Sunday, December 21, 2008

JoLLy oLd St. NicK

What a great Sunday before Christmas we had! We went to my parents ward and their sacrament program was amazing, then I got to listen to my Mom teach gospel doctrine...she did an amazing job. After church both my Grammy and my Nana came for dinner and dessert, it was fun to sit around the table and talk. They both shared wonderful stories and we got laughing hard! The kids played with Lego's and then a special visitor came...SANTA!!! Chloe answered the door and did exactly what she did last year, took off running down the hall. It took her a couple minutes but she warmed up to Santa and sat on his lap to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. Jackson had no problem, and Ella jumped and then started bawling. We all took turns telling Santa what we wanted for Christmas and then he let us pick out a special treat from his sack...Christmas suckers! He promised he'd be back in a couple nights and said he was happy with how good the kids have been this year. Thanks for the special stop Santa!!!

Jackson wants a skate board, Lego's, and a CD player
Chloe asked for a "connected" doll (a barbie and the diamond castle doll, the character's sing a song that says "I feel connected, protected" so she calls it a "connected doll")
Ella just wants this weird guy to leave and Mommy to keep holding on to her
Our Family's been good this year!
Treats from Santa's bag

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Our little Old Man
This morning Jackson came down stairs early, dressed, and excited! He came into my bedroom and asked if he could snuggle with me. I opened the covers and he crawled in. "I love you so much, when is it time to go?, Mom, I am so excited, do you know why?, today is my first play". For weeks Jackson has been anticipating his first grade class play of "The Gingerbread Man" and the day had finally come! He had been given the part of the old man. We practiced his lines, picked out a costume and he could hardly keep from jumping out of his skin. He got to preform twice, first for some students at school and then for parents, family, and friends. They started by singing some darling songs complete with actions and props and then went behind the curtain to get ready. He wore a brown vest and Mrs. Porter's glasses and looked darling...I am so proud of him, he did an awesome job. He said his lines so clear and was darling on the stage. After the kids handed out gingerbread cookies to all of their guests. I am so impressed with Jackson's school, class and his teacher. The play was a huge hit!
Opening song, with darling actions!
"What's going on?" said the little old man
Catch that cookie
"Stop that Cookie!!!"
Take a bow
Aunt Chelsey, Grammy, Chloe, Jackson, Uncle David, Mom and Dad

Monday, December 15, 2008

Back in November Parker had the awesome opportunity to go to the BYU-Utah game with my brothers, sister, and my Dad. He said it was really fun to go, and he had a blast with the fam, the only thing that would've made it better would have been if we had won! He told me a story after about when they were walking to the game with their "BYU attire" on, a little girl walked up to them and said "BYU stinks" Parker was shocked at the age these kids start their Blue Hatred. I'm sure it goes both ways though...Jackson and Chloe already know who to cheer for!

Parker, Matt, Scott, David, Megan, and Dad

Half Time

The best part was the time they got to spend together

Monday, December 8, 2008

O' ChRiStMaS tRee

Last year Parker surprised me and bought this beautiful Christmas Tree. He carried it in the house and set it up all by himself. When I got home with the kids we were all so excited!!! I love surprises and this one was perfect.
This year I was SO excited to decorate for Christmas and especially to get out my treasured tree. I've had my Christmas decorations (lights on my house and all) up since November 5th. I know, kind of crazy, but I love the feeling that it brings to my home. We already have wrapped presents under the tree and the kids have been so good about leaving them alone. They ask me a couple times a day if it's Christmas, or if they can open just one, but I think this is good for them to be patient.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Last night we went up to Salt Lake to do a little Christmas shopping. We met Jared and Jenny and their family and Parker's parents at Gateway. The kids were so excited to see each other. The lights were beautiful and the company was unbeatable! We walked around the shops and then went to dinner at Iggy's. After we drove to Draper to look at Christmas lights and wrap presents.

I love this time of year and the reminder of our Savior's birth. I love looking back on the past year and reflecting on things that I've learned and the accomplishments I've made and then setting new goals for the year ahead. I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I love making homemade fudge and taking it around! I love watching as my children get so excited for Christmas and giving each other the gifts that they've carefully picked with lots of love. I love traditions that have been passed down and ones that are new. Cheers to this wonderful time of year!!!

Jenny and I were festive in our Red and Green
I love this picture of Grandpa and Grandma holding hands
and holding hands with their grand children!
Ella is the perfect shopping companion
Most of our Crew

Saturday, December 6, 2008

ThAnKsGiViNg

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we left for Palm Desert, California. My kids are such good travelers! We made great time even though we took a detour through the Mojave National Preserve on a dirt road full of pot holes, rocks and no cell service or anyone to bail us out if we popped a tire, for 27 miles. We just told the kids it was a part of California they would never have gotten to see otherwise. Parker's parents and Ryan, Natalie and their kids were already there. We spent 2 1/2 days with the Kemps and then on Wednesday my family got there along with my Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and cousins from my Mom's side and we moved over to where they were staying and Jared, Jenny and kids got there and had our room. The weather was awesome the entire week! We got to swim everyday, go on walks, watch movies, play games, shop, and spend time with family. Parker went golfing with my Dad and brothers (twice), and I got to have some time shopping with the girls. We had a wonderful Turkey dinner provided by Marie Callendars and it was great to catch up with my cousins. While we were there Jackson caught a HUGE toad and a gecko. The ride home was a little harder then the ride there, but my kids did amazing. While driving on the right road through the Mojave desert Parker spotted a tarantula (with his new lasik laser vision) and so we flipped around and Parker not only took pictures, but put him in a cup that had a screw on lid and threw him in the back of the car. The kids named him Harold. We had a wonderful vacation, it was just what we needed!

