HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

COCO MOTION! COCO MOTION! COCO MOTION!!! (thanks Whitlocks)

We celebrated New Year's a little early with some great Coco Motion. Sierra was going to babysit so we decided to have our hot toddies and do a toast to the new year before she left.

Welcome 2009 -- at least that is what I said to myself as the new year rang in! Yes, Polo was already in bed, Tanner fell asleep by 11PM, Sierra was babysitting, and I was up by myself watching the ball drop in Times Square awaiting Sierra's return.

The time did allow me to reflect on the top 10 things that happened in our family for 2008:

10. Sierra getting a part in The Music Man

9. Tanner's football success

8. Tanner making honor roll for 1st middle school semester.

7. Sierra making honor roll every semester

6. Daddy vacation to Park City, Utah

5. Tanner starting middle school.

4. Friday morning sharing time.

3. Family vacation to Washington, DC in April

2. Polo starting his new business -- Lee and Associates

1. Mom turning 50!

One might think what a boring family because they can't wait for the ball to drop, but we managed to stay busy through the year. I am proud of my family and all of their efforts and accomplishments during 2008. I love you all.

Dinner Anyone??

I was quite sure the Whitlock family was so happy and grateful for all the meals and services provided by friends and neighbors over the last two weeks. I thought about taking dinner to them, but I quickly realized they all could probably use a trip out of the house for dinner!

We knew Jamie's parents were in town so we seized the opportunity to invite the entire gang over for a great tamale feast -- fitting for Jamie's mom because she is half Mexican. We were excited they accepted our invitation to come! Although we did not get too many photos, we did have a great time visiting with everyone. Blake and Brooke LOVED the village! Everything was great about the evening with the exception of one thing, Jamie was still in the hospital. Here's to hoping he will be home for New Year's Eve!

Dog Gone! I like Christmas too!

Lacey loves Christmas too! Now so does Harley ----- Lacey sat in front of the presents for quite awhile -- or at least until I took her photo. She knows she always has a present somewhere in there every year!

Harley found his present - look closely for the Snowman toy -- Lacey is ignoring her Santa toy.

WHAT DID YOU GET???

The breakfast casserole is cooking and the kid's are glad because they cannot open presents until it is done!

I love when we open the presents -- the kid's reactions are so great (most of the time -- less the "Oh, I got underwear and socks." comments.) Here are some of the reactions ...Sierra is counting the days until PARIS! So a calendar of Paris is another great reminder of what is to come in 2009. She really loves the new bag to go with her on the trip!

I guess Tanner likes underwear when they are really cool -- like Guitar Hero and Mario Party underwear! Dad likes getting anything that has a power cord attached! Such as the power compressor and the cordless drill -- cordless is the operative word!

Mom loves getting homemade and Sierra gave her a book of poems she has downloaded from the computer. They were all about mothers and daughters, and then she wrote one of her own. She put them into this book so we could write poems, notes or letters to each other and put them in the book --- mom loves it!

One of the best reactions was the gift from Cousin Lo, Christopher and Mallory --- watch the photos.....




MOMMMMMMM! Take the picture




What is it ---WHAT IS IT

Sierra is not having much patience as Tanner takes off the paper.


Sierra --- "OMG!!!!!!!"


Tanner --- "OMG!!!!!!"


Mom --"What is it?"

"OMG!!!!! A WiiFit!!!"

The two faces say it all!!!

Thanks Cousin Lo, Christopher and Mallory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Day

Forgot to post the Christmas Eve -- Christmas PJ's shot -- Dad is so surprised --- Tanner puts on the NERD look! Sierra loves hers because she get choices -- long or short!

Everyone may act like they don't care for the Christmas PJ tradition (our PJS are always Christmasy) however, they love getting to open a present on Christmas Eve!

We were all ready for bed after the PJ presents. Everyone except Santa was in bed rather quickly. I waited around for Santa for a couple of more hours. We had already told the children this Christmas would be a smaller Christmas because we, like everyone else, were being very prudent with our spending. They both had had great birthdays and had lots to already be thankful for so they were not expecting much.

Santa does a fairly nice job of placing all the presents under the tree -- oooppppssss - did you see that something is missing? You are right! There is no tree, that is unless you count the fake 4 foot tree on the piano bench as a tree. I was sick for many days before Christmas and tree purchasing did not happen this year -- a first EVER for me and for the kids!

Anyway - Santa goodies are ready for morning viewing!

I love Christmas morning because now the kids come into bed with us until we wake up and go in the family room together. I like to go ahead and get the camera ready (of course!) so I can capture the faces. I only wish they would come into bed and sleep for another couple of hours!

It looks as though Santa was a hit -- Nikon Coolpix camera for both Sierra and Tanner with other tantalizing gifts as well. It was a really simple, nice and relaxing Christmas morning. I made the Christmas morning favorite breakfast casserole and we just hung out in our Christmas PJs to enjoy the day.

We were doing exactly that until ----- the stomach bug hit hard. I went down for the count in the afternoon, Polo was feeling queasy as well as Tanner, but Sierra was the rock. Let's just say we ended the day with a bang!

Christmas Eve, Part Deux!

Even though our Christmas Eve was wonderful, we still felt like we had to visit with the Whitlocks -- ALL of them -- and carry on our tradition of having each child share a talent, a game or some other activity. It brings the Christmas spirit to our hearts. Blake share his special Christmas song on the piano. Sierra sings Silent Night -- we all join in on the second verse.

Carson show his mastery on the piano as well.

Maddie shows her talents by singing and playing the piano!

