Thanksgiving!

Shayna and Trevor.

Maria, Kouji, Ryan and Grandma Joyce.

Nephi.

Ryan and Kouji.

Staci.

Maria, Kouji and Ryan.

Mema and Grammy.

Taft.

Papa, Alissa and Kenzie.

For Thanksgiving this year we spent the evening with Ryan's family.  They were kind enough to have dinner in the evening so Ryan could attend because he worked all day.  We all even took turns saying what we were thankful for which was very nice!  It was especially fun to have Takeshi and Maria and there two boys come down from Provo too.

Toquerville Turkey Trot!

We had the opportunity to attend the race that Papa/Ryan's Dad has put together the last few years.  We almost missed it but made it just in time to see the runner's come though the finish line.  I was excited for Ryan because he beat his time by over 2 minutes and last year he was actually  training.  This year he had only run once in about 3 months and still managed to beat his time.  I think he his time was a little over 21 minutes!  Dad came in not to far behind at about 25 minutes I think.  It was so fun to get to see this race and I think Ryan hope to be back every year for it!

Jubilee of Trees

On Saturday we decided to take the family to a luncheon at the Jubilee of Trees.  This is a festival that every year is put on to raise money for different charities.  This year they are trying to get Airflight to the local hospital. I was absolutely amazed at all the different trees and even at the gingerbread houses!  We had such a great time and the kids even got to help lead the Christmas train behind Santa Claus where there were hundred of kids involved.  That evening Ryan and I also went back to see The Oddysey dance theater perform It's A Wonderful Life which was absolutely fantastic!  All in all it was a great way to kick off the holiday season!

Family Update

Well all here is the latest on our Spirited Bunch!

Ryan- Ryan is still loving his job and has become so efficient at it.  He loves the people he works with and always comes home with new fun stories to tell. His favorite thing to do at work right now is catch gophers, which is not exactly exciting to hear about, but brings a smile to his face. He had the opportunity to spend time playing video games with his brother Tim last week and that was probably the highlight of the month.  He also made the most amazing soup last week and I think I decided he should start cooking.  Ryan is such a wonderful dad and husband and is working very hard right now to do all that the Lord wants for him.

Staci-  Well, I am finally getting the hang of this whole mothering thing.  I have always wished I could get it all done at the same time, The happy kids, bills paid, clean house, spiritually fed, healthy, active lifestyle and low stress family.  I can finally say that it is starting to come, and although it takes a lot of effort, I see the happy eyes of my husband and children and feel how worthwhile I am to them. I love being able to be "just a wife and a mother" and am finally starting to feel the magnificence of this amazing calling God has bestowed upon me.  I feel his love by the gift he has given me to have a family.  I want to succeed and make him proud and I am only hope that I can.  As for my major struggle in life it is still my weight and I am continually working on it but hope to someday be where I want to be with that subject. I am finding as the kids are getting older I sometimes can squeeze in about 20 minutes of free time which feels wonderful and I have been able to take this time to remember the things I used to do before having children like dancing or even playing the piano and singing.  Most of the things the kids love too which works out great if I want to continue when the come in from playing.  I am particularly feeling humbled right now and ready to more fully live as the Lord wants me too.  I am so thankful for the gospel and it adds to my life.  Obviously there are still times where things are rough but it is then that I am trying to learn to count my blessings and be thankful for all I have!

Alissa- Alissa is turning into a little mother.  She loves to be in charge and take care of things and has even changed a few diapers.  She loves to be a helper and is so great at nurturing when it is her decision.  She definitely has a strong spirit and knows what she wants.  She also is starting to recognize the importance of having calm moments where she can just relax and think which is wonderful for her.  Her skin is improving daily and with good sleep she is getting healthier.  She still loves Kindergarten and even thanks Heavenly Father almost daily for getting to go!  She is very smart and is now starting to read books that are sent home with her.  Alissa is also enjoying piano.  She loves to sit at the piano everyday and try to play new songs or practise notes. She has stopped gymnastics and has start taking dance. She has her first recital on December 3 on the local high school stage which should be fun! I still can not believe how fast five years has gone by!

Kenzie-  Kenzie is still such a sweet little boy.  He is so amazingly sweet and love to obey.  He has such a tender heart and that is so fun to watch develop in him.  He is such a funny silly little guy and loves to be goofy any chance he gets.  He literally has not sense of boundaries and has no problems talking nose to nose.  He loves to give bear hugs and has even concluded that they should put  you to sleep, only to be followed by Zerbits(I think that is what they call it)  He is finally potty trained which was way to easy and I am thankful for that.  Kenzie is still in preschool and loves the opportunity to go and make friends on his own.  He is also growing up so fast and getting so tall.  He loves to wrestle with daddy and Taft if Taft will let him.  

