch.
Just enough to sled.
We sled for a few hours and ate lunch in the sunshine. ( my camera battery died)

Hiking in slot canyon

We also enjoyed some hiking.

And where is Summer?

She enjoyed reading, alone, on Gma and Gma's comfy couch.

The Sandbox

The kids were bummed we didn't find sand hills,
But we did find this huge sand box.
Lots of holes were digged.

We had such a fun weekend with Gma and Gpa Maxfield!

We enjoyed eating together, playing games, going to the movies, walmart trips, and enjoying the nature around them.

It was great to see them both again so soon.

And they no we will be knocking on their door again.

And of course the car trip was AWESOME!

I love being on the road with my clan.

Christmas

Christmas Morning 2011

Christmas was fun and busy!
Of course I got a cold that week, but  I was able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas all month long.
All of the Cardon family was able to be together, which made it even more special.
Here are some of the highlights:

Joshua belting out "Frosty the Snowman"

We love all the Christmas music.
It was nonstop for us the day after Thanksgiving.
Joshua especially loves Christmas music.
And  I was loving the Michael Buble CD this year.

Kate reading to her new fluffy dog Rover on Christmas morning.

This year the kids wanted to be Secret Santa's to one another.
They were all so thoughtful in their gifts.
Jacob saw this big fluffy dog and knew Kate would love it.
She did.
It was fun to see their excitement in gift giving.

Kate as Mary and baby Braeden as Jesus

We were so excited to have Rachael, Steve, Andrew, Michelle, Drew, and Braeden come to share Christmas with us.  The kids were especially excited to meet baby Braeden.
And yes, Joshua fell in love with him.
He was more excited about spending time with baby Deborah and Braeden, then anything else about Christmas.
We had fun with all the cousins making carmel apples, gingerbread houses, playing at the park, christmas lights, and eating lots of yummy meals together.
It was especially special to be able to witness Braeden's blessing on Christmas day.

The Newlyweds- Megan and Scott

I love how our family keeps growing and growing!
The best Christmas present of all was just spending time with all of my family.
They are the best!

Stanely and Juliette Cardon's posterity

As always, Christmas Eve was the best at cousin Nicole's.
The house was packed.
This was the first Christmas without either Mita or Papa
And Emily made the point that they must be smiling at us from heaven,
knowing that we still chose to all  spend time with one another
Especially on this most special holiday.

Summer and Deborah

Santa is set at the Maxfields

Kate made all of that for Santa.
And we are grateful for all the Christmas magic that still exists in our home.
This year my goal was not to eat too many Christmas treats.
So I made less.
We made sugar cookies and strawberry tarts.
Christmas breakfast consisted of Lucky Charms and stocking candy.

The Nativity

Christmas Candle

Our family's favorite tradition is the Christmas Candle.
Every night we light it and read scriptures and sing songs about the birth of the Savior.
It keeps us focused on what is really important.

Alexis and Taylor on the Freestone Train

Although we don't have any white Christmases here in Gilbert, AZ -

(We did watch "White Christmas" as it is our tradition on Christmas Eve.)

We have lots of sunshine (which our Utah visitors love).

And no matter the weather,

Christmas is still my favorite time of the year!

Summer's Gingerbread Party

Ashlyn, Summer, Nicole, Kate, Sarah

This year Summer decided to have another gingerbread making party.
She has the cutest friends and their was lots of gift exchanging, laughter, chatting, and candy eating.
Summer was kind enough to let her siblings stay and hang out,
But when the boys started "hovering"- (What boy wouldn't?!  Look at these beauties!)
She sent them off the Barnes and Noble with dad.
It was a fun Saturday and I am so grateful Summer has such amazing friends!

Kate and Santa

"This Christmas I would like my own laptop, please."

Kate's Winter Dance Performance

The Jazz It Up Girls perform "9 to 5"
(Kate on far left)

Kate LOVES to dance!
She decided to add another day of dance to her schedule.
She has been dancing with these 4 other girls since we moved here, so her teacher decided to put them together as a little performing group.
They performed 3 dances, which I thought was a lot for seven year olds to memorize in 3 months, but they did a great job and Kate loves to be on the stage.
It is fun to see her do something she loves and to have friends who love it too!