Biggest Loser Competition

Hi Friends!

I am going to do another Biggest Loser Competition and wanted to invite anyone who would like to participate. I know it is the new year and I have a resolution to lose weight and I do so much better when I am accountable to something. The competition will run December 31-February 25. Here are the details:

This is all on your honor, you weigh in on the designated days on the SAME SCALE each time WEARING THE SAME THING with NO SHOES and phone/text/e-mail me your weight.
The first weights are due to me by MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 31st
The cost is $20 due to me by Dec 31 (if you are out of town, get it in the mail asap). IF YOU WRITE A CHECK I WILL NOT DEPOSIT IT UNTIL THE END OF THE COMPETITION
If you lose 10% of your starting weight you get $10 back
There will be 3 intermediate weigh ins for a $10 prize to whoever has lost the most weight DURING THOSE 2 WEEKS. Those weigh ins will be on January 14, 28, and February 11. (every other Friday)
Final weights will be due February 25th at MIDNIGHT
At the end of the competition all remaining money will be split between the top 3 losers 50%/30%/20%
I will keep all weights confidential and the only thing that will be sent out is % lost.

I will open this up to anyone who is interested, so if you know someone who would like to participate send them the details. The more people involved the more prize money to be won!

If you want in let me know and I will send you my phone number and e-mail

Christmas Letter...a little late.

This holiday season came upon us way too fast and I didn't get everthing done that I needed to(not surprised) but at least the important things got done and we spent time with our family and friends! One of the things that didn't get done was sending out Christmas cards. I really had good intentions and bought cards last year after Christmas on sale that hold a picture, and I ordered copies of our family picture to put in them, BUT, when I put the two together Natalie and Lilly were cut out of the window. Now that I am looking at this picture below, I may have been able to use it, but really they didn't get sent out because I just ran out of time.
I would like to share a little about what our family has been up to though, since 2010 was a pretty big year for our family!

Hailey turned 8 this year and was baptized. It was a very special day for all of us and we are so proud of the example that Hailey sets for her younger siblings. Hailey is now in 3rd grade and is one of the top in her class for math and reading. She also enjoys doing ballet and piano and playing with her friends as often as possible. She also played soccer and T-ball again and tried volleyball this year. Hailey is also my biggest helper at home. She is very responsible and is the best at doing her chores.

Allyson turned 6 this year. As you can see she has been losing teeth like crazy. Allyson started 1st grade and is SO smart. She is reading at a 5th grade, 9th month reading level! Allyson is a social butterfly and makes friends with everyone she meets. She is also doing ballet and piano this year and has really worked on focusing her attention. Allyson also played soccer and T-ball again. Allyson has always been a little mommy and she is a big help with taking care of her little brother and sister.

Natalie is our little princess. She loves all things girly and pink. Natalie turned 4 this year and started preschool. She loves being able to play with her friends and learning her ABC's. Natalie loves to sing all the time and is also doing ballet and is very graceful and talented. She played T-ball for the first time this year and had Aunt Robin for her coach. Natalie is also very funny and likes playing jokes, especially anything that teases her siblings.

Lilly has had a big year this year as well. She turned 2 and is learning to talk really well. She is adjusting to no longer being the baby in the family (sort of), but loves having mommy's attention as often as possible. Lilly is very strong willed and knows what she wants. She loves her siblings very much and is always right in on the action with them.

In 2010 (obviously) we went from having four kids to five! Brayden has been a wonderful blessing to our family. He is such a happy and easy-going baby. He is quick to laugh and everyone loves him. He has also been our fastest mover and started walking a few days before he turned 10 months old. He already loves cars and balls and is all boy!

Allan is still working for IHS in Fort Hall. It is a good job and we are grateful to him for working so hard to support our family. He enjoys going out an playing sports whenever he gets the chance including coaching Hailey and Ally in soccer this year. He loves helping out with the youth campouts and went to Girls Camp, Scout Camp and High adventure this year. He also had the chance to go on several hikes including Table Rocka and Mt. Borah.

I have been very busy helping at the kids schools and trying to keep up with the responsibilities a family of 7 bring. I have also started up selling Pampered Chef again. This year I opened up a Bountiful Basket Co-Op site and really love doing that. I also enjoy exersizing and crafting in my "spare" time.

