PERFECT 10

Ellie works (& plays) so hard on Thursdays.

She has dance in the afternoon & then gymnastics at night.

She loves it!

She loves to practice all of her tricks & that is probably why she learns so quickly.

Practice, practice, practice!!!

This is one of her FAVORITE friends at gymnastics!

Meet one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen... CHRISTY JOE!

(She is not only so cute, but just as sweet. It kills me. She is a model. {GAP at one point.} Ellie wants to have long hair like hers.. even though we do not have hair like Christy Joe's!)

Ellie loves playing with her cousin, Natalie, too. BUT they are not in the same class. I am sure they will be one day.

This is at the last MINI MEET.

Ellie loved that her daddy came and watched.

Yesterday {1-12} was her 3rd MINI MEET.

She asked more people to come. She had quite the cheering section!

The preschoolers perform before the actual mini meet starts.

We all got a good stretch in before the performance.

Ellie & Christy Joe waiting so nicely.
Ellie was so excited.

She did so good.

It was so cute.

(sorry about the lighting)

I missed her first 1/2, because I was helping kids for their second 1/2.

Good thing Lance got it on film.

She loves the bars.

She has improved so much lately at them.

I am not sure who is more proud.

Her

or

her coach!!

Watch out for those LONG legs when she is kickin'!

And of course.....

STICK!!!

{Dang, look at that form!}

We have the cutest preschool kids!

After all the Preschool kids performed,

the PRESCHOOL STARS came out to show off some TALENT.

{and believe me, they got it}

HALO position

SUPER GIRL..

so tight!

Each kid got to show their favorite trick.

Ellie showed her CART - WHEEL one more time!

TAA-DAA

For anybody interested in having their kids take a class or two...

come down to USA GYM for a trial class.

{E-mail me if you want them to try out a class that I coach.}

If it is too much to commit.. your kids can come to

A) OPEN GYMS (almost all Friday nights)

B) Preschool OPEN GYM (every Thursday from 9 - 10:30 am) Parents & kids can come hang out, and even enjoy a snack at the end!

C) Kids Night Out. Parents go on a date & leave the kids at the gym! The kids get to play in the gym, eat pizza, do a craft & watch a movie. (The gym tries to have one per month on Saturday nights from like 6 - 9 pm) There is one coming up on JAN. 19th! Let me know if you want me to tell you when these are. When you sign up early it is cheaper & if you have more than one kid to sign up... also less money!

USA gymnastics is located on by Stapley & the 60. They are moving to a new LARGER gym around Gilbert & Ray. (It should be done this summer I think.) They offer so many classes, have great coaches.. I could go on & on!)

While I am giving a shout out... I gotta give another!
One of my new favorite stores with the best deals is

2nd CHANCE DANCE!!

They have new & used dance clothes, gymnastics outfits, dance shoes, uniforms, & even costumes! I will never buy a leotard at full price, again.

You have got to check them out! They are located by Bashas on Southern & Val Vista!

{you can either try to print this coupon or tell them that you saw it on my blog}

Practice makes Perfect

This was in the summer {2007}, but I could never post it for some reason.

When I found it... I thought I'd give it another try.

"Grandma CHERYL"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERYL!!!!!

January 10th is my mother in-laws birthday.
I really have a great mother in-law.

{SO LUCKY, I know!!}
When ever I BRAG to people about things that Cheryl does for us, or says, sometimes I get a look of shock. (UNLESS they already know her, or know what a great lady she is.)

Here are just a few fun things about CHERYL:

* She is a busy teacher.

She has taught school for a long time & she seems to truly care about all of her students.

* I love the way Cheryl explains things.

She always makes everything clear, & explains it in a way that not everyone can. When I have needed guidance or a "pick-me-up" she does it perfectly. I admire that more than she knows.

* She is so crafty.

She won't always admit it, but she totally is.

This is a picture of her helping me go over the edges of the polka dots in Ellie's old nursery.

* She is always giving service.
Even though she is so busy being a teacher, a mom, grandma, a YW Leader & ETC., she is always serving others. There have been several times that she does her service acts with out people knowing.

* She is such a good grandma.

She loves every single grand kid & tries to spend equal amount of time on/with them. Of course, she knows how to teach them in a way that I can't... so CHEERS to her for that!

This picture made me cry when I developed it. It is Ellie meeting her GRANDMA CHERYL in the hospital. Ellie was totally smiling at her, it was so sweet.

* Cheryl is such an example.

She has such a strong testimony & is always setting the example for all of us, even people she doesn't even know.

* Cheryl doesn't love the beach...

BUT she is such a sport about going, because she wants to be with her family.

