Time for giving thanks...

This is the month for giving thanks. Even though I am guilty of jumping into Christmas a little too soon, I really love the month of November to reflect on all of my blessings. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, as I have every year. I have 4 healthy children who are the whole reason I wake up in the morning. They are so important to me and I can't imagine life with out them. I am so thankful for my amazing husband, who undoubtedly is my best friend. We have SOME time alone, and when we are, we talk about life and how fast it has gone by. We still dream together, and that is the best part. I am thankful for my parents. I am at an age where I really appreciate all that they have done and still do for me. They are great. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and food on the table when so many others are struggling. I am thankful that I have a job that I love and enjoy, my dream job. I am thankful my husband has a job that he loves and talks about ALL the time :) I am thankful for my church calling. I can't imagine serving anywhere else. The young women in my ward are truly delightful daughters of God. They are examples to me every Sunday. I am thankful that I get to drive a car with heat and air conditioning, quiet, and dependable because for so many years I didn't.
I am thankful that I have had the chance to spend another year on this earth to raise my children and to continue building a life with my husband. There are so many things I have to be thankful for, but it is 2 til' four and I am going home.

Oh, one more project...

This is the time of year where I go project CRAZY! So here is something else I did. Yeah, that is my last name on my School Sweat Shirt cool, huh? Other than the fact that my students will be able to spot me across the hall. I should have rethought the sequins.

Ornaments... getting ready...

Bub, Marley, and Ofc. Holt working hard

Kennedy and the finished product.

Taylor kept reminding everyone that she takes after her mom and that she is crafty, naturally.

Marley wrote everyone's name on their ornament... FHE fun!

Tonight for FHE we made Christmas Ornaments. It was a lot of fun. I have a container of ornaments my kids have made at school, and these are the ornaments that I hold close to my heart. Not the Lennox ones that I paid an arm and a leg, or the hallmark ones that I had to sell dog for. They are ones with a simple picture surrounded by golden noodles, or painted puzzle pieces. I love these ornaments. Well the kids are getting older now and are not making these ornaments any more at school (dang NCLB). So I bought two kits from Hobby Lobby and we made our own. This was such a great way to celebrate the season approaching us. I think I even talked Ofc. Holt into putting up our Christmas tree this Wednesday. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment :)

A promise made...

The summer of 2007 we made a family vacation to Kansas. We promised our children we would go on a family vacation every year from that point forward. The following summer there were some major changes in our family and we were unable to go anywhere for vacation. We used our vacation money to keep us afloat and we survived. While Colby was finishing the academy and I was finishing grad school, we made a promise to our kids that when it was all over, we would go to Disneyland. Well the following summer came (2009) and Colby, since he was new on the job, didn't feel like he should take any time off, so once again we spent the summer at home. Colby's one year mark was August 25th, and he would be able to take some time off... so I did it, I planned a vacation that we had promised to our kids. I knew we would have fall break in October, which in our opinion is the best time to visit Disneyland anyway! So, it was set, we were headed to Disneyland Oct 20th! Woo Hoo!!!!
We had a blast. Our kids were on the go every minute of our three day visit. Disneyland wasn't crowded at all, we got on all the rides several times over! It was a blast. Here are some of our photos from our trip! Oh, and the best part: NO STROLLERS for us!!! :)

The girls and Tinkerbell

My silly family.

The Twins

The Whole Family

Just us girls.

Kennedy turns into a Young Woman

Kennedy on her birthday.

Kennedy at Disneyland 10/09

Kennedy turns 12 today. This is quite the big deal in our church. She no longer goes to primary, she is now in YW. I can't believe how fast her life has gone bye. She is so grown up and independent. She is very responsible and a great student. She is driven and wants to be a police officer like her dad. That really doesn't make me happy because I worry, but I know when she puts her mind to it, it happens. I love her and so glad that my Heavenly Father gave me a daughter 12 years ago. I have made several parenting mistakes, but she survived! I will post some pictures when I get home!

Wow, braces have done wonders!

Okay, even though Colby II has had his braces off for some time now, I still thought that I should post some before and afters.

Before (yikes :)

After :)

He will have to get braces again, but for now at least my son can smile without being so self-conscience. I know that I am giving him a gift that he will be grateful for the rest of his life. A beautiful smile is priceless.





Funny story... Colby II is currently wearing two retainers. At school he wrapped his retainers into a napkin (which I have told him several times not to do because he will throw them away:) So guess what he did? Yep, he threw them away. The cafeteria aid told me the story. Colby walks up to her and says, "Mrs. Scott, I think I threw my retainers in the trash can?" She said as soon as he finished his sentence he fell to his knees gripping onto the trash can, bawling his eyes out saying, "My mom is going to kill me!" Now, as Mrs. Scott is telling me the story, I can't help but laugh (I am not mad because I know that if they hadn't found them she wouldn't be some calm telling me the story.) She told me that she calmed him down and reassured him that I wouldn't kill him. They started looking through the trash and viola, found the retainers, she saved his life :)

4 Holts with braces = a lot of debt. two more to go.

Back to school, back to school, to prove to dad I'm not a fool...

Family Photo

The kids getting a little irritated waiting for their dad.

Well I feel really bad that it has been forever since I have blogged, but as you can imagine I have been a tad bit busy. Anyway, things are going well here in the Holt house hold. I got my winnings today, but I didn't celebrate, instead stayed at school for a late meeting (oh, I don't gamble, so don't think it is from the casino). This has been the best start of school I have ever experienced. My students are wonderful, seriously, 7th graders can be wonderful. My children have been very happy coming home from school talking positive about the school day, so that is always good. Taylor and Colby are officially middle schoolers! I can't believe it! They are so grown up! Kennedy is in 6th grade and Marley is the big 2nd grader. She is enjoying being the big girl helping her cousin Madi get used to Rose Lane now that she started Kinder. Marley really likes her teacher so that is a good thing.
We had a weird day yesterday. Taylor got her braces put on early in the morning (see pic below) and Colby dropped her off around 10:30. Well at around 11:45 there is an all call at school asking for Mrs. Holt to come to the office. I was thinking, what the heck? I was at lunch so little bit grouchy that I had to go to the office. Well low and behold it was Taylor. She was in the nurse's office. She passed out at lunch... I guess she really is a minnie me. I am a passer outer, and we just have to adjust. I think she might have got over heated, but I still took her to the doctor. They want to run an EKG and an ECG??? I think, something like that, but heck my parents didn't even take me to the doctor when I was passing out all the time. No, but seriously, I think it was just an overwhelming day yesterday and she hadn't eaten all day. I will keep my eye on her, but I really do feel like she is okay. Life is good, and I feel really blessed.

Taylor 10 years old, first day of braces! Yikes!