The 2009 Video Awards Go To..........

 Taylor Dances to Keith Urban

January 2009

Forrest Lawn

July 2009

Kids Meeting Alyssa 1

February 2, 2009

Pre-Alyssa Birth

Jody's Glory

Feb 2, 2009

Hospital Room Views

Feb 3, 2009

Another Christmas To Remember! Memories of 2009

Another Christmas To Remember

And yes, it was!

I had been looking forward to this Christmas in particular as it would be our first Christmas with our entire family in tact. With the birth of Alyssa, this year has been a year of firsts and lasts. Experiencing each holiday with her as the newest member of the family was exciting! Realizing that with each passing week and month, we were that much closer to our last moments with a baby in our home. Therefore, this Christmas was a celebration of firsts and lasts.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to Grandma Barbie and Poppie's home for dinner and presents. I forgot my camera so I have nothing to show for this but let me remind any reader of my blog that Dave's mom does it up nice! Every detail, from the table cloth to the wrapping paper, it always beautiful and this year's Christmas Eve was no exception. The kids came home with games, dolls, clothes and movies. Thanks so much to the Lindsays!

We arrived home at 11:30pm, put out our stockings and the kids went right down to bed. Dave had been feeling under the weather all day. I encouraged him to stay up with me since I had done everything to get ready for Christmas at that point, but he couldn't do it...and fell asleep on our chair. This is a fore-shadowing of the entire Christmas day at the Lindsay home.

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning, there was a path of reindeer droppings from the kids' rooms to the living room! The kids were so excited to see what Santa had brought them! Here are some pictures I quickly took before the kids came out.

Jaxson and Taylor's gifts

Austin's stocking in between Dave's and mine....

(Speaking of the stockings, I need to pause here and insert something interesting. Dave and I decided ahead of time to not give each other presents since we are going to Hawaii in 6 weeks with our friends, the Johnstons, which made Christmas shopping really nice. It was decided that we would just take care of each other's stockings. Well, on Christmas Eve day, Dave asked, "Do you have everything taken care of for the stockings? I replied, "Yes, we're all good." So on Christmas morning, I awoke to....an empty stocking! I said to Dave under my breath, "Did Santa forget me or what?" Dave looked shocked and replied, "You SAID you took care of everything?" Oh, yes. ANOTHER Christmas mis-communication for Dave and Jody! Thank goodness we're madly in love with each other or we'd just be mad. :)

Baby Girl Alyssa's loot!

The kids were so excited for the morning to begin! However, I made them stand still for a few pictures.

Alyssa- 10 months, Jaxson- 5, Austin-3 and Taylor-8.

What in the world did Santa bring the kids?

Taylor got a Hannah Montana Barbie!

Santa knew Jax and Taylor's hearts! They received mp3 "Shakers" to listen to their music! I LOVE these! They have outside speakers as well as ear phone options. Santa was also so smart to pre-load the Shakers with about 40 of the kids' favorite songs!

Austing got a Star Wars helmut and gun as well as the first 3 movies. We have heard these in the background for the past 24 hours so much that I think my hair is naturally starting to look like Princess Lea's.....

Alyssa got her 2nd doll (Grandma Barbie gave her one the night before). She loved it!

The kids were so happy with their presents!

We gave Taylor clothes, Jaxson an art easel and Austin a Star Wars toy. Alyssa received a car seat from mom and dad!

My mom made each one of her 13 grandkids a warm blanket for Christmas this year! They are to keep the kids warm while she and Grandpa Hatch are in the mission field in 2010 (still waiting for the call)!

All wrapped up in love.....!

Our budding artist!

Here is Alyssa Jean kissing her baby doll. Too cute!

Around noon, we sat down to an Abelskival breakfast as a family. Fresh fruit, sausage and orange juice were also enjoyed.

Dave and I feel so blessed to have our family, our health and freedom to live with choices. It's a good life. No, it's a great life! Merry Christmas 2009!

Pre-Christmas Fun!

GINGERBREAD HOUSES
One day after school, we made Gingerbread houses with a few of the our neighborhood kids. The house looked pretty dingy by the end, but the kids had a great time.

