Our Christmas letter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

We hope you Christmas was wonderful and that you were able to spend time with your friends and family. Santa was very good to us this year. The kids got a ton of presents (thanks Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and Cousins) and were truly spoiled rotten! They got toys, clothes, games, puzzles, a 7ft air hockey table, sleeping bags, sports gear, a dollhouse, a vacuum, Lego's, and books. Everyone was extremely generous and we thank you so much.

My mom was able to come out and spend Christmas with us and that was a real treat. We haven't been able to get a lot of family to come out so when they do, it is great. We did a lot of shopping, cooking, and eating! It was wonderful having her here and thanks to all the rest of the family for being supportive of letting her come.

This is going to be another exciting year for us. We have alot going on with school and dance and church. Also Savannah will start some speech therapy after the first of the year to help her with her pronunciation of words and hopefully work on her studdering. I will keep you updated on how that goes.

Ben will likely be up for a promotion this spring/summer and that will mean another move. We are not sure where or when, but we are excited to go somewhere new and feel like we (I) can put down some roots. Hopefully it will be a fairly long term commitment, but who knows.

Austin is playing basketball right now. He is on a team through the Parks and Rec and Ben is his coach. He is doing well and having a really good time. I think Ben is enjoying it also. I think this is more what he had in mind when we had kids. Lots of hands on stuff and activities.

I am staying busy with the kids and loving being able to be home. I am still prayerfully pondering what I should do about finishing my education and when to get moving ahead with that. I am sure we will wait until we get moved and settled, but even that doesn't seem too far off.

This has been a great year and I think 2008 will offer lots of exciting, trying, and wonderful opportunities for our family. I will do my best to keep you updated.

Until we see you again,
all our love,
Ben, Tessie, Austin and Savannah

Gingerbread house

This is the gingerbread house the kids did while I was gone. They did a great job.

Back by popular demand.....

I get alot of flack for not posting enough pics of the family on here, especially pics of Ben and I, so I found this one. It was taken when we went rock climbing at Red Rock Canyon last spring. No, I didn't shower before this picture was taken. Yes, I know my posture looks like that of a little old lady, and I also know that I need to have bangs because I have an unually large and shiny forehead. FYI, I am wearing a sports bra, I do actually have two boobs, it just doesn't look like it. Other than that, great picture. Glad I posted it on the worldwide web for all to see. I guess it is better than some of the "other" pictures of me floating around the web, but we won't discuss those! LOL!!!

My how time flies!

This is a picture from Christmas 2006, Savannah is 2 and Austin is not quite 5.

(And no, her hair isn't greasy, it was wet from a bath!)

This is a picture from Christmas 2005.

Savannah was 14 months and Austin was almost 4.

These are all the grandkids on Ben's side.

Our Weekend

This has been a really busy time of year for us. Seems like we have a million things to do everyday, but somehow we manage to get them all done and still have a little left over for one another.

Austin has started basketball. This is his first time playing on a b-ball team and he was less than thrilled that we signed him up. We did find out 2 other boys from kindergarten are playing in the same league so that helped. He is really excited now however, because (drum roll please) Ben is going to be his coach!!! They were just desperate for coaches and Ben agreed. Now Austin is so excited, everything he does and says is all about b-ball and Nike. (I am not sure why Nike, but he is literally obsessed with it and wants to know if all his shoes and clothes are Nike.) They had their first practice on Saturday and I guess it went well. I will post pics of him in his uniform when he gets it.

Savannah and I had a busy weekend as well. We went to a birthday party on Saturday morning and then at 1pm we went to a special Mommy and Me Holiday Tea party put on by the P&R. It was so fun. We got all dressed up in our best holiday dresses. We colored pictures and had a fashion show, then we had snacks, made a picture frame, and took our picture together. It is a really good picture, but they took it on a Polaroid, so I can't scan it in, it is too fuzzy.

It was a good weekend. Busy, but so much fun!

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and getting into the Spirit of the Season, I know we are.

I promise...

I promise to get something different put up on this blog, I just don't really have anything to post. The kids are making a gingerbread house, so that will definately be picture worthy. Until then, know that I miss you all and will post again real soon!

Tessie

I am a Cold Weather Wimp

Let it be known, thruout the land, that I have become a cold weather wimp. And by cold weather, I mean anything below 55 degrees!

I use to tell everyone that I loved the cold. The colder, the better. I love hot cocoa and toasted bagels with cream cheese, I love fires in the fireplace. I love sweaters, coats, gloves, scarves, boots, jeans, I love it all. But I have come to realize I really only love the food and clothes, not the weather.