"There is no greater gift than the love of family"
Thank you Dad and Mom and Larry and Syndee for a wonderful trip.

With my brothers at the Marriott pool
Jackson LOVED this masive water gun
and the water slide that we didn't get pictures of
Chloe is turning into quite the fish. She fits right in!!!
We had the opportunity to take some pictures
of all the Kemp grandkids together
Relaxing with aunt Megan
Harold the spider
Brave Boy!
What a girl!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

TwiLiGht

I have been really excited for this movie to come out, but I wasn't really wanting to buy tickets in advance and I was good with waiting for a couple of weeks and letting it die down a little. That is, until my Dad called me Monday night and told me that he had special Premiere tickets for Thursday (tonight) and that we'd get to see it before it opened to the public...then I was EXCITED! My parents and Megan were unable to go because Meg had a soccer game, so we invited Jared and Jenny to go. Scott and Chelsey came and also brought a friend. I went in with average expectations knowing that I loved the book and my imagination was perfect for me...I LOVED THE MOVIE! This is one that I would go back and see again in the theatre! It far exceeded my expectations!!! The cast was great, and I even liked "Edward" better than I thought I would. This is a definite must see for all who are Twilight fans! I loved, loved, loved it! Thanks Dad for the awesome tickets! The only thing that would've made it better would've been if you and Mom could have been there!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

BaSkEtBaLL

I love this picture of Jackson! He has so much personality!

Jackson has been playing Jr. Jazz and he had his last basketball game last week. He has had so much fun learning how to play and got better with each game. It's been fun for me because growing up I loved basketball, in fact when I was 12 my goal was to start the women's NBA and be 6 feet tall, luckily we can change our goals, especially those that are impossible to reach (I'm pushing 5' 5"). I love watching him play sports...it's so fun, and brings back so many wonderful childhood memories!!!

Jackson got so much better each game!



GO TEAM!!!



Jacks, we're so proud of you!

Friday, October 31, 2008

All HaLLowS eVe

OuR FaMiLy!
I love Halloween! I love dressing up, trick or treating, and our tradition of soup and "spider" bread for dinner, and it's so much more fun now that I have kids. I love watching as they run from door to door and get excited about other costumes, how they wake up and are in their costumes before the sun rises, and then they want to sleep in them at the end of the day. The face painting, staying up late, and eating tons of candy are up there as well.
Today Halloween did not disappoint! We were up and out the door by 8:15 so we could get Jackson to school and stay to watch his parade. This was his first one and he was SO excited. I was glad that we were all there to see him and we even got the seats right at the beginning! I headed back to school at noon to help with his classes party, that was fun!
When Jackson got home from school we carved our pumpkins, Jackson and Chloe drew tons of designs all over their pumpkins, but after explaining that carving was a little different than drawing they settled for jack-o-lanterns. Chloe's favorite part was getting out the seeds, she got a little spoon and would scoop and get 2-3 seeds at a time, get so proud of her self and then dump them in the trash. I tried to help by scraping the sides, but she had a system and she was sticking to it. She didn't want to touch any pumpkin goop either. Jackson and Chloe wore Halloween aprons that I made them last year and looked adorable!
We went to my parents for dinner. Soup and bread shaped like a spider, we've had this every year since I was little and I love carrying this tradition on with my children. We trick-or-treated a couple friends over there and then headed to our neighborhood to finish up. It was a wonderful family day and I loved every minute! Happy Halloween!!!

JaCkSoN at his Parade
We LoVeD seeing all the CoStUmEs
Ella in our leaf PiLe
CaRvInG pUmPkInS ... Parker used an electric saw to open
all the pumpkins
CaRvIn'
ChLoE's favorite part was getting the seeds out!
"K" is for KeMp (I ended up with the smallest pumpkin)
Ella LOVES to CliMb
Almost Trick-oR-Treating time
Now we're ready...Face paint and all
Ella was the cutest chicken
We all LoVe being outside
What a GREAT day!!! HaPpY hAllOwEeN

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Chloe learned this song in school and has been singing it constantly for everyone we know. We think it's darling, a real heartbreaker!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

EllA's FiRsT tOoTh

Ella finally got her first tooth! She turns 9 months in 3 days, but it doesn't surprise me because all my kids have gotten their teeth late. It explains a lot about the last couple days, she's been trying to be sweet and doing a pretty good job, but just hasn't been herself. She got one of her "vampire teeth" (not the top front ones, but the ones on the sides) Chloe's teeth came in the same way. I'm excited to see if the other one comes in next.
She is getting so big so fast! She has been crawling for over 3 weeks now and she is FAST! She pulls herself up on everything and also puts everything in her mouth. She loves following her big sister and brother around and I know she is enjoying crawling to anything she wants. Ella loves to eat! She is constantly eating and trying new things, so far she loves everything I've given her. She is such a blessing in our lives and we are ALL enjoying her as she experiences new things each day!

This is what we get to wake up to every morning!
So fun!
Check out the bed head :)
I found Jackson feeding her one day.
He did a great job.
She is so sweet!!!