Christmas time is always hard for our family, but we look at the many blessings that have come to our family because of our trials and know we would not be the same without them.

Tribute to Toy Story 3:

Enough said...

While we were in Disneyland, James and I wrote Toy Story 3. Unfortunetly, Bo Peep dies and Woody and Jessie end up together. So, during the parade, I shot Bo Peep. And so Toy Story 3 starts. Drunk Buzz and Naked Woody my have the stage!! Haha James...Haha.

My Family

These last few weeks I've been doing A LOT of thinking. More thinking and crying than usual. But it has helped me realize everything I'm grateful for. First and foremost, I'm grateful for my family. They have been there through everything in my life. They've celebrated with me through the good times and cried with me through the bad times. I could not have made it through my hard times without them there telling me that everything will be alright and will work out for the best. I have more older brothers and sisters to look up to than most people and the best parents I could ask for. They all are huge example for me. There is something in every one of them that I admire. My dad's humor. My mom's patience. Chris's love for his family. Patricia's kindness. Lizz's sweet tenderness. Grant's gentleness-though he tries to hide it. Jared's love for everyone. Marissa's courage. Ryan's determination. Amy's energy. Nick's happiness. James's humility. Jerrica's sweet, happy heart. Mari's testimony. I would be lucky to be half as amazing as they are. I have grown up with the best examples anyone could ask for. I am truly lucky. I have always grown up hating being the youngest, but lately I'm starting to realize it more and more that I absolutely love it. Not many can say that they are the younger sister of seven amazing people and the daughter of two wonderful parents and the aunt of 12 beautiful kids. How lucky I am. I always hated not having younger brothers and sisters, but I realized that I have 12 nieces and nephews that in some ways are my younger brothers and sisters. I love all of them so much and feel the responsibility of being an example for them. They always find a way to put a smile on my face, even when I try my hardest to fight it. I hope they look up to me and see someone who loves them more than they can ever try to imagine. I love watching them grow and watching my brothers and sisters raise such beautiful children. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people who are strong in the gospel and who have so much to give. I hope they realize how special they are and how much they mean to me. Thank you to every single one of you! I will forever be grateful for my family.

FIRST DAY OF SNOW!!

Everyone seems to be a little upset about how much snow we got, but I LOVE IT! Cole and I skipped school and went and played in the snow. I had so much fun!! I am really excited for winter.. P.S. Cole insisted we take pictures...so here are the pictures we took! We had fun :)

Halloween

For Halloween James, Mari, Jerrica, and I carved pumpkins at James and Jerrica's place a few days before Halloween. On Halloween night we went to a party in Nephi at Jerrica's parents house and played games and ate yummy foods. I was an 80's workout chick and Cole was just a chick. It was pretty awesome. We went to DI and got him an awesome dress- which his mom had to alter for him- and some pretty girly shoes and he let me do his makeup and hair. He was very cooperative. I had to pretty much sign my life away in order for him let me do all this, but it was so worth it. Pretty sure we all had a blast.

The Happiest Place on Earth

During fall break I got to go to Disneyland with Mari, Cole, James, Jerrica and Jerrica's little sister, Amanda! I had so much fun. Mari and I flew out Wednesday afternoon and met them there Wednesday night. (They had to drive..haha) We went to Disneyland Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was so much fun! We got to ride everything we wanted in the first day. Cole's sister, Tiffany, was there too for her family reunion so we got to see her and ride Indiana Jones with her on Saturday night. The whole trip was a blast! I'm so glad I got to go spend time with my family..and Cole, haha. My most favorite ride that we probably rode at least ten times was Tower of Terror. We definitely had fun on that ride. But at the end of the three days, we were all ready to go home! It'll be a while till I go back to Disneyland. As much as I love it, I've had enough for now.

Las Vegas

In September, I went to Vegas with two gals from work, Amy and Angalee. We did all sorts of things. We went to the wax museum, new york, new york roller costar, titanic exhibit, bodies exhibit and phantom of the opera! We went to the Coca-a-Cola factory and tried the 'Drinks around the world'. (picture on the right) It was all the famous drinks from 16 different countries. Some of them were actually pretty good..but there were some that were nasty and tasted like earwax. It was fun though! Plus, my brother James and his wife Jerrica were there too so I got to go hang out with them for a few days. We went to the wax museum and The Blue Man Group. James actually got chosen to go up on stage and do some huge thing. It was pretty cool. I had a blast.. but I was definitely ready to come home! I decided Vegas really isn't my favorite place. It's fun...but it's so gross and stinky. But I'm glad I went and got to hang out with James and Jerrica.

Rodeo at the Daycare

At work, we had "Rodeo Week" and the kids got to ride horses and ponies. They had a blast and they were so cute! I wish you could've seen their faces when they saw the horses. It was adorable. These are such precious little kids. I wish some of their parents realized that. Most these kids deserve a lot better than what they have. But I'm glad I get to be apart of their lives, even if it's just a small part.