I am so glad that she goes. Who knows what kind of crazy things would happen without her! {YIKES!}

* Cheryl raised 6 CRAZY boys!

Even though she wanted a daughter (and even made a stocking with her favorite name, JULIE, on it)... she never got one. She has put up with so much & made those boys hard workers & good husbands & wonderful dads! Now she has 6 daughter in-laws & 8 grand-daughters! YAHOO!!

* She does RANDOM things!

Such as... Cheryl has put old random pictures (or pieces of a picture) in with her bills when she pays them by mail. WHY? Just because.. it might cheer them up?? She kills me!

* GARAGE SALES ..... all about it!!

If I were Cheryl, I would count down the days of the week until Saturday came, so I could sleep in. BUT NOT HER! She is out bright & early a lot of Saturdays to go find some good deals. AND she loves it.

*DEALS/SAVES MONEY!

Cheryl is so smart with her budget & money. She shops year round for b-days, etc. She waits until it is the best deal until she buys. (Speaking of.. I gotta add that she comes up with such great gift ideas.)

* One of her sons is the best man on the earth!!!

Lance is her 5th son. I am so thankful for the way she raised him. Lance has such love & respect for his mom. (which always makes a great husband) He would do anything for her in a second.. and I know she would do the same!

* Cheryl loves her cabin!!

She lives at her cabin most of the summer time & visits as much as she can. It is in Strawberry. We have great memories at her cabin, and she has so many more than any of us. It was her parents cabin. It is pink & white (Lance calls it "Candy Land") just like it was for her parents. (Even though she is not in this picture, I had to share it, cause I can't find any others)

* Cheryl is so much FUN!!

"Grandma Cheryl" (as all the grand kids call her) is always happy. She has such a great attitude, which is why she is always fun to be with. Just look at her get down with the girls!

* All about TRADITIONS!

Coming from Mesa High, I am also all about TRADITIONS. (CARRY ON)

Cheryl has so many traditions that she does each month, or season, or holiday.. whatever!

Here are just a few...

Easter- she boils eggs for all of the grand kids to come decorate. Then on Easter Day, she hides money/candy eggs for all the kids to come find.

Parades- The Cummards have been in the MESA DAY PARADE so many times. She's kind of a PRO at making the floats!

Come over for FHE- besides the lesson, she has SHOW & TELL!!
Halloween- carving pumpkins!!
"Grandma's Store"- she has her "store" all set up with prices. She gives the kids fake money & has them shop for what they would like. She helps each kid count how much money they have left & it helps them know how to BUY wisely.. like her, of course!
She teaches us all about the Cummard/LeBaron Heritage.

New tradition- Candy Bar game for the kids.

There are so many more things that I love about Cheryl & look up to her for. She is always inspiring me to be a better person. I am SO THANKFUL for her & everything that she does!

Have a great birthday CHERYL!!

Have A Great OH-EIGHT!!

Our boring New Years "PaRty" 2008!

Ellie wanted to DRESS UP in her "party clothes" so I let her.

She wanted me to curl her hair & she wanted to wear this new cute outfit (from G-Ma VICKI).

She was really excited for "THE BIG PARTY"!!

Noah Boy was really excited, too.

They ate junk & played games most of the night.

(and Ellie & Noah drove us crazy here & there)

BEAUTY!

She's a beauty. {She got dressed up, too!}

"She" asked Shalae to french braid her hair, because we always asked Shalae to braid our hair growing up... AND because her hair is long enough to fit in one.

GOOD TIMES, beauty!

EAT UP SCOTT!

You're GOIN' DOWN THIS YEAR!!!!

My brother-in-law SCOTT & I have had a competition going on.

(ThIrD "New Years Eve" in a row).

First one to loose 10 pounds wins money.

$10.00 or $20.00, I can't even remember after all these years.

We laugh, cause now we have more than 10 pounds... SOMEDAY, right?!!!!

My kids

... I mean husband & daughter...

were playing hard at the beginning of the night... doing all the fireworks, etc...

I wondered if they were doing more fireworks & when I went to check on them, this is what I found.:
(So much for a New Years KISS!)

Some of us stayed up to celebrate... I am not sure why!!!

"OOPS"

I am not sure why this picture is smaller...

HA HA

I finally put on some "STRETCHY PANTS" towards the end of the night.

{WHEW! }

SO when we woke up, Ellie must've really thought she looked BEAUTIFUL {which she did}..

She wanted to wear the same outfit, again.

I told her if she showered, I'd let her.
FINE! DEAL!

My moms MARY ENGELBREIT calendar couldn't say it any better!

I am going to work on this!

(Esp. next NEW YEARS EVE!)

I hope everyone had a great HOLIDAY & that you can have more fun, too!!!