Happy Birthday Charly!

Happy Birthday

I can't believe how fast our little "Charly Girl" has grown up

You are turning into a beautiful lady

Twelve things we love about you

1. Your positive look on life is truly refreshing.

2. Your beautiful blue eyes.

3. How much you enjoy playing and helping younger kids.

4. Your passion for anything you are trying to learn.

5. Your growing testimony.

6. That you are not afraid to give hugs to your Mom and Dad.

7. That life is "wonderful" for you.

8. Your willingness to do whatever you are asked to do.

9. We love watching the joy in your face when you dance.

10. All the fun games you come up with.

11. That you are such a great sister.

12. That you can make us laugh with your funny air head questions.

We love you and hope you have a great day and an even better year. Charly we are truly blessed to have you in our family thanks for being you no matter what the world says.

Grandma Linford

Last night our sweet Grandma Linford passed away

We are so grateful for her loving example she shared with each one of us.

She was a fun loving spunky lady.

She had a special spot for Marshal and always let him

come over and play with the train at Christmas time. From the time he was little they would wait till all the other kids were gone and then she would get down on the floor and run the electric train with him. I am positive she did these kind of things with all of them.

I have always felt loved by her from the minute I married in to Chucks family

I knew from the beginning I was now one of her granddaughters

She was the definition of a Lady she always talked with my girls about being lady like and how to do it. She always made them feel special.

Chuck was blessed to live next door to his Grandma and Grandpa growing up and has so many memories of the two of them. I have always enjoyed watching Chuck with her. Even these past few years she would call him and ask for Charles to come help her with things. He was always so willing to help her.

I am not sure why in life that it takes a death to make you reflect and to try to be a little better, be kinder and appreciate life more. Hopefully we will remember the lessons she taught us and we can grow from knowing her.

We will miss you Grandma!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARSHAL

Happy Birthday

It seems like yesterday when you were this little

15 things we love about Marshal

He is very thoughtful not a quality most boys his age have.

His laugh, now that his voice is deeper his laugh changed and it makes me smile.

He is Honest

He is Kind

Sense of Humor

He is a gentlemen

Willingness to learn

I love how he interacts with younger kids

True to his word

I think he is handsome

Now that he is getting older I love that he still likes to hang with his Mom and Dad he still talks to us.

Kendall loves that he always helps her make her bed.

Noelle loves that he will play catch with her.

Charly loves all his good advice he gives her and all their long talks when they are suppose to be in bed.

And most of all Chuck and I love his strong testimony and willingness to share it.

We love you and hope you have a great day.

We could not ask for a better son

Christmas in Review

Here is the past couple of weeks in review

The Sunday before Christmas at the Linford party we had a surprise visitor in fact when I say surprise I mean it none of the adults had told this helper to come to our party although they knew who he was. Kendall was first in line and she hopped right on his lap and started to whisper away in Santa's ear. She was giving him a few new items that she was not planning on telling Mom and Dad to see if she would get them.

My Guys

Traditional cookie making. I let them help roll out the dough they thought it would be more fun to put flour on their faces like the rice crispy commercial

Her flour on the face was real.

Marshal was on oven duty

Everyone does it

The line up

One of our latest wake ups ever 5:30

Chuck and I are all about letting them be kids and enjoying the journey so no we don't make them go back to bed.

Noelle's favorite present her fully automatic dart gun.

She is not your typical little girl!

Charly showing off her Bella and Edward dolls

Yes he sparkles!

Favorite two picture of the whole day

Kendall sleeping with her new twin dolls and she is so exhausted she doesn't even clear the bed

Nutcracker was the week after Christmas this year

Love watching her and the Nutty Nutcracker was the best but never want this cast again. She never got to enjoy her week off after Christmas.

We had a wonderful Holiday Season!

Christmas home tour

I was challenged to show a tour of my home decorated for Christmas by one of my crafty blogger friends and although Christmas is over I promised I would get this up before the new year.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Noelle learns to ski

Last Saturday Chuck was taking Marshal and a friend skiing

Noelle has wanted to ski for years but it never seemed to happen so Chuck decided it was the perfected day to teach her.

She was a natural and loved every minute

Seriously have you seen a happier child!

Noelle could spend hours out in the cold this is defiantly her sport!

Kendall is hoping to have her turn soon but I think teaching one kid at a time is the best way to go. After he has taken Noelle a few more times we will let her give it a try.

Pictures with Santa

Marshal says this picture is destined to be an AT&T ad, raising the bar!

Keep in mind I am on my tip toes. Never realized Charly is about to pass me up.

I Love that my ward does pictures every year!

Christmasland Show

Yesterday was our winter show all three girls did a wonderful job.

This year several of our neighbors have joined our studio so this morning at church when the primary kids went to sing for the Christmas program one of the little neighbor boys grabbed Charly before they sang and told her that she did a wonderful job and that he loves watching her dance.

I feel very loved that my Mom's sisters make such an effort to come watch the girls.

This was Charly's first performance on her toe shoes she was so excited to have them there to watch her. She put in so much work for this show. With nutcracker going on she had missed so many classes that she would practice at home she made arrangements to meet at the studio and get in extra practice whenever possible. She did an incredible job you would have never know that she missed any classes.

As a mother I think it is fun to watch your kids be involved, the part I love most is the life long lessons they learn. It does not matter if they are playing the piano, playing a sport or learning something new there is always a greater concept being taught. In dance they have learned to be confident, graceful, to have good posture and how to learn from those around you instead of being snotty or jealous. And last but not least the friendships they are gaining.

I had to get a picture of our very supportive Dad