Mama Mia movie night with the sister-in-laws!

Lindsey Darla Stephani Loreen Misty Hilary Misty. This is a very blurry picture... Ill have to get a better copy from Darla. All Bliss sisters except Heather! We missed you! We all danced and sang! Yep, we were the dancing queens! Oh, Mama Mia!

Santa left this Thomas Kinkade painting on our wall!!! 'Serenity Cove'

I love the water and Tim loves the rich colors. Makes this a perfect match for us. Beautiful art by Thomas Kinkade. "Serenity Cove" This goes in my favorite art folder!

Look how small this Canon video camera is compared to our Canon camera! So cute!

I am loving my new video camera! It is so small and light I cant believe it. I had to compare it's size with our Canon camera which we have had for several years and still love. I should have compared it to our old video camera! It uses a flash drive so NO MORE TAPES!!! YEA!!! Thanks Darla for Justin giving this suggestion to Tim... and Tim to Dan...lol...you, me, and Sharon had better put our names on them! :)

Logan and Jaren Christmas 2008

Trucks and trains and more trucks! Whoo hoo!

Cute Cousins on Christmas day

12-25-08 Kiora and Max only a month apart. Christmas day dinner at the Bliss folks.

Kiora Lillie Bliss is 6 months old today!!!!

I still cant believe six months have gone by since Kiora came to our family! At the same time, I cant imagine our family without her and each child has expressed how glad they are that she is their sister! Kiora is lucky to have four loving brothers and sisters! Happy 6 month birthday Kiora!

Another Baby's First Christmas photo!

Had to get a photo in her Christmasy outfit! Cindy Loo Hoo is awesome! Kiora Lillie Bliss will be 6 months old on the 29th of December! Such a cutie!

Baby's First Christmas 2008

Kiora Lillie Bliss - First Christmas 2008. Almost 6 months old! Where did the time go!? I can't believe she is that old already. She is definitely our little sunshine! She is the calm to our chaos. She is peace to any turmoil. She can bring joy when there is sadness. Smiles will form on the faces of sad kids just from holding her! Each one of her older siblings say they are so glad we have her!

Kiora listening to Jaren playing his new harmonica!

Our 5 kids on Christmas morning 2008

Logan (got up at 8 am), Kiora (got up at 11am after being up til 3 am and nursing again at 7 am), Kylie, Julaine and Jaren (all got up at 4 am!!! Sent back to bed around 5 am though) Logan and Julaine both have mouths full of eggs! It was a very Merry Christmas! It is nice listening to the Christmas music on their new music boxes.

Christmas Morning 2008

Logan (2 yrs - fav toy is Rocket Ship from Little Einsteins), Kylie (10 yrs - fav toy is Nintendo games), Kiora (almost 6 mo. - fav toy is a plush very hungry caterpillar), Julaine and Jaren (7 yrs - fav toys are a walking princess barbie and horse for Julaine and a harmonica and truck maker for Jaren). Tim's favorite gifts are.. hee hee he said Jarens truck maker! Probably the Playstation 3 or his collectors edition knife. Loreens favorite gifts are a new Thomas Kinkade painting "Serenity Cove" and a new Canon Digital Video Camcorder (Oh my gosh it is so tiny and light!)

Christmas Eve at the Bliss parent's home!

A few of us got together for Christmas Eve dinner. Bob and Judi, Mike and Stephani and family, Nate and Misty and family and Tim and Loreen and family! Small group as far as the Bliss bunch goes but there were still 20 people!

Julaine's little snowman!

Guess the snow was sticking just enough that Julaine was able to build this cute little snowman in our front yard!

Kids playing in the snow in the backyard!

They discovered that if you run across the yard you can dive on the trampoline and sliiiiiide across it! They enjoyed slipping and sliding all over the yard. Too cold for making snowmen (wouldnt stick) and no hill for sledding. Snowsuits are fun regardless!

Making a gingerbreadhouse! And our m &m cookies!

Kylie and Julaine at their first clogging dance recital 12-22-08

The Sunday before Christmas 2008. Our five beautiful sweet children!

Kiora (5 mo), Julaine (7), Kylie (10), Logan (2), Jaren (7) - Dec 21, 2008

My oldest and youngest... again! With way cute smiles! 12-21-08

Kylie holding Kiora with a big grin! Kylie is 10 yrs old and Kiora is 5 months!

My oldest and youngest - Dec 2008

Kiora is 5 1/2 mo old and Kylie turned 10 yrs last month. They are so cute together!

Kiora Lillie Bliss (5 1/2 mo.) in her Christmas dress!

12-21-08 The Sunday before Christmas! This dress was actually worn by Julaine back in 2001! This Disney classic is still in such good shape and so dang cute I had no desire to buy Kiora a new one. Well, a new Christmas dress that is.... wait til Christmas morning.... I found Kiora the cutest pjs! Oh, the hair bow is new.... :)

A snowy front porch! It didnt take long before the kids said it was too cold!