Taft(aka Chubbs)- Taft is absolutely hilarious.  He is soo funny in that he literally whines about half of his days.  In fact tonight he got mad at me at dinner and tried to push me off my seat slowly by pushing his bum up against me until I would hopefully fall off.  He loves to pout if he doesn't get his way too which is so fun to watch.  He LOVES his big sister and his daddy so much. He also loves to give forehead kisses in which your foreheads meet and he still makes a smooching noise with his lips.   Taft has already made me feel like my baby is no longer a baby.  He communicates very well and can say a lot of words.  He loves to climb and has to do everything himself.  He has even starting telling me when he need his diaper changed and which type of drink he would like.  He is really growing up fast and I kind of wish it would stop!

Flake Family Fire Fund

I just wanted to let everyone know that my Uncle Chuck and Aunt Dori's home was burned to the ground this past weekend in the Yorba Linda, California fire.  They did not have time to get any of their belongings out, and have lost everything they had.  If you personally know this family then you would know that they devote most of their lives to serving others and are amazing people.  In fact, this event happened on Saturday and my Uncle (without even having his own church clothes got up Sunday morning at 6 am to attend his meetings as a bishop for the LDS church.  After this they went to all the rest of their meetings for the day.  To this, I say what a truly amazing family to be able to just step right back in and serve.  There is a blog being dedicated to helping their family and we would really appreciate any help and prayers that you can offer.  There has even been a fund set up at any Wells Fargo Bank called The Flake Family Fire Fund.  Here is the link so please give your support  http://www.flakefamilyfire.blogspot.com/   I know that for many this may be a hard time to give but imagine what it would be like to lose everything but the clothes on your back. Thank You.   -Staci

Alissa's 5th Birthday Party

Alissa and her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Kayla! We were so lucky to have her at the birthday party!

Here are some of the kids swimming at the Community Center!

Here are most of the kids who attended.  About half were from school and then half from church.  Let's see from the front and then left to right, Taft, Braxton(cousin), Jace, Alissa, Kenzie, Jacie, Katina, Gage, Dani's sister, Dani, Jenna and Melissa.  Alissa wanted to make sure that you all knew everyone names.

Here we are playing Hawaiian Bingo!

Alissa blowing out her candles!

Nothing else would do but this cake!

We had the food catered from Alissa's favorite Hawaiian restaurant Parrothead!

I absolutely loved this picture of Taft and Ryan playing in the fountains.  Taft did not ever want to get out, even once everyone had changed several hours later, he was still trying to get in the pool!

Trick or Treating

Greeting Daddy's homecoming from work!

Little Bo Peep and her Sheep.

As you can see Taft learned quickly that once the candy was placed in the pumpkin it was all his!

Here are a few of the pictures from our Halloween Trick or Treating. We went to the Leave it to Beaver neighborhood and the church. We call it the Leave it to Beaver street because all the homes have big front porches and huge trees line the street. It is a great Trick or Treating spot and each kid got about four full size candy bars! They traded their candy for toys but still had fun!

Happy Halloween!!

So, we are not really that into Halloween but we do let the kids go Trick or Treating in one neighborhood and participate in school activities. This year for Halloween Alissa wanted to be Little Bo Peep and Taft is her sheep. Kenzie decided on a robot. I wanted to share with you a few of the videos from MacKenzie's first preschool performance yesterday! If you notice he starts out a little shy and then defiently is a litttle more comfortable by the end! I had no idea Kenzie was such a comedian but everyone was cracking up at him! If you listen carefully he is the really loud high pitch one.

Alissas Family Birthday Party

We decided to have a little family party the night of Alissa's birthday. Mema made two yummy soups and then we had more homemade cupcakes! Everyone had fun singing to Alissa. For her birthday Alissa only asked for one thing which was a Barbie bike. We managed to keep it outside so she had no clue. After opening her other great presents she went outside to find Daddy on her Barbie Bike. She was soo excited!! We are so glad to have so much family near by to share this special day with Alissa!

Aunt Shayna and cousin Braxton.

Grammy and Taft

Celebrating at School

So, I definetly need a new camera! Here are some of the pictures from Alissa's party at school. There are ten kids in her Kindergarten class and these are all of them. Kenzie was so excited to get to come wih me to take cupcakes to school. It was really fun to get to see what it is like to have a birthday party at school! Alissa was so excited to pass out her invitations to her Luau Party next week and to pass out her homeade healthy cupcakes. Yes, they are healthy and no one even noticed.

