The Twilight Before Christmas

Okay, I haven't watched all of them, but this is hilarious! Found it on Shauna Pierson's blog...

Merry Christmas from the Cheneys!

I don't know about you, but I just cannot get enough done in a day right now! I'm trying to get everything ready for Christmas, but I feel like I'll never get there right now! I know, just the stress of the holidays...I wish you all time to get everything done (for me too).

Frank and I were talking last night about Christmas letters, and a blog is like a Christmas letter all year through! That's probably why I'm loving doing this blog. Well, here's our Christmas letter (click on for viewable size) for this year (it is eating print cartridges whole!). Many of you will be getting one in the mail. If you haven't gotten one in the past and would like one, please email me your address. Thanks!

Tagged again! Thanks Priscilla!

Tags are fun. Here we go...

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things. Nothing made up! You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME: Angela/Angie
BOY NAME : Andrew
GIRL NAME: Allison
OCCUPATION: Accountant
COLOR: Azure
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Angora sweater
BEVERAGE: Apple cider
FOOD: Apple
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Alka-Seltzer? (by far, the hardest for me)
A PLACE: Alaska
REASON FOR BEING LATE: Accidents
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: ALL DONE!
I tag: Melanie (gotcha back!) and Helen

This was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

India is amazing! And Max and Sidney too...

Okay, so lately we just can't believe our amazing daughter India! She came home today and said in the car that they had a spelling bee at school today. I was thinking of the right way to ask without making her feel bad if she didn't do that great...so I asked her how it went. She said, "I spelled all my words right, every one!" I said, "So, you were the last one? The Winner?" Then I asked if it was all the kids in her class, and she said it was both classes (her teacher team-teaches). And she won! She is just impressing us over and over this year. We are so proud of her.

Lately I've been feeling like poor Max and Sidney don't get enough time on the blog with all of India's accomplishments. So here's to the boys...Max is an amazing boy. He is so loving and caring and just special. His part in the Primary presentation this year was, "I am grateful to be part of a loving family." Well, Max really learned what this means and memorized it and now he's adding it to his prayers almost every time. "Heavenly Father, Thank you. Please bless us. I am grateful to be part of a loving family. We love you. Jesus' name, Amen." So precious. His good friend at school is Adam. I guess they talk about each other nonstop. He's growing up and will be 5 in exactly a month!

Sidney is a rambunctious 2-year-old. If Sidney was a first child, there might not have been more in our family. I've heard that a lot about 3rd children. But we love him dearly of course. He had to get a shot today, and he's been so brave at the Dr.'s office. Lately we love to listen to hear whatever Sidney says because he repeats what he hears right now. Today, Frank asked him if he wanted to watch some Dora on the wall (his favorite), and he held out both arms to his sides, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure!" :) He charmed the pediatrician today. Have I mentioned how much I love our pediatrician!!??? Her name is Shanti Rao. She's a U of M pediatrician out of the Brighton office. She is wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend her. Whenever we see anyone else, we regret it (except Dr. Madison--we like her too). We saw another Dr. for a sick visit because Dr. Rao was out of town a few weeks ago, and Sidney was so traumatized by it. Dr. Rao was so gentle with him today because she could tell how upset he was. He was walking down the hall saying, "OWIE, owie, owie."

We've had such amazing, never melting snow here. It's been awesome. We get a pretty new coat every few days so it's never dreary and ugly and melting. I think it's going to be a great Christmas!

I saw a report yesterday by the Census Bureau that says the State of Michigan has been in a recession for 8 years! EIGHT YEARS! This is not news to anyone who lives here. It is so bad here right now. The whole country is freaking out over a few months, and we've been living in it for 8 years!

Christmas videos

Sidney playing with his new birthday toy from Grama Judy:


The kids visiting Santa today...

"Santa wasn't the real one," India says.

Our neighborhood had its Santa parade and visit today. Santa drives through the sub in a firetruck throwing candy and then we get to go and take pictures and share cookies and hot chocolate. It was fun, so low key, so free. We love it. "Santa wasn't the real one," India says. She whispers, "He told me he's one of his helpers and will tell him whatever I tell him."

I've been tagged!

Thanks Melanie!

3 Joys

My wonderful husband, Frank

My extraordinary babies, India, Max and Sidney

Homemade brand cookie dough ice cream

3 Fears

Having vertigo attacks

Losing family

Family being hurt

3 Obsessions or Collections

Family History

Twilight series

My friends' blogs

Surprising Facts

I love Michigan.

I love snow.

I am not a big fan of summer.

I tag: Julie & Elizabeth

Dream Girls Christmas show

Our resident Dream Girl, India, had her Christmas show tonight. They performed at a local senior citizen home and parents got to come and see too. They did so great! She was beautiful in her Jenny Jackson original outfit (which she gets to keep after her May performance). She had a solo in "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!" Indie sure has come a long way. We are very proud of her.

I love these ones with her friends CiCi, Cora and Rebecca (how cute are they?):

Christmas present is here to stay, bringing joys that will last...

