Sledding down the BIG HILL!

We took the kids sledding for New Years, and every time we do, I tell myself we wont do it again until they are much older, and then I find that I am saying it again just one year later. Will I ever learn? They start out each year scared to death of the big hill, and of course I have a boy who fights and says unkind things about how he doesn't like me and wishes I would go away, all because I am giving him this experience of sledding down a big hill. :) Then the next thing you know he and his sister are hiking up the big hill all by themselves, and coming down like pros. This year we didn't stay as long as we might normally have because the princess had to use the bathroom, and the school was closed. We still made the best of the time we had while there.(There they go heading up the big hill by themselves)(Here they come down the big hill)

(By the end they got a little brave and tried a few tricks)

Christmas

This year our Christmas was small, simple, and very enjoyable. My wish is that we can have more just like it. I decided that the kids were not in need of any toys at all, and so we they each got a pair of boots (jake cowboy, and ellie ugs), they each got an mp3 player full of their favorite music, a couple of outfits, and wii games (udraw, and mario kartz), and then a couple of extra things they had wanted. The kids seemed to enjoy every gift they received, and I enjoyed the fact that my pocket book didn't shrink in size too much. (Have I ever told you how much I love these three?)
(Jake showing off his MP3 player in his Christmas PJ's)
(Ellie showing off her new Pink nun chuck for the Wii in her new PJ's)

(The kids were both way excited about their new boots)

Happy 6th Birthday Alex!

Happy Birthday to you Alexander Pierce LuffHis little smile was so contagious! Taken too soon, though he will never be forgotten. We miss him every time we count how many great niece and nephews we have. The numbers are growing bigger and bigger, yet he will always remain the first. First time we got to go to the hospital and be a part of a greats birth, and so many firsts with this angel. 14 months was not long enough, yet it was all the time he needed to accomplish the mission our Father in Heaven had for him upon this earth.

He and Jake are only 10 months apart, and I imagine they would be great friends today. I learned so much from you Alex, and am grateful for the lessons you taught me. Thank you for being our first great, and thank you for being our angel great now. We love and miss you always!

Love you forever little guy, Aunt Mickie and Uncle Ray

Ward Christmas Party

This year at our ward Christmas Party instead of inviting The fat Jolly old man to come surprise the kids with candy, the committee decided to invite the Three Wise Men to come tell stories about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It was different but enjoyable, and Ellie and Jake enjoyed getting pictures with the Wise Men for a change.

Thanks Giving in Idaho

We headed to Idaho for Thanks Giving to spend the day with Ray's family. Tena and Tracy were able to arrange dinner at one of the Schools where Tracy works, and we had a nice indoor Gym and Cafeteria to use as we wanted. We had such an enjoyable time with family, and the food was very plentiful.Xander and Lexi being dangerous. lolBeautiful MoniqueJacob showing us his mad basketball skills!This is Aiden, Jason and McKaylas new baby boy, isn't he just the cutest!Jake showing off on one of the many scooters that the kids had to play with in the gym.Pretty little AvaXander loved taking Maddi outside for walks while she went potty.

Soul Train! One of the many trains the kids formed during the day.

Xander giving us a cheesy smile. Love this kid to death!

Sam, I think he did something wrong and was hoping he wouldn't get in trouble. I told him if he would let me take his picture I would let him off the hook. Boy did he luck out big time. haha

Craig, Rachel and Xander (what a beautiful family)The kids truly loved having the whole gym to go crazy in. Jason and Lexi playing on a scooter. (he is such a good little daddy!)BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!!! Ellie and MoniqueLuke and his girls Monique and GabbyThis made me laugh so hard I had to get a picture. Jason got Lexi her food and when I looked at her plate I noticed he got her two big rolls, two hot peppers, a pickle, some ham, a tiny amount of jello salad, some broccoli and carrots, and a big glass of punch which she drank right away. This little cutie pie is only 2, so seeing the food he got for her made me chuckle quite a bit.McKayla and AidenErin and Gabby, Erin is so beautiful. I'm telling ya I have some of the prettiest nieces!!!This is Tracy's son Jacob and his wife Brittany. I don't remember all the kids names but I do remember one of them is Ava, I guess I need to memorize their names since they are family. ;) This was a wonderful day spent with people we truly love, and I would not have had it any other way. I just wish the whole family could have been there.

Fall Pictures

I took the kids out last week and did some photos of them. For the most part I think they turned out pretty good. Some of the things I noticed more this time while doing there pictures is that Ellie acts like she is dead tired anytime the camera points in her direction, which can be both funny and annoying at the same time. Jake kept telling me I was done doing his pictures after maybe the 5th shot so he kept glaring at me, so I started a count down with him giving me a stink face and by the time I would get to one he would smile a perfect smile almost every time. Guess I am going to have to start figuring out different ways to get good pictures of these two.

Superman and his Lady Bug Princess

Do I have the cutest kids or what?
We had lots of fun tonight at our wards trunk or treat, even though it rained like crazy, the wind blew, and we froze. Plus to top it off we ran out of candy a little sooner that I thought we would. The kids had lots of fun, and Jake even found Super Woman there at the party and decided she may be the type of gal he would like to marry when he gets off his mission. lol

Lady Bug Princess Ellie

(she is really tired in this picture)

The kids made a hall. I know it may not look like much in this picture, but they filled their little bags, and even had some extra in their hands when they were done this evening. I decided it wasn't even necessary to go door to door to do trick or treating this year.Super Man Jake(with a mouth full of candy)

It took the kids a while to decide who they were going to be for Halloween, but after searching the web for some time, Jake decided that he would still like to be Superman, and Ellie decided that she wanted to be a Lady Bug. And then one day while I was shopping I found this adorable tiara on clearance and bought it for her. She was so excited, and decided that she wanted to go as a Lady Bug Princess.