Ashley graduated from Primary & is now in YW

Christmas Morning

Ashley's Honor Choir Concert with the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra

Ashley tried out for the Honor Choir this year and made it!!! They only accepted 100 kids out of all of the elementaries, so she was so excited, as were we! And so Proud! They have 2 hour practices once a week and have various concerts throughout the school year. This was a Christmas concert with the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to shout out to all of my Friends & Family a very Happy Thanksgiving Day & to eat lots and lots of turkey, pies, yams, etc.... We love you all!
Love,
David, Laurel, Ashley, Briana, CJ & Danielle (otherwise known as the ABCD girls)

Twilight Review

OK...so when I saw it the first time at midnight/opening night, I was totally bummed out & very dissapointed. They didn't capture the exciting build up of the Love between Edward & Bella and I thought it was very fast paced and choppy. Too rushed. If only they could have made the movie a little longer & then put in some more of the build up.
I saw it again on Saturday & I did have to say that when I wasn't nit picking it to death, I did like it alot better. Although...I still think that Jasper looked like he had something stuck up his rear the whole time...sheesh..for someone who can control emotions...he sure needs to work on his own....But...I can say that it does stink that we have to wait a Way, WAY long time before we get to see the next movie. I will be looking forward to that...until then..I will just have to keep reading the books

GRR!!

OK...so please keep your ears out for any job openings. The company David worked for finally had to call it quits & everyone that worked there lost their jobs. They ended up selling the company off in chunks to different people/companies. So...David will be hitting the internet, head hunters, everything else...please keep us in your prayers.
Amazingly...I feel weirdly at peace. I know the Lord is in charge & that we will be taken care of. I just don't know how or when yet....but I do know that it is coming.

Here are the girls 2008 school pictures. Briana had to get retakes, so hers are not here yet, but when they come in I will post it.

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2008! Ashley was a Maiden Princess, Briana was a kitty cat, Camrin (friend) was a witch and so were CJ & Danielle!

This one is for Branden!!!

David was talking with the girls this morning about the Bronco game this evening. He said if they lost, we would all have to wear black the following day so that we could mourn properly...Danielle piped up from the other room and said "NO! We don't want to be dressed like the Raiders!" We all got a very good laugh out of that one.... To think our youngest, at 5 years old, would make her daddy so proud that way! Go Broncos!

Twilight Movie

I just bought my Twilight Movie Ticket! I am so excited!!

Here are some family shots of our t-shirts...

Woo Hoo! I still look 18 years old!

My mom came up for the 2nd weekend in a row. Last weekend, she & my Papa Fanning came to visit & to go see the BYU game (which was not a good game at all...BYU got killed!). We had a blast visiting with them & playing games/watching movies/shopping. Then, this past weekend, my mom flew up for our friends wedding. The daughter (Rhea Canfield) of my mom's best friend (Sherry Canfield), got married. She had the most gorgeous wedding ever! It was so beautiful. I was holding it together until I looked over at her brothers & saw them tearing up, then I completely lost it too. We grew up with these guys. Joey (her brother) was my first boyfriend in the 3rd grade...and my first kiss (as much as a 3rd grader even knows how to kiss).....I know...I know...3rd grade...Yikes... Anyway...It was great to see them all again. The youngest brother Skyler even thought that I looked 18 years old & actually got up & left the table when I told him that I was 34 and had 4 kids. Oh Well....atleast he thought I looked 18 & that is what counts! I was totally thrilled the rest of the night! Woo Hoo! Thanks Skyler!!!
It was a short trip with my mom but we had a fun day of shopping & talking! Thanks mom! Love you!

ABC Tag

A Attached or Single? Attached
B Best Friend? David
C Cake or Pie? Neither...give me fruit!
D Day of Choice? Saturday
E Essential Item? family
F Favorite Color? Blue
G Gummi Bears or Worms? Neither
H Hometown? Odessa, TX
I Indulgence? SLEEP!!! & Reading The Twilight Series
J January or July? January, unless it's snowing
K Kids? Yes, 4 of them.
L Life is not complete with out? Family
M Marriage Date? April 23,
N # of Brothers and Sistas? 2 Bro & 1 Sis
O Oranges or Apples? Both!
P Phobias? Bees & Fast driving cars
Q Quotes? "The greatest work you will ever do, will be within the walls of your own home." or something like that.
R Reasons to Smile? Family
S Season of Choice? Spring, because the weather is great!
T Tag some Peeps? Dani...Angela...Rachel....
U Unknown Fact About Me? ???
"V Vegetable? Sugar Snap Peas
W Worst Habits? Biting my nails
X X-Ray or Ultrasound? I would say ultrasound, but then that means I'm pregnant. However, if it's x-ray, then something is probably broken. Sooo, I guess the better option is Ultrasound.
Y Your favorite food? Chick-Fil-A or Angela's artichoke dip
Z Zodiac Sign? Gemini

Another Craft that I found on the Web and re-created!

