Happy Birthday Dad!!

Today is my Dad's Birthday, the big 6-0! We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel last night, went bowling tonight, and then back to my parent's house for pie.





Bet you can't guess who is the one smiling and who is the grumpy, wouldn't look at the camera, crying the whole time girl...???




Happy Birthday DAD! Thanks for being such a fun Grandpa and the best DAD! We love you!!!

Merry Christmas!!

For Christmas Eve we went to my parents house and ate pizza, had a Family Home Evening lesson on "The Symbals of Christmas", watched "A King Is Born", and had a gingerbread house contest. The boys win every single year! The boys are going down next year, it's our turn girls!!

We had a wonderful Christmas! The kids are all at such a fun age that I couldn't sleep at all because I was so excited to see their faces when they woke up in the morning. Caiden actually slept in until 7:45 and the girls both woke up at about
8:15. We enjoyed our morning looking at what Santa brought, opening presents, and looking out the window because it was still snowing.

Kortlin opening a present


Kelsi opening her pj's from Grandma Nana



Kelsi


Kortlin
Then we headed over to my parents house and had a delicious breakfast followed by WAY too many presents! Derek had to work a 48 hour shift starting Christmas morning so in the afternoon we drove out to the fire station so he could give us a tour, which was really fun.

Kortlin

Kortlin and Uncle "Deek" driving the fire truck


Kelsi



We are so grateful for this beautiful Christmas season and for the opportunity it gives us to reflect on all that the Savior has done for us.

More snow pictures

Okay, enough with the snow already!!! We had another huge storm last night and I guess it's supposed to snow all week! We are definately going to have a white christmas this year!

Caiden, Rich, and Derek fixing the snowmans head for the 5th time because some punk kids in the neighborhood keep running by and knocking his head off!


Caiden and Keagan

Date night and reading

Saturday night Rich and I went to our first Arizona SunDogs hockey game in Prescott. We had front row seats on the glass, which could be good and bad for several reasons. I think the fans that sit that close up are hard core so it was pretty interesting who we sat by. The guys sitting to the right of us would belch every time they had a sip of their beer. It was the long, drawn out, nasty type of belching too, followed by the "F" bomb every second. There were some good fights but unfortunately the SunDogs were losing the whole time. The final score was 8-3 and overall we had a great time and can't wait to go again, but hopefully next time we will sit by some better fans. Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids so we could go!! We really appreciate it!


In other news, Caiden read his first book to me today all by himself. He is so proud of himself as are Rich and I. I started doing the Saxson Math program and Zoo Phonics (the reading program)in September with him. It is amazing how fast he is learning and he has really been enjoying it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We received about a foot of snow last night! The roads were way too bad for Rich to travel to work so he stayed home and we all went out and played in the snow! It was the girls first time and they LOVED it! Gotta love the "cool" snow clothes!

Kortlin


Kelsi


Kortlin had too much fun and didn't want to go inside



In the afternoon my mom came and watched the girls (THANKS MOM!!!) and me, Rich, Derek, and Caiden went sledding. We had such a fun time!!



Derek catchin' some air

Ward Christmas Party...

and a party it was!! Rich's brother, Chad, and a few guys from the ward put together a band. Everyone was shocked at first. I think they were expecting some light background music but instead had a full rock band! Everyone ended up loving it and had a great time!



Some of the kids formed a "mosh pit" as they were calling it and had fun dancing. Even all 3 of my kids joined in!




So then Santa makes his entrance and the girls kept pointing and trying to make their way over to see him. We ended up standing in line for about an hour and this is what happened...

Kortlin crying...


Kelsi crying...


And their older brother crying and running down the hall in the opposite direction. Oh well, there is always next year!

Elder Cardiff

Rich's nephew, Hayden, received his mission call to the Rome, Italy mission and reports to the MTC January 7, 2009. Rich's sister-in-law, September, and Hayden flew here from Georgia to spend time with family before he leaves. We played Wii, went to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, and watched old home videos. It was so much fun and we are glad Hayden and September came to visit us!

Aunt September and Kortlin


Kelsi, Rich, September, and Hayden at Buffalo Wild Wings


Caiden, Kenna, and Cayden


Rich, Hayden, and Chad


Playing Rockband at Chad and Becky's


Kortlin has become obsessed with Cayden lately. She will jump right out of my arms when she sees him. It's soo cute and he loves it! He is such a fun cousin and is really good with my kids.


Kelsi, Kortlin, Caiden


Caiden had just been chucked off the piano bench by someone (I won't mention any names, CHAD) and was on the floor crying and refused to get in the picture



Hayden, thanks for taking the time to come see us! You will be a great missionary! We are SO proud and love you! Good luck and we can't wait to see you in two years!!