Living here has ruined me for any other part of the US!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't have any pics to post from Thanksgiving, but I do have alot to say. First of all we got together with some friends from church and split the cooking. I was responsible for the stuffed mushrooms, homemade stuffing (my mother in laws recipe, the best stuffing I have ever had), candied yams, tripleberry pie, and homemade rolls. Jeni made the turkey breast. We didn't do a whole turkey because, admit it, we really only like the white meat. She also did the gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and homemade cranberry relish and she hosted, so she had to clean.

It was great, the kids ate good and played well.

We came home, did some dishes and then I was ready to get out my Christmas stuff. Our weather finally turned chilly and it felt as close to winter as it will get here. We bought the most beautiful live tree and got it put up on Saturday. I also got to go and do some shopping with some girlfriends on Saturday night.

It was a great weekend and I am ready for a great holiday season.

I have been tagged!

Okay, Jaime tagged me and now I have to tell 6 things about myself. I don't have 6 friends that blog, so I will only tag those that do.

1. I am the youngest daughter from a family of 4 kids. I would say I have a pretty darn good relationship with all my siblings and my parents. I also try to keep in touch with most of my cousins.

2. When I was 15, Ben had a friend come up to me and tell me that he liked me. I wasn't sure which one from the basketball team Ben was and knowing the sort of guy I attracted, I was just sure he was the short dorky one with curly hair. I told his friend some lie about being grounded to tried and blow him off. Then a few days later I found out it was Ben, and I had to tell another lie to his friend about how I got myself ungrounded so I could go to the circus with him.

3. I don't know what my natural hair color is. I have been dying, highlighting, coloring and bleaching it for so long, as soon as I see the roots (and the gray's) I run to Walmart for a new box of whatever color is on sale. Currently, I am Loreal Performing Preferece, medium brown.

4. I ran my first 5K in June and did it 33 minutes. I am running my next 5K on Dec. 1 and hope to beat my time, even if only by a few seconds.

5. For the first time in my entire life, I think I might actually consider myself pretty.

6. I have been blessed in my life to have made great friends where ever I have lived. I still keep in touch with friends from NC, IA, UT, and I have amazing friends here that I am sure I will continue to love forever.

There, 6 things maybe you didn't know about me.

Austin's Soccer Team

This is Austin's soccer team this season. Our last game was Saturday. He is gearing up for basketball, which starts in just a few weeks. I think he will enjoy it. I will keep you posted.

Sorry about the picture on the video

Sorry that the picture is no good on the video. I quess I didn't have the best lighting, but at least you can hear them and I quess that is the funny part.

I am not sure how they learned this song, but here it is.

Air Show at Nellis AFB

On Saturday after Austin's soccer game and after Savannah's dance class we went to the Air Show at Nellis AFB. It was a fun day, nice and sunny and warm. We got to watch the Thunderbirds perform all their crazy stunts and we were able to walk thru some of the big cargo planes and sit in some of the smaller planes. This is the kids in one of the cargo planes. Savannah is making her typical face and Austin is too busy checking out something else to pay attention. It was a fun day!

Austin at soccer

Here is Austin warming up for one of his soccer games.

Austin's Soccer picture

Here is our soccer star! Go Force!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to you!

Trick or Treat!!!

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it Super Austin!

Trick or Treat!

All Hail Princess Savannah

Austin's Costume Parade at School

This is the video from Austin's Costume parade at his Elementary school.

The Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch on Friday. Let me explain what I mean by "the Pumpkin patch. " It is a section of the Kmart parking lot. They put up a fence, lay down some hay, set up some rides and sell way over priced pumpkins. This is what fall is like in the desert. I know it doesn't seem like fall in that the kids are wearing the same clothes they were wearing back in April, but I digress. It is "fall" here and the temp is getting cooler. It was only 84* on Friday. It was really fun, and yes, I had to put sunblock on them! AAAAHHH, fall. Good times!

Costume Party

The kids were invited to Halloween costume party last week. Savannah was a ballarina and Austin was a knight in shining armor. They were so cute!!! Savannah starts her dance classes next month and we can hardly wait! Austin is going to take some swimming lessons in Feb. to help him with his stroke development. We are having so much fun!

