Update on the cell phone!

So we have finally figured out where the bill came from. Apparently Zac didn't realize that the number lock needed to be on. The phone is in his pocket and the internet is getting turned on when it hits things. He has redeemed himself, however the lock is always on now.

Aah Technology!

I got a couple of BIG surprises this weekend all thanks to technology!!!! The first came when we walked into the living room to find Garrett watching Wall-E. My first thought was we do not have that movie and it is too new to be on TV already. Oh yes, Garrett has figured out how to use Directv on demand and order pay for movies at $5.99 a piece. We asked him to show us how and he did, we found that he has ordered four different movies. Lovely!! It does not end there, today I went to pay my cell phone bill online to see the balance of over $400.00 for the last month. My jaw dropped. I went through the three phones that we had to find the cost. Texts - fine. Picture messaging - fine. Then I went to data charges and found out that zac had $206.00 in data charges for the last month. Help!!!!!!!!! Apparently you can access the internet without having an internet plan and it is not cheap. If you hear of Cha-cha from your kids do not let them access it from their phones. They use it to ask questions like sport scores during church, how many ways is this story disturbing. I feel the money draining.

Walking with the Dinosaurs

We had fun at Walking with the Dinosaurs tonight. Garrett absolutely loves them and they were huge! Did you all notice that I figured out my phone has a flash, no more dark picture, I am learning!!

Junior Jazz

Casualty of War - Garrett got a bloody nose at basketball.

Garrett has been playing Junior Jazz Basketball. He seems to do pretty well with it, he really participates. He doesn't have the arm strength yet to get a lot of baskets, but he really likes it.

Second Thoughts

Okay so I have had seconds thought this facebook thing for teenagers, but it is too late. I walked into the kitchen last night to find Zac on it, no big deal. I asked him what he was doing and he said "Talking to three people at the same time and it is confusing." I realized that I cannot go back and see his istant messaging on Facebook like I can his text messages on his phone. I am going to have to watch over his shoulder. Technology isn't always a good thing. Zac is a good kid, but I still plan to spy. Heehee!

So I am way behind!

I will confess I am way behind on pictures. I have put some more on today so scroll down. There are still Christmas day and the piano recital to post. I have to admit that I spend more time on Facebook these days than I do the blog, thanks so much Amber. I got on there out of curiosity when Amber's blog started to fade off and she said she loved Facebook. I also wanted to see a couple of Daybreak sites there but you had to be a member, free of course. So i joined. I have had so much fun catching up with friends. I am back in touch with Sharon and Hollie from high school, all of my California friends, my mom's childhood best friend, my family members. I admit I check it several times a day to see what every one's post for the day is. Love it!!! I even let my son get on, scary thought. I have one disappointment over the holidays, we hosted Christmas day at our house with my family and Alan's family. I made sure I had room on my memory card for pictures and then did not take a single picture, how sad is that. Oh well at least I got the kids that day. Another reason for all the delay in postings is the flu came to our house in a big way, 5 people in 2 days this past week. May it not return for the rest of the winter. I hope everyone had a great holiday season!!!

Zac's football pic

The team pictures finally came in, I got to pick it up today. Not too bad my boy, you are a handsome devil.

New Years Eve 2008

Bugle Boy-the spikes in Zac hair were a perfect storage place for his food.

Alex, Courtney, Roma, Jessie, Zac and Michael

Our friends the Prestwich family had a get together for a few families in the neighborhood. We had fun, even made to midnight! Meg was at a friends house and Garrett was missing everytime the camera came out. The pics were taken on a camera phone and aren't the best but we have memories!

Christmas Day

Aubrey opening her dance gear

Megan got an ipod

Jungle Fury Mission Helmet

Zac our Eagles fan

We had a great Christmas Day. Slept in until 8:30am and then got to open presents with the kids. Alan gave me a great gift, all of the movies and books for Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Anne of Green Gables (the who series). I loved it!!!! We then had all of the family from both sides over for dinner. What a great holiday!

Christmas Eve

Alan's nephew Michael

Meg

Garrett

Zac

Aubrey

We spent Christmas Eve with Alan's sister Marlene and her family. They have dinner, perform a talent show (piano numbers from the girls) and then Santa visits, This was great since I had neglected to get the kids picture done with Santa this year. Thanks for the lifesaver Mar!

Childhood friends

I have a friend named Jen who who I lived by when I was three years old in California. My family moved to Utah right before Kindergarten. Our parents have stayed friends all these years. Jen's family eventually moved to Utah so we were close again. Since getting married she moved back to Cali and comes to visit all the time. Our sisters are also close. The dads, and all four girls went out to Cheesecake Factory for a night out tonight. It was great catching up. The lighting in the restuarant is awful. You can kind of see Jen and Kristin (or as we call Kay since we both have the same name).

