My rockers...Chase named his band 'The Towels'

Mike and Baxter on vocals...
Chase on lead guitar...
Anna on drums...
She is multi talented...here she is on lead guitar...
Then we have Natalie on vocals...
And Chase on drums...sans the shirt.  (he really works up a sweat!) JK!  LOL!!!
Nat and Chase, rocking together!

Natalie...

I have to tell you that Natalie woke up very soon after Santa left our house.  I was already back in bed, when I heard her come into our room.  She had been sleeping on the lower level...She climbed into bed next to me.  She was so quiet.  All of a sudden I heard this giggle...a very long giggle.  A giggle so long, and so strong, that she shook the bed.  Seriously.  Her giggling went on and off for about one hour.  I wish I had my video camera rolling for this.  I have NEVER witnessed anything more cuter from her.  

So, why was she giggling?  Of course she had to have peeked at her present from Santa Claus, on her way up to my bed.  She was so precious...what an incredible memory!  

Santa's visit...

I had been in bed for maybe 20 minutes, when I heard Santa Claus downstairs.  I got so excited. When I was sure he was gone, I slowly crept downstairs with my camera to get some pictures.  

Santa brings one present for each of my kids, and it usually is a big one!  This year, it looked like Anna got a big box from Coach, Natalie got a baby doll and carrier, and Chase...well, you can see Rockband 2.
Natalie left a note and cookies for Santa.  He ate most of the cookies...of course, he scattered some crumbs.  He even wrote Natalie, Chase and Anna a note back.  
This is the chair that Santa sat in.  
And here is our beautiful Christmas tree...Happy Birthday Jesus.

Christmas Eve...

Had the Haralson Family over for our traditional Christmas Eve get together.  Of course we all had a wonderful time...when do we not?  

Natalie liked her gift...
Tony and Ali...(I love you guys!)
Finally got the Husband to pose for a photograph...
Ky and Anna seemed happy with their gift exchange...
We finished the night, with Natalie reading 'Twas the Night before Christmas...

Happy New Year Card

Life got away from me these past couple of months...my idea of sending out a Christmas card got busted...so instead, I am sending out a New Year Card.  I wanted to post this for many of you, who are not on my mailing list...I wish you all Peace and Hope in 2009.  

My gift from Brona's mom...

CLICK HERE for more information about To Write Their Names in the Sand.

Darjee, I know that we have been trying to get together so you could give me this, but I just wanted to say, that Maddux's name in the sand is beautiful. Thank you for thinking of him. I picture Maddux, kinda as a big brother to Brona...showing him the 'ropes' in Heaven. If Scott Hays is reading this, he would know exactly what I am talking about...LOL! If you don't already know this story, click here and read...

My Chase...

Terrie Strick Photography

My family...

Terrie Strick Photography

My girls...

Terrie Strick Photography

My new headshot...

Again, thank you Terrie Strick, for making me look so beautiful...

Photography Session

Just have to show you all the images my friend Terrie Strick took of me and the kids.  As you all know, I am in Broomfield ALL the time with the girls Cheerleading.  Her studio is just a hop, skip and a jump from there...so, naturally, I asked her to take some quicky photos for a Christmas Card...I could not be happier with what she shot...

So here they are...And hey, remember if you are a senior in that area, getting ready for senior photos, CALL HER!!!

http://www.terriestrickphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1  

Click CHRISTMAS TIME, then Haggard Family...

The Girls Christmas Cards...

I know, I know, I know...we are all probably cheered out by now...But I couldn't help myself.  The girls will send these out to their coaches and friends, and whoever else is on their list.  I still haven't gotten around to doing mine yet...The time has flown by so fast...

WSA Cheerleading Competition DAY 2

Yes, there was a day 2 of the competition.  The INCREDIBLE NEWS?????  Anna's team, JUNIOR 5 took home the GRAND CHAMPION AWARD!  This means they had the highest score of any team that competed this weekend.  AMAZING!  Go SUNS!  

You really have to click this image to enlarge it to see what is really going on...It is really sooooo cool!  Anna is in the middle, and has ahold of Brandi's foot, and is flinging her over her head into the hands of the girls waiting below...This is after, Anna and Brandi jump over eachother in the middle of the routine...

Anna in her toe touch...

Natalie in one of her stunts.  

"Little MISS SUNSHINE..."

Natalie's team was also amazing!  A Senior 3 team, only beat them by one (1) point to take away the highest ranking for any level 3 team.  Remember that Nat's team is a YOUTH.    The rankings go by age limits, MINI, YOUTH, JUNIOR AND THEN SENIOR.  Levels start at 1, 2, 3, 4 then 5.  Again, pretty amazing.  GO SUN!!!

Me and my cheer buddy...

My friend, Ali.  Our daughters have know eachother for almost 6 years.  Anna and Kylee cheered mini together...Sadly, we have gone our seperate ways now...Kylee and Katie cheer at Rocky Mountain Elite...Because their mom is too lazy to make the drive to Broomfield...

This is my mean face...the hubsters just kept clicking the camera...He doesn't like posed images...
Anna and Natalie cheer at the Number ONE gym in Colorado, Cheer Central Suns...See my finger?

Here is Anna...

Seriously, I truly love to see my girls perform.  They love cheerleading, they love the sport, and they are good at it!

What an incredible cheer competition...

Both the Y3 and the J5 team did fantastic. I am such the proud mom today...Just got to show Natalie and Anna off...Here is Nat Nats...

Shake it...shake it like a polaroid picture...
You wouldn't know that this little girl took the whole week off from school because she came down with Fifths Disease...Look at her go!  You can still see some of the rash on her legs...


Yeah, girlfriend!

Get together...

Here we have Josh and Darjee, Brona's mom and dad...Summer, Noah's mom...Sheila, Cheyenne's mom...myself...Charlene, Daniel's mom...and Linda, Ethan's mom.

Natalie and Anna fought over who got to take care of baby Mason.  As you can see, Natalie won this battle...
Darjee stringing Brona's ornament.

Group shot!

Had a get together with some NILMDTS parents on Saturday at my home.  This is the second year we have done this.  We had some yummy treats and made an ornament for our babies to hang on the Christmas Tree.  I truly cherish each and every friendship I have with these families.  Thank you all for such a lovely time.  

Guess who I met tonight?

Jerry Jenkins...writer of the Left Behind series.  How ironic is this?  I started reading the series for the third time...I even had my book on me and got his autograph.  I thought it was pretty cool...

He signed with Luke 1:45

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

Which will bring me to my next topic...tomorrow.

Thinking about my life today...

I was thinking about life yesterday and today, my life...how it wasn't supposed to turn out this way.  Things should be so different...I should be chasing a toddler around the house...I saw the cutest triceratops at Costco, and thought, "I should be buying that for Maddux this Christmas." I feel like such an old soul...Chasing Maddux would have kept me younger...at least at heart.  I shouldn't have so much gray hair...I shouldn't be so stressed out all the time...I shouldn't clench my teeth every second...I shouldn't know that so many babies can die... I shouldn't feel 'proud' that Mike and I have held our marriage together in the aftermath of the death of a child...Seriously, how many couples want to add that to their list of accomplishments?...Last night I am on eBay looking at the book Sleeping Beauty Memorial Photography, thinking to myself, I WANT THIS BOOK...just not the price tag that comes with it...my husband looked at me like I was crazy and had lost my mind... Then today I am thinking, 'My life may not have turned out like I had planned or thought it should be, but I have ended up where I was needed and intended to be..'  Beautiful!