Thanksgiving fun

Our trip to Oregon was so much fun. I know I say this every time my kids get with their cousins, but I LOVE COUSINS!!! There isn't ever an awkward moment, they pick up where they left off...it's so fun to sit and watch! I don't know why I'm always fascinated by it, because I'm that way with my cousins! Ally, Annie & Hallie were probably my favorite to watch. Parker was in that mix too! On the night before Jeff & Amy's wedding (which will have it's own posting soon!) all of the adults went to Stanford's for dinner. Britt & Hayden were left to watch all the grand kids at Vikki's new house. We didn't get a phone call and that told us that things were all good! When we came home, everyone was happy and busy playing games! I love it!

The grand kids all enjoying their pizza...waiting for all of the adults to leave!!!

This is Vikki's son Paxton...it was the first time we got to see him! He is a happy guy, who looks just like his daddy! Jay met him in October, but for the rest of us this was a first!!!

On Thanksgiving day Jon & Kim gave Jeff & Amy their own LEVI QUILT...that's what Kim does!!! It was fun to be there and watch them open and notice all the personalized stuff on the quilt. Jon & Kim also announced that they are going to have baby #4...YAY!!! I'm a little envious, and they are in SHOCK!!!

Ally & Hallie...yes I get them mixed up a lot!

The gang hangin' at Vikki's...below you can see that Vikki was giving us a RECORDER performance of Chariots of Fire...she has serious skills!!!Below are some of my favorite pictures of the three little blonde's...ALLY, HALLIE & ANNIE

The Modjeski boys wrestling with Jay...I wish I had sound bites of the Dads & Grandpa Mike yelling out technique pointers to help each person gain ground! I think in the end size is what really mattered...although little Cooper took big Jay down!!!

Hula Hoop game with Gramma Jackie...everyone stands in a circle and you have to pass the Hula Hoop to each person while all hands are linked. It was really fun!

Ally showing off her Hula Hooping skills...she got 3 going! This picture makes it look like they all are about to fall, but she was able to get them all in sink and keep them all going! I've seen her do this a million times and it still is mind boggling!

Ally writing her letter to Santa! She really just wanted to sit at the fancy desk in the fancy chair!

Parker and Ally enjoying spaghettio's and mini bagels!!!

Gramma Jackie made I think close to a million rolls for Thanksgiving dinner! I might have eaten half of them ;)

The kids table...everyone was in heaven!

Those cutie girls!!! We had such a fun week. Lots of late nights and games and chatting! Vikki and I went to New Moon with Britt and we all wished we had stayed home. I was surprised at how disappointing it was! (I know not everyone feels that way) I hope Eclipse is better!!!

More catching up...

Ally was in her school play...Vacation to Mars. She was one of Saturn's moons. She was of course adorable. I love that all of my kids have had the opportunity and the desire to be in the school musicals.

Britt had YW in Excellence... A Journey of Discovery. It was a fun filled night, with great food and decorations. I was a little sad, because I was just a parent (not a YW leader)...okay I was sad until it sunk in that I didn't have to set up or clean up!!!

I thought these chair coverings were adorable. They just put fun tissue paper over the chair and then tied it with raffia...who'da thunk!?!?

Gratitude Box...

Last Sunday a good friend of mine from our ward, taught the lesson in Relief Society. No surprise comes from the fact that it was on gratitude. I haven't been to RS in awhile because I've been in Young Women...it was so nice to be able to sit and enjoy being taught. Sister Lerch gave a great lesson and some great pointers on how to become a person of gratitude. I came home and turned an old tissue box into a "GRATITUDE" box...I cut out strips of paper and encouraged my family to "count our many blessings...name them one by one"...the idea for the box is when you think of something (anything) that you are grateful for to write it down and put it in the box, then on Thanksgiving we will read all that we are grateful for. One of the lines in the Hymn "Count Your Blessings" is "and it will SURPRISE you what the Lord has done"...I must admit I am a little surprised at how full our "gratitude box" is.

A little catching up...okay A LOT!!!

So a lot has been going on around here...I'm too lazy to blog about everything. Here are some of the highlights since I last posted Ally at her school Halloween parade

Britt as Alice in Wonderland for the youth dance...I made her costume (without a pattern thank you very much!)

Jay as a "big baby" helping out at one of the carnival booths at our Stake Trunk or Treat

Britt and buddies going to the inter-stake youth dance...Britt went for comfort and wore purple scrubs!

Ally at the Trunk-or-Treat...isn't she the cutest cat ever?!?!

