Gateway Children's Museum

Grandma Neff decided to take the kids to the children's museum for her Christmas party this year. The kids all had fun. Janae claimed to be bored, but from the pictures, she seems to be having a good time.

Christmas Morning 2010

Janae's pile from Santa. She got an American Girl doll that looks like her, ds games, books, a puffer vest and other clothes.

Santa did not disappoint Addyson. She got the one thing she wanted, A Fur Real Friends Walking my Pup, an American Girl doll that looks like her, a scooter and clothes.

I got a Kindle with a case and Scott was shocked to find a new fly rod and reel.

Christmas Eve 2010

We started Christmas Eve with a breakfast with my family at our house. It was nice to have the rest of the day and evening to ourselves. We decorated a gingerbread house, fought a little, and decorated some more. I mean, that's what the girls did! After dinner, we drove around to look at lights and luminaries, the girls had never seen the bags before. Before we were even out of the driveway, Addyson was asking if we could go back home to open presents. She was beyond excited!
Both girls bought a pillow pet for the other, but didn't know it. On the way downstairs, Addyson mentioned that it would be funny if they had gotten each other the same thing. She was sure surprised when she opened her present from Janae and figured out that her prediction was true! It's so fun to see how excited they get. I hope they never lose that excitement!

Breakfast is Served!

The girls decided to prepare breakfast one day while Scott and I were still in bed. They were so pleased with themselves! The girls and their dad enjoyed a great breakfast! Notice how nicely the fruit is arranged.

Colored Snow??

Being the cool mom that I am, I got some squirt bottles and spray bottles one day. Janae told me that it wasn't fair that I was buying stuff for myself when I wouldn't but stuff for her. She quickly changed her tune when I set the bottles filled with colored water on the step while they were playing in the snow. They had a blast making pictures with all the colors. This is yellow snow that would be okay to eat!

Sugar High

We made cookies one day during Christmas break. Looking at some of these cookies makes my teeth hurt! Which one is your favorite?

Buttercream frosting, sprinkles and nerd

Janae's gingerbread girls with hairdos

WoW! That's a lot of sugar!

Rag Quilt

I decided back in July that I wanted to make Skyler and Carrie a blanket for their one year anniversary. I bought the material and started cutting the squares. They came at the end of August and I was not even done cutting yet. I had to keep getting more material because I wanted to make it bigger. Keep in mind that this is the very first rag quilt I ever attempted to make. Most people start small with practice. Not me, I wanted it to be queen size. Call me an overachiever!! After what seemed like forever, I finally finished it, cutting the edges and all. I told Scott that I was thinking of keeping it for myself because I liked it so much. He wouldn't let me though. One day I told Addyson that I was thinking of keeping it. Her response was, "One day when you work and dad doesn't, he'll just take it to the post office anyway. So you night as well mail it to them now." Little smarty! I mailed it in a Cabela's box, wondering what Skyler would think he was getting, wishing I could see his face when he opened it. Carrie opened it before he got home, so I'll never know what his reaction would have been.

Le Voce

The girls got a new teacher for Tavaci this year and she changed the name to Le Voce. They also got new costumes, thank goodness. The old one were awful and very dated! What girl doesn't like to wear pink? We went to the concert at the Rock Springs High School. They both had a great time with their new teacher, Jen. Janae was even chosen for a speaking part, out of about 175 kids. We let them chose where to eat afterward, and of course they chose Bonsai. Great singing girls.

Christmas party and school concert

Santa came to the ward Christmas party and the girls sat on his lap to tell them what they wanted. Janae had a list that covered the front of a notebook paper, so she took a while telling him what to bring her.

Addyson wanted a Fur Real Friends walking puppy. She thinks that all the Santa laps she sits on must be helpers because she can see the strings holding their beard on. Imagine her surprise when she tugged at Santa's beard and it was real!!

School program at the high school, December 1st.

All about Addyson

Addyson got chosen to the the student of the week. She brought home this form and spent a long time getting it colored just right, with help from dad. I helped her with the pictures. She is very proud of her hard work.

Thanksgiving 2010

We stayed in Green River this year for Thanksgiving. Brock and Christine invited the family to their house. The girls and I made these cute little turkeys to go along with the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, salads, shrimp, ham and pies that we stuffed ourselves with.

Halloween 2010

Halloween ended up being a 3 day event this year. Parties at school on Friday, trunk or treating on Saturday and the actual holiday on Sunday. The girls and I carved pumpkins with the Girl Scouts earlier in the week too. Here are my little "bugs".

We invited the family over for dinner on Sunday night. The girls expect me to do something fun and cute for each holiday now, so I had to come up with something new this year. We had mummies, skeleton bones and dip and witches fingers with the chili Aunt Christine brought. I also surprised the girls with pumpkin shaped pancakes for lunch. Not what they were expecting at all!

I signed up to take frosted cookies to Janae's party that I was helping with. I figured I might as well take them to Addyson's class too. What sounds like a good idea to begin with, always makes me rethink opening my mouth when I am in the middle of the project. The cookies did turn out cute, but were a lot of work!

Little Miss Addyson had a loose tooth before the party, and a really loose tooth afterward. The apple bobbing knocked the tooth loose enough for her to pull it out that night. She was so excited to look like a jack o lantern for trick or treating. We went trick or treating at the businesses with their cousins after school on Friday.

Weekend at Snowbird

Grandpa Neff turned 70 on October 14, so the whole Neff family surprised him with a weekend getaway at Snowbird. The weekend was full fun. We spent a good amount of time at the playground, enjoying the sun. The girls also got to go on the Bungy Trampoline. They couldn't quite do the flips they had seen other kids do, but they had fun anyways. One of their favorite things to do was the hot tub on the deck outside of our room.

We rode the Tram to the top of the mountain and explored up there for a while. We went swimming in the outdoor pool one night after dark. The water was warm, especially since it was only 30 degrees outside. We must be crazy! I didn't hear the girls and when I went to find them, they were on the deck reading. It's not every kid you see doing that on vacation!

Both girls had a good time with their cousins.

New Shower

Back in the summer, we found out that we had black mold in the shower wall, so we tore everything out and started fresh. Scott did the work all by himself, and I think he did a great job. He even built the shelves! Nice work honey!

City Council Meeting

The girls were chosen to go say the Pledge of Allegiance at the City Council meeting. They were chosen because they are kind, responsible and respectful along with other kids at their school.

Mayor Hank Castillon and the girls