New Years 2014

Happy 2014! Time to put away the old year and bring on a new one.  Vaughn is finally finished with his Residency, I finally got my teaching license renewed, the kids are growing up, and this year promises to  start off with lots of new and exciting adventures.

We were lucky to go over to the Curlee's for New Years Eve. Most everyone's husband was gone, funny, so all us ladies got together with our kiddos and hung out.  We had tons of food and fun. Then we played BINGO for an hour and a half.  I brought the old turning BINGO game and I had prizes; everyone had a ball. 

Then the count down began. We had noise makers, confetti, and lots of noise as the ball in New York fell and brought in the new year.  

I needed a selfie of the kids and I.  2014 here we go...

Skating In December

After Christmas we had a few really nice, warm days.  It was time to learn how to skate for Taryn and time to see if we remembered how for Tyson. 

Oh this girl is the purple princess.  She actually didn't do half bad for her first time on skates.  She never fell, but that is because we held on to one hand the whole time.

What a sweet picture of brother and sister.

Taryn decided after an hour of holding our hands to skate, that she might be able to do it by herself.  It was so awesome to see her be so brave and try it on her own.

Oh yeah, here he comes.  The kid figured out the way to skate on his roller blades.  He was flying around the tennis courts.

A few days later the rain and snow came and we couldn't skate outside.  Bummer!!!  Luckily for us they have an indoor skating rink 15 minutes away.  Taryn really liked the smooth skating rink floor.

Tyson was trying to race everyone around the rink.  He was wobbly the first 20 minutes but then he figured it out and was off like a rocket.  He wanted to race us.  After we had been at the rink for about 2 hours they had actual races for the different age groups.  Tyson was thrilled!  He was beat by this really fast little kid, but he was okay beating everyone else.

This girl skated by herself.  She loves her skates she got for Christmas.  Yeah for mom and dad!  We got her something she wanted and likes.

There she goes.  We had such a blast roller skating.  It has become my new favorite thing to do.  I cannot wait to bring the kids again.  They loved it and they were active.  Yes!!!  The new year is going to be great!

Preschool Christmas Time

On the last day of preschool, before winter break, the kids had a special visitor from the North Pole.  Santa came and gave each of the kids a book for Christmas.

Taryn was so excited to see Santa and to let him know that she had been a good girl all year.  She also informed the man of what she wanted for Christmas.  It changes daily.

She was so proud to show off her book that Santa had given her.

These are all the kids at the preschool.

And here all most of Taryn's teachers.  The high school girls loved their necklases and gave lots of hugs to Taryn, thanking her for them.  It brought a smile to my face and my heart swelled with happiness.  I love to make others smile and I taught that special lesson to Taryn today.  She wanted to know what we were going to give them next.  

Preschool is out till February, while a new set of high school kids are trained to teach.  Taryn is excited for the long break but said she will miss all of her friends.  So cute!

The Nativity

Back a few weeks ago we had the Thompson's over for dinner and cookie making.  After the festivities at our house, we took them with us to the church where the Farragut ward was putting on a Nativity program for all to come and enjoy.

They had nativity scenes from around the world that people had donated for the program. After a little 15 minute program, full of the Christmas story and singing, we were able to go into the children's area for crafts and dress up.

Ella, Tyson and Taryn were loving the whole dress up scene.  They would try on the different outfits of the people in the Nativity and then want pictures.

My little wise man.  Tyson is a crack up.  He always has some play or idea or scene to show us.

The two wisemen and Mary.  Taryn just wanted to play Mary and hold the baby.  That is my little mother hen.

Xander, Tyson, Ella, and Taryn all wearing their angel craft on their heads.  Xander didn't want to dress up no matter how much we all coaxed him.  Oh well.  The others had fun.  It was a nice time to hang out and enjoy our Savior all at the same time.

It's Christmas, It's Christmas

It's here, it's here!!!  It is FINALLY here! The kids were so excited to get up and see Christmas.  They almost fell down the stairs. 

This girl is in heaven.  She is now the proud owner of sparkly pink shoes.

More Camo for the collection.

Pretty dress from Grandma Jackson.  Love the hair Missy Moo!

It was an all out chaotic frenzy.  We tried to keep order but after 30 minutes that went out of the window.

The "Frozen" dress from Grandma T.  Now she is in heaven.

New shirts, just what this kid needed.  He even asked for them.  He is growing so fast that the shirts we got him in August don't fit.  

The dress is on, with that bed hair and all.

Now we are ready for the ball.  Taryn loved dressing up like Elsa and having the doll who looked just like her.  So pretty!

We even have the hair.  The outfit is complete!

Needless to say, Christmas was a hit at the Jackson's house.

Christmas dinner. And finally a picture of me.  I don't take pictures of me when I just roll out of bed to open presents.  I take pictures of everyone else. 

That night, with both kids in their new pajamas, they wanted a bowl of cereal before bed.  Love them.  Those are my kids!  It was such a good day of Christmas!  We played and played with our gifts and just had wonderful family time.  

The Newest Member of The Jackson Family

Welcome our first ever puppy!  It was an early Christmas present to the kids.  We wanted to give it to them on Christmas Day, but this cute little guy came available today and we had to take him or leave him.  Vaughn and I have been going back and forth between getting a dog and not getting a dog for months.  We both grew up with dogs, but we both lived on ranches where the dogs were outside, not inside.  So we have been searching the shelters, which was a new experience for us (neither of us have ever adopted a dog), looking for a dog that would suit us.  We found some German Shepherd puppies last week at the shelter but we didn't want to get them right then.  We wanted to wait till it was closer to Christmas.

  Today after school, we had the kids at home and we went to the bigger shelter to just look again.  They had lots of puppies but not anything that jumped out at us and said, "take me home."  We then asked at the front desk if their other shelter had any puppies.  They told us they had one shepherd puppy. We decided to quickly go and see it.  When we got there we found this cute little puppy that we just fell in love with, but...he was already being held for another person.  We told the lady that we were wanting the dog and if the other person bailed out, to call us and we would come and get him.

   So the rest of the afternoon we waited around and took around treats to our friends.  Around 5pm we got a call from the shelter saying we had a puppy if we wanted him.  Vaughn, I and the kids drove to the shelter and the kids figured it out.  They were jumping all around, so excited to be getting a dog. We couldn't get the paperwork done fast enough for them.

Now we have this cute little puppy, who still doesn't have a name, cause we can't agree on one.  Ha ha

Look at his big paws.  He is going to be a good sized dog.  I am glad, because when Vaughn goes to work I will have a protector.   

Taryn is in heaven.  She couldn't get enough of this dog.  She was playing with it and running around and acting like a new little mother.  Tyson, on the other hand, was a little apprehensive about the dog.  He has been scared of dogs since he was little.  We hope that having his own dog will change all of that.  It is time to go to bed and put the dog in its crate.  Only time will tell us how this night will go...hopefully well.

Christmas Choir

My little performer was at it again. Tyson was asked to sing in the children's choir of our stake at the stake Christmas Devotional.  He is a good singer and was so happy someone noticed and asked him to sing.  Vaughn and Taryn went to support him.  I was home sick!  I have been sick for days.  I have been in bed for two of those days.  Not fun!

Vaughn recorded Tyson singing and he did such a good job.  He sang his little heart out.  He is going to be just like mamma!  Loving the spotlight!