Tanner finishes it off by playing the piano as well. The amazing thing about this tradition is to see how much their talents have grown since last year. We are looking forward to Garrett and Brooke's talents as they grow older.

It always is great to see the other special talents of the VanBuskirk-Signs clan as they ALWAYS come caroling on Christmas Eve. It was so great to hear their beautiful voices sing and it was especially good to see Dylan there without a wheelchair -- singing so loudly!

Christmas time is so wonderful when spent with family and friends. Sharing in special traditions and creating memories for our children. The best part about this Christmas Eve was that Jamie got to come home to be with his family and join in on this celebration. Have you ever seen such happier faces on five children. Brooke looks at her Daddy with complete adoration!


We also continued the Christmas tradition of exchanging family gifts. Alysa knew exactly what they were giving to the Doria family --COCO MOTION --- now for those of you who don't know what COCO Motion is let me just say it has nothing to do with dancing, Or does it? Coco Motion is a hot chocolate machine, and when there is Coco Motion being made there is dancing to be done. Specifically, the COCO MOTION DANCE!!!! You will have to witness it first hand to see what it is!

The Doria Family opted to give the Whitlocks a basket of good CLEAN old fashion fun with a new twist -- it included bath monkey scrubbers of all kinds, a jar of popcorn, hot chocolate (I feel a coco motion dance coming on), blankets, over sized checkers game and peg board from Cracker Barrel, and the twist was Scene IT Harry Potter!

The kids were all smiles and giggles!



It was a great Christmas for everyone and we wish Jamie a speedy recovery!



The last surprise for the evening was when the doorbell rang and Gaby showed up! It was great to have her, if even for a short time, on this very special night.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Eve

The Broadheads -- The Dorias -- The Whitlocks --

The Risenmays

It can truly be said that this Christmas Eve was indeed different from the past five. We have this wonderful tradition of spending Christmas Eve with our friends the Whitlocks and a few other families -- those who are in town and not visiting family. Alysa and I had started planning a few weeks before (we realized on December 4th or 5th Christmas was a mere 3 weeks away) and decided it would be at their home. It was going to be a night with the Whitlocks, the Dorias, the Broadheads, the Bruners, the Risenmays and neighbors Jack and Helene. All in all a great cast! Invites went out, invites accepted, and alas Christmas Eve would be set to go!

We all know in a mere blink of an eye things can change, and this is the story of how much they can change. Jamie Whitlock had not been feeling well for sometime and he was coughing, tired, no energy and just plain sick. None of us knew he was in the beginning stages of pneumonia. This would develop into full blow pneumonia, and he would eventually land in the hospital and none of us knew the severity of the situation. He was in much pain, could hardly breathe and it was scary.

At the same time I had been sick for over five days with a cough and fever which was not going away and I was not sleeping at all. All of these events were taking place at both households the week before and the week of Christmas. Do you see what I am getting at -- Christmas Eve although planned was perhaps not going to be like we had envisioned.

In stepped in an angel -- Roxanne Risenmay -- she offered to have Christmas eve at their home and it was truly a blessing. How brave of her -- here we were all thirty people -- and she said she would host! Thank you Roxanne! So Christmas Eve was back on, but the story does not end there.

Jamie continued to worsen and was admitted to the hospital because he could not breathe. We all guessed he had a terrible bout of flu (he kept thinking it was his appendix!) Jamie was taking breathing treatments and medications but his condition continued to worsen. Finally the doctors used steriods (I think he has muscles now), and this medication seemed to start to make him feel better and allowed him to be able to breathe on his own. Then on Christmas Eve day a blessing came -- Jamie got to come home. No, he would not get to go to Christmas Eve dinner, but he would be home.

Finally, Christmas Eve -- we all had a wonderful evening at the Risenmay's home, and the spirit of Christmas was all around. The children were all excited in anticipation of what was to come tomorrow. We had a wonderful dinner of turkey, ham, potatoes, salads, and much, much more. There would be no reason for anyone to go home hungry!

We played Christmas carols with chimes under the direction of Alysa Whitlock! Always a favorite with the kids -- big and little ones!

If you missed hitting your chime at the proper time -- EVERYONE let you know about it.

Once again it was a wonderful Christmas Eve ---

Can any of us imagine what it was like 2008 years ago on this day in Bethlehem when Jesus was born? I am grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for having blessings in my life as a daily reminder of his love, sacrifice and kindness towards others. May each of us understand the true meaning of Christmas and try and live a more Christlike life every day. I am most grateful for my family and my friends who enrich me and lift me up daily.

May peace and joy surround you this season and fill you with love.

Merry Christmas

Mary Did You Know

by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you delivered

Will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby you kissed the face of god.

Mary, did you know?

The blind will see.

The deaf will hear.

The dead will live again.

The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak.

The praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, Did you know that your baby boy will one day rules the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding
Is the great, I am.

-------------------------------------------

This is my favorite Christmas song and speaks volumes about the birth of this little baby boy. Wishing you and your family a peaceful Christmas celebration.

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Bet you never thought it snowed in the desert, and for the most part you would be right. However, on those wonderful, rainy, cold days in the desert when it rains so much the roads flood we anticipate what canvas God will paint when the sun finally cuts through the clouds.

This morning we awoke to an amazingly beautiful canvas where the snow on the mountains was lower than we had seen it in many, many years. I took this picture right outside our front door. The sky is a bright crisp blue and the air is cold and smells so clean. The snow was all the way down to 2500 feet - the mountain is 10,800 feet.

What a beautiful day! This was a picture Polo took out the back door and as you can see we were surrounded by snow covered mountains!