Kabooooom: New Year's Fireworks

Hooray!!!

Arizona finally legalized Fireworks. (Actually they are only legalized on the 4th July, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.)

No more setting them off in the church parking lot for the 4th of July and getting chased by cops! LOL.

This New Year's Eve was an enormous change for me. Instead of spending it going out or doing something with a big group, I spent it at my parents with Kade. No Plans, No Hassle, No Drama, No Parties, No Dances. Just Kade, My parents, and some Fireworks. Perfect and simple!

At first Kade was a little apprehensive of the sparklers, but then he loved them. Here he is reaching out for more.

After sparklers we did snakes. Those were one of my favorites as a little girl. It was soooo cute, Kade told me to wear good shoes outside so the snakes would not bite me. I don't think he realized they were not real snakes. Then my Dad lit the grand finale. It shot up all different colors and made loud noises. So much fun.

Here is kade hiding from the loud noise. He hid behind me.

Then when we were all done with the fireworks he had a little melt down. He wanted to do more. So here are the waterworks. Love you buddy, and sorry sometimes we have to sleep. I was blogging at midnight, and was alone in my parents room, and at midnight I screamed "Happy New Year", I hope I never grow all the way up=) It is too much fun having a personality.

Happy New Year!

All I can say is bring it on!!!

Kristmas 2010

My phone rang at 7:04 a.m., it was Roger telling me the kids were up and getting ready to come down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. I hurried up from the basement with my camera, just as Kade came around the corner. His eyes lit up when he saw the stockings all filled and sitting on the couch. He was the first to make it to his stocking. His face says it all. I love seeing him so happy!

We started the morning off by doing stockings...

...so all the kids dumped them out to see what all they got.

Kade was super excited about his candy Santa's
...his glow sticks

...and all his favorite stocking treats and toys he gathered up to cary off

Maggie enjoyed playing with her harmonica ...and then the boys had a blast playing with their growing creatures. You put a capsule in water and watch it grow into a sponge sea critter or circus life.

Then we all ate cinnamon rolls and our traditional egg sausage casserole for breakfast, before moving on to presents.

Michael and Kade played in the sled from my parents

Kade's top 3 gifts were...

1. His dragon Pillow Pet. It's a pillow and a pet lol

2. His garbage truck (when he could get it away from Briggs lol)

3. His laser top. You press the top button and it spins lights up and plays music. It even projects lights onto the ground.

They all enjoyed the top

They also all enjoyed Maggie's awesome ball pit. You throw balls up top and they spiral down into the pit. so fun!!! Michael got an awesome Nerf Machine gun that fires 3 rounds a second. Even us adults enjoyed it.

Pop got a beautiful hand painted glass Colorado ornament

Tiffany and Mom

Goofy Roger.

Kade lifting my weights. We can work out together little buddy.

He also got a super fun Real Construction Workshop kit, where he gets to saw, and hammer foam wood and make projects.

Then after all of our fun opening presents, Kade laid on his 2 favorite gifts as we watched Despicable Me.

I would say Christmas was a success!

It was so nice being with family. Colorado is a blast!

Kristmas Eve 2010

Kristmas Eve is always fun, however it is even better celebrating traditions with the ones you love. This year Christmas is being celebrated in Colorado Springs with Tiffany, Roger, and all the kids.

We of course started the evening out with playing games. Here are Brigham, Kade, and Michael.

We then all went outside and sprinkled reindeer food on the ground so that santa and his reindeer would stop at our house and have something to eat. (It's just oatmeal and glitter=))

Here is Kade sprinkling reindeer food

Kade, Briggs, and Michael spreading all their reindeer food. Rudolph is eating well tonight!!!

Maggie had a blast, and emptied her entire bag all by herself with a huge smile on her face.

We then put candles in cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. He is after all the reason we celebrate Christmas, and it is a nice reminder to the children of that!

Kade enjoying his cupcake

We then all sat and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (which is one of Roger's family traditions).

Maggie and Pop made the breakfast caserole

... and then all of the boys got to sleep in the same room together on the boys new bunk beds. They had so much fun "trying" to wait up for Santa in their room. In fact several times, we found them all standing at the window whispering about Santa and when he and his reindeer would arrive. I guess sleep was not a priority tonight!

The stockings were hung with love and care...

...and Tiffany tried out the kids new sleigh. I think we need snow for this one LOL!

Can you spy Tiffany in all of these presents? We put most of the gifts under the tree tonight so the kids would wake up and be surprised at all that "Santa" brought them. This was so much fun.

The finished product!

Merry Kristmas Eve!!!

Kaptured Miracles: Liam's Photo Shoot As Baby Jesus

For those of you who did not already know... Liam was cast as Baby Jesus in a photo shoot by Photographer Helen Robson. She is doing a line on the birth through the Crucifixion of Christ. This shoot was done back on Nov. 5 ,2010, however I wanted to wait to post it all until Helen had some of the photos up on the web site. It was so interesting and special getting to be there to watch Helen stage everything. Liam was only 2 weeks old, but Helen said he was the best infant she has ever worked with. He was so sweet and patient the entire time.

My sister Merri snapped some pictures with her own camera inbetween Helen's shots. And below are the ones my sister took.

Here is the link to view the photos that Helen took. Enjoy!!!
http://bounceproduction.smugmug.com/Art/Luke-2/14855019_2jy4u#1108333582_5yXZh

Below, Briggs played beautiful music and sang wonderful Christmas songs as I rocked Helen's daughter to sleep on my lap.
Here Joseph is waiting for the birth of Jesus.


The girl who played Mary was a 14 year old girl. (They say that Mary was only about 14 when finding out she was pregnant.)

The shoot was over 4 hours long, and it was freezing cold, so inbetween shots, Dara comforted Liam.

At the end of the shoot, I got to spend some cuddling time with little Liam. The star of the show! I am so honored to be a part of his life, and it was incredible watching the newest little love of my life play such an amazing role. I love you Liam. You are meant to do GREAT things. What an amazing time of year to be reminded of the reason for the season!

Merry Christmas