Vernal

Mari, Cole and I decided to take a trip down to vernal for the weekend. We had a lot of fun! We just hung out with Lizz and the fam, but it was a blast. I didn't want to leave. Friday night, Mari, Lizz, and I went to walmart and then to 7-11 to steal some slurpies. We "stole" about eight. Haha. They were free that night because it was July 11th... but we pretended we were stealing them. Saturday we went swimming at the lake and went to my cousin's wedding reception after we just hung out at the house and watched 'P.S. I Love You'. Way good movie. Sunday we went to the park and played some games..sorta. Alek and I went and played on the playground while everyone else played volleyball. We all had a lot of fun. I wish I didn't have to drive three hours to see my sister though.. Oh well. It was definantly worth it.

Stadium of Fire

For the 4th of July, I got to go to the Stadium of Fire! It was awesome. I went with Cole's sted-dad, Stan, his little sister, Cheyenne, and his cousin, Mckensie. It was fun. We got to see Miley Cyrus and Blue Man Group perform and some AMAZING fireworks. :) I was debating not going because I wasn't feeling good earlier that day, but I'm glad I went. We had tons of fun.

Senior Trip to Lake Powell

It's been forever. But for I'll update. After graduation I went to Lake Powell with a bunch of friends. We stayed on my friend, Steven's, houseboat. It was so much fun! It was my first time to Lake Powell. I had so much fun! We water skied and wake boarded and played around on the water banana. It was a lot of fun!! On our last night there, they took us to the gratos and slot canyons. They were so cool! I was freaked out climbing slot canyons..but I had fun. I'm glad I was able to go. :)

I DID IT!!!! :)

Yay for Aly...I graduated. Despite my counselor's attempt to stop my from graduating (stupid jerk)...I DID IT! It was probably the most boring two hours of my life, but luckily, me and the kid next to me kept ourselves entertained. Although I tried to talk my mom out of making me go, I'm glad I did. Thankds Mamma Jive. During graduation, beach balls were thrown around and the "hulk" wouldn't have it. He tore those beach balls apart like there was no tomorrow. It was hilarious. After a few lame speeches and getting an empty folder that says "Hillcrest High School" on it....I was graduated! Woot woot.

Keaton's Baseball Game

This was quite an eventful game. Not only because Keaton won his game...but I lost my keys to my car. We looked for forever after the game to find them. Everyone was helping...I felt bad. We never found them, but luckily I had a spare in my trunk and my driver's side door doesn't lock (probably shouldn't mention that). But thanks to that, we were able to get in my trunk and get my extra set. The game was a lot of fun!! Keaton did great! And it was fun to be there and play with the Cook kids.

Go Royals! :)

Happy Birthday James!

For James's brithday, we went down to Nephi and had dinner at Jerrica's parent's house. It was fun. I read my book...but everyone else played ladder ball, which I'm sure was a blast. Emma I played with Maggie and Emma a lot. Maggie had some fun with my camera. She actually took this one (right). I may or may not look like a complete idiot....but it's hilarious! I had no idea Emma was in the background. Maggie is quite the photographer. Pretty funny.

These are just cute pictures, I thought. They're such cute girls. I love them!! Emma took the one of Maggie and her "angry eyes". Emma actually took a lot of good pictures!

Dance Recital

These are probably the cutest girls you will find. These are the girls at the daycare the night of their dance recital. I have fallen in love with these kids. Each and every day I get to spend time with these kids is a good day. I love my job. :)

GRADUATION!

Well, graduation is almost here! I can't believe I am at the end of the worst thirteen years of my life! I'm so excited to get out of school. I'll miss my friends...but I WILL NOT miss school or homework or sucky teachers. :) Graduation is June 3, 2008. YAY. I'm excited to graduate, but I'm not excited to go to my graduation. But....my mom is making me. Two hours of nothing. We don't even get our diploma's at graduation. We sit for two hours so we can walk up, shake the Principal's hand and get a folder that says Hillcrest High School on it. That's what I've been waiting for for thirteen years??!! A FOLDER?! Lame.... thanks a lot mom. I blame you for the torture I will have to go through at graduation next Tuesday.

We got my senior pictures taken last Monday. That was fun... I guess. Would've been better to just go in the mountains and take pictures. Would have been cheaper and probably would have turned out cuter. Oh well.

Our Family's Sunbeams

For Dad's birthday all the grandkids sang songs for him. So adorable.

haha amy...haha

This picture is being posted as payback for Amy posting that embarrassing video of me playing the drums on Rockband. I may not be able to play the drums...but little miss Amy here can't jump to save her life. As proven. Look at the determination in her eyes though. Just a few more feet Amy...

Well...I've finally been converted. I may or may not be a little slow at getting this going. I'm still not quite sure how to do this...maybe mom can finally help me with something on the computer :) Bahaha