Megan's parent program - Polar regions

Megan is learning and growing so much from Discovery Club. I wish every kid had the opportunity to be a part of this curriculum! She's now even starting to bring books home and starting to learn how to read. I'm so amazed and proud of my little Megan. This unit they just finished is on the polar regions. They learned about the North and South pole, polar animals, and hibernation. My favorite song they sing is "Hibernation, time for hibernation, hibernation, time to go to.... (kids close their eyes and put their heads down)" I love it! Also, did you know that it's the male penguin that nurtures the eggs until they hatch? They keep them on top of their feet (flippers) because if the egg touches the ice it'll get too cold. The female penguin is the one who hunts and brings the males the food.

Look, Mom...I'm the same height as an emperor penguin.

The small playroom was full of "snow" this unit.

The "big" computer bites the dust

So our family desktop computer has decided it can't turn on anymore. It gives a lovely error message. Not the pretty kind. It's just a black screen with white writing saying "I can't turn on, I'm corrupt" or something like that. We knew this time was coming because it's been having issues for a while. I think one of these days Chris will have time to try to fix it. So far, it has been determined that the whole thing just needs to be re-built. I think Chris is dragging his feet on this a little bit (it hasn't turned on since before Christmas!). Hope nothing huge is lost and gone forever! Until then, I have to wait. Picassa and all my pictures are on the desktop computer. Well, at least that's the current excuse I am using to not blog. I guess I shouldn't admit then that I technically have a "work around" as Chris would say. I think I'll just wait for the computer to really get fixed. Let's see how long this takes!

Disney on Ice

We got to go to Disney on Ice again this year! This year they celebrated all the holidays. The kids (big and little) were all excited. Our seats were on the very first row. We literally had to make sure the kids didn't step too far in front of our legs because they would be on the ice (and making the ushers mad at us)! Here are some of the great pictures we got (bonus of being on the front row):

Adam just might be thinking about going on the ice. 

Everyone is excited for the show to start.
Katelyn had something in her eye....sad eye.

Birthday celebration

Halloween celebration. 
Not the kids' favorite, but the special effects were great.

Valentines celebration. 
All the Disney princesses and princes were there.

Summer celebration. Yes, that is fire on the ice!

Christmas celebration. At the end they made snow fall.
I like that kind of snow.
It's pretty and I don't have to shovel it.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Christmas this year was spent in Arizona. At the beginning of Christmas break I took a whirlwind quick trip with the kids to Las Vegas to see my parents. I left early Monday morning and was back to AZ by Tuesday night. Quick, but well worth the trip. Then we spent the rest of Christmas nice and relaxed. I love Christmas time. Seeing my tree up just makes me smile. I often spend quiet evenings once the kids are in bed with all the lights off and the Christmas tree lights on, just staring at the tree. Our tree is full of memories. The majority of the ornaments are ones that have been gathered over the years. So each year, we take a family picture in front of the tree with our Christmas Sunday best. The kids are getting so grown up!

The traditional Christmas family picture.

 Here are some pictures of our day spent together.

Looks like we have a nice treat out for Santa this year!

Christmas morning before the kids came downstairs. Thanks Santa!

Adam trying to be a present.

Santa brought things with wheels this year. The girls are getting used to the roller skates....
I think that'll take some time.

We enjoyed a nice quiet morning in our home with our little family. Then we joined the rest of Chris's family for Grandma's Christmas and yummy food. I love being with family all day! Thanks to all for a wonderful Christmas day.

Dance, dance, dance - Christmas show

It wouldn't be Christmas time without the Jeanne's School of Dance Christmas show! The girls did a great job. This is probably my favorite dance show of the year. I loving hearing all the Christmas music. Thanks Katelyn and Megan!

These are the girls cute costumes. Cute girls!

Adam was happy to be on the grass playing after the show.

Merry Christmas - This Year's Christmas Card

Merry Montage Christmas

Shutterfly Christmas cards

View the entire collection of cards.

Thanksgiving

This year we went to my parent's in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving. As always, the trip was filled with fun, family, and food! My sister was able to come too and so all of us were there. It was quite the full house! We enjoyed yummy food, ate too much...ate more and enjoyed everyone's company.

Katelyn and her cousin Eliana

 All the Chesnik cousins! We are only missing Hailey (Missy's youngest) in this picture

I want food!

My Grandma McFarlane crocheted hats for all of her grandkids (my group) and her great-grandkids (my kids). Everyone wanted to wear them all the time!

I love this picture of Adam with Chris

On Friday evening, we went to see the lights at Ethel M. Chocolate Factory. They have a cactus garden which during Christmas time is displayed with lights. Of course everyone wore their hats! All the kids had a great time.

Saturday was my birthday. Normally I'm not a morning person, but I decided that for my birthday I wanted to go to the temple in the morning with my mom. It was so relaxing and a perfect way to start my day. And it was early to fit everything else in that day! When we got back, we got everyone ready for Chesnik family pictures. They turned out great for the amount of kids we have. We had the huge group posed and ready, and then Katelyn turns to me and said she didn't feel good. She looked absolutely green. I said sorry and excused the 2 of us and got her some water. I think she was just getting really hot. She felt a little better and took some pictures, although you can still tell she was a little green. At one of the breaks when we were sitting down and smaller groups were doing pictures, Katelyn threw up all over the carpet. So sad that she felt so crummy during picture time. In all we managed and got the pictures done.

Here's everyone! All the kids are getting so grown up.

This is a three generation picture with all the girls.

After picture time, we went to a movie to continue celebrating my birthday. Chris and I took our kids plus my sister's girls to Tangled. I love that show! The kids (5 in all!) were great and we had a good time.

Then of course a birthday could not be complete at my house without homemade ice cream. Mmmmm. Thanks to my family for a great Thanksgiving weekend and birthday party!