Happy Birthday Rod!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life!!!

Thanks for making me laugh and working so hard to give me the things that I want and need! Most of all, THANKS FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Halle Turns 7!

So Halle wanted to have an American Idol Birthday Party last year, but since life got complicated around her Birthday, we decided to wait and have it this year. Here's a picture of her invitations. I think they turned out pretty cute!We had 11 girls at the party. We divided them in groups of 4 and taught them a song and they made up a dance to go with it. Then they performed it for all of us. I was really impressed with how brave they all were. Only one little girl didn't want to do it, but warmed up a little and sang the song with her group. We also played a musical microphone game. This is when you pass the microphone and when the music stops, the person holding the microphone has to sing her favorite song. The girls loved this and they would all sing along if they knew the words. We have such a cute bunch of girls in our neighborhood. All but two of the party attendees were born in the same year! There are so many girls in our neighborhood, we couldn't even consider inviting friends from school and dance.What picture taking session would be complete without a goofy-faced picture!?!?

Halle loved all the attention and all the presents!! I don't know how I get myself into throwing Birthday parties and inviting sooo many kids, but to see the excitment in my childrens' eyes, makes it all worth it in the end!!

Here are videos of the groups performing their songs. They're not great recordings, but I thought some of the Mom's would enjoy seeing their girls in action!!

Considering they spent less than 30 minutes working on the songs, I thought they did wonderful jobs!! It was such fun!

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's House

This year we headed to Idaho to spend Christmas with my Mom and Dad. We had a great time and loved being able to share the holiday with them. (It's been over 18 years since I've spent a Christmas with them.) My Mom always works so hard to make sure we have a good time and keep busy.

We decorated a Gingerbread House.

We opened our first gifts on Christmas Eve. I bet you can't guess what they were....

New PAJAMAS!! Of Course!

The kids love opening their stockings.

This is Halle when she opened her IPOD!!!

Some of us flew around the house like Superheros!

They wore these capes for hours. Thanks Grandma for the great gift.

We ate a yummy breakfast!

We ate a yummy dinner with lots of Martenelli's, of course!

We acted very goofy!

We painted ceramic figures.

They turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful Christmas. We loved spending it with you!

One year...

It's hard to believe it's been a year since my brother Jimmy left this earth life. It's definitely been a difficult year for many of us. We seem to still have a long way to go as far as understanding and coping with it all. It's definitely helped me to have my family around for support.

Last Sunday we wrote notes to Jimmy, attached them to balloons, and let them go from the cemetery. It's a good way for some of us to think of him and also to express some of the thoughts we have about the whole situation.

Today we also had the great opportunity to go to the temple and do Jimmy's work. It's nice to think that he's able to have some more opportunities available to him now. My family ready to head to the cemetery.It was nice to have Sherrie and Mike there with us.Sherri and the girls, with Lauren's friend, Shaunie.Jeremy and Meg with Lexi and Brecken. It may seem kind of corny, but it really is a nice way to think of Jimmy. It is also a great way to express some thoughts and therapeutic to actually write them down.

I hope this next year provides many more opportunities for emotional healing. I also hope that our family will be strengthened as we all try to deal with this difficult situation we've had to face.

Merry Christmas!!

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!! Thanks for being a part of our lives.

Wesley, Connor, Rod, Halle, Parker, Julie, and Braden

PReFeReNCe

So I can't believe that I have a child old enough to go to a school dance, let alone a FORMAL school dance! I was so excited when a few weeks ago, Wesley's friend Brittany brought over a jar of Hershey kisses and hugs and a note that said, " I don't want kisses, I don't want hugs, I just want to go to Preference with one of my buds!" As you've probably figured out, Preference is a dance that the girls asks the boys. I have tried to get Wesley to ask a girl to the previous dances, but he has always refused. I think he was so suprised at how much fun they had. I hope this dance will give him the desire to go to the rest.

Where does the time go? My little boy... giving a corsage to a girl!!! They were so cute. I know I embarrassed him with all the pictures, but I just couldn't resist! They looked so cute all dressed up. The silver and black looked so great together. I was thrilled that he didn't have to wear a Tux!