Build a Bear

Mckelsie's friend, Caitlyn took her to Build a Bear for Christmas.

Mckelsie got to pick out her bear, dress it and accessorize!

It was so adorable to see the interaction as Cait and Sara showed

Mckelsie how to do everything. How blessed we are to

have such sweet people in this world.

I can't explain the

feeling that a mom has when she can see another child

show kindness, love, understanding and warmth to their child. In

most cases it would simply be"nice", but in my child's circumstances,

it's more than just "nice".... it's absolutely beautiful.

I wish all parents could feel this feeling just once.

Caitlyn, Mckelsie & Sara

Chapman Family Christmas Party 2010

Chapman Family Christmas 2010

Sarah & Mckelsie

Mckelsie was writing notes in her new notebook from "Santa".
She loved all the different colors with lines on them!

Jayden....perfect gift for him. He didn't even break it before we left!

Great Grandma Mary and Great Grandpa Doug

You're never too old to sit on Santa's lap!

Uncle Bill

Jayden & Santa

Mckelsie & Santa

Alyssa, Grandma Vickie & Mckelsie

Haley, Aunt Megan & Aunt Kellie

Mckelsie, Alex (head in the back), Luke and Dub

My girl

Green Family Christmas Party 2010

Ice skating!

This was such a great idea! Dan and Christine planned our family Christmas party

and as they always do, had a fantastic idea of going ice skating.

The kids (blisters and all) really enjoyed the ice. It was so much fun to

see them all together and having a blast.

Jayden, Mckelsie & Rebecca

Jayden & Rebecca

I'm not shy of the camera at all!

Kara and Rebecca

I love Mckelsie's smile in this one...hot cheetos and everything!

Rebecca & Mckelsie being a dork

Uncle Dan

Ali (so sweet)

Mckelsie, Mom & Dad

Mom and Dad were troopers. They came to rink with us and didn't skate but

they watched until their toes were about to fall off from

frost bite! It was nice to have them there!

Mikale & Aunt Janet

Mckelsie (eating her hot cheetos), Mom, Dad

Mikale, Aunt Janet and Uncle Chris

Teghan, Jayden and Kali

(all of them spent alot of time getting up off the ice

and several blisters but were the last ones off the rink)

My Kali Girl

Kali

Some random girl (to the left), Jayden, Kali and Uncle Chris

Jayden

Mom & Dad

Mckelsie, you are so pretty!

Christine & Ali

Jayden

So glad they had helmets!

Mckelsie, Kara, Mikale

Kali, Ali, Jayden, Adam and Teghan

Thoughts

"There's two ways to know she's your real companion. One, you know it when you meet or two, you know it when you loose her."

~author unknown

______________

"Find someone who you care about, can be your best friend, who you can tell anything and who you want to hold hands with."

~author unknown

Temple Square, Carriage Rides and Christmas Lights

Temple Square

Carriage Rides

Christmas Lights

Friends

Good Times

We went to Temple Square for the holiday season and enjoyed the beautiful Christmas Lights, "Piper Bob" (playing the bagpipes), great company with good friends and lots of happiness.

Our friends Layne and Caitlyn came with us. We ate dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe which has the best turkey sandwiches with this orange cranberry sauce that's to die for and took a carriage ride, which I've been wanting to do for years. It was the kids favorite part of the night (the horses name was Charlie). It was a fairly warm night and not very crowded at all.

I'm amazed at how, as a child the lights on Temple Square were so magical, but as an adult the magic has seemed to have faded. The temple though, is still just as peaceful looking as it ever has looked and felt before. It truly is a wonderful place to spend time....makes my heart at ease (and anyone that knows me, knows I'm not the "cheesy" type, but I really mean this).

Thank you Layne and Caitlyn for going with us! ;)

Jayden. (I need to ask him what he was thinking...)

Mckelsie and Rebecca

Layne and Caitlyn

Mckelsie (my kids are deep thinkers....)

Geeezzzz...my boy's handsome!

I keep telling Mckelsie that Caitlyn is what I call;

"A Forever Friend"

Mckelsie and Cait

(So SWEET!)

Jayden

Rebecca

Jayden and the horse Charlie

(The carriage ride was so awesome!)

Rebecca and Layne

I tried to get her to smile!!!

(I like Jayden's look in the background too.)

The Carriage Ride!

Jayden, Mckelsie, Caitlyn, Rebecca & Layne

I LOVE IT!

Caitlyn & Mckelsie

Dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe