New Season!!

More for you Mom's!!

The Stranger

Our fun home teacher came over today and read us this e-mail that he received a little while ago. I know some of you have possibly seen it...but I thought I would share!!

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Texas town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, youwould still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?.... We just call him, "TV."

All You Mom's Out There!!

The Mom's Song

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook wall...and I thought it was a riot so I thought I would share!! So this is for all you moms out there!!!

Dance...like no one is watching!!

Xtreme Danzz Competition at Energy Solutions Arena 04/04/09!!

Their first dance was a Hip Hop dance!!

This is the girls after they went back to the dressing room.

In between their two dances we went to The Gateway...the girls on the escalators.

Me at the restaurant at The Gateway!!

This is McKennah in her jazz costume before their final dance with MaKayla.

McKennah....It's Raining Men!!!

All the girls at the end of their final dance.

Great job girls!! They took 1st place with their hip hop dance and 2nd place with their jazz dance.

Go Knights!!

Madi's St. George Softball Tournament

Northridge had a softball tournament in St. George on March 13th & 14th. The girls left from the school at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday after practice. They played 2 games on Friday and 3 games on Saturday. They all did well and had a great time. The bus returned back to Northridge on Saturday evening a few minutes after midnight. Go Knights!!

Madi fixing her hair before the first game.

This is the first game the first day!!

This is the second game the second day after it warmed up!

This is a picture of some of the girls in the dugout!

Catching Up!!

What a busy couple of months!!!

Morgen's eight birthday was January 24th!! I fixed a whole bunch of cupcakes for her friend birthday party so that is what she blew her candle out on. I should have gotten her a cake as well but who wants to eat that much cake? I know I don't!!

She had some of her wonderful friends over from her class in school...they gave her some great gifts!!

Morgen was baptized on January 31st. What a great day!! She was baptized the same day as her good friends Sophie and Ari who also turned 8 that month. I think that they all look alot alike here!! Congratulations girls!!

These cookies turned out so good that I had to post a picture of them! I made these for McKennah's class party for Valentine's Day. Yummy!!! Thanks Konra for the recipe!!

This is my girls before they left for PPP night at YW!! It was so fun!! The girls dressed up with as many P things that they can come up with...pink, purple, pony tails, plaid pants, polka dot pants, etc. They did come close to winning but came up a few short...better luck next year!! It is so fun to see both of my girls going to YW now!!

Madi has been going to softball conditioning for Northridge since the first week in January. They finally had the tryouts on March 2nd and 3rd...and she made the team!! Woooo Hoooo!! She has been working really hard to do this!! She made the team as a 9th grader so I have to pick her up from Sunset everyday and drive her to Northridge for practice...or for games but hey we do what we have to do!! Go Madi!!

This is a picture of our very sick puppy Teton. He looks very sad here...and I was sad for him.

Sadly Teton passed away on March 4th. What a sad day that was. I came home early from the gym that day to take Madi some lunch for getting on the softball team. I went out to check on him and noticed that it was getting windy and cold...so I went inside to get the phone to call and have Steve come home for his lunch so he could help me get him into the garage. As I was talking I went back outside and he lifted his head to look at me and then put it down...he was doing really bad and I told Steve 'I need you home now' and hung up. I put the phone down and talked to him and stoked his head and body and cried...he was gone by the time Steve made it home a few minutes later. We buried him in the field under a tree wrapped in a new blanket that had little dogs and fire hydrants printed on it. He was an amazing dog and we enjoyed him for 11 long years. This picture was taken the day before he died...he noticed the cat in the yard and he perked up and ran over to her...in this picture is Teton (lab), Ellie (schnauzer), and Squeek (kitty).

On March 5th was Braedon's 2nd birthday! I got to enjoy having him the next day. He was so much fun. He is talking so good now!! He is walking along furniture and walls...just not on his own yet. We are confident that he will very soon. He is doing everything else like a typical 2 year old...no more baby!! Happy Birthday Braedon!!!

Yes...I am LAME!!!

Time to update!!!

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post! I do have a few things to post about...Morgen's baptism, valentine's day, fun family photos...etc!!! I will try my best to do this this week in between softball tryouts, getting my hair done, volunteering at the school, going to the gym, and Braedon's 2nd birthday...I might be able to fit it in...lol!

Eight Is Great!!!

