Sweet 16!!!

This past Saturday, Lindsay celebrated her 16th birthday. I wanted to make a big deal out of it since I think turning 16 is a big deal. I had planned for a couple of weeks to have a surprise birthday party for her. Her best friend Avery was my accomplice. She told me who to invite and then helped me keep Lindsay out of the house while I got ready. Lindsay thought she was going to the movies but had forgotten her money, luckily and they had to come back and get it. I decorated with a few posters which were made by my friend, Nicole. I also had 16 pink roses and 16 pink balloons. Here is Avery in the middle, they played the game "signs" for hours. We ended up with 19 of Lindsay's friends to help in her celebration.

Here is the birthday girl, with Jace on her lap, and several of her male friends. Lindsay has such a great group of friends and they are always having fun whatever they do.

What could be sweeter for a sweet 16 party than a chocolate fountain? It was a huge hit with the kids!

Here's a lot of the goods we had to dip into the chocolate. I think I had way to many choices but everything I thought of sounded like it would be yummy in chocolate (what isn't really).

Here she is posing in the new sunglasses her dad and I gave her.

She requested the cookie dough delirium ice cream cake from cold stone as her birthday cake.

We took her to lunch at Red Robin. Here she is right before they sang to her.

I can't believe it's been 16 years since she came into our family!! Time has sure gone fast. Lindsay is such a delight to have in our home. She is always working hard in school and trying to be the best she can be. She makes correct choices and knows who she is! We are grateful to Heavenly Father to have sent this sweet spirit to us to raise. She really does make being a parent easy. Happy Birthday Lindsay, we love you!

ALOHA!

Chris and I had the fantastic opportunity to spend 8 days on the beautiful island of Maui. We went with some great friends and had such a fabulous time!! After I started downloading pictures, I realized I probably should have made a couple of blog posts according to the things we did. Too late for that, so these are in total random order. Maui is such a gorgeous place and I can't wait to go back with the kids!!
Here we are after hiking down to Nakalele's blowhole. We found this heart amongst the lava rock at the bottom. One of the many eruptions from the blowhole. We would go stand near it too and would get soaked. It felt great in the heat of the sun though.

Chris and I on the boardwalk from our resort to the beach.

On the resort grounds. This resort was spectacular!!

One of the evenings we went to "the feast at Lele" luau. It was awesome!

Here's Chris hiking down to Nakalele's blowhole. (see out of order)

Just one of the many pictures of the beautiful scenery we saw while on Maui. I believe this is on the "road to Hana."

We loved, loved the color of the water! It was breathtakingly (is that a word)beautiful

Here is a reef shark that Nicole and Justin saw on their scuba dive trip! Chris and I just snorkeled above them.

This is a sea turtle, one of many seen on our snorkeling day to molokini island and turtle town! This day was so much fun!

There are tons and tons of beautiful flowers all over the island. I loved seeing them, smelling them and taking pictures of them. This is a hibiscus which is the state flower of Hawaii.

Chris, me, Justin and Nicole on the sailboat we took to Molokini Island and turtle town. We snorkeled while they did scuba. We saw tons and tons of whales. They are such spectacular creatures!

Me, putting on my fins to head into the water for some GREAT snorkeling.

We ate a lot of fantastic food. Here we are at "Cheeseburgers in Paradise." This place we loved so much, we went there twice!

Laying out at the beach behind the resort. Kaanapali beach

This arch is formed by trees grown over the walk way at Mama's Fish House. Note: if you don't like fish, don't go eat there. The grounds were awesome and the other three tell me the fish was too. I ate steak, it wasn't the best.

We took a helicopter tour of the island which was hands down one of our favorite things. The views were incredible and you get a completely different outlook of the island itself.

Two humpback whales we saw from the helicopter! Loved it, and I named these two, Bonnie and Clyde." We saw two whales jump out of the water simultaneously side by side one morning. One of the most awesome things I've ever seen! I didn't have my camera on however.

Climbing the old Banyan tree in downtown Lahaina. This tree was amazing, it's all one tree. Apparently you aren't supposed to be climbing on it as an older man came and yelled at us, telling us if we get caught it's a $1500 fine. He didn't say a word to any of the kids that were hanging and climbing all over it. We just decided he was jealous of the fun we were having. : )

A shop owner in one of the shops in Lahaina gave me this plumeria for my hair. These flowers are so pretty and they smell like heaven. I couldn't get enough of them. Every time I saw one, I had to run smell them. YUMMY!!

One of the many waterfalls we saw while we were there. This one we had to hike down into the bamboo forest on the "road to Hana" to find. There were 4, this is the second. We didn't go in further than this.

Down in the bamboo forest. This place was seriously amazing. The sad thing is, not many of the travelers on the "road to Hana" know about it.

Chris took the car keys and carved into one of the bamboo poles. Isn't he romantic? Look closely and you can see it.

I had mentioned to Kenna one of the days that our resort had a water slide at one of the pools. She asked how it was so I told her I would check it out! Result? SO FUN!! I went on it about a dozen times. Can't wait to take the kids back!

Heading to the airport. Kissing Maui goodbye : (
This is at the waterfall in front of our resort.

There are many more pictures, it was so hard to just pick a few to post. This was such a fantastic get away with great friends. I've already looked into airfare and weeks available at this resort. I so want to go back and take the kids. I've told them in 2012. That will be our 20 year anniversary and the year Lindsay will graduate from high school. Crossing my fingers : )

I now know why they say "Maui no ka oi!" We loved every second!

