Starting the New Year out right!

David knows how to start out the New Year...with his first kiss! Yes, David is moving fast with his friend, Lucy Denzer. They are pretty cute together and I wouldn't be too sad if they got married...so we will continue to encourage the relationship!

I love old people...especially this Man!!

My sister and I have a running joke that she loves old people and I love babies! Which is true...but recently I have come to realize how much I love and appreciate old people. My grandfather got sick a few weeks ago and the day before he went to the hospital I was able to visit him. As I was leaving he gave me a hug and told me how much he loved me. It really touched my heart I realized then that Grandpa had always told me he loved me whenever I left or spoke to him on the phone. I realized what an amazing Grandpa he had always been to me and what a good influence he has been in my life. We found out 2 days before Christmas that he had cancer throughout his body and had a few weeks to live...obviously I have been thinking of him a lot and visiting him. I have really enjoyed the time I have spent around him and feel at peace when I am with him. Just like how I feel close to Heaven when I am around babies...I felt the same way around him. I just visited him tonight a few hours ago and even though he didn't wake up for me I was glad to see him.

I just found out he passed away with his wife and three children around him. I am grateful he didn't have to suffer for too long and will be able to have peace once again.

I love you grandpa and you will be missed!

Christmas has come to an end!!!

I am sad Christmas is over! I love Christmas and like Abby I wish we could leave the Christmas tree up ALL year long. But sadly it is time to start a new year! I would have to say this has been the best Christmas I have had in a long time. Which is an interesting statement because when I think about this past month the facts add up to equal a bad christmas. All 3 kids have been sick and cranky, we had 6 doctor visits, Brad and I have had a lingering cold all month, Brad has had to work a lot, Ben has cried hours and hours at a time, doesn't like to sleep and wakes up at 6 am every morning and wants to play, I didn't get much sleep, we bought less this christmas, had less parties and gave away less gifts, and I have looked the worst I have had at any Christmas...BUT despite all of that I get a smile on my face everytime I think about Christmas 2009! And I have finally realized why...and it is because we counted our blessing a little more, we thought about the birth of Christ a little more and most of all we felt the true spirit of Christmas this year. I have never felt so much LOVE, CHARITY and HOPE!! I only wish every Christmas could FEEL this good!

The Year of Nativities!!

Wow...This was the year for Nativities. We went to or were in 4 diferent ones.

First one of the year....a live nativity at my parents ward! I would have to say the donkeys and camels on the stage were pretty cool!

Second Nativity....our ward primary! Abby was a wonderful Angel!

The traditional Ball Family nativity at the Christmas Party...the singing after is the best part!

The Creer Nativity Christmas Eve...and of course the chimes after are the best part...lets just say the Creers aren't very musical!

Abby was the cutest Angel in all the nativities and loved being a part of the production!

David was a great shepard even though I am not sure he knew what was going on!

I think Ben kindof looks like a camel!!

12 days of Christmas...luckily not like the Office!

Last year I was talking with my sister and was wishing that someone would do the 12 days of Christmas to us...and this year someone is and I LOVE IT!! It is so much fun to anticipate what will come every night. And even though they aren't big things it is something fun to look forward to. It really has brightened up my days especially amongst a baby who has croup, a 4 year old who keeps bugging her brother and a 3 year old who keeps having break downs and LOVES saying NO!! I hope Santa still comes to our house this year.

So THANK YOU to whoever is doing the 12 days of Christmas to us...it is a lot of fun and is really making this Christmas special for our family. And sorry Brad keeps trying to peek!

Abby's Dance Recital

As many of you know I am not much of a girly girl and would have been consider more of a tom-boy growing up. Well as you can see below my daughter is very much a girly girl. She gets mad at me that I don't wear earings or more jewelry. She tells me when I look cute and when my outfits look good...which unfortunatley isn't that often. She asks to put make-up on everyday and has been wearing ONLY dresses for about a year now. Yes, she is a girly girl! And even though sometimes I don't get it and wonder where my tom-boy little girl is...I would have to say I actually like dance. Her recitals are so cute and I love how excited she gets to go to dance each week. I also think she looks way cute with her curled hair! So with a daughter like Abby I think that I might become a little bit more girly!

Abby before her recital...I love those curls!

During her performance...she really is one of the best in her class!

The family after the performance. Ben eating his cookie, the third kid gets lots of treats...he sure is lucky!

Truly Grateful!

Something that has been a hard lesson for me to learn in my life is letting people know how I am really feeling and what REALLY is going on in my life. For some reason I feel that if I hide everything, I can be in control. It is hard for me to open up and show some weaknesses. Due to this tenacy, I often feel alone, bitter and that nobody cares about me.

I have been shocked lately that as I have been forced to open up and let people into my life how much love and support I have recieved. And not only that but how much generosity there is in the world.

So I have finally realzied that people can't help you if they don't know what is going on. So I am grateful...for how hard it is for me to do...that I have been able to open up and let people into my life. I have never felt so much love, support and I have been truly blessed!

So this is a THANK YOU to all of you who have not only listened to me but blessed me this past year! You have changed my life and I feel truly blessed! There are little miracles happening all around me and it is through all of you that they are happening!