Fans!

So I put this picture of McKenzie of facebook yesterday....and let's face it she looks pretty good....so there were a bunch of people who commented and said that. McKenzie saw it and said "Thanks Mom, I like knowing that I have a lot of fans!" I love the confidence this girl has! I hope it never goes away.

The little things....

When Mckenzie started gymnastics 2 years ago, I never thought that it would bless our lives so much! When she started she was so shy and hated being called little. Well, she is little so it happened a lot! As soon as she stepped foot in the gym all of the coaches were wonderful. They were constantly praising her and telling her and me how talented she is. It has been a major ego-boost for her. Her coaches also tell her "the littler, the better"...she doesn't mind being called little anymore! McKenzie was invited to join the pre-competition team where she goes 2 times a week for 2 hours each time. Oh, and she likes

me to stay and watch! In doing that, we have made some really good friends. There are a few other moms who stay to watch that I have become friends with. I look forward to gymnastics days now because McKenzie gets to go get her energy out and be with her friends and I get my social hour!

One of my new friends who also happens to be McKenzie's dance teacher, has some friends that cheer for University of Utah. McKenzie loves the cheerleaders! They are like celebrities to her. We were talking about that and how we were both taking our girls to the U of U gymnastics meet on the same night. My cute friend arranged for McKenzie to meet her cheerleader friends. It made McKenzie's night. She was so excited! We were talking later and my friend told me that she was glad McKenzie had that opportunity and that it is the little things that they remember most. I can't agree more!

To McKenzie

I have been thinking that I need to take some time to write down all the stuff I love about McKenzie so here it is:

I love that you are a total goof and love to play around. I wish I could be like you and not be so serious all the time.

I love that you can be a wonderful example to me and Dad. You have unconditional love for so many people....even when they aren't the nicest to you!

I love that you love to dance and sing and perform. You used to be so shy, I was worried about you, but you have definitely come out of your shell and love the be the center of attention.

I love that you love Justin Bieber and fake faint every time you see a picture of him.

I love that you love gymnastics. You are so much more talented than you think you are! Not very many 6 year olds can do a round off back hand spring like you!

I love that you like to follow the rules and choose the right.

I love that you like to go to school. Even though you don't like reading, you are so good at it! You are good at everything you do!

I love that you want to have a baby brother or sister. You practice with your dolls and are going to be an amazing big sister someday.

I love everything about you!

Love, Mom.

Catch Up!

We have been busy for the past few months. Things have finally slowed down a bit. Here are a few of the highlights!

Halloween....Several halloween parties, tons of candy, and one cute little Princess

Leia...who has a major crush on Han Solo!

Lost her 2 front teeth...which are taking their sweet time to grow in! She lost them around Halloween and here it is January...still no teeth. We are going to the dentist next week! I almost don't want them to grow in. I think she looks so cute!

Thanksgiving (and new family pictures) at home with just the 3 of us and Mere. I love to go to St. George with my family for Thanksgiving, but every other year, when Bodie is on call, I really like hanging out at home by ourselves. Our holiday weekend was spent eating, Black Friday shopping, sleepovers with cousin Grace and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Topham. We were all in heaven!

Santa Claus came to visit McKenzie and we didn't even need to leave the house! We wondered if Conan got on the naughty list because he growled at Santa when he came in the door (even though he has met him before)!

McKenzie's dance recital. She is taking a hip hop class and absolutely loves it. She has some great teachers and some fun friends in the class. She is a talented little dancer. We are so grateful for supportive family that came out to see her perform in the recital. McKenzie loves to be on stage! It is funny because she used to be so quiet and shy, sometimes she still is, but for the most part, she loves to be the center of attention. She wants to get on the competition team for gymnastics so that she can have the spotlight on her for her routines!

Annual grandkid pictures at Tyler and Janece's house. I couldn't get a good picture of all the grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa, but I did manage to get this one of McKenzie and Maddie. McKenzie gets lonely being an only child, but thankfully, she has great cousins who are her very best friends. I couldn't ask to have been born, or to have married into, better families.

Our traditional Christmas Eve...beginning with ice skating. Then going to Grandma Diane's house for a Mexican dinner complete with a pinata that the kids love hitting so much, that now Grandma buys 2 so all the kids get enough turns to hit it. Even my little 1 year old nephew Noah was excited about the pinata. We did white elephants, cousin gift exchange, and listened to the Christmas story read from the Bible. It was a wonderful night.

Christmas morning. McKenzie was so excited to get an orange in her stocking. She had a lesson in primary where the kids were told of a little boy who got an orange in his stocking every year. (There was more to the story, but I didn't get to hear it as I was busy getting the primary kids gifts ready!) After she heard that story, McKenzie was obsessing about whether or no she would get an orange in her stocking. We enjoyed our Christmas day going to church, and then to Grandma Diane's for breakfast and time to play with cousins. Then we came home to spend some time together...just the 3 of us. It was a perfect day!

We have spent our January trying to get back into a routine after so much celebrating during the previous months. We did find time to go down to St. George for a weekend with Grandma Diane for Bodie's work, where I won a $50 gift card to the spa. I can't wait to use it!

McKenzie was also picked to be the student of the month at school. I am so proud of her. She works hard at school and is such a great example to Bodie and I in the way she always makes sure she is following the rules. In fact, I totally blew past a stop sign the other day...I really didn't see it until it was too late....but McKenzie was stressing! She was not happy that I didn't stop!

Here's to new adventures and a happy 2012! We wish the same for you!