Oh My!! Morgen Is Eight!!

Happy Birthday to Morgen!! What a fun and amazing girl. She absolutely loves to laugh and have a good time. We love her sooo much!!

I cannot believe that my baby is turning eight!!

Mommy's Big Mistake!!!

I Am Sooo Sorry!!!

I made a big mistake last week. I forgot McKennah's Dare graduation!! I swear I tried really hard to remember. That morning on my way to the gym I kept thinking how am I going to remember McKennah's graduation (yes I am normally forgetful) so I called Steve at work to have him call and remind me later in the day to go (of course he had a Dr's appt. so he's off the hook). I called both his cell phone and his office phone and he didn't answer. I hung up my cell phone and thought "I am making such a big deal out of not forgetting there is no way that I will". So I proceeded with my workout at the gym and never thought of the graduation again until later when Steph called me and asked if it was okay if she gives McKennah a ride home...OH MY...IT WAS OVER AND I HAD FORGOTTEN!!! When she got home she was crying...so I started crying...it was a mess, and I felt horrible. I called Steve on his cell and sobbed to him so he stopped and bought her some roses (which I do have pictures of). So if any of you amazing Mom's out there that didn't forget like I did to go to the graduation have any pictures or video of this memorable occasion please, please send them my way, and yes you can give me a hard time too!!!

I'm Obsessed!!!

Mamma Mia!!!

Our new family obsession is the movie Mamma Mia!! I can't believe how much we liked this movie. We borrowed it...then rented it...then bought it!!! It is so much fun to watch...we watch it almost daily!! All four of us (daddy doesn't like this one) sit and watch this...and sing along. Yes there are some questionable parts but when the girls are in the room we skip past them and still enjoy the movie...what fun!!!

Our Holiday Happenings!!!

The Holidays...here and then gone!!!

Our last day with the Milne's. They came over to visit the morning that they left...we were already missing them!!

Our day at the Festival of trees. McKennah's Dance Team did an amazing job!!

Jesse loves his aunts!!

Watching Polar Express.

Our 1st annual Polar Express Party!! The grandkids came over and they actually watched the movie!! They had some chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate (not so much, they didn't like it), and received a jingle bell. What fun we all had.

A one and a two = 12!!!

Debbie Auger came over to decorate her room for her Birthday (for YW)

(Look Debbie...her room does look nice cleaned ;))

McKennah turns 12!! We are so excited!! She had such a fun day. We opened her presents (a razor G-stick and clothes) and then went out for her favorite food...chinese!!!

She procrastinated her birthday party...so she ended up just having a sleepover.

Me and Jesse on Christmas Eve day. We were getting ready to take Braedon his presents...but I forgot my camera so I have no pictures of them together. I had to post this one with his silly face!!

Jesse opening his presents from Grandma after we got back, and before we went to great-grandmas annual Christmas Eve party.

This was a fun Family picture at my Moms for her annual family Christmas Eve party. We have been going there on Christmas Eve since we got married in 1991.

Morgen's Christmas Eve pajamas.

McKennah's Chrstmas Eve pajamas.

Madi's Christmas Eve pajamas.

Christmas Morning at 3:00 a.m. when I finally went to bed ;p

I actually had to go and get the girls up at 8:30. They all slept in McKennah's room. We took this picture while waiting for daddy-o.

This is the girls opening one of the family gifts all together...oh my, what could it be?

Yep, it's a Wii and Guitar Hero World Tour with lots of games and controllers. Other items Santa brought were cell phones, ipods, perfume, boardgames, boots, clothing and a new Dell computer (strange...there were no dolls or barbies this year).

Every year on Christmas Day we have the annual Bybee Christmas party at out house. This is our group family photo...excluding his parents...they are tucked away in Yuma, AZ enjoying the warm weather.

Steve pulled Averie and Jaxon behind the 4 wheeler on sleds one evening after Christmas when we were watching them. It was so cold, but they really had alot of fun!!

We had a fun New Years Eve party and John and Debbie's home. Madi played with her band the Jr. Bandit's at 11:00 p.m. They did a really great job!!

The after Midnight Limbo!!

Lots of dancing in the dark going on!!

This is Kim and Angela dancing to the YMCA in the dark...the only light was the disco ball...don't they look like they are having fun!!!

Happy New Year!!!