Ally posing at our Ward Temple day

Oakland Temple

Some of the kids at Ward Temple Day...love this day!

Rachel's baptism...Ally and Rachel have the same birthday, but got baptized a month apart!

3rd grade Hula hoop champ

Wayne playing pick a boo...eating dinner at Wendy's on the way to drop Jay off at the airport

Jay hanging at the airport while waiting for his delayed flight to Oregon!

Stake Volleyball night...one of my last activities as a YW leader...sniff, sniff

P1 friends at Time Out For Women...we were lucky enough to have it right here in Pleasanton!

Lisa and me at TOFW...what a fun filled 2 day event that included a mom sleepover!

Britt and her AMAZING choir at Amador! I'll try and post a video of them singing the National Anthem at back to school night.

That's it for now. I have a bunch of stuff to post and of course I have LOTS of cute pics too!

My boy is growing up...

On the same weekend that Ally got baptized Jay was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. This was a very emotional weekend for me. As I listened and watched Wayne confirm Ally and then an hour later confer the priesthood upon Jay (all thru lots of happy tears) I was struck at how overwhelmed Wayne must have been feeling...that was a lot!!! I am so happy to be married to an amazing husband, father and most importantly (I think) a worthy priesthood holder. I have a lot of friends whose husbands haven't been able to perform these stepping stones in the gospel and I know that it's a HUGE blessing to have Wayne be who he is! I used to be able to re-arrange my photos...for whatever reason blogspot isn't allowing me to do it anymore. I'll have to start paying attention to how I upload them from now on. These photos of the grandparents playing Rock Band are some of my favorites. This was after church on Sunday when everyone was hanging out. The photo of my mom is probably my favorite 'cause she's "really" smiling! I love it!

The above photo is of Jay & Ally on the day of their interviews with the Bishop. Ally got her recommend to be baptized and Jay was supposed to have his Deacon interview, but when we got in it had been postponed...(probably because the next week we got a new Bishop)

This is a photo of Jay at his Priesthood Preview...Brother Thalman used to be over the Deacons, but since the new Bishop Brother Thalman is now the YM President

This is Jay at a Stake service project. Jay is such a hard worker, and always the first to offer help. Jay is amazing (and I'm not just saying that because I'm his mom)...I think a lot of times kids are misunderstood by those that aren't always around, and Jay is for sure one of those kids. He is a deep thinker, works hard at school, loved by everyone in our stake kind of guy!!! (especially primary kids) As a mother I couldn't ask for a better son.

3 generations of Cannons...what a sharp looking kid! The following week Jay got to pass the sacrament for the first time. I can not tell you how I felt watching him do this. So many people complimented him on what a sharp job he did. (everyone was eagerly watching him) He was the ONLY boy in a suit. Everyone else just wears slacks and a shirt...not my Jay!!! Yesterday Jay gave his first talk in Sacrament meeting. When he was preparing his talk he asked "how old do you have to be to give a 15 minute talk?" He wanted more than his 5 minutes he was allotted!!! Of course he did an amazing job!

Pa Bob and Jay! I like that they are matching! This was such a fun day. I still have so many photos from this weekend. Someday I will get them all blogged! I am very grateful to all of those who came and were able to be apart of this big weekend! Family support is so important and I'm grateful that I got so much of it!

Ally's Baptism...I still can't believe it

This is Ally on her blessing day with Pa Bob...he made her blessing dress. Of course he made her TWO dresses for her baptism. I look at her so tiny and I still think of her this way. I can hardly believe she's baptized. She is such a fun, happy, spirited girl. She has a very sweet little testimony. She reads her scriptures every night and prays before she goes to sleep.

this picture is goofy of everyone and Jay is missing, but it's sooo cute of ALLY I couldn't resist posting it. (this is her true personality shining through)

Could this picture be any sweeter? I'm not sure which one adores the other more...they love each other so much!!!

My cute little family...I can't believe they're all so big! When did that happen?

During this picture Ally was making sure that I knew she didn't want any lipstick on her white outfit (cause I was planning on kissing her outfit...weirdo!)

this was right after she got dressed...Anna and Bella came into the changing room. It was fun to have them in there while Ally got ready!

The Sorensen Triplet Cousins... Bella & Ally down Samie to go. Samie will get baptized in December. 3 in one year...whew!

TA DA!!! Ally was so excited finally be baptized like Bella. I love that they both are wearing their baptism dresses that Pa Bob made. Not many little girls in the world can say they have dresses made by their Grandpa. What a special treat!!!