We walked to and from church today. We live less than a block away. It takes longer to pile the kids in the van then it does to just walk. It was snowing this morning too! When we got home I wanted to take a quick pic on my phone but I didnt get much before the kids wanted to just get inside where it was warm! Julaine wanted hot chocolate but they had already been sugared up at church (dang teachers) and we didnt think they needed any more. Maybe later.... we are planning on making Christmas cookies tonight and Tim is already making more fudge! They still have two more days of school.

Loreen is putting this in writing... "When I'm a teenager I will still play with my brothers and sisters all the time!" - Kylie, Age 10

She wonders why I have to get this in writing!  :)  ha ha... They were playing a board game at the time she said this.  Kylie cracks me up!  Such a sweetie!

I have to add something else....

A few weeks ago she told me that she had friends that were kind of embarrassed to be seen with their parents and that she was really glad that she liked to be seen with me!  How sweet is that!  She also said that her friends all really like me!  :)  I just hope that never changes.

Tim scraping the snow off his truck 12-18-08. We just keep getting snow!

I'm warm inside! Thanks Tim for scraping the van off too! Ours is in the shop so this white one is a rental. Heck, all the vehicles are white now!

12-18-08 View from my front window of all the snow!

It's kinda chilly sitting on my front porch. I think I'll enjoy the view from inside!

There is snow on my back porch! And yard and front porch and yard and....

Tim shoveled the walks and porches today. We've had quite a bit of snow! It looks so pretty!

These scraps all over the floor .......

.....were the result of the beautiful snowflakes on our Christmas tree!

Oh WOW! Such a cute picture of our 5 kids!! Kiora was sitting up today!

Julaine sat Kiora, who is 5 mo. old, up and she was balancing so good we had to take a picture. Of course, by the time I had the camera out the rest of the kids gathered 'round. No one is holding her up though! Wow, we have such adorable kids if I do say so myself. Five is great. Each one brings something special to the family and I can't imagine life without them or my sweet dear husband.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

I have a lighted lamp post decoration still out in the garage. . . not counting on it. Our garage is not attached so it is kind of a pain getting stuff out. I love what we have done this year though! Still loving the front porch even in the snowy weather. Tim got ambitious this year so we have lights up on roof and I love that!

Our five kids enjoying the fire in the fireplace!

Large snowflakes are falling outside while a beautiful fire is crackling in our fireplace. Beautiful winter evening with the family.

My twins in front of the fire

Jaren and Julaine are 7 yrs old! So sweet!

My midwife Cathy O'Bryant me and Kiora (5 1/2 mo.)

It was great having my midwife come and visit us today. Kiora was all smiles for her!

My midwife Cathy holding Kiora (5 1/5 mo) and Logan (2 1/2 yrs)

My midwife, Cathy came to see me today! And of course thinks Kiora is a super cute and happy baby!

Tim made homemade candy canes with the kids tonight!

Still figuring out how to do it. It hardened too fast! And the peppermint burned their eyes it was so strong! They had fun shaping them (though they didnt have much time to do it) Couldnt quite figure out how to twist the red and white. Oh, and it sticks to wax paper. We'll try again another night! Tim would love to make all homemade candy!

Wouldnt it be great to restore this historic building?! The Hinkley Academy.

Photos of the old historic building, The Hinkley Academy/High School and the gym (bldg on bottom right, which would become the Delores Theatre, named after the decesed mother of the founder of the KD Meyers foundation... thoes who want to oversee this restoration.) There is just so much potential to the 7 acres. The archetect said the buildings are structurally sound! School - you can learn program would lease space, workshops, art, dance classes could be held here, recitals, reception center, theatre, recording studio and more! Know anyone with a couple mil lying around they want to put toward a good non profit cause that would enrich this community?

The old Hinckley Acadamy/High School - The KD Meyers foundation to restore it?

Part school, part center for the performing arts, with numerous possibilities! How exciting if this historical landmark could become more... become a wonderful community resource! My friend, Kim, is seeking to create the KD Meyers foundation as a non profit orgnization that would bring so much to this community including the Delores Theatre which would be named after her deceased mother. Dance classes, art classes, theatre workshops, childrens theatre, recording studio.... we have so much in store!

My mom's birthday (12-11-38) clock. Big 70 this year!

Alayna, Mom, Loreen. The clock is also a gift from Melanie and Mylan. HAPPY BIRTHDAY M0M!

Decorating the Christmas Tree!

Finally got a few decorations on our Christmas tree tonight! Kids had fun and we did too!

12- 10-08 Logan's branch

It's a bit hard to see but there are a ton of little bells that Logan wanted to hang on the tree.... no... correction... on what he claimed as his branch! He just kept piling on more and more ornaments. I wish I hadnt moved any before I thought about taking this picture. It really was cute!