Left to Right: Kenzie, Kylie, Dani, Gage, Brighton's hair, Melissa, Jenna, Sky and Alissa!

Left to Right: Dani, Gage Richie Vaunch

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISSA!

I hope I can right this with out getting to teary eyed. Today is such a special day! My baby girl is five years old! We still call her baby girl and I am going to until she absolutely protests. I can not believe what an amazing little girl she has become. I watch her maturing and see the gratification from others for all she has become and all she wants to be. Alissa'a teacher is always impressed with her and how smart and kind she is. As she is turning five I see all the changes in our little family and how we are growing up! Ryan and I just celebrated the day we met six years ago on October 25 and I just can not believe how fast it flies by. As Alissa turns five all I want to do is hold on to every moment she is growing up in. I am already beginning to realize how quickly she will grow up and be gone and for that I want to try and take advantage of the time I have. I feel so blessed to have Alissa in my life and to have her teaching me new things everyday. I appreciate her patience with me and even the days she puts me in place! Thank you Alissa for being such an amazing little girl and such a great example honesty and perseverance. Happy 5th Birthday to Alissa! Pictures coming soon!

Primary Program

I wanted to put an experience on here for remembrance!

Today was our Ward Primary Program and I was a bit nervous because Alissa did not want anything to do with it last year, so I didn't push her. This year though, she was so excited to go up on the stage! I was very impressed because she had the longest part in her class and she did great! We couldn't' see her very well but she definitely made effort to show us she knows all the songs. She was so excited that Mema came too! Her class talked about ways they feel Christs love. As she was talking about the love we feel from Jesus Christ I could not help but shed tears of joy. It was so wonderful to feel her spirit so strong as she was telling us about the love of Christ. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the privilege to have an eternal family and have the opportunity to raise my children to know how much their Savior loves them. I am so thankful to get to be their mom and to know how much my Savior loves me, especially through the gifts he has given me, my greatest gifts, my husband and my children. Thanks Alissa for such a wonderful reminder!

Butterflies

Alissa LOVES butterflies and it just so happens that her Aunt Katrina and Uncle Bill even bought her a butterfly book last year. She loves the idea of catching them but had never caught one before. Alissa came running in soo excited to tell me that she had actually caught one with her net. She even had to call Mema to come see it. Sweet Mema actually came and they had so much fun going through her book to find exactly which kind of butterfly it was. Alissa decided that she need to keep the butterfly but we chose to let it go because it was best for the butterfly. I love the picture which shows the way she is telling how she caught the butterfly to Mema!

Taft!!!!

A few weeks ago I was outside cleaning out the car and came inside to Taft like this! He obviously had a blast rearranging all the paper and coloring with the markers and side walk chalk for extra beautification!

Up Date

Sorry everyone for not keeping up with the last few weeks. We have been so busy and having so much fun!

Alissa is rocking at school and just keeps getting so many awards that I would have to post several a week! She is loving school and started dance this weeks which is now "her favorite" She will have a performance in December too! She has become the most amazing little girl and an amazing sister.

Kenzie loves gymnastics and preschool. He is also enjoying all the time with mommy and love to play at Mema's house. His favorite thing to do is play games!

Taft is growing up so fast and has a huge vocabulary! He loves to sing songs and dance too! Hi is so fun to have around!

Ryan is doing great and work and enjoying working with the youth. He has an awesome staff and has made many good friends! He is awaiting the twenty seven boxes of books coming this week to start shipping! He is not going to run the marathon this year because he has to work and did not get in proper training this year because of all the time he has been spending on his business. He is such a wonderful dad and husband and I am so glad to get to be his wife.

I have been having a blast! I am probably the happiest I have ever been! I love being a wife and a mom and I love getting a full nights sleep! Ryan always told me that was that I had not changed I was just tired. Now I believe he was right! I am so lucky to get to spend time during the day with my kid or my mom and I love getting the kids to bed early enough to spend a few hours of quality time with my husband. I had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas wit my mom and enjoy Time Out For Women. This is Women's Conference for LDS Women and it was amazing. I feel so blessed to have the gospel in my life and to enjoy this experience. Also, I have always LOVED dancing. I wanted to dance but my weight held me back. I can happily say I am dancing again and still feels as good as it used to. Ryan and I go on Tuesday nights for three hours and have a blast. We hope to continue this weekly! I am looking forward to the holidays and also the family and friends that will be coming to visit in the next few months!

We truly are blessed and are so glad to have the life we live. We love you all!