We saw Santa!

We got one visit in with Santa! Ward Christmas Breakfast! Note-1 girl at soccer practice, 1 girl on way to indoor soccer game! I haven't done my big soccer post yet!  Soccer, soccer, soccer!

School Pictures

This year we ordered a digital copy of the kids' school pictures, so now I have the copyright, and I can have printed what I like and as much as I like. Here are the kids' school pictures.

 (I think this is perfect! beautiful Ashley!)

 (okay-She looks really little here. Yes, Sarah is small, but not really a good pose, but still a good smile & pretty girl)

(ahh! Take off your jacket please!! But a good picture-handsome boy!)

Who wants a picture?

Maybe I should have taken sophie in for her picture too.....oh well.

Classic Fun Center/Charlies Birthday Party

Fall Break 2012. Two days off of school, plus weekend. Determined to "do something" besides sit at home. A friend from the neighborhood needed a gift certificate for a birthday party to Classic Fun Center used before it expired. So I planned to go with another neighborhood friend over fall break. Charlie's birthday was 2 weeks away, so we called it "Charlie's birthday party". He hasn't had a birthday party yet, so hmm, this was it! The party package included:

SKATING admission & rental

 

(We ordered a pizza & drinks) But we had our own Table, plates, cups, etc and a host to take care of us.

 ICE CREAM

 BALLOONS, A CARD, SONG REQUEST, 100 TICKETS, GAME TOKENS, and a few other things---> FREE=AWESOME! Best birthday ever!

I did rent this walker/skater helper for my kids. They have NEVER been roller skating! What! Duhh, They didn't know how to just put on the skates and go! Ash & Sarah ended up spending a lot of time on their knees, which meant some crazy bruises the next day! Charlie tried to skate, and didn't like it, so he went back to his scooter-SMART MOVE to bring that! The kids enjoyed taking time riding the scooter around the rink. The music was good, there were some games they played, and a few videos for the kids to watch. I really enjoyed the trip to Classic Fun Center. The girls got a hand at roller skating toward the end!

My new MUST-DO list with the kids- #1 teach them the Hokey Pokey   #2 Show them the Thriller music video & dance!

 The boys!

 Game time! Tickets baby!

  

It was a fun trip! I almost look forward to going there again with the kids, shh, dont' tell the kids, but momma has to go skating next time! It was something new, and cheap (that time) for us to try! PS-Most of the little toys/trinkets the kids purchased with their tickets are probably broken or gone.

Back to School!

Good morning and back to school! School started after Labor Day this year, so summer felt EXTRA long! Whew! Excited to send them out the door! Picture before we leave the house!

 Flag ceremony before school.

Fourth grader too cool for picture-or its fourth grade-down to business!

 Second Grade Sarah

 Charlie the Kindergartner

Sophie waiting her turn......

 And finally, she started her first day of preschool with her friend B. 



Gatrell Family Campout

BACK in August, we enjoyed a family vacation with my moms side of the family! (Okay-side note-Jimmy couldn't get the entire time off of work & Ashley had a soccer clinic to go to, so they joined us toward the end of the campout).

Lots of stress planning when into this week of fun, sun, food, and family! 6 campsites reserved 6 months in advance, meal planning, and packing. Whew! But it was great! It was a much needed break, and enjoyable and memorable-yes memorable-just look at these pictures-(how can I just choose a few.....I love them all) I grew up with special times spent with my cousins. I want my kids to have these memories with their first, and seconds cousins. I tell my younger cousins, they can plan these things when they are older, so their kids can have these memories.

Lots of time at the beach!

 Me & my baby and my cousin Katrina with her baby.

 Boat ride in Grandpa Jacks small sail boat (no sail on here). Yes-they were over the weight and person limit, but it was still fun for the kids!

Yes, turn your head upside down. Maybe I can flip it. A FORMER-not old-young women leader of mine growing up was on the lake the same time we were. She picked my kids & I up for a boat ride. It was awesome to see her, and chat with her some! Awesome!

 Special time with Grandpa Jack looking at the Pixarpedia-One of the best books ever!

 Lots of digging in the sand and NO, Sophie didn't dig this hole this deep!

Summer nights too hot to sleep in the tent, so cousin Ammon moved out to the table to sleep! Teenagers-awesome!

 Partial group shot

Grandma Shawna even got in the water to cool off at the campout! Wow!

 The Gatrell Girls-Mom & Daughters

Shawna

Aleta, Grandma Gatrell, and Tammy

 My kids, my mom, grandma, and me!

 Ahh-even Sophie warmed up to Uncle Trent by the end of the week!

 We love Pineview! Thank you again for another family campout!

Happy Anniversary

In August, we woke up early to celebrate our anniversary as a family! 12 Years!

 These handsome boys & their parents meet us for a tour of the Brigham City Temple Open House-see official details HERE.

 We enjoyed the tour, with the kids being spread out between 6 adults and 2 teenagers. The temple is a beautiful place. The kids liked the chandeliers, and cookies at the end of the tour. I liked the little peach details through-out the temple, the colors, and the materials used to decorate the interior. The temple had original artwork of the valley of Box Elder and Cache County. The temple and temple grounds were small, but perfect!

 My parents joined us, thanks to the Dixons having extra tickets!

It was the perfect place to spend our anniversary at a temple, where our marriage began.