I WON! I WON! I WON!!!!

On New Years Day 2011, Scott, Allie, Alivia and I went to New York City. While we were there, visiting the NBC Studios, Scott needed to find the little boys room. So the girls and I walked around the studio waiting for Scott. There was a big sign, with a box, and some information cards to enter a contest to win a trip for 4 to Universal Studios. I thought, "Why not", so I filled in the information and put my card in the box. The middle of February, I received a phone call from a nice man named Garretty, from NBC Studios, telling me that I had won the trip. I have to admit that I thought it was a crank call, but after a few minutes, he convinced me that he was not joking. They sent me the information, and Scott and I picked to take our trip in December, for Christmas, since we would have to pay for the remaining 3 people's airfare and park passes. They put us in their Royal Pacific Hotel, there on the resort. They paid for airfare, and for 3 days park passes. The best part was that with the room key, we got to go in the express line for all the rides. We didn't wait in a line longer that 5 minutes.! It was amazing!!! My sister, Amy, and her husband, John, met us there, and we had a blast! It was by far the best family vacation so far!!! We are all huge Harry Potter fans, so we were the most excited about Harry Potter World! All I can say is WOW WOW WOW! It was amazing!!! Thank you NBC Studios!

And it begins...

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hagrid's house...

All aboard...

Hogsmeade...

So cute...

Hermione's Dress...

Mandrakes...Yes they were Very loud and annoying...

Love it...

More Hogsmeade...

The car and the Whomping Willow...

Bertie Bott's Beans...

Yes, they have the cards too...

Pumpkin Juice...

Loved the joke shop...

The details were amazing...

More Joke shop...

Beautiful...

So we go to get on the Jurrassic Park ride, and Amy and John,(Who have been there before) pull out their rain ponchos. I think that was really mean not to warn us that we were going to get soaked! Yes, we were drenched! I feel revenge in the air!!!

Waiting for our food...

My music...

I love her!!!

Bullwinkle...

Sam played and won! Everytime he plays the ring toss, he wins. He was so sweet. He ended up exchanging it for a huge Minion from The Dispicable Me movie. He then found a lady with little kids and gave it to them! He made their day! So glad we didn't have to haul it on the plane home!

Whoville...

Elijah and Alivia with "Frank" from "Men In Black" He was so sweet... and no he didn't talk...

Our Hotel...

More of the hotel...

On our way home! What a great time!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

This Thanksgiving was awesome! There were about 5 military families that got together and reserved the Community center on base. We all brought food, we ate lots of yummy food, visited, played games and had a GREAT time!

Happy Halloween 2011

Fall Pictures 2011

I love taking pictures of the kids. Eventually, Scott and I will make it into a Christmas card, but it is just easier to take the kids out back and snap a few. It's also easier to take their picture the older they get, because they actually care about how they will look for their posterity.

Everyone said I would appreciate the pictures I took of them, with Joe's silly faces, Sam making bunny ears behind Alivia's head, Alivia rolling her eyes and not staying in one place, Allie ticked off and not smiling, and Elijah never looking at the camera. They were right, but for the time being, I really appreciate not feeling like I want to end their lives after a camera shoot. Enjoy the moments!!

Allie's Fundraiser to help Cystic Fibrosis

LET'S KICK "CF"

My Dream is that one-day “CF” will stand for Cure Found!

This is my cousin Liam. He was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis shortly before his 1^st birthday. He is now 11 years old and doing great! He is an extraodinary kid. He loves to swim, ride his bike and he has an awesome sense of humor.

Help me Kick “CF”

If you don’t know what “CF” stands for, it stands for Cystic Fibrosis. “CF” is an inheritated chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about

30,000 children and adults in the Untied States (70,000 world wide).

Facts:

· Kids with CF have to work hard to stay healthy!

· Liam takes about 20 pills a day and has a minimum of 2 breathing treatments and physical therapy each day to keep his lungs healthy.

· Liam is healthy but some kids with CF are not. It is not uncommon for kids with CF to have to be hospitalized for “clean outs” each year (usually for 2 weeks).

Help me make CF stand for CURE FOUND.

100% of sales will be donated to The Cystic Fibrosis’s Foundation.

$2.00 each

For more information about “CF” visit http://www.cff.org/n


Thank you!

MOM...I'm bored? Not this boy!!!

This is what I found Elijah doing...

Traditional First Day of School Pictures

Alexandra, Joseph, and Samuel are in 10th grade!!! How did that happen?

Alivia is in 6th grade.. Oh I love Jr High... It's good she is such a good kid!

Elijah is in 3rd grade...He loves to go to school!!!!

Temple Trip

NYC Temple

Joe and Elijah at Lunch

View from the restaurant

Enjoying his Philly that we got from a street vendor, the restaurant didn't mind that he brought his own meal....

Elijah in Central Park, because he wouldn't get in the first picture.

At Central Park. Elijah is behind them having a temper tantrum. One of many for the day!

Our ward youth went to the NYC temple to do baptisms for the dead. It was the first time that Alivia got to go, so we made it a family day. Scott and Elijah hit Broadway while the rest of us went to the temple. Afterwards we all went to Central Park, walked Broadway, and ate a really nice mexican restaurant. We had so much fun. It was a great last fling for the summer. School started the next day! Bring on Fall!!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

The family in front of the Statue of Liberty.

Liv and Allie

The Lady

Liv and I in front of Ellis Island Museum.

Elijah, Juliana, and Vincent on the ferry to Ellis Island.

Joe on the Ferry.

Allie, Sam, Scott, and Alivia on the ferry to Ellis Island.

All of us before we got on the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I'm taking the picture. (Allie, Joe, Alivia, Sam, Erika, Scott, Juliana, Vincent, Elijah, and Robert)

Scott and Liv in front of the new WTC memorial. It was pretty awesome to see where they would be standing.

Inside Ellis Island Museum.

WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!!