Merry Christmas??!

OK, so I just put the Halloween costume box away...how did Christmas sneak up so quickly? Usually we have our fresh tree up and decorated by the first Monday night in December...this year I'm running way behind having only just yesterday decorated the inside of the house. The annual Nativity Arts and Music Festival where I sing every year has already come and gone, we've been to one Christmas Party, and we had the opportunity to take our entire family to the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater to see the Christmas Show. Camille and I hit Victoria Gardens for one of her little friends birthday parties...it's so beautiful there with all the lights adn the big tree...I feel like the month is literally slipping away. I have to say though that I'm enjoying my family. We just watched "Elf" for family night this week and cracked up, and we are going Saturday to get our tree. The kids always have hot chocolate the night we decorate the tree and I give each of them their ornaments for the year. I love the simple things in life!

I AM SO THANKFUL!

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving with our family! Mom, Dad, Lisie, Jason and their boys came over to our house... then we joined some of Rods family later over at Joell and Devon's. Lots of delicious food and some good laughs. I am thankful for so many things... my family for sure. I love them so much and I am enjoying every moment spent with them. I'm grateful I'm close with my sisters- Becky and Elise. I couldn't imagine not having a relationship with them. We have a great time when we're together. Our children are growing up so fast and I'm trying to concentrate on being in the moment when I'm with them...never letting anything distract me from noticing their faces, their laughs, the way they tell a story. We all went to the movies together yesterday and I love that they still like to be with just the family (especially the older 2!) I'm thankful for my Heavenly Father and the many blessings that He so freely lays right in our laps. I see them so clearly all the time. I'm thankful for the gospel and the way that our lives are shaped when we live it fully. The reason there is so much love, light and happiness in our family is directly related to our willingness to live the gospel and turn from the things that the rest of the world so easily accepts as ok. I'm thankful for my good friends. I am blessed to have just the right amount of quality friends around me to share my life experiences with. I'm thankful for my husband. I cannot deny that I got the better end of the deal, yet he still loves me like I was the most perfect woman on the earth. I could go on and on about the things I'm thankful for...food, a place to live, my eyesight, my hearing, that I can walk and run...the list is endless! I am so thankful.

ARVILLA WESTOVER SCOTT...

December 12, 1906- November 5, 2009

We were honored to be able to travel to Utah this weekend to attend the funeral of Rodney's Grandmother. The kids are very blessed to have been able to spend time with their great-grandmother many times before she passed away. She left this earth just shy of 103 years old! We got to learn more about this wonderful woman and visit with many family members while we were there. Grama Scott loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren! More than that she loved the Lord and the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We'll miss you Grama Scott!

Camille...or as we like to call her... "Millie"

Millie is our baby and as the 4th child she is very independant and outgoing. She loves play dates with her friends and enjoys being with her family. Millie is 6 and in 1st grade at Magnolia Elementary. She is fun and very loving... We can't imagine life without her!

Grace

Grace doesn't ever just walk into a room...she cartwheels in...or prances...or does a front walk-over. Named after my grandmother Grace, she is a 4th grader at Magnolia Elementary and has a whole bunch of good friends. She does well in school and takes good care of her little sister. Grace loves to dance, play at the beach, and is a great singer. We adore her.

Sydney

Sydney is 12 and in Junior High at Pioneer. She loves spending time with her family and friends, playing softball, texting on her phone, and she has a beautiful singing voice. Syd turned 12 in August...it was exciting to see her enter the Young Women's Program at church. Syd has such a bubbly personality and is so fun to be around! She is a great sister and she adds so much joy to our family.

Connor

Connor is our oldest and we couldn't be more proud. He is awesome. He loves to listen to music, play his guitar and hang out with family and friends. A freshman in high school, he goes to seminary at 5:30 in the morning and plays water polo for Upland High. He is also working on becoming an Eagle Scout. We love Connor's outgoing personality and how he's tackled this new, rigorous schedule this year.