Sunday, December 28, 2008

Boy, How they change

I was going through some old memory cards and uploaded some pictures of the kids from 5 years ago. I thought I would post some pictures because they have grown so much since then!!
In this first on, you will see Nate, Nick and Caitlyn circa 2004 up at Heritage Theater in Perry, Utah. Kris and I were doing the show "something's afoot"
They would have been
Nate: 12, Nick 10 and Caitlyn 8

Then...and now


Next, Nick getting his arrow of light, 2004, Clearfield, Utah
HE LOOKS SO LITTLE, compared today

And now...he even has a little mustache


here is one of Caitlyn at her (i think) 9th birthday party. She looks so young and has really crazy hair. This is with her cousin, Brandi


And of her now...this was Christmas day


And then there is Nate: I think he was almost 13 in this...amazing how they grow from a child into an adult in such a short amount of time


Now: Christmas day, hanging out with grandma...notice who sits closest to her? He has a soft spot in his heart for his grandma



Does time fly? You bet it does. Not so much from day to day, but when you look back, whether its 6 months or 5 years...wow, there is a difference. Hold onto each moment.
Life is not made up of how many breaths you take, but of how many moments take your breath away

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Family Christmas Letter 2008

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even the 2 dogs, although the 2 hamsters were a bit squeaky in their hamster houses.
The Children, who are not really children any more, as two of them tower of me and one is now the same height, were snuggled deep down in their beds, while visions of ….hmmm, girls, boys, games, Christmas vacation, sleeping in and all sorts of things, danced in their heads.
And Kris in his jammies and I in mine too, were out before the kids for a short winters nap.
When all of a sudden there arose such a clatter, The dogs were up again, barking at the raccoons in the back yard and whining to go out at 1 am, that sleep no longer mattered. So up I jumped to let them both out and hopped on the computer to send greeting about.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear, email from friends and family so dear. Catching us up on their lives far and near, I love it when those emails appear.
So I thought to myself, it is our turn to share and catch you up on our life here and there. This year has been busy, and trying and long, but I can hardly believe it is nearly gone.
Kris spent the first 2 months out of town, with work in Kansas and Maine, and lots of snow did abound. He worked and he worked and even got a promotion, thank heavens for planes, he didn’t have to travel by locomotion. Taxworks is good, a great job to be had, but most of all he likes being dad. With the move to Kaysville in September this year, he is back in Young Mens, without a single tear!
Nate is sixteen, need we say any more, with a drivers license he is gone out the door. He’s a junior this year and Old Davis High, But his heart is at Clearfield…he’d make a good spy. He plays his guitar and cello Hum Hum, but now he wants to learn to play drums.
Nick is in 9th grade at Fairfield jr high and when we talk about extending himself, he gives us a sigh! His new favorite thing is learning to Scuba Dive, and he cannot wait to get going, it is making him thrive. He still loves to camp and scouting is cool, if he gets a job at Camp Bartlett, he will certainly drool
Caitlyn, that Diva, has a big plan, to keep singing and acting in the Music Man. Her school is doing this fabulous play so nobody stop her or get in her way. She was just called to be 1st counselor in her Beehive class, She is turning into a beautiful wee bonnie lass.
And we cannot forget the two big black dogs, who bark and lick and jump over logs, who wade in the creek in our new back yard and who work at being lovable, they work at it hard. They protect us and love us and try to sneak all the food, but they really are great at improving our mood after long days at work and school we come home and cuddle up with them and give them a bone.
And lastly, there’s mom, the queen bee of all, who is working and trying to stay on top of it all. The Nursery’s the place you’ll find me at church with all of those little ones on my lap they will perch. I had a bright light go on in my head, I think I am crazy and maybe half dead, but I think I will venture back to school this next year, to learn more of teaching and music, it fills my heart with cheer!
So that is our life, from this 2008, We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope your New Year is GREAT!!

With love
Kris, Cheryl, Nate, Nick and Cailtyn

Friday, December 19, 2008

Merry Christmas

Finally.................. Finally school is out, all my choir concerts are over (and let me say, they were quite successful) and now, now, I am starting to come down from the very frenzied week and month we have had!! It has been crazy.
I had the opportunity to stop and think about some things on the way home from work today. It was a long, slow, snowy drive (and very icy as well). I had on a great cd, Hilary Weeks, The collection. Well, As I drove, I started to think about the reason for this season and thought I would post some pictures that sum up my thoughts.
First and foremost, I am thankful for my Savior. With out him, none of this earth life would make sense. There would be no reason to be striving, working, repenting, proving or trying. How grateful I am for him. For all that he brings to our mortal experience.

Second, I am grateful for my Husband and my kids. They are amazing people in my life. Why I am so lucky to have a husband who adores me and loves me, despite my flaws, is beyond me. I am deeply humbled to know him. He has an amazing heart and a great capacity to understand and love. My kids are 3 of the most amazing humans beings I know, and I get the privledge of being their mom! Nate is growing into this amazing man. He is funny and sarcastic and spiritual and sweet. Nick is sensitive and sweet and the most amazing reader I know and is so pure of heart. Caitlyn is spunky and sassy and driven and dynamic.

Next would be my sister, Diane. Unfortunately I cannot find a digital picture of her on my computer...so I will have to add one later...
But, Diane is my Hero. She is amazing and strong. She is a leader and has the spirit with her. She keeps moving forward and I love hearing her talk and listening to her recount spiritual experiences. She is amazing. She teaches 6th grade, she is the mom of 4 amazing boys. She is the grandma to the cutest grandson. She is a cancer survivor and has rescued me on more than one occasion. I love her!
SNOW...I have to be grateful for snow. It cleanses the air and purifies. It washes. It is cold and magical and wonderlike. I love pine trees covered in snow. I am not a huge fan of shoveling snow or driving on frozen snow, but there is just nothing that compares to a first snowfall

My dogs
How crazy and big and goofy and spoiled are these two?? But when you have had a crappy day, or week, or month...they are the first ones there to wag their tails and lick every part of your face and who are more than willing to snuggle in. They do NOT judge or wish I was different, or better, or skinnier, or a better...anything....they just love, unconditionally. And even if they have to go out at 1 am, there is nothing better than doggie kisses and loves.These pictures are of Zoe after she had cut her leg open. she had this huge cone on her head and she would ram everybody with it. But she would go out in the snow and get snow in the cone and then flip it out. Pretty funny. The other is of Zeus when we got him, we forget how cute and innocent he was...so I thought this would be a good reminder picture

















I am also grateful for great friends who are amazing examples to me. You know who you are!!! Especially Deanna, Teresa, Leona, Helena, Carmen and Brittany

I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, a Christ filled Christmas and a joyous New Year!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Its Been TOO Long

Well, now that my holiday concert is over, I can post again. Which I will do....hopefully by this weekend. Just know that we are alive and ready for the break!!