This year marks 10 years since Allan and I met. We love spending time together. One of our favorite things to do is to go down to BYU for as many sporting events as possible. This year we attended football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball games. Also since we have been in this ward we have had the great opportunity of serving together in every calling we have had. This year we spent half the year teaching youth Sunday School and the other half teaching Hailey's primary class. As a family we have had some fun trips together this year to Yellowstone, Utah and Arizona.

We have been very blessed this year and are so grateful for our family and friends! We are thankful for the gospel and the happiness that it brings to us especially at this time of year as we remember the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas and may 2011 bring you much happiness!

Santa Claus Came to Town!

We heard through the grapevine (Trudy told Zoe) that Santa Claus would be at the John Deer Store one night.
Seeing as how I am not a farmer, and I have 4 daughters we had never been to the John Deer store, even though it's right around the corner.

The kids were pretty impressed with all of the toys, and so was Allan for that matter. (Santa if you're reading this Allan would like a riding lawn mower with a snow plow attachment.)

Plus as you can see they had cookies so who could complain right?

We thought Santa was supposed to be there from 5-8 and we got there about 7.

Turns out he was only supposed to be there until 7, and we got there just in time!

Remember this a couple years ago? She was much more friendly this year. Plus she really wanted canes. (That's what she calls Candy Canes!)

Lilly was pretty friendly herself, I guess she got the memo that he brings presents!

Brayden didn't get the memo or he just doesn't care about the presents, but he wanted nothing to do with the Big Guy.

I am so glad we went! The kids each got coloring books and a bag of candy and a printed picture of them sitting on Santa's lap. Plus there was cookies and juice!

Nutcracker

It's that time of year again! This is Hailey and Ally's 3rd Nutcracker, and Natalie's 2nd. This year Hailey and Ally are attending ballet 3 hours a week and Natalie 1 hour a week. It is exciting to see them progress and they all did so amazing on stage this year!
Natalie's class were mice, and Ally helpped out. Ally got to be the first little mouse that goes on and does a little solo part before the other mice come on.

All of the girls were in the Overture as princesses.

Natalie was funny because when she was a mouse she didn't really want her picture taken, but when she put on her princess tutu she turns into a little DIVA!

This is Natalie with her class.

Hailey and Ally were told to "Catch a Bubble" so they would be quiet back stage.

I convinced them to let it out for a picture though!

This is their Tuesday class, on Tuesdays they go together for an hour and a half, then they each go a different day for another hour and a half.

This is Hailey's Thursday class dressed up in their Chinese outfits.

Ally's other dance was the Madam Ginger dance (they come out from under a giant skirt). She said that was her favorite dance because she gets to dance with a boy (help me). I feel really bad because I never got a picture of her in it. She performed that dance on Friday night and the Wednesday dress rehearsal, and I chaperoned on Thursday/Saturday so I was never back stage when she had it on. You can see her performance pictures HERE and HERE

HaLlOwEeN 2010

Natalie: Cinderella

Hailey: Vampire

Brayden: Dragon

Ally: Hannah Montana

Lilly" Whinnie the Pooh

Tiger Lillies!

Hailey played soccer this fall. In the past I don't think she was really all that into it, but this year she did great!

Allan was her coach again, our team was half from our neighborhood, and half from another school. Back: Allan, Ashley, Natae, Hailey, Lexy, Maddie, Megan
Front: Katie, Tyler, Megan, Lexy, Corbin, and my Hailey.

Both Hailey and Ally have been #3 because that was Allan's number.

Hailey is far left in this picture going for the ball.

Hailey is really quite competative (like her parents) so she wants to be the best. She isn't quite there yet, but in my opinion she may have been the most improved on the team so if she keeps it up she could be great one day!

Charity Auction Event

Last week my best friend's parents lost their home in a fire. They were inside at the time, but luckily were able to get out safely. Unfortunately they did not have insurance and have been hit with a huge financial burden. A blog auction has been organized with all of the proceeds being donated to their family. It will take place December 15th and 16th and all items will be shipped in time for Christmas. There is a link on my blog to go and see the items that will be auctioned, also if you have something to donate to the cause or know someone who does there is information on how to donate on the blog. Please pass the word along!

P.S. Sorry about the lack of blogging, I will try to catch things up before Christmas.