My Christmas Gift to My Kids

 A few things that I love love love are my family...and music! 

Especially Christmas music!

So, as one of my gifts to mu children this year for Christmas, I took each one of them individually and checked them out of school and took them to the FM 100.3 Christmas concerts at the mall!

I was so pleased when each of my kids were so excited for this date

 and could hardly wait for their turn to come around!

Gavin chose to eat Pretzel bites and soda for lunch while we listened to the concert...

 Carew chose to eat at the Melty Way in the mall while we listened to the concert.

This was a new yummy restaurant that specializes in gourmet grilled sandwiches...it was YUMMY!!!

All of the kids were such good sports and are such good siblings to Kesslyn too...

With her being the baby, she got to join each one of them on their dates with me...and it never failed that each one of the kids ended up taking time to make sure that she had fun too...whether that meant actually dancing up on the stage with Dallin, or riding in the little play cars that were right by the stage with each of the other kids, they were all so sweet to play with her and to share their special time with her!

These are GOOD KIDS and I sooo enjoyed being with each one of them!!!

 Carew is such a good big brother and gets so much enjoyment out of seeing Kesslyn and making her smile!

He loves her wholeheartedly... even with a Christ like love, and I think it is a beautiful thing!

He is going to make a great dad one day,

and I can also say that he has learned from the best... Clint is such a good daddy too!

I am one lucky mama with these sweet angels to share in all of these fun times with!

Heavenly Father has certainly blessed our family and I'm so grateful! :)

Ranch Please!

Hello Cutie!!!

Would that be ice~cream dripping down your chin??

No. That would be RANCH!

This little sweetie has found the love of Ranch, thanks to Tiffany and Colby! ;)

We went to lunch at the Habit the other day with them and my mom, and Kesslyn thoroughly enjoyed dipping her chicken in the ranch and then sucking all of the ranch off of the chicken!

Just give her a straw and she will be happy!!! :)

I just love this little sweetie, drippy chin and all! :)

Kambriella's Christmas Dance

 Kambriella had her Christmas performance with Vision Dance, and this little girl was AMAZING! :)

 She danced her little heart out to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock!

She kicked up her heels and really lit up the stage...front and center. :)

 Then, by the end of the routine, she was in a different position and was sweet enough to hold her pose just for a split second longer for me to get a picture of her looking at me! See her? She's the only one still striking the pose! :)

And although she was AMAZING, her little perfectionist side was in tears afterward thinking that she had messed up and wanted to do better... :)

Don't worry though...Every single one of us told her it was AMAZING and that I have the video proof to show it! She really was an awesome little dancer and I couldn't have been more proud. :)

 It was very special for Kambriella to have her Grandma Panter there to support her!

 And of course her Mom and Dad, Gavin, Kesslyn! :)

We told Kambriella that after her performance she could choose where she would like to go for dinner and to celebrate...and it was no surprise...she chose IHOP for cream filled crepes, her favorite!

I took this picture of her with creme on her nose, but she had no idea that it was there...

The funny thing is, that when I was a little girl, probably about her age, I used to eat my ice cream cones and purposely tap the cone on the end of my nose to leave just enough ice cream there to get a little attention. I would leave it there until someone would look at me funny and then I would say, "What?" Like I had no idea it was there... :) This little picture of Kambriella reminded me and my mom both so much of that time...we laughed and took this picture and then shared it with my brother who got quite a laugh...

Good times, good family, good memories...good life. :)

Thank you Heavenly Father :)

Silver Rush ~ Oquirrh Rush

Every year at Christmas time, our community comes together and celebrates Silver Rush and Oquirrhfest!

This is an awesome event where the high school and middle school choose a local charity and work hard everyday to raise money to donate and make a difference in the lives that they touch.

This year Riverton High School and Oquirrh Hills middle school are combining their efforts and raising the money together to donate to

 Millie's Princess Foundation ~ Because Cancer is a "Royal" Pain

The thing that is awesome about this for my family is that since Dallin is an SBO at the Middle School, he is working in the heart of all of the fundraising and activities and really is getting to FEEL the effects of what service can really do!

He has already been involved in Odd Jobs and assemblies, and planning meetings, and skits...food nights at local restaurants and caroling, and benefit concerts...

This night we were able to go to the school to see Nathan Osmond and another guest performer sing Christmas songs with all of the benefits going towards the fundraising!

Because it was Millie's Princess Foundation they had all of the Disney Princesses represented and my little girls LOVED IT!!!

They always make them feel so special, and remind them that they too are a Princess! 

I love the feeling that all of the kind acts bring to our community. It's so amazing to live in an area of the world where so many people care and want to help others and really give back to the community.

It really is awesome.

This is my Zion!

:)

Fun Times

 The holiday season is so full of fun times, happy gatherings, and lots and lots of family time...and I love it! :)

Last week the young women in our ward invited us (the old young women's presidency) to their annual Christmas party where we had a fun time visiting, laughing and catching up, and eating Cafe Rio! YUM!!!

They also had made little note pads with love letters all clipped together from each of the young women and the leaders. That must be my love language...words of affirmation...because it meant so much to me!

The words really seemed heartfelt and touched me...plus it's something that I can hold on to forever!

 Meanwhile, back at home...life continues to offer up plenty of smiles and laughter, 

courtesy of my silly kids! ;)

Kesslyn seems to have no reservation at all about which territory is hers...because she thinks she owns EVERYTHING!!! 

Even Kambriella's face if she feels like that's where she wants to sit!!!

Can you just see that silly giggle underneath that binky!?

MISCHIEF must be her middle name. :)

And Kambriella just goes with the flow...gotta love it!!!

:)

A Christmas Visit

On Friday I took the kids and we went over to visit our 98 year old friend Bernice!

We took her a tiny little Christmas tree and visited with her and told her we loved her! :)

Kesslyn loved being there but really wanted the baby doll that Bernice had in the corner...

Gavin just kept smiling politely and helped keep Kesslyn out of Bernice's things, including the baby doll...:)

and Kambriella decided that she wanted to sing her a song, and so she did!

It was so sweet...I just love her little heart and ALL of her confidence!!!

(It was a song that she has been learning in class called

 White is in the Winter Night by Enya.)

It might be one of my new favorites!

(But probably just because now I can picture Kambriella singing it to Bernice!)

:)

# LIGHTtheWORLD

Jesus visited the lonely, and so can you!

Christmas Baby

 Kesslyn must be a Trickett because she is already LOVING Christmas!!! :)

She is following in the same footsteps of every other little Trickett baby and LOVING the little play nativity set that we have and all of the little Holy Family...and sheep...and Baby Jesus of course. :)

 She will play with all of them together, but usually chooses one to carry around the house with her...

  or put in the pocket of her apron...:)

 Yes, HER apron!!!

It's the cutest thing EVER!!! She walks past all of the aprons hanging up in the kitchen, and ALWAYS chooses the same one to put on...the CANDY apron!!! She LOVES it! It's just her size and she looks SOOOO cute in it! She makes everyone smile as she walks all around the house in it...and she WILL get mad at you if you try to take it off of her so WATCH OUT!!!

Merry Christmas baby girl!!! You're the best present ever!

(AND all she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth, since she still has none!!!

Today, the front 2 are FINALLY breaking through!!!) ;)