Mr. Personality...

What more can I say, my son if full of IT!!!  Love him to pieces though :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving!  Maybe because mashed potatoes and gravy is one of my most favorite things to eat, or maybe because I love spending time with my family :)  I am so thankful for all of the things that make up my life.  I consider myself really lucky to be blessed with so much love and beautiful people in my life.

So in honor of Thanksgiving, I just have to say THANKS!

I think I thought a thought.....

I had a strange thought in my mind.  It wasn't the usual kind.  Another thought came that was almost the same, now the first thought I thought I can't find........

-Rhonda Meeks

(I think when my Mom wrote this in High School she had a premonition of how her daughter would one day be!  It infuriates me sometimes......)

7 Years Old

I can't believe it has been seven years!  Happy Birthday to my sweet Kylie bug :)  I am not lying when I say it feels like it was just yesterday that I had her.  I remember every detail of my pregnancy with Kye and her birth.  I don't know why, but I have a harder time recalling my pregnancy with Ethan?  Weird....  Kye is such a blessing to our family.  She is kind, loving, smart, talented, happy, and easy going!  She takes things a little seriously, and has tender feelings.  Every time I look at her I think what a beautiful young lady she is becoming.  I am so proud to be her mommy and so grateful to be as well!  We love you Kylie and hope you have a Happy 7th Birthday!

Sleigh Ride.....

So this is how it all went down :)  "Ethan lets take some pictures,"  I say.  "Mom do I have to?" he replies.  "If you want any Halloween candy today ;),  just go sit on the sled and look cute," I say.  I pick up my camera and turn around to this!  BAHAHAHA!  Merry Freakin Christmas!!!!!

November Update

Oh, my good old updates I know you are as excited as I am right?  I do this for journaling purposes...... I ran across my high school journal the other day and was having some good chuckles!  The things that were so important to me then seem a bit shallow and ridiculous, hopefully my fully grown children won't judge too harshly :)  Anyways, Bryan is in school and working which equals he is non existent to us throughout the week.  We do get to see him on Friday and Saturday though, so that's a plus!  I have hit my busy season and am just trying to stay on top of things.  I have a double session this Friday and I only have an hour between shoots, so it should be pretty crazy!  I am also trying to do better with spending quality time with my kids.  It is so hard to get all my editing done and make sure I'm not neglecting my children......... ugh, I need better time management skills ;)  I am looking forward to the holidays and spending time with my family!  I love playing Santa too :)  Bryan was put in charge of Ethan this year and I am doing all of Kye's.  The problem is I am nearly done, and he won't even bother with it.  If I don't kick his but he will be trying to shop on Christmas Eve, he drives me bonkers!  I am not a fan of busy shopping malls and stores, so I tend to get it done early and be done with it.  Kylie is a busy bee too.  She has been doing great in school, dancing like crazy, and even doing so well with her solo classes!  She even started choir again at school which she loves doing every year.  Ethan is on break for preschool he is doing so well though.  He is writing up a storm and asks how to spell everything so he can write it down :)  I remember Kye going through this phase too!  He wrote his entire wishlist to Santa by himself :)  So proud of him and how much he is learning this year.  Well that is us as of right now, short and sweet!

2011's Holt 12 Days of Christmas!

Here we go again, my 12 days of Christmas has become a loved tradition for my kids at our house.  I try to add a few new things in every year, mixed with some old favorites too :)  So here we go!

*I go from the 13th to Christmas Eve (Christmas day is already jammed with goodness)

1st Day- "A Christmas Story"-- We will be getting out all our favorite Christmas books and reading them, don't forget your jingle bell for Polar Express :)

2nd Day- "Carve the Roast Beast"-- We are going to have a special dinner (I haven't decided if it will be out or in)

3rd Day- "Starry Starry Night"-- We will be getting our artist on and creating a craft!  I am doing it on canvas this year so we can put it up every Christmas :)

4th Day- "Twinkle, Twinkle little Night"-- We will go and see the LIGHTS!

5th Day- "Holly Jolly"-- Some silly elves at good old Gardner Village will be fun to visit.

6th Day- "Oh Holy Night"-- A night of studying our scriptures and discussing the true meaning of the Christmas season :)

7th Day- "Life is Like a Box of Chocolates"-- this is new......I am getting a big box of chocolates and we are going to have some laughs trying each one---  with a garbage near by to spit out the yucky ones ;)

8th Day- "Pretty Presents with Ribbons & Bows"-- We will be making and handing out our neighbor gifts.

9th Day- "With Chutes & Ladders There Arose Such a Clatter"-- LOL, just a fun family game night!

10th Day- "Holiday Happiness"-- This is our movie night, I'm sure A Christmas Story and some hot cocoa will be involved :)

11th Day- "Visions of Sugar Plumbs"-- We will be making cookies for Santa Claus (it is Christmas eve eve you know)

12th Day- "Twas the Night Before Christmas"-- This is pretty traditional, the kids will get their first gift of Christmas matching Pj's! (I already got them, blue penguins!)

Well that is our 12 days of Christmas plans this year!  It may seem silly to some, but we have a great time doing it!  I hope you all have a fun Holiday season!  I am counting down the days for yummy turkey dinner and holiday trinkets and trees :)