We decorated the Christmas tree and part of the house for Family Home Evening tonight. Then we had pumpkin pie (India and Mom's favorite) for treat. Our kids were really wound up like crazy tonight. We couldn't wait to get them into bed. Back to school and work today...we got a ton of snow; it is so pretty outside! By the way, we asked the kids to set these stuffed guys up, and they didn't have any help from us at all.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We went to my brother Dale and his wife Ruth's house in White Lake. I love going there. We played Euchre! I don't get to play that game enough. Oh, it was good to see family too...Our family also went up to Frankenmuth to stay at the castle (as our kids call it; Bavarian Inn). We were able to meet Frank's parents and his Grandma Frank on his parents' anniversary for dinner there too.

I think we are almost all healthy now. Frank has been so sick. He still has this cough that won't go away, but he's a lot better.

India was October's Student of the Month at Hutchings Elementary!

We have such great news about India! She was October's Student of the Month at Hutchings Elementary! We are SO proud of her. Her parent-teacher conference went SO well. Her teachers are just thrilled with her and are so proud of her for how hard she tries. This is the most important thing to us, that she always tries her hardest. This certificate is even signed by our U.S. Representative, Mike Rogers, a wonderful, Republican member of Congress (even still!). We love him (even more now)!

Here's a close-up of the words, which are awesome!

Sidney is 2!

So, Sidney turned 2 on the 10th, yesterday. Tomorrow will be two years since we picked him up! We are so blessed to have him. We just had a small family party with our immediate family. Sidney is getting to be such a personality all his own. To say that he loves Dora and Yo!Gabba!Gabba! is an understatement, so he was VERY excited for presents this year! He also loved Grama Judy's catypillar! This top picture is when he was finished with his 2nd plate full of cake (Max and India each had about 2 1/2 bites before throwing the rest away as usual). Yeah, nothing hereditary about eating habits...

Max and India were so proud to be able to give him their own presents for him. He's pretty special to all of us.

I have had lots of fun with making banners lately. I did one for here and some for the Brighton Ward Young Women blog that I do. I didn't know they were so easy. Fun!

A few words about the election...I am really hoping our country will be okay after an extremely liberal President and both houses of Congress for at least two years. I really like what a friend wrote on her blog about the election. She said, "Throughout this campaign, supporters of Barack Obama felt that he had given "HOPE" to them and this country. I find my hope through the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that our God is all knowing. He is our ruler. We live in a time, that regardless of the leaders, it will be tough. I choose to find hope in following Jesus." I wholeheartedly agree. I also appreciate words of a prophet from our latest General Conference when Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants." Amen to that! Take Care, A.

Our first snow

India woke up and said, "MOM, LOOK, it's paradise out there!" :) We love Michigan! Won't India be jealous when she gets home from school!

OZ

Voting

Please just vote today. Say a prayer first and then decide and vote.
Because people ask me, I thought I would tell you who I am voting for because I'm not ashamed of it...I'd be happy to give reasons if you would like. Also I didn't put who I am voting for in my own Oceola Township elections, but they are all uncontested Republicans running, so I think you can figure it out.

John McCain and Sarah Palin, President/Vice President
Jack Hoogendyk, Jr. US Senator
Mike Rogers, US Representative
Bill Rogers, State Representative
Scott Jenkins, Richard Zeile, State Board of Education
Susan Brown, John LaFond, U of M Regents
Scott Romney, Lisa Bouchard, MSU Regents
Danialle Karmanos, Torion Bridges, WSU Regents
David Morse, Prosecuting Attorney
Robert Bezotte, Sheriff
Margaret Dunleavy, Clerk
Dianne Hardy, Treasurer
Sally Reynolds, Register of deeds
Brian Jonckheere, Drain Commissioner
Jim Mantey County, Commissioner
Cliff Taylor, Justice of Supreme Court
I don't like either candidate for Judge of Court of Appeals non-incumbent
Patrick Murphy Meter, Judge of Court of Appeals incumbent
Jay Drick, Judge of 53rd District Court
Doug Moore, Howell School Board (no, I am not voting for 2 even though I know I can. Doug Moore is a good man. He's the only person I feel that way about). 4 year term
Deborah Drick, Howell School Board 2 year term
Ballot 1 marijuana NO
Ballot 2 stem cells NO

Halloween 2008 continued

Hi! It's been a fun-filled few days. Here are some pumpkin pictures and some pictures of India's class. Also one of my mom looking good for Halloween and my brother Dan's new and improved" family. Sidney screaming before trick-or-treating. Lots of fun...

India, Max and Kaylin, our neighbor.
India and Virginia, her good friend.

Jenny, Spencer, Dan, Jayden, Jacob, Luke, Brooke

India got a citizenship award!

India got an October citizenship award for her school! She has never gotten this before. She has always been challenged at school, and we are so excited that she has been doing so great this year! The people in the office told me that she would get this if she did really well in all areas and was very helpful and well-behaved. We are SO proud of her! Yaay Indie!