Primary Program

Sunday at church was the yearly Primary Program. For those who don't know what that is, it is one Sunday a year where the children at our church put on the Sacrament meeting portion of our services and review what they have been learning all year long. The theme of this years lessons was "I'll Follow Him in Faith". Austin's speaking part was "As I serve others, I serve Jesus Christ, and show my love for him". He nailed it.

He looked really handsome in his new shirt and tie and Savannah looked equally as beautiful in her fall dress. Savannah is still in the nursery til January, so she didn't have a part, but she will next year.

We are really proud of Austin and how hard he worked to learn all the songs, his part and how to sit so reverently.

Savannah's Fashion Show picture

Here is Savannah's fashion show picture. She was first down the "red carpet" and was a little shy, but that didn't last long and the rest of the girls strutted their stuff pretty good. Isn't she pretty in pink?

Short video of Savannah and friends blowing out the candles!

Look at this ring!

Savannah's Glamour Girl Party!!!

This is the first of many pics I will post of Savannah's Glamour Girl Party. It was such a hoot! At the party, the girls got to pick out princess gown and then they did the girls hair, put on some light, shimmery makeup and painted their nails. They had a huge selection of dresses, shoes, tiaras, bowas, gloves, wands, and jewels. Then the girls did a fashion show and played Pass the Glass slipper (much like hot potato). After that, they decorated picture frames and they were able to take a picture of themselves from the fashion show home with them. We had cake and ice cream and then opened presents. She got lots of baby stuff and stuff to go with her new kitchen. For party favors, they got small sparkly purses filled with nail polish, candy jewelry, and stickers. I can't say enough about how much we loved this!

Citizenship award

Austin received the Citizenship Award at school today. He got it for making good decisions in the classroom, playing fair, and being a good role model for others. We are so proud of him.

Babysitter for Hire!

Austin has a way with the ladies, especially those 3 and under. He is so tender with them, they just really love him. This is Austin with our friends little girl, Rowan. I knew she was tired, but when I tried to pick her up and take her to lay down she didn't want to leave Austin. I left her sitting beside him on the couch and before I knew it she was asleep on him and he was loving every second of it. He said, "I can't wait to be a dad and have my own little girls." He is so tender hearted and sweet, he is going to make one heck of a dad.

Day of Service

Saturday was deemed Service Day. We joined up with hundreds of other volunteers from many areas of the city and lots of denominations to try and do 10,000 man hours of service in one day. We decided to join the group that painted over graffiti in one of the lower income areas of town. We took the kids with us because we believe it is important to teach your children to serve others. As you can see we all had a good time. We accomplished a lot of good today and even the kids could feel it. Austin wanted to go and help out at some of the other projects. They had more than 30 projects going on. You could help with some Habitat for Humanity homes, you could help repaint different churches in older parts of town, you could pick up trash, donate gently used kids clothes, help do work at some lower income elementary schools, and more. We picked painting graffiti because you know how we love to paint. It was a great day, followed off by an awesome free concert in the evening. It really was a great day!

Savannah and mom

Normally, I would never put pics of myself up for public viewing, but I wanted to put this one up because it is a good one of me and little girl. My little girl, she takes my breath away!

Birthday pictures

These are of our little girl on her 3rd birthday! She picked the cake (strawberry with chocolate frosting and those yummy, hard candy cake decorations) herself. She even helped me make it. She got some really nice stuff. She got pink embroidered boots, make-up, play dough, Cooties, and the kitchen set. She is such a good girl and brings so much joy into our lives, she is my sunshine. Happy Birthday Tiny!

Savannah turns 3!

Savannah got a new pretend kitchen set from here Nana and Grandma and this was her reaction. She literally sequels with joy! THANK YOU!

Austin's loses first tooth!!!

Tonight while chewing gum that he was not supposed to have, Austin lost his first tooth. It has been loose for over a week and when I checked it yesterday it still seemed really well attached. Alas, it must have endured endless hours of tongue wiggling to loosen it up to the point where it just fell out. This is a huge milestone in his life and he is really happy. Can you tell by the grin?

Red Rock Canyon

This was taken this weekend at Red Rock Canyon just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. We went for a picnic with some friends and hiked the Children's Discovery Trail. It was so much fun, the kids were great and the weather was unbeatable!

For starters

Wow, I can't believe I am doing this. But with all the moving and meeting of new people, I think this is going to be the only way to really stay in touch with all the people we have come to know and love!

I will try and update really often to show recent pics of the kids and how our life is going and all the crazy adventures we are always going on.

Welcome to Conkey adventures, here we go!