Update

Well, again it has been quite some time since I was on here and actually updated anything. I suppose I should go back to Christmas and begin there..............

Our Christmas season was quite enjoyable again this year! We tried to simplify things and tried to make sure that the girls were thinking about more than just themselves. To help this we did a neighborhood food/clothing drive as well as a family food drive (at the Messick family Christmas party). Both were a pretty good success and the girls were able to help box things up and then go deliver the food items to the Food and Care Coalition in Provo. The clothing items that were donated were sent up to a friend in the Salt Lake area that donated them to the Road Home shelter. All in all I think it was a success and my girls both had several questions about why we were taking the food there and what it was for. We have done this in the past with them, but they were younger and didn't really understand what was going on, this year was different and both said that they were grateful for the things they have and that they felt bad for people that needed the help, especially the kids. We also went through our toy boxes and cleaned out and donated old toys that were no longer in use to a family in my parents ward that then took the items to Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Our Christmas tree this year was another "Shaylie and McKinley" original!! They picked the tree, decided on the decorations and decorated it! It was perfect!

On Christmas Eve we did a little sledding (although it was not quite as fun since the snow was not as deep as in past years) and A LOT of relaxing! Christmas Day did not disappoint! We had a lovely day spent with family and yummy food! What more can you ask for? The girls both got plenty of loot to store in their freshly cleaned out toy boxes.

New Years Eve was spent hanging out with friends and celebrating a birthday. We had a great time visiting and playing games all night long!

During the girls Christmas break at school I received an AWESOME phone call from the principal at their school. She called and asked if I could come in for an interview for a Title 1 Technician position I had applied for! I went in and interviewed and got another call a day later telling me that I got the job and could start on January 4 (the first day back to school)! I was absolutely THRILLED! I had been trying to find a part time job that would still work around the girls school schedule and was not having any luck. This job is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! I go in at the same time as my girls do and work until 1pm. I can still go and help in their classes in the afternoons and I get to be around them all day. So far I am really enjoying my job! I get to help in different classes as well as tutor one on one with a few different students. I look forward to seeing the progress as the school year continues!

Here are a few pictures from our holiday season...........Enjoy!

Notice the pink sparkly Santa hat for the tree topper!

The girls on the Christmas eve!