Thursday, December 10, 2009

Love, Faith, and a little John Denver

November 5th 2009 will not be a day I soon forget. I was up in Denver helping Kent celebrate his birthday when I got a phone call from my dear friend Michelle. She was on her way home after having received more scans in her long battle with cancer. She had been in lots of pain lately and was needing some answers. She had just left the Dr's office and was in the car with her mom driving home. They told her that her cancer had continued to grow and that there was no more they could do for her. Hospice was the next step to try and help her control her pain. My heart broke. We sobbed together on the phone. The next morning we were able to spend some time together. That moment, and several that followed, felt like one of those sacred moments that are so precious and life changing. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for placing Michelle in my life when I needed her most. She changed my life forever. She lost her battle with cancer on Dec. 3rd and returned home to her loving Heavenly Father. I will miss her so much! When the neighborhood heard about Michelle's devastating news about having to go on Hospice everyone decided to put out silver and white balloons. The backyards and the path from the Twiggs house out of the neighborhood was lined with balloons letting her family know they were in our thoughts and prayers. My kids would count every day how many people had balloons out. I think the number got close to 20. What a wonderful and supportive neighborhood we live in!

On Nov. 22nd Jamie organized a special concert for Michelle in their home. John Denver is one of their favorite musicians. They danced to "Annie's Song" at their wedding. A great guy named Ted Vigil was kind enough to fly in from Seattle. Doesn't he look so much like John Denver! It was an amazing evening that I felt so blessed to be apart of. There were moments of joy and celebration and some very tender moments of love and hope and sadness. I felt the Spirit so strong in a home full of close friends and family that more than anything shared a Christlike love for this sweet mother who has been such a tremendous example to us all.





This is not one of the most flattering pictures of me ever taken. My eyes are all red and puffy and well...I'll just say that the angle isn't the most flattering. Michelle took this picture of us on the night of the concert. She suffered tremendous pain the last several weeks, and this day happened to be one of her worst. Even in her pain, she asked me to hand her the camera so she could take a picture for us. She was laying down because it hurt too much to sit up. For me this is just a reminder of the kind of friend she was to me. Loving. Selfless. Thoughtful. Kind.





Annie's Song...one of Michelle's favorites! There was not a dry eye in the house.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Kent's 40!

Kent turned 40 this year (way back on Nov. 5th). I wanted to throw him a big party...he didn't want one. So, since it was his birthday I decided to go with his wishes! We celebrated with the kids in the morning and had a big breakfast and then blew out candles on his coffee cake. Later that afternoon we headed up to the temple and then stayed in Denver to celebrate.

I decided to surprise Kent with some indoor skydiving. He has talked about wanting to do this for a long time. What better day to do it than on his 40th birthday!


Don't we look awesome in those attractive goggles!




We had such a blast! Kent is already talking about doing it again



After skydiving we went to Maggianos and had a delicious dinner. Kent blew out more candles over some spumoni ice cream.






Friday, November 20, 2009

Launching Pumpkins

Abbie's 5th grade class did a unit on simple machines. For the final project of that unit each student had to make a catapult that would launch either a marshmallow or a small pumpkin at least 15 feet. Abbie chose to do the pumpkin. She and Kent spent hours in the garage cutting, screwing, bolting, and launching. They practiced in the street several times launching all kinds of things with the neighborhood kids. It worked like a charm. Of course, the day of the launch it took 4 trys before they could get it to work...the pressure was too much! But finally success was theirs...her pumpkin went 45 feet 4 inches!


To say Abbie's was the biggest would be an understatment! Now we just have the task of taking it apart. (we just got a note from our HOA that we were in violation because some "wooden object is in view from the street")

Monday, November 16, 2009

Yummy Apples and Halloween

For the FHE before Halloween we made our yummy gormet caramel apples with toppings like mini m&m's, toffee, nuts, broken up pretzels and we top it all with a drizzle of milk chocolate and white chocolate.

For Halloween this year we had a chef, a cowgirl, a cheerleader, and one very excited pirate!





Monday, November 9, 2009

LHS Cheer

This year Kate and Claire (Claire wasn't old enough last year) did the Liberty High School Cheerleading Camp. They loved every minute of it. The week after the camp they showed off what they leaned at the football game half time show. That night happened to be FREEZING. I mean literally...we were numb. It was all we could do to make it to halftime. So, I didn't get pictures at the game, just a video. It was quite the night. Kent was out of town so I was by myself. By the time we were done we were all having a complete melt down, including me! We did end up taking some pictures at home after the game. They did a great job!

Isn't that just the sadest face! This is post melt down while trying to warm up.

Claire is on the left in the pink pants. Kate is next to her in the blue coat. I was cracking up at Claire giving the cheerleader a hug after each cheer...too cute!

Showing us their cheers up and close. Don't ever say my girls aren't coordinated!! Ü

Jake giving it a try!

A Fall Drive

On Conference weekend (yes, I know that was over a month ago Ü) we went for a beautiful Fall drive. Colorado is gorgeous, anytime of year, but especially in the Fall. I sure love spending time with my family. It was a fantastic day!




I love this girls cute little freckles sprinkled across her nose!




Monday, October 26, 2009

A Pinkalicious Birthday Party

This year for Claire's birthday we had a Pinkalicious Party. Pinkalicious is Claire's favorite book about a girl who eats to many pink cupcakes and turns pink. It was an easy enough theme...we just did everything pink!


We ate pink food...

We read Pinkalicous...


We played pin the cherry on the cupcake...

We had a cupcake walk...




We did a pink craft...

Katelynn modeling the heart necklace she made.


We opened presents...


For part of the goody bag I made each of the girls a pink flowered head band. Here they are modeling them! It was a fantastic afternoon. Claire had a blast and she has such wonderful friends who are all so well behaved.

Super easy to make!


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Happy 6th Birthday Claire Bear!

Today is my sweet Claire's 6th birthday. Here are 6 things I love about her:

1. Full of life
2. Friend to everyone
3. Has the sweetest laugh you will ever hear
4. Leader
5. "I'm okay, I'm okay!"
6. A genuine sweet heart



Thursday, October 8, 2009

Claire and her new love for rugby

Our little Claire bear just cracks us up. She is up for anything! On one hand she loves everything girly but on the other she is as rough and tumble as any boy out there. She is a little clumsy (okay...a lot) but hopefully one day she will grow into all of her energy and excitement. Well, this fall she wanted to give rugby a try. Our neighbor was her coach and she played with her good friend Lizzie. She absolutely LOVED it! She loved the competition, the running, and trying something new. Every day after school she would ask, "is today rugby?" She was actually pretty good at it. I sure love this girl!



The Lil' Grizzlies