DINNERTIME?
Dinnertime in the Lindsay home is always full of laughter and surprise! First, can we make it through a prayer without snorting? Second, Alyssa is such a hoot with her food. How much food will there be on the floor after dinner? Last, the two hour clean-up on my part!

Here are some shots of the kids eating dinner last week.

Peas, Peas, PLEASE!

Taylor and Jaxson- FOCUS ON YOUR DINNERS!

DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2009

Last Friday, we spent a fun afternoon listening to the children at Taylor's school sing their Christmas songs. Tae had been singing the tunes to us for weeks so it was great to hear her at the program. Look how sweet she is singing!

TEMPLE SQUARE AND THE LIGHTS

Later that night, we went downtown SLC for some pizza and a night at Temple Square with our wonderful neighbors, the DuJardins and Johnstons. After dinner, we drove to Temple Square. The lights were extraordinary! The kids LOVED them! The only problem of the night was losing Austin for about 15-20 minutes! Yes, he became separated from the group and we couldn't find him! We were running everywhere, yelling his name among hundreds of strangers when he was finally found. I was in tears, of course, and almost threw up from worry. I keep saying, these sons are killing me! :)

Here are some of our favorite shots-

Jody, Dave and Austin

Austin LOVED the lights!

Taylor and Brailee

Our family

Here is the love of my life!

Steve and Jen Johnston

Alyssa was bundled so tight, she couldn't hardly move!

Brandon & Charlotte Come For A Visit Before Christmas!

Yesterday, my brother and his darling family stayed with us on their way up to Idaho to spend Christmas with my family. They live in Las Vegas so we only get to see them a handful of times per year. Here are some pictures of their sweet family!

Sadie- I love her little eyes. You should see her run! She is such a crack-up! Alyssa was fascinated with this little cousin. It was so cool to see Alyssa bonding with somebody close to her in age.

Sydney- If you want to know what Brandon looked like as a baby, look at his little girl! She warmed up to us so quickly and loved Taylor's dolls!

Brandon playing PS3 while his beautiful wife, Charlotte, patiently waits for him to breath......

16th Annual FONDUE NIGHT!

When I arrived home from my mission to Switzerland in December of 1992, I wondered what traditions would follow me throughout my life. One of my companions loved cooking and decided to host a fondue evening with the sisters from our mission once a year! It is the best! Here are some pictures that made my night!

My Taylor

I'm not kidding. This little girl is my hero!

Yummy Cheese Fondue!

High 5 for the Best FHE EVER!

Let's keep it real: each week, our FHE night is not a consistent positive, bonding experience. We can never predict how the evening will go! We have some really great evenings together. We also experience the other. Whether it is one of the kids who can't quit rolling around on the floor, somebody who can't stop laughing or teasing, bickering with each other, or the constant loud blurting of one of of the boys, our evenings of learning and feeling the spirit sometimes turn out to be evenings laced with stress while feeling disappointment.

Last night, however, was a completely different experience for our family. Our lesson was on keeping Jesus the center of our Christmas season. Dave taught about symbolism of the tree, candy canes, etc. We read scriptures, talked about carols we love to sing and which ones center around Jesus and which ones center around Santa. Then we went to the piano and sang both types. Jaxson conducted and was perfect. Austin sang loudly and prayed without laughing or trying to be funny. Taylor gave so many thoughtful responses and LOVED the singing! And Alyssa just sat on my lap during family prayer without making her siblings snort.

After we said, "amen," and the kids rushed to the kitchen for caramel popcorn (a big thanks to cousin Charonne for her yummy recipe from a night over at Sonya's house a few years ago), Dave and I, still kneeling, stared at each other is awe. Finally, Dave said, "Tonight was the best FHE we've ever had." My response, "High 5 for the best FHE EVER" as we hit right hand to right hand in the middle of our home.....Here is our first Christmas ornament as a couple given to us by my mom on the 25th of 1999! Ten years later, 3 homes later, 4 children and we can't believe how fortunate we were to have found each other!

(I just noticed you can't see the "& DAVE" on the ornament. It's there! )

Can't seem to post without adding a picture of our last baby! And who said with each child, fewer pictures are taken.....?