Give Thanks!

At this time of year, it's always great to take the opportunity to count your blessings and show gratitude for the things that we are given. I have so much to be grateful for this year. I have my family, who bring me complete joy. My amazing children.....what a life they have given me! I have an awesome husband who loves me and falls over himself to try to keep me happy .....and most of all keep the house clean, and the kids out of my way when I'm on the war path! I have wonderful extended family, loving parents...... a mom who is my best friend in the world! I have a home that warms me and keeps me comfortable....cars that get me from point A to point B. I live in a free country where I may choose for myself, most of all where I can worship freely. I have friends that help me in my life from the most trivial things to the deepest of problems. Thank you, to you all....I'm so grateful for you!

It's been a fun week as usual with the Shotwell's! School was out early on Wednesday, followed by lots of fun days off! Here are a few of the fun things that we enjoyed!

Poor Brady became the guinea pig for Jaycie's eyebrow training! If you have an excessive amount of eyebrow....come on over...she'll take care of ya!

Yikes...is this gonna hurt?

Ohhhh.....that one DID hurt!

Wow, that's alot in one swipe!

Oh, no....not Kylie too!

We didn't get an after pic, but for the most part.....he looked......PRETTY good! :)

Thanksgiving morning is the biggest paper day of the year. The paper is 3 times the size of a normal Sunday paper. We all joined in the fun, it actually was alot of fun and we got it done in the same amount of time as usual! I know it looks like there are about 300 papers in the back of Jaycie's little car, but they are just big.....they took up the whole back of her car. That was only 1/2 of the route. Lance had the other 1/2 in his truck! Great fun!

Kylie, Jaycie, and yes....even Brady came to help! I didn't know that anyone could have so much fun at 4:30 am!

Thanksgiving Day!

We are all ready to go to "Shotwell" Thanksgiving! Doesn't Jaycie look pretty!

Me and my girls! How'd I get so lucky! They are so gorgeous! I didn't add the hundreds of pictures that they took with one another! They are so silly, but I love it when they get along!

This is Shaydi Layne painting my nails! (Sorry Tyra, if I spelled that wrong)

One of the highlights of my day! Isn't she adorable~

Not often do I get to have pictures taken of me....Thanks Carson!

Just hanging out watching the Cowboy's/Seahawk's game!

That is Jaycie in the corner messing with the computer! Fun huh!

Lance and I at the feast!

This is Nikelle, Jason Aiken's daughter! She would be....our cousin....somewhere on the line!

She doesn't know quite what to do with this crazy woman who kept giving her kisses!

COUSINS!!!!

These Shotwell kids are always so happy to see each other. That is one thing we've been able to do with this family is stay close! Our kids all adore one another!

Jaycie just couldn't stay out of Casey's big bear hug!

Skyler and Cheyenne, the best of friends!

Shaydi and Marley! Awaiting their turn to have some grub!

Here's the boys! Hunter, Ty, and Jaxyn. Notice Jaxyn's cute "hand turkey" he is making me!

More cousins, enjoying Thanksgiving dinner!

Brookie, Kylie, and Carson hangin' out havin' some pie!

Brynklie and Jagger playing so cute!

This is Jaxyn and Ty....dressed up like Santa Claus!

This was all their idea...aren't they clever?

Kevin carving the turkey! Mmmmmm!

Thanksgiving is over....Let's celebrate Christmas!

This is the Shotwell Christmas party! It was lots of fun, we did things different this year and gave white elephant gifts. I think we all had more fun than ever!

Grandma loves her 96 candles!

Everyone waiting patiently for their turn!

Jaxyn got the good ol' Families are Forever sign from so long ago! The little blonde puffy guy is supposed to be Lance! Jaxyn was a little less than pleased with his gift! Uncle Kevin saved the day and "stole" it!

Kyle was lucky enough to recieve the Redneck gas distributer with optional air quality control.

(okay, Scott, I know I didn't get that right....help me out here!)
K, it was really called the Redneck alternative energy prodution kit with optional air quality controls...I was close!

I gave a snow boarding hat in SC colors! It went around a bit, before finally landing with Brooklynn!

Even Marley had it for a minute!

Lance is so excited to have Silly string! There was quite a mess to clean up....imagine that!

Jaycie got Grandpa's old Cedar City Police hats! They will be treasured!

It has been a fun week, Shotwell Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ever and it was so good to see everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your

Thanksgiving Holiday!
Now.....the Christmas season begins!

This week with the Shotwell's

We'll start with the most current event and move backwards!

Today Jaycie's ladie's ensemble sang at the Jubilee of Trees. She invited me to go along as a chaperone. It was very fun!

Thanks for having me Jayce!

Fun times together....highlights of my life!We visited the Gingerbread village!


This was our favorite for creativity! Isn't that clever! It won a ton of awards!

We had lunch! Yummy steak and cheese....

Our other fav! I would have taken this home if I could have!

Wednesday........

Wednesday night was Skyler's All Star game!

We won 8-6! It was close...but the boys held their own! Great job defense!

Fans and all stars!

This is what happens when you ask a 12 year old to look at the camera and say cheese!!! Smarty pants!

The winning team....celebrating with donuts!

Happy boy! Great Job Sky!

Grandma San and I at the game, cheering for our favorite football player!

Other cute spectators! It's been a fun year!

Love my good friends!

We were all bundled up! Nice and cozy!

Kylie and Tyler! Pics for the future!! Ha!!

Go Purple!

Tuesday.......

Taffie and I both got a hair cut! Yeah!! So happy!

Monday......

Skyler put up Christmas lights!

Surprise Dad!!!

Jaycie and Brady were alot of help with the lights......

NOT!

Kylie and Haley just hung out on the roof!

That's what we did while our Daddy was in Steamboat Springs! He comes home tonight! Yeah!

Sadie's in the 80's

This was Jaycie's official first dance that she had a date for! If you remember, this was the one that she asked Jake to by totally wallpapering his room with newspaper!

The first thing that they started off their date with, was going to the temple and doing baptisms for the dead! I'm sure they were the only kids in all of SCHS that would have thought to do that for a day date! Good kids!

They then came to our house to make "balcony sundaes"!
The girls got the large bowls to make the sundaes for their dates, the poor boys had those small green bowls! As you can see, there was more ice cream and toppings on the table than in the bowls!

Then they had to eat them!

Brooke is enjoying her sundae!!

Jaycie had more chocolate in her bowl than ice cream.......sugar rush!

Jake and Jaycie eating their sundaes!

Afterwards, they ended up slinging the ice cream at each other........that's another story that we will leave out the details in order to keep this blog light and fun! For future reference.....don't let people get in an ice cream fight or anything dairy based. Milk products stain concrete!

Later they played fun games at the Berryessa home!

Jaycie got chocolate milk spilled on her at dinner.....or did she?

They had breakfast burritos, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, and their choice of Sunny D, Apple Juice, or Chocolate Milk! Carmel Apple Crisp for dessert. The Berryessa's were kind enough to host the dinner. It was a fun time....even for the laborers!

Jaycie and Jake headed to the dance!

Jaycie had gone home to change her pants, all better!

That is one tall kid! Notice he is even slouching a little!