Thursday, December 13, 2012

"Are you Santa?"

I'm not gonna lie, last night my heart was broken ;,( Right as the girls were going to bed they wrote a note and asked Bryson and me to come up to their room. They would not discuss it in the family room (strange!) Of course we ran up. Taylor then proceeded to tell us that she knew we werre Santa and that she had known for years! Well Skyler was not in the room she was hiding in Myles room trying to avoid the conversation.


I knew the girls knew. But they were so stinkin sweet I loved they way they played along and droped small suttle hints here and there. I loved it. I though we had a pact. And that we were going to somehow just stroll right over the "Are you Santa?" question all together!!!

Sky finally came in after Bryson forced her in, she looked like a cowering little mouse, scared to death! Kinda funny/sad. Taylor began to list off all the reasons Santa isn't real.

#1- A substitute teacher in a different class told everyone that Santa & the Easter Bunny are not reat
l! Seriouly if I could get my hands on him... She all ready suspected this but that was concrete evidence!
#2- Last year all of the other realitives kept thanking their spouse for thier belongings in their stocking??? (stockings are frome Santa at our house!!!)
#3- She saw Bernard our elf get moved... oops
#4- one year mom forgot to return Bernard after Christmas (oops)

Ok so she has some good points and she is 11! And she has doubted for years hence the #1-4 reasons above. But it was so sad that Sky still wants to believe and her older sister is ruining it for her. Oh bother!

So I Wrote them both this letter to some up how I feel about Santa. I found 2 different ones on pintrest and liked the direction they took then wrote my own (thank you pintrest!)



Dear Skyler & Taylor,

Last night you asked a very good question, “Are you Santa?”  

I know you have wanted the answer for a long time, and we have given it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one Santa.

We are the people who fill your stocking with presents, though. We also choose to wrap the presents under the tree, the same way our parents did for us, and the same way their parents did for them.

We imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them dump out their stockings. You will love seeing them look at all the presents under the tree, their faces lit up with joy and excitement.  You will probably even make them wait to open the presents until you are there watching, just like your mom and dad do!

This won’t make you Santa, though.

Santa is bigger than any one person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches us how to have belief in something we can’t see or touch.

It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your family, in your talents and in the Savior Jesus Christ. You will also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand; faith, hope , charity, happiness, and love believe in all these gifts. Santa and more importantly Christmas about our Savior we  give love to others like the Savior did, it can be a gift or an act of service.

Santa like the Savior is a teacher, and we are his students. Now you have the secret of how Santa gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve. He has help from all the people who truly believe in the gift of the Savior and whose hearts he’s filled with joy. The magic and love and spirit of giving to others is what Christmas is all about. Santa  lives  in our hearts just like the Savior.

With full hearts, people like daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible. The mission is to bring all souls unto Christ.

So, no.  We are not Santa. Santa is faith, hope, charity, love and happiness. We are on his team,  and  you are too.

We love you

Mom & Dad

 

 


 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Animal encounters...

We went to our friends amazing birthday party. We all held crazy creatures. Bearded dragons, scorpions, tarantulas, snakes, lizards, turtles...it was  awesome. Even mom held them! Super cool.












Saturday, June 9, 2012

State Champion Road Race Winner

Bryson raced in honor of our friend Matt Bradley. Last night Bryson was training on his bike and passed Matt's house. He teared up a little about the loss of Matt this Spring. Matt had his leg removed due to cancer and was a FAST cyclist after.

This morning we woke up early 5 am for the Utah State Championship Road Race. Bryson said we didn't need to come. But I was not going to miss it. First off he wanted to win, thus he needed my support. Second when Bryson puts his mind to something (with proper preparation) then it happens often. Bryson blew apart the race with 3 other FAST guys. Seriously the elite field was in shambles on the first lap. And some killer guys hung with me in the feed zone as we talked about who was going to win. Bryson took it in the sprint with enough time to salute Matt. I'm so stinkin proud!!!


Monday, June 4, 2012

Conquering cub award's


Random cave hike we have always wanted to check out...

Just south of Kanab, Utah are 3 awesome caves on top of a mountain right off the main highway. Bryson and I have ALWAYS wanted to stop and try and get to them. Hooray for us!!! This trip we decided to do it. It was a short very manageable hike, with some slanting sections that made me a little nervous. But I followed my strong leader and the caves were amazing. 3 openings on top of a cliff, so gorgeous. Breathtaking views. Ahhh loved it! Life is beautiful.





Barn Burner

Bryson raced 104 miles in Flagstaff Arizona on Saturday. He raced strong and took the overall win, crushed the course record, and accomplished his goal of winning! I'm so stinkin proud of his guts!






Sunday, May 20, 2012

Lil miss piggy


Myles hangin with the big boys

We had another great Saturday full of racing. Bryson took first place in the pro division by 4  minutes over second. The course was at Soldier Hollow in Heber. It was full of lots of climbing. So thrilling to see his training and dedication finally pay off.

Myles loves hanging out with the pro men after the race and chatting it up.




Skyler's teacup


Thursday, May 17, 2012

My four mtn bike racers

Tuesday night was the first race of a new race series. Bryson took first in the pro field. Taylor and Skyler both raced in the 12-10 age group. Skyler (8) came in 3rd place and Taylor (10) finished right behind her in 4th. They did great. Myles raced in the 9 and under category, he was by far the youngest. Just check out the starting lineup!!! I love it! He had to run while pushing his bike for most of the race. Serious  single track. But he did pass a handful of kids and he gave it his all. He was so exhausted he didn't even stay awake to eat dinner, he woke up at 3am starving saying he was sick. Mommy is so proud of all of her bikers!






Saturday, May 5, 2012

Super Saturday

Most Saturdays are chalk full of life for our family. We are not the type to be at home watching cartoons and cleaning the house top to bottom. Our typical Saturday begins with the girls soccer at 8:30 am, followed by a mountain or road bike race, then hopefully I can squeeze in a workout before the sun goes down. I know that may not sound that full but believe me it is.

Today Bryson raced a mountain bike race called 5 mile pass. It was exciting to see him get the win! This has been a tough racing season for him since he was not able to put in the long winter training hours during my brain tumor and recovery. Most people have no clue that pros are on their bikes training 30+ hours a week all winter long. Im so happy he got the win-he deserves it!

Taylor had her annual spring piano recital. She played two pieces. First We thank thee O God for a Prophet, and Mr McGill. She did great. I am so proud of the little pianist she is. She loves it so much. I can't wait to see how much she improves by her next recital. I never even have to beg her to practice her lessons, she loves piano so much.



Thursday, March 22, 2012

Shirley Temple

Skyler worked so hard on her 3rd grade famous person report. She choose Shirley Temple. We learned all sorts of facts about her and Sky put many hours of research and preparation into her report. We are so proud of you Sky! It was a wax museum...doesn't she look just like her?