free is always good

Brody's school had Family Skate night at the local skating rink. We got in free and they could bring their own scooters. It was so incredibly fun for them and I loved watching them have fun. It was cute to see Abbey scootering among the big kids. Needless to say, they were very sad when it was time to leave.


Abbey playing a game.


Abbey was a little nervous to ride around so Cloe was nice enough to take her around slowly a few times, until she got the hang of it.

Charlotte and Brody = BFF

On days when Cloe and Abbey are at school, Brody still needs someone to play with. Apparently, Charlotte is the next best thing. And he is so sweet with her, such a good brother.

They play candyland, and he always lets her win.


this was something that had to do with going on vacation. He made her a bed for the car and you can't see their "bags", but he packed her a bag. I believe they were going to CA.


watching transformers

playing Indiana Jones

Ryan talks art

he can be long winded at times.

This is what Tom Hanks had to say about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding Prop-8 at Wednesday's premier of HBO's "BIG LOVE" (he happens to be an executive producer for the show about polygamy) "...the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen. There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them."

Church spokesman Scott Trotter issued a one-sentence statement today in response to Hanks' comments. It reads: "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."


note- people did not give money to the church, they gave money to the campaign.

dark ages

I'm so glad e-mail wasn't really around when I was going to school. I got an e-mail from Brody's school today, saying report cards were sent home. The less my parents knew the better ;)

A-B-B-E-Y

Abbey's newest accomplishment

sledding

The air quality is terrible these days because of the inversion and I wanted to escape it. We live close to the canyon and the city has an organized winter recreation area up there, including a free sledding hill. It was just right. The hill was long and steep enough for a fun ride but not hard for the kids to walk back up. I sat in the car most of the time with Charlotte and the kids just kept going up and down. Now about every 10 minutes, Brody asks if we can go in the mountains and go sledding.

I noticed Abbey walking back up without her sled. She apparently got this stranger to carry her sled for her. I'm not surprised.






Cloe going down
Abbey watching her.

biggest loser swimsuit season challenge

Or for the cool, BLSSC. I just finished doing one over the holidays and it was great motivation. I was only able to do it for the second 6 weeks because I was pregnant for the first half. I lost 7 lbs and want to lose more, so I'm taking it on myself to start another one. The winner will be determined by percentage of weight loss and the cost will be $10. I will set up a private blog where you enter your weekly check-in, give advice or help with motivation. You have to pay the $10 to become an author of the blog and receive an invite to view it. So I can give everyone time to get their money to me, I was planning on starting it January 23 and having it end April 17th. Close enough to bathing suit season. What more motivation do you need? Leave me a comment with your e-mail or e-mail me at courtalonious@gmail.com and I'll give you more information.

this one slipped through the cracks

Cloe started basketball the day Charlotte was born so she didn't technically start until the next week. That explains why no photos were taken and a post about basketball slipped through the cracks, I had a newborn with me. Cloe loved it and the city has a great program that I recommend. 1st and 2nd graders do a 6 week "skills and technic". So it was 6 weeks of practice where she learned how to play and the rules, etc.

come one come all!!

The Center for Academic Study and Naturalist Painting



Applications are now being accepted at
The Center for Academic Study and
Naturalist Painting (CAS)


Students will learn classical methods of drawing and painting in a curriculum modeled after those such as the Florence Academy of Art in Italy and The Grand Central Academy in New York

Classes include Copy Drawing, Cast Drawing, Cast Painting, Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Still Life Painting and Landscape Painting

Full Time Student Classes include DAILY FIGURE SESSIONS and DAILY CRITIQUES
Monday - Friday 9 – 12 and 1 – 4

Classes and schedules for Part time Students are established on an individual basis



There will be an
Open House & Free Lecture
Friday January 9th, 2009 6:30 – 9 p.m.

This Event is open to the public

The Studios will be open for the public to View teacher and student work. All are invited to stay for the Lecture and slide show, which will begin at 7:30 and will discuss the Processes and purposes of Academic training. The CAS is located at 117 N. University Ave. in Provo.
Refreshments will be served.

Student Applications will be available at the event. For any questions about application or the event, contact Ryan Brown at ryan@ryansbrownart.com or call 801-822-8802

our blessed child

Today we blessed Charlotte and I thought she looked so beautiful. Our church starts at 9 so we didn't have a chance to get pictures before church. Therefore, her dress is wrinkled and her headband with flower got lost in the hub bub from church to home. So just imagine a nicely pressed dress and cute white headband with a little white flower. And I never got a picture of her sweet little shoes that I bought in Venice. (Venice is known for their lace making). Ryan gave her a very sweet blessing and we had some family come over for muffins and juice. It was a lovely relaxing Sunday spent with family and our sweet little angel. Thanks to those who tolerated the early church time and came down.

can she be any more cute?

the fam. I'm glad we finally have a family picture.

I wanted a picture of her dress. Of course I thought it was precious, that's why I bought it.

Charlotte with Great Grandma Faye Young. This is who she got her middle name from.



her Venetian shoes

one more because she is so sweet I want to eat her!!

a wintery Saturday afternoon

Our neighbor was giving his kids rides in the area behind our house and my kids managed to get one too.

ending the year right

We had a great year with Italy, moving and welcoming little Charlie Brown to our family. And I can't believe it's over.
We spent New Year's Eve with Ryan's family at his brothers house. We don't video tape near enough so most of our evening is on our cam corder. Just trying to turn over a new leaf and record more. But the evening was full of yummy food, the kids playing way too wild, poppers and yelling BEFORE midnight, visiting and of course the Wii. I'm no longer a Wii virgin. That thing is fun! I sang my heart out on Rock Band and acted like a spaz trying to play tennis. I tried not too look spastic but was a little too into the game.
Ryan and Abbey boxing on the Wii. The only 3 pictures we took that night.




I always look forward to a new year, I love the feeling I have this time of year. Sort of like a fresh start. And also because we get to celebrate holidays all over again, Valentines, Easter 4th of July, love that stuff.

Do I keep my new years goals? not so much, but I still think they are fun to make.
This year, HAVE to stop swearing. Seriously. I decided that after Brody was pushing the shopping cart through snow in the parking lot when he almost tipped the cart and all it's contents in the middle of parking lot traffic and I said "sh@%". I'm not a sailor just talk like one. And would like that to stop.
Do I even have to mention that I want to lose weight? I want to do a triathlon in May.
Eat healthier as a family. Less meat. Less candy and junk. We don't eat more than the average family or anything, I just want to cut a lot of it out.
The kids got a keyboard for Christmas and I want to improve on my piano playing skills. Ryan has already said "time to end the recital". I think Charlotte was hungry and I was busy :)

think I can pull it off?