Florida Blogging by Jade

We got this close to an alligator!

Me and grandma on the airboat ride

On an Airboat ride

We found a real Gator! So Haley decided to get closer and as you can see in the photo, Haley's about to be eaten by an alligator. Madelyn is chill'n and I'm saving the day (thank goodness)!

Guess what?! We found an upside down building! Just joking, it's an awesome museum.

This is a part of the awesome museum. It shows you what a tornado would be like. AWESOME!!!!!

All of us smiling, cause we're having so much fun!!!

We saw a bunch of peacocks in someone's yard. Here's one of them.

This is @ the airport waiting to go home!

Sledding and Shredding!

We took it to the hill to ring in the new year.

Mark and Taj were there, Jade and Barbara lurking.

Haley was Shredding.

Barbara Killed it on the sled.

Grandmas not afraid of a little doubles run.

Would your Grandma and Grandpa drop in? ours did.

See all the pics here.

Haley and Madelyn's 9th Birthday!!

Haley and Madelyn decided they wanted to have a miniature golf party this year.  Usually, my kids want to have a theme party at home involving crafts and lots of preparation.  So... any time they ask to have a party somewhere else with someone else in charge, I jump at the chance!

Madelyn, posing while Meagan (her cousin) hits the ball.

Haley getting ready to hit a hole in one.

Madelyn and Sydney

Haley, Lindsey and Eliana

Where'd Haley go?  :)

Madelyn and Haley's cakes.  We stayed with the miniature golf theme.  We frosted them green for the "green", added a hole with a flag and a golf ball on a tee.  Some years they want their own cake and some years they do one together.
Timing is everything with twins when they are opening their presents.  If one gets ahead of the other, there is a lot of "Wait" or "Don't show me".

They loved all their presents!  Thanks to everyone.

A Thanksgiving Birthday

This year Ellen's birthday fell on Thanksgiving.  Haley and Madelyn's birthday was the next day, so we had a family party after Thanksgiving dinner with pumpkin pie and chocolate cake.  Ellen was very generous to host Thanksgiving at her house on her birthday AND feeling under the weather.

Ellen (Tim's mom) sharing her day with the girls.

Karen's girls (Rachel and Sarah) enjoying the party.

Clear Creek

In 5th grade, all the students get to go to an overnight camp called "Clear Creek".   Jade was pretty excited to go - here she is taking a picture of herself looking very homesick.  :)
Here's a picture of the bunkbeds they slept on in the cabin - Jade's is the one with the yellow bag.
Jade and her friend, Erin.  They had to pick names for themselves at camp.  Jade picked "glue gun".

Family/School Pictures

We love having our own personal "professional photographer" in our family!!

Musical Theater

Madelyn and Haley performed in Lehi's children's musical theater production of "101 Dalmations".   Madelyn was a boxer dog (hence, the boxing gloves) and a Dalmation puppy at the end of the play.
Haley was a police officer and a theif (at different times during the play)!  They both had a great time and did an awesome job!  They also had fun being in it with their friend, Lindsey.

Thanksgiving 2009

We had an epic day of Thanks yesterday.
Barbara made awesome orange rolls.
But after dinner was when the raging party started

Sandra and Michael got in on the Beatles  Rock band

Great Grandma and Great grandpa aren't afraid to rock into their 90's

Grinning and Shredding at the same time!

Haley is no stranger to the skins.

Karen and her Gals were partying with us too!

This crew battled it out on the soccer field.

See ALL of the photos here if you want.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

It's that time of year again

Family Portraits

So this year we boycotted school portraits cuz ours always seem to come out wonky.  Instead i dragged everyone out to the utah lake marina and made them smile for an hour or two while i snapped away.  Here's one of the highlights, or you can go to here to see the whole enchilada.

Halloween 2009

Jade was an artist...a french artist.  Oui, oui (as they in France).  She loves anytime she gets to do an accent.  An English accent is her specialty, but she was expanding her repertoire.
Haley decided to be Bob Job.  "Who's that?", you say.  It's a character she made up a couple months back.  She had on one big plastic ear, but it didn't make it in this photo.
Madelyn wanted to be a mummy.  It sounded like an easy costume to make.  Not too bad, but if you decide to do it - don't forget to allow for easy removal for important trips to the restroom.  :)  Tim was the official mummy wrapper, he was always the best baby swaddler when the twins were born.

Here's the girls by their pumpkins.

Mine was the witch and Madelyn carved the spooky tree.

Jade designed and carved the cyclops pumpkin and Haley created the scarecrow.

Tim and I.  Tim's idea, of course, since it's so cool!

This is the first year we have ever done a "couple costume" in 13 years.

Me taking pictures at the annual Call Halloween Dance Party.  The costume loses a little something in the light.  To see more pictures than you could ever want of the party (1000 to be exact), see the link in Tim and Steve's blog - ranchexit

Me at the ward's trunk or treat at 4pm.  I don't think people at the trunk or treat got our costumes mid-afternoon.  Oh well.

Madelyn helping pass out candy after she made the rounds.

Our bishop scaring a few little kids in the ward.