catching up.........

Rachel is loving high school and we are so proud of all she's accomplishing. She works hard and it's paying off...she's getting great grades. We are equally proud that even though she hasn't had a lot of experience with soccer, she had the courage to try out for the high school team. And although she didn't display the level of ball handling skill as some of her competitors, she certainly has something that can't be taught...speed! She made the JV team and she's usually starts at left forward. Although she's still trying to figure out whether she's left or right footed, she almost always beats her competitor to the ball...and last Wednesday she scored her first goal! She's had so much fun and really wants to take it up a notch so we've signed her up for GYSA (which is co-ed) where I'm sure she'll continue to learn and gain confidence in her abilities. I can't tell you how excited I am to have her playing and enjoying it. Not only because it's so good for her in so many ways, but because I miss those days (nights, weekends...) on the soccer sidelines cheering Ally and Joel (all the way through college) on. I'm so glad that not only Greg gets to experience it, but I get to do it again. Soooo much fun!
Jessica of course likes to go anywhere...especially when there's bleachers to climb up and down and under.
You know how Jessica loves animals. We like to go to the park and bbq with Gabe and Rosie (especially when Rosie's parents come out with carne asada). This day Jessica had a field day feeding the ducks both in and out of the water (yes, she fell in not once, but twice this day).


Jessica loves, loves, loves school and especially her teacher Ms Gras. We are so grateful that Jessica is in her class. Ms Gras loves Jessica for her fun loving spirit...and is so very patient with her. Because of the concerns we had with whether or not we should put Jessica in Kindergarten this year, we've made it a point to have regular communication with her teacher. Altough Jessica loves school, it's also been a struggle in some ways. Wanting to make sure that she is successful and continues to love school, we've taken steps to help us understand how she learns. We'll keep you posted as we discover...

Rachel trying to enjoy sushi...I think she'll stick to the cooked stuff. Jessica on the other hand craves it. We had Joel out for Thanksgiving and Gabe and Rosie's over as well.
Jessica fell asleep on big brother Joel after pigging out.....turkey will do that to us every time.

a quick pic after church on Christmas Sunday.
Greg and Rachel participated in one of the most beautiful ward choir performances that I can remember. Jessica and I enjoyed their performance with our hearts filled with the spirit and tears in our eyes.

This time of year brings lots of joy, but also painful memories. We are grateful for the birth of our savior and for the knowledge of the plan of salvation. We are also grateful for the loving and supportive family that eases the inner
pain that each of struggle with this time of year.

We were invited over to Gabe and Rosie's for Christmas Eve along with Rosie's parents, brother and his fiance...and her Aunt, Uncle and 3 cousins who had come out to spend the holidays. Damian flew in the day before from Utah, Rhyannon flew in that afternoon from New York and Joel drove out and surprised us all. So there was quite a crowd there to enjoy the traditional Mexican feast...3 different types of tamales, menudo, rice, beans, red and green salsa. We brought Texas Sheetcake and home made ice cream.

this was the 3 girls getting ready for the evening.

On Christmas Day, Santa brought Rachel clothes, money and LOTS of earings. We got her ears re pierced a couple months ago and she has taken very good care of them this time (she just needs to remember to take her earings out for soccer games so she doesn't get red carded...yes she got kicked out of a game for forgetting to take them off...ooops...)

Jessica got Leapster 2, some BIG coloring books and a jogging outfit that she'd wear every day if we let her.


















Christmas dinner was at our place. Thank Heavens for the space here, because we needed it. We ended up with everyone from Christmas Eve, plus another 7...27 people total. There was some miscommunication with who was bringing what, and didn't realize it until guests were arriving. We didn't know what we were going to do...we said a blessing on the food and a miracle happened...don't know how, but there was just enough food! And yes...that's Jessica in her uniform (her jogging outfit)....

The day after Christmas we (ALL of us...even Rhyannon and Damian) packed up and headed for California. We went to Grandpa and Grandma Arnolds where we had a (post) Christmas dinner and Amy and her family joined us. After dinner we gathered in the living room for our gift exchange and as you can see....Jessica scored!

The next day we went the Alder Christmas gathering at Aunt Cindy's. We have always done this on Christmas Eve, but decided to change it up so that more of us could make it...and it worked...it was a HUGE crowd. We just ate a great meal and enjoyed each other company. It was rather cold outside...and knowing that the kids would get bored inside...Aunt Cindy had bought a bunch of cheap flash lights...and let the kids have a "party" in her bedroom....music, dancing, lights off and flash lights...they had a blast!

The next day (yah...I know...it was a fast and furious trip, but Rhyannon had to get back to Phx to fly back home)...we headed back to Queen Creek. We made one last stop in Claremont where Joel and Damian were meeting up with old friends...to stop and kiss everyone goodbye for one last time. The girls had a great time, but they were ready to get home to enjoy the rest of their winter break...
Jessica poking through the rail asking us when we were leaving...