Christmas Morning

Kirsten's Preschool Party

Kirsten with her preschool class at their Christmas party.

Camping Out........

Since the kids were on Christmas break and didn't have to get up for school we let them build a fort and sleep in the living room.

Emma got up around 4:00am and woke up Marin and Kirsten, but everyone quickly went back to sleep.


Marin got hurt, but toughed it out and stayed in the fort all night.

Preston decided after about an hour that he wasn't going to get any sleep with Kirsten bugging him so he ended up sleeping in his room.

Gingerbread Cookies

These were my favorite..........

Mondel was helping decorate cookies and being the big BYU fan that he is, these are the cookies he made. Notice that they resemble BYU fans with writing on there chest,

and open mouths cheering on the team.

School Christmas Program

Marin & Saylor
Marin's class sang Christmas carols

Preston's class played recorders

I actually get a chance every once and awhile to sit down at the piano. This time I had some helpers and Mondel thought it was a cute picture.

Robotics Tournament - 2008

Cybercats - Red Bank Elementary

December 13,2008

What is Robotics?

The kids program a robot to run a specific course or "mission". Everyone starts out with the same table to setup their "mission" on. All the items on the course that are part of the "mission" are made of legos. They recieve points for the different tasks the robot accomplishes. They have 2 1/2 minutes to try to get as many points as they can by running their "mission."

Preston and Adler running the final program for their group.

This years theme was "Climate Connections"

What a Cutie!

Out of the Mouth of a Four Year Old.......

Mondel: Okay girls, lets get in bed.
Kirsten: Look, I combed my hair.
Mondel: Oh, It looks nice. What a good job sweetie.
Kirsten: I combed it with my brush.........with my tooth brush.
Mondel: Well, next time you go to brush your teeth it will taste like hair.

Christmas is in the Air

Thanksgiving in Arizona

Grandpa Anderson & Joseph

Playing in the snow
Fun with Family

Top left: Cheyenne

Top middle: Preston

Top right: Uncle Darren

Bottom left:Mondel & Kirsten

Bottom middle: Kirsten

Bottom right: Emma

Top left: Mondel & Kirsten playing XBox

Bottom left: Joseph pretending to play the XBox

Middle: Joseph & Emma wrestling

Top right: Preston & Joseph playing XBox

Bottom right: Joseph & Emma sitting on Grandma Anderson's bed

Friends Forever

Since school was out today we invited the Cluff kids over for a play date.

The kids all had a really fun time jumping on the trampoline.

Zowie and Marin even picked a bunch of cherry tomatoes for me.

All Good Things Must Come To An End!

Marin #18

Preston's team "Golden Eagles"

Mother Son Dance

Soccer Time

Coach Mondel with his team the "Mighty Cats".

(Marin is #18)

Marin scored 2 goals in this game.






Preston with his team the "Golden Eagles".

Now Playing: Alice in Wonderland Jr.

Preston tried out for his school's
production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. and
got the part of "Cardsmen". (He is the one
wearing white towards the front, in the middle)

Preston and his fellow Cardsmen

"painting the roses red".

(Preston is the one on the left)











The Queen and the Cardsmen
(Preston is on the left)





















Preston "painting the roses red".









We had a great time watching the play and seeing Preston perform. His line in the play was....................

"Your Majesty please, it's all his fault."

Don't Bananas Make Great Phones?

Is Barney Evil??

When Preston and Marin were little I taught them that Barney was an "icky show" and that we didn't watch "icky shows". Then with Kirsten (when she was little) I was trying every type of show and she didn't like any of them, but she would sit and watch Barney and Teletubbies. Well, I gave up on the whole "icky show" idea.

Kirsten and Emma both will watch Barney on occasion, but they prefer Dora the Explorer.

Apparently Barney was on this morning and this is what happened.......

Kirsten came up to me while I was getting ready this morning and said,

"I want to sing a song for you." I said "okay".

Here is what she sang.......

I love you, you love me. We're a happy family. With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you. Won't you say you love me too? I love you!!

If you know Kirsten at all this was a huge deal. She was being cute, loving, and smiling!! That is not usually how she is. Kirsten then started teaching the song to Emma and then to the baby doll with the microphone.

Halloween

Farnsworth Kids

(Kirsten- Dora Mermaid, Preston- BYU soccer player, Marin- Tinkerbell, Emma- Witch)

Farnsworth Kids with cousin's (Karlie & Lexi)

My "favorite" BYU fan

Never Say Never......

Well, I have given in. I said I didn't have time to have a blog. That statement is still true. I really do have a zillon other things I need to be doing right now. You may ask, What finally changed my mind? Well it was actually a talk I heard during general conference about finding the joy in our journey. I felt like the speaker was talking directly to me.

I don't like feeling that other people can do everything perfectly and always seem to have it "all together". The reality is that we all have strengths and weaknesses. For those that look like they don't have any weaknesses or challenges, just know that things are not always what they seem!

With this in mind I have tried over the years to be more open about the frustrations and challenges I face, especially as a mother. I have always wanted others to know that they aren't the only ones who feel like they can't handle all the balls they are trying to juggle. BUT, this has COST me! It is good to be open and talk to others so we can learn and grow from each other, but sometimes for me venting about challenges and frustrations leads to pessimism. This is why it is important to find a good balance.

So part of my reasoning for this blog is to re-focus on the positive. I want to find my "joyful journey".

Mom's Birthday

Aren't they just the cutest?

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Grandma came over and helped Preston, Marin,
Kirsten, and Emma decorate a cake for my birthday.