My Soldier Brothers

Both of my brothers are in Afghanistan. Clifton is with the Air Force & Craig is with the National Guard/Army. Miraculously, they are only stationed about 10 minutes apart so Craig was able to hop a quick flight over to see Clif on his birthday (Sept. 14th) and have some ice-cream with him. It is realy great to see both of my brothers together & smiling! I love you guys! & Happy Birthday Clif!

1 Little Monkey, or 5 little monkeys

Danielle was a Monkey in her preschool play (last years preschool) & I am finally getting the pics off the camera hard drive to post it here for you all to see. Isn't she the cutest monkey you ever saw???

Better Late Than Never....1st day of school pics

Ashley - 6th Grade, Briana - 4th Grade, CJ - 2nd Grade, Danielle - Last Year of Preschool

School started a 2 weeks ago & everyone else has already posted their "back to school" photos. Unfortuneatly, mine are all on the camera hard drive & I can't seem to find the cord to retrieve them... I did manage to get Danielle's on the camera card so I am able to post hers. Here is Danielle at the dentist & at her "meet the teacher" day at her preschool.

My brother Craig had a layover at the Dallas Airport on his way back to Afghanistan so we were able to meet him there & talk with him for about 3 hours. It was really neat to see the girls interact with him & ask him questions about what he is doing and what the patches meant on his uniform. It was also really neat to see all of the many people come up to them & tell them thankyou for what they are doing. There was a whole line up of people hugging the troops & thanking them for everything. It was all very heartwarming. As scary as it is for me to have both of my brothers overseas & in that mess... my heart goes out to their wives & kids. I don't know how they get through it all. I love you Jessie & J-Me. You are always in our thoughts & prayers. Thanks for all that you give up so that our Country stays safe!

Here are a few more pics of Crafts that I have done

Been Craftin' Just a Little!

Been Craftin' Just a Little!

So...I have been crafting like a maniac lately (so my kids tell me) but I have been having fun in the process. Here are a few pics of my projects!

Breaking Dawn!

Ok...so am I crazy or what?!?! On Friday night, I got in line (I was the 1st one in line...he he) at 10:30 pm at the McKinney Wal-mart to pick up the newest book of the Twilight series. A few minutes later & I was joined by 5 others. From then, the line started growing pretty rapidly. Some of the others said that they had tried to go to the Barnes & Noble to get in line but there were more than 5000 people there! and the wristbands were gone (you had to have a wristband in order to get a book because they only had 5000 copies of the book). So, they came to Wal-mart. While we were sitting there, my dad calls me from Georgia and says "Where are you at right now?" I told him kind of laughing & he breaks up laughing and says that He and Mary are waiting in line also to get the book. But...because of time changes, they were getting their copy in just a few minutes. So...what does he do??? He calls me after they get the book & he starts reading from the Last Page! Dad! What are you doing???? Don't blow it for me! All these people around me are just laughing until he starts reading & then they are like...Hey don't blow it! Don't tell us! What a funny guy! Anyway...we waited it out, barely, until 12:01 until they finally gave us our books! Yee haw! I got home at 12:15 pm and immediately started reading (while David sighed in the background...he new I was a lost cause until I was done with the book:). I read until I couldn't read anymore for the night (5:30 am) and then went to bed. Well, I must have been too anxious because I was only able to sleep until 9:30 & then I went right back to reading. David was a real sweetheart & locked me in my room (so the kids couldn't bug me) and brought me up lunch when it was lunch time & extra water & coke zero and then he locked me in again. I read all day long, not ever leaving my bed or getting changed/showered, until 6:30 pm when I finally finished the book! Holy Cow! I loved it! I love this whole series! and I love David for letting me get away with reading all day long! Anyway...then I was bombarded at church with questions from everyone that had not yet finished the book asking me if it was a happy ending & other questions...I kept telling everyone..."I am not going to tell you, you gotta read it" lol....it was so funny. Ashley finished the book this morning & next David gets to read it. Anyway....fun weekend!

Bread, Bread & More Bread..

So...I recently dusted off the old bread maker that David & I have had for years & have been making Bread almost every night. I wish the machine would make enough for us to eat for atleast a couple of days but my family tends to eat it all up on the same day...so I just end up having to make more the next day. I also am going to try a sourdough using a bread starter. We will see how that works.
Other than this...I have been crafting alot, working on home made Christmas gifts, making cards, Reading the Twilight series for the 5th time & listening to them on my mp3 player. Anxiously awaiting Saturday when I can get the newest book "Breaking Dawn". We have been hitting the pool every other day so as I won't get too burnt & so on the days we go, I don't tend to spend as much money :)
Nursery (our church calling) is going well. I just love the little kiddos, they are so cute at that age.

New Calling!

So....David & I just got called to be the Nursery Leaders at church. Enough said!

This is the Place