Ringing in 2010

This will officially end my blogging of 2009! We spent the day with Chris's family as we attended Charlie's (his mom's husband) funeral. Later in the evening, everyone came over to our house to celebrate the arrival of 2010! We all are having a great time! Here's what's happening:
Jace taking his turn on the wii with Uncle Brent looking on. We spent several hours playing card games and other games. This one happens to be an old favorite of the Jackson family, PIT! This game is super fun and brings back lots of old memories of when Chris's parents lived in Menan. We would all gather there and spend hours and hours playing this game.
Here, Chris and Aunt Khris are figuring out what "commodity" to sell and which to keep while Kenna is ready to trade!

And of course, what would a family party be without FOOD? Here's Ali filling up

Kenna deciding what to eat.

Around 11 PM, the kids decided to go out and play in the snow!

Jace making a snow angel.

Kenna, Rose, Chelsie and Emily jumping on the trampoline (these girls are having a blast hanging out together. Rose lives in Boise and Chelsie in Phoenix)

Here's the girls posing for me. Molly, Rose, Ali, Kenna, Chelsie, Emily and Bella (the dog). Too fun to have cousins here!

Chris playing golf as two of his brothers wait their turn. Brad (sitting) and Brian.

We are enjoying having everyone here! This is seriously the first time in about 5-6 years that I will have stayed up to ring in the new year! I have about 25 minutes to go. I hope 2010 brings health and happiness to all of us! Happy New Year!

Big Dreams!

This past Monday, Chris and I took a load of garbage to the dump. Jace came along for the ride, and as we were there, he was mesmerized by the guy driving the tractor in the "pit." As we left the dump, he informed us that when he gets bigger, he is going to be the tractor driver at the dump! Hmmm..... I just don't know what to think, but I'll pray that he'll forget that big ambition!
(thanks Alexa for going to get the picture for me)

Happy Birthday..... to me

Yesterday, I was able to celebrate another birthday. I've always enjoyed my birthday, even with it being so close to Christmas. Since it was Sunday, there wasn't a whole lot we could go do, but Chris and the kids made my day perfect!
I woke up and Chris had made me breakfast and even remembered to serve it to me on our "you are special today" plate. Then, they showered me with my birthday gifts. Jace informed me that he picked out the balloon in the flowers, he also picked out some swedish fish, which he informed me that I had to share with him.

I have been wanting the Greg Olsen "Gentle Healer" picture for a couple of years now, and surprise.... Chris got it for me. Funny little story, a couple of weeks before Christmas, I was looking at this picture in Deseret Book. I texted Chris and told him I purchased it, and he texted back wanting to know if I was wrapping it and putting it under the tree. I told him no, I just wanted a new picture of Christ in the family room. Come to find out, after he had given it to me yesterday, he made the comment that he had already bought it and it was hiding under Makenna's bed, when I had texted him about it.

It's gorgeous!

After church, Chris went out to the freezer and got my cake. It's my favorite ice cream cake from cold stone. The "cheesecake named desire." He left it in the back of his truck thinking it would remain frozen but when he went to check on it Sunday morning, this is what it looked like, so he put it in the freezer at that point. It tasted fantastic anyway!

What a great birthday, and to be able to spend it with my awesome family was fabulous! I appreciate the effort they all went to, to make it a special day for me. I received lots of phone calls, e-mails and facebook birthday wishes from friends too. It was a happy birthday, to me!

Christmas 2009

Chris and I woke up earlier than any of the kids, I have no idea why, except that a certain 3 year old little boy and a 5 month old miniature schnauzer had made their way into our bed in the middle of the night. After that, there's not a whole lot of sleeping, just moving around trying to get comfortable enough to go back to sleep. We walked into the family room to find that santa had indeed, found us. Not only had he found us, but he was very generous. We must have been really good this past year.
This is what we found. A "choo-choo train" for Jace.

Zhu Zhu pets and accessories for Baylie and Ali.

And, digital camera's for Makenna, Emily and Lindsay.

While opening presents, Baylie got a doll. That's the one thing she consistently asked for.

Jace holding up the extra tracks. (I actually went and woke him up not too much longer after Chris and I got up) It was no fun without the kids!

Jace, making sure Chris put his train together immediately. Ali and Emily going through their stockings.

Still going through stockings is Makenna, Baylie and Emily. Santa wrapped everything in the stockings this year, just to make sure it took a little longer to go through.

One of the kids' favorite parts of Christmas is the sibling exchange. They draw another name out of a bowl and that's who they get to buy a gift for. Makenna proudly holding up the Dr. Pepper Ali gave her. (she also got earrings and gum for her locker) Dr. Pepper is her favorite!

Sometime before we left to go shopping, Lindsay informed Jace that she wanted a new car for Christmas. When we got to the store, he was insistent about getting her a "new car!" So funny to watch her open!

(A nice new mustang! Nice job Jace)
Lindsay and Makenna with their new i-touches.

As I was busily preparing dinner, Bella was waiting under where the kids would sit hoping to "catch" some of their food!

We were able to have Chris's mom over for dinner as well as an old neighbor who we used to live next door to. We had a great dinner with lots of yummy food and it was a great day that we'll all be able to look back on with fantastic memories.

We had a turkey and a ham. Chris wanted ham but everyone else wanted turkey so, I did both.
Here's my yummy turkey.

We had a great Christmas and are so blessed to have been able to spend this day honoring our Savior's birth, together as a family. We know how lucky we are to have the truth of the gospel in our home and are so grateful for the sacrifice our Savior has made for each of us.