Activity Days

This turned out to be my last Activity Day activity with my girls I have since been released. I now get to teach teenagers in Sunday School. Scarey I know! We had a Christmas treat taste test and had a great time. The girls then got themselves tangled up. I will miss that calling!

Recital Recording

Piano Recital

Christmas Piano Recital

The girls played Christmas songs in a group and as a single at their recital.

Dance Recital

Meg and Aubrey had a dance recital. They did a great job. I did have to however complain about the people leaving constantly during the performance. A big pet peeve of mine, story for another time.

Way to go Megan and Aubrey and the Production class!!!

My Soapbox Moment

I apologize if I offend anyone with my opinion here, but stuff at our elementary school has gotten out of hand and I am frustrated. My blog is mine so I can vent right? I don't know who heard about this but our school did a Christmas musical called "Santa Goes Green". What do you think this would be about? The name says it all and my kids had been singing their class songs so I could tell it was about recycling. It was made to be humorous and funny. When the time came so many people showed up that it was a fire hazard since so many people were standing in the aisles and hallways. The principal did something that I thought was the only fair thing to do. She had to ask the people standing to leave the room (it is law) and she held another showing right after the first one just for them. It was inconvenient for all families since those who saw the first one waited after for their kids to perform the second show. I personally didn't see another way out of the situation and applaud Ms. Strauss for doing what she could. That was the first hurdle. Apparently some people had expected the program to be only traditional Christmas music and were furious that it was not, some had referred to it as a Pageant which it was never to be. It went to furious parents calling the school and one even took it to family value talk radio who then called our teachers and staff and community a godless community. Now to my opinion-I am sorry but if you were paying attention you should have known what the play was about, I was. Also, the kids were so excited and had a lot of fun. Shouldn't it be about them? The play was based around the curriculum so it fit for the year. Those out there believed the school was trying to push a political agenda. I am so sad that it was taken this far. Now the school is talking about pulling several programs like our Shakespearean Festival due to a few parents voicing their nasty opinion. I am really frustrated because my daughter was one of those to be involved in the Shakespearean Festival this year. I am sorry but how should all this get taken away because someone decided they didn't like a musical? Sorry, thank you for letting me vent. It helped get it out of my system.

Santa Goes Green Pics

Aubrey

Megan

For those who know Garrett he does not perform, he refuses. He sang out loud and did all the actions for this performance, I was thrilled!!!!

Proud our my Star Student

Aubrey and Aubree R. who got the award for Nov.

Today was the monthly Star Student assembly for the school. Aubrey was nominated by her teacherfor December as most generous. Good job Aubrey!

BYU/UofU Game

Today was the so sad BYU/UofU game. I am totaly for BYU, but did go to the U for a quarter. Unfortunatly my Cougars lost. I wore Ute colors since I was sitting in a sea of Ute fans. I did get gutsy when I realized their was blue sitting right behind me.

Twilight!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited! We saw Twilight tonight, note I say we. Alan came along. My sister Lisa's sister-in-law rented out a theater. I loved it!!! I am ready to see it again. Thanks to Alan for being a good sport.

Team Party

Zac with Coach Raffie

Zac's team the Black Bantams had a team party today. Each boy was brought up, given a blaze jersey, a team shirt with all the boys names on it, a season DVD and the coach that worked with him talked about him. They stressed the amount of character Zac has and how much he has improved since he started football. Thanks to our amazing team mom and the coaches for the pizza party!

Playoffs!

Our team mom Cary brought signs to each boys yard! Way to go team mom.

Coach Raffie and Coach Dixon after the game trying to cheer up the boys after our loss.

Today was our playoff game with Alta to see who went to the championship game. We went down to overtime and ended up losing. We did really well! Our team has had a rough go, with three of its major players going down with injuries. We had torn ACL's, broken femur, and a collarbone break. Good job Bingham Black Bantams!

Halloween

Garrett at Fall Festival the night before.

Bryn, Megan, Caitlyn, Aubrey

Seven kids in my bathroom - that in itself is scarey!

The kids trick or treating at Caitlyn's house- her brother Trevor got to hand out candy too.

Zac

This year was the first year that Alan and I both got to go out with the kids Trick-or-Treating. It was fun. We had Garrett, Aubrey, Megan and her friends Caitlyn and Bryn. Zac decided that he was too old so he and his friends stayed on the porch with costumes on scaring people. They handed out the candy as well. They had a mist machine, strobe light and scary masks. Zac had one injury when he got shoved against a wall scratching his face after he scared someone pretty good. Happy Halloween! Garrett and I went to the school fall festival the night before.