Good buddies!

Logan making Kiora laugh 12-9-08. They are so very cute to watch. :) They are already good friends. Logan cant go to bed yet because "I have to make Kiora laugh!" Kiora is 5 mo. old and Logan is 2 1/2 (will be 3 in Feb 2009).

Aunt Zola's Art - snowy mountain

Aunt Zola's Art - Logan Canyon

While I am on the stuff on my mom's wall kick I figure I might as well include a favorite painting or two. This was painted by my mom's sister Zola Ash. I believe it is of Logan Canyon.

My mom and dad's entryway

Wedding photographs of their 5 kids. From left to right it goes youngest to oldest beginning with Alayna & Dan Chivers. Tim and I were married in the Logan Temple in 1994. Then there is Melanie & Bruce Ford, Mylan & Amy Muhlestein , and Kerry & Susan Muhlestein. On the wall opposite in their entryway I should have gotten a photo of the family pics and all the grandkids! Next trip! This photo is very blurry unfortunately but it was taken with my 3.2 megapixel camera on my phone. I'll have to use our good Canon camera next time too. When I'm not on my phone and don't have to rely on my faulty memory I will have to complete the info here. I honestly dont know the years everyone was married off the top of my head. Well actually I do remember Mylan and Amys because I remember how cool it would have been if they could be married on 8-8-88.....but alas, that date was a Monday and the
Temple was closed. :( Their actual wedding date was 8-10-88. Not quite as cool. :)

High School Graduation Photos on my parents wall.

I had to snap a picture of these on my parents living room wall. All their kids and their grad. pics! Im on the bottom left, graduating in 1989!

12-7-08 Kylie and Loreen before Loreens Blue Notes Christmas Concert

It was so cute that Kylie wanted to get all dressed up for the show, so I had to take a picture of us! I've been singing with the Blue Notes choir group since Fall of 2000. I prefer singing my country stuff and my solo career but I love the ladies that I sing with here. Love the variety of music we sing. And... there is never any "band drama." I guess I prefer both! :) Kylie is quite the singer. Both my girls are. I wish Julaine would be as brave as Kylie is, but thats ok. Once ya get either singing they wont quit! :) The Blue Notes have actually asked Kylie to be a guest singer for a show a few years back.

12-7-08 Fixing the tree

Hee hee...so ya sufficiently confused yet? Ok... not only is the tree tipped but my camera is too. I thought it looked cool. Tim is tipping the tree to put the bucket of water under it. And yes, we tie the tree to the ceiling. After the twins we learned our lesson. No more trees toppleing over. Very nice... and makes for easy decorating! Just spin the tree to get all sides with decorations and lights! Still havent finshed decorating it....it's a work in progress.

12-5-08 Put up the Christmas tree!

Well, we are trying the Christmas tree in the bay window this year. The window is new, bigger and will just...well does look great with a tree in it. We'll see if it is weird not having the tree in the actual living room. So far we love not having to rearrange furniture but it might seem weird Christmas morning.... where do we open presents? I think I need to get a rug for the dining room. The rooms are right by each other, so we'll see...

5 mo. old babbling baby!

12-7-08 Kiora is rolling over and chatting up a storm! Here is her little chat session! So cute!

Kiora rolls over back to front!

She could go front to back but now she can roll over from her back to her front. She just needed the proper motivation! Melanie gave Casey the Caterpillar to KYLIE! (Say that 10 x's fast!) Its been through a lot of baby mouths. And they all love the antenae!

Sweet sleeping baby at the Messiah rehearsal.

Us choir folk rehearsed with the orchestra tonight. Wow...I cant believe what Kiora fell asleep during and slept through. It got loud. "She's the besy baby everrrrr" (sung to the Spongebob song "It's the best day ever" ). Next week is the performance. (minus the baby)

12-01-2008 Kiora eating rice cereal!

At five months, Kiora is the oldest of our kids to start on rice cereal. She sure is loving it though, as were he older four siblings who each had to take a turn feeding her!

More Christmas lights!!!!...

Yea! We have even more Christmas lights! I did todays this time. I love the holidays. We still need to get our decorations out of storage. All these lights are new ones. Tim wanted led lights for the house so he picked up lighted garland for the porch for me. I want more!!!!! (Can you see the 5 kids in the windows? Jaren and Logan are on the couch in the living room window. Kylie and Julaine (who is holding Kiora) are in the bay window!)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Tim started putting up Christmas lights while I was at Blue Notes tonight. What a pleasant surprise when I got home! We are planning on putting our Christmas tree in the bay window this year. I also want to put up lighted garland around the porch... Im excited to continue decorating.... Tim may go up the canyon with his brother and chop a tree down. They want to go in on horseback...Fun! I wanna go! We will keep ya updated on our decorating progress..... this is a great start. And the best part.... all you have to do is flip a switch inside to turn them all off. Nice!