Happy New Year!

Saying goodbye to a very trying but wonderful 2009! It was such a crazy year for our family in so many ways but looking back I cant help but see the blessings and Lord's hand in our lives. How grateful I feel for the countless opportunities I have had for growth this past year. I feel very fortunate to have the family and friends that I do and to have the gospel in my life. Everyday is a new day because of the gift of the Atonement and I want to remember this each day in the new year. We live in such a crazy world and I often think about what is to come of it when my children are my age. On the other hand I think what a special time it is to be living. To see the gospel spreading and the temples being built by the handfuls. How blessed we should feel to be a part of this time on earth.
I look forward to the New Year. I know that challenges will come but I have seen how much I have grown from the challenges we faced last year and I hope I can take them in stride and with grace:) Maybe. That is a good thought.
I dont like making New Year's resolutions only because I feel that they are made just to be broken. But this year I think I might make a few of my own.
1.) I want to get our food storage where it needs to be. I had the excuse in our old house that "I didnt have the room" Well, now I cant use that excuse anymore so I am going to work in it.
2.) Read more books!
3.) Take more time for myself. This might be the one I break because I do have 3.5 kids and time for myself almost doesnt exist!
I hope all of you have a Happy, Healthy New Year. I wish that you may all find happiness in the simple everyda experiences that life has to offer:)

Flip it...

My dad and Mary got me a Flip camcorder for Christmas and so i just had to try it out this morning when Caleb and Brynley went sledding in the alley behind our house. I love this little gadget! It was so easy to download and upload the video onto the blog:)) My new favorite toy. Im sure everyone will get sick of me posting cute videos of my kids on here because it was so easy to do I will do more of them!

Gingerbread Houses...Homemade

My sister Heather came into town from Boulder the other day and everytime she comes home she puts her talent to work for us. For those who dont know she is a professinal chef, she even trained in pastries in France. She made homemade gingerbread houses with the kids yesterday. She makes the gingerbread dough from scratch and even the special frosting. She broughta ton of goodies for them to decorate with and she gave each of the kids a pastry bag filled with frosting and let them have free reign. They all were so into making their own little house their way. It was so fun to just sit and watch them at work:) They all turned out so cute and unique. I love how different my kids are. Here are some shots of their fun last night. Thanks Auntie!



I liked Caleb's "snow' effect he came up with using coconut.

Aubs made a garden with gumdrops in her yard:)

Bryn used a whole jar of sprinkles on her "grass"! She also kept putting candy inside her house "for later". Funny girl.

Angels and Snow

We actually got snow around christmas time! Yay! It looked so beautiful today and the kids were overjoyed with the snow on the ground when they woke up. The girls wated no time in trying to get outside to play in it. Too bad I couldnt find the kids' snow pants and gloves until later when I remembered where I had put them when we moved! Glad I found them for the kids to use later on. I swear I cant remember crap right now!
Caleb had Jordan over and they had snowball fights and played in the alley with soem kids sledding down a hill behind the houses. I can remember as a kid having a white christmas made it seem even more magical. I hope it continues to snow for a few days and maybe we can go sledding or mitch can take the kids snowboarding next week:)

The Nutcracker

My handsome boys were in the Nutcracker this year put on by Mann Dance Academy, that is owned by Mitch's Aunt's Judy and Becky. They asked Mitch to help out and play the President/Clara's dad and Caleb who takes tap played Fritz, Clara's brother that breaks the Nutcracker. Both of them did so good! Mitch looked so handsome all dressed up in a white tuxedo and did such a good job in his dancing. I didnt know he could dance so well:)
Caleb has such great stage presence as an actor. He doesnt look nervous at all and has such great facial expressions. Good job Guys! I really enjoyed it.

The Man Trip

For christmas I wanted to give Mitch something other than the usual book, pj pants and clothes, so when I heard him talk about this game between the Vikings and Cardinals I just knew that's what he would love! So as a christmas present to my boys I sent them off on their first ever boyss weekend getaway. They had such a great time together and I know they will remember it always. Thanks Dad for hooking them up in the hotel where all the players were staying. Caleb was in the same elevator as Kurt Warner and didnt even know it was him until he saw a picture of him on the TV! I asked Caleb if he said anything to him and and he said "He said Hi" And I asked him what did you say back and he acted annoyed with me and replied,"I said Hi back Mom." Oh, that would be a good reply:)
While driving down to Albuquerque, Mitch had his driver's side window fall down into the door and so he had to drive down and back home in freezing weather with his window down. Im not even going to mention the 180 dollar speeding ticket got, oh wait too late. It was quite the adventure for them!
I would like to think of this trip as in the mastercard commercial:
Vikings/Cardinals tickets $370
Airline tickets $250
Broken window repair $175
Speeding ticket $180
Having a memorable weekend with son: PRICELESS!
I sure hope I get something good for Christmas:)

Here are some pics of their wild weekend.

Forever at Disney

The Lybrook's have officially made our mark at Disneyland! My Dad and Mary got us a brick at the entrance to Disneyland. So the next time you are there...check us out;)

Photogenic.

Yesterday before church I attempted to take some shots of the kids for our chrsitmas card and wanted to share a few of my favorites.