Madison's First Dance Recital

This last fall we signed Madison up for her first dance class in Provo. At first I was really hesitate about it. I worried that Madison was too young and that she wouldn't pay attention to the teacher. However, signing Madison up for dance was one of the best things that we have ever done for her. She has loved it. Every Wednesday she cheers when we tell her that it is dance day. The little dance studio that she attends is amazing! It's her own special little place where she can imagine, play, and be anything that she wants to be. Her teacher has a gift for teaching little girls. She teaches the kids to dance without them even knowing it. They just think that they are having fun. I feel so grateful that we found this little studio. It has blessed Madison's life in so many ways.

The Nativity
Madison's Christmas dance recital was all based around the Nativity. Madison was a little sheep. Other parts included Mary, angels, magistrates, shepherds, stars, and baby Jesus. I was so impressed and touched as I watched all these beautiful little girls dance their parts as they told the story of Christ's birth.

Madison was so excited to wear make-up for the first time. She felt so grown-up.

Madi practiced walking on her tippy-toes for weeks.

Madi's loved being able to hold her baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

She kept looking out in the audience to make sure that we were watching.

Her favorite part was being by baby Jesus. She laid her own baby in the "manger" with him.

After her performance was over she received a little ornament from her teacher to remind her of the special night.

We love you Madi! You are one cute little sheep!

Hurray for a New Computer!!!!

For the last few months it's almost been impossible to blog because loading pictures was an all day event with our old computer, but I'm happy to say I can start blogging again thanks to my parents giving us a new computer for Christmas! Before I post our Christmas pictures, I wanted to try to catch up on some of the fun things our family has been doing the last few months.

Super Bowl


On Halloween day Mckay got to play in the "Super Bowl" for the final game of the year. The Cheifs were able to finish the season with another win. Mckay loved being able to play and was blessed with a great coach and good kids to play with. He's already looking forward to playing next season. Maybe next year his pads will not weigh more then he does!

Halloween Night

Halloween was the first day our kids were allowed out of the house after having the swine flu. They were so excited to be outside and go trick or treating. Mckay came home with a load of candy, but Madi was still feeling a littler under the weather so we just made it to a few houses.

Of coarse Mckay had to be Captain Rex to go along with our Star Wars year.

This Year's Pumpkins....




Disney Princesses on Ice
In November I was able to take our little princess out for a magical night to see Princesses on Ice. Madison absolutely loved it and couldn't take her eyes off the beautiful princesses.

Madi dressed up like her favorite princess Cinderella


We were able to go with Aunt Julie, Hailey, Grandma Debbie, and Grandma Cutler. It was a great girls night out!

I think my kids rather of had a shot....

Oh the lovely swine flu! Yes, our family got it! My sister-in-law sent me this the other day and it perfectly summed up our week. (Although we haven't quite tied up our kids yet!)

About a week ago now, Mckay woke up with a swore throat that has vanished our family to the house . The poor kid has been such a good sport through the whole thing. Because of it, he has missed a week of school, missed a birthday party, missed going four-wheeling to the sand doons with our family and friends, missed grandma's birthday party, and missed out today on his school Halloween Celebration.

On the other hand we have tried to spoil him with love, movies, games, his favorite drinks and food. (He might start faking that he's sick after this!) Because he missed his school parties today, we are going to have a Peery family party with games, caramel apples, and Halloween activities.

Round 2 of the H1N1 virus hit Madison last night. PJ and I were up with her through the night at least a dozen times. Her fever was almost at 104 and she was just shaking. It's so miserable watching your kids suffer like that. It not only makes your heart break, but also really scary. Needless to say we have spent a lot of time on our knees praying over our kids. Luckily she is about the happiest sick kid you have ever seen. Even when she's coughing and running a fever, she is still bouncing around the house with a grin.

So far PJ has stayed healthy (knock on wood) and I just have a minor cough that I'm hoping will go away soon! We are hanging in there and appreciate all the wonderful neighbors, friends, and family who have called, emailed or offered to run to the grocery store for us. We feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many good people. We love you guys!

Family Pictures

Right before my little brother Jordan left on his mission, my family got together for a family photo shoot. Here are some of my favorites.



Mom & Dad Cutler

Melissa & Christian

Heather & Scott

Our cute family

My favorite blessings.

Notice something missing? Mckay pulled his first loose tooth out the day before our family pictures. He was pretty proud of that little hole.

Madison loved posing in front of the camera.

I loved this one of our sweet little girl.



Showing our Cougar Blue. My family kinda, sorta likes BYU!

Future Cheerleader

Goofy Boys


This is one of my favorite pictures. It captures the bond between my mom and Madison. My mom is such a good Grandma. I hope that I can grow up to be just like her.

Stamp-a-Stack Fall Pictures

One of my favorite things to do is get together with friends and create cute projects that they can share with those they care about. Almost every fall for the last several years we have had a huge event called Stamp-a-Stack. On these nights, you can come and make 15 cards for $20. We always have oodles of food and a lot of fun! Here are the projects that we are making this year...





Anyone is welcome to attend. If you have any questions, or would like to know more please leave a comment and I will contact you.

Our Little Dancer...

Our little princess started dance today and she absolutely love it! She's been walking on her tippy-toes and twirling since the moment we got home. At first I was pretty concerned about starting her so young, but Mrs. Amber has a gift for teaching little girls and Madison was fantastic! After just a few minutes Madison was "holding a basket of fruit" and skipping to the music. Hopefully she will continue to have fun and that this can be Madi's special time while Mckay is in school.

A Star Wars Birthday

The only thing that Mckay wanted for his Birthday this year was to have a Star Wars Birthday Party. When I tried to convince him to take a few friends to Jumping Jacks or bowling, he said, "That would be fun too, but can we be droids?" He had only one thing on his mind. So, for the last several weeks I have been a Star Wars geek and spent most of my free time looking up fun party ideas on the internet and this is the result....

This was the first surprise of the day. Mckay was so excited to see his cake.

Don't look too close, I'm not much of a decorator!

Ewok, Yoda, and Droid cupcakes. PJ boasted about his mad Yoda drawing skills.

These are the lightsabers that we made out of pool noodles, duct tape, and electrical tape.

Our whole family dressed up including Master Madi, oh I mean Yoda! Don't let that baby face fool you; she was the best Jedi warrior.

We started off the party by coloring StarWars pictures and playing Musical Chairs to Star Wars music. Then the little padawons were off to Jedi-training. They had go through an obstacle coarse to earn their lightsabers.

The kids were so excited to earn their lightsabers. (We also made their little Jedi outfits out of Muslin the night before.)

Learning the proper way to use a lightsaber. (PJ dressed up at the party like a Jedi and Hans Solo.)

After their training was complete, we had a surprise guest show up. At first the kids were pretty nervous. As you will quickly see they soon let themselves be guided by the force to overcome the darkside (ok, I am a geek).

Each of the kids lined up and had a turn battling with Darth Vador.

The best part about Mckay's party was seeing the smiles on all the boy's faces. They had so much fun that it made it all worth it.

The Jedi's conquered! Just in case you can't tell, that is Darth Vador getting the tar beaten out of him by 9 newly trained Jedi warriors.

Mckay loved all the generous gifts.

The boys loved the "training ball" pinata that Grandpa Jerry made. It took the Lightsaber 2000 (aka metal baseball bat with Uncle Scott's mad home run swing) to get the candy out.

It was fun to have Grandma & Grandpa Anderson at the party.

The Jedi's loved the cupcakes and the "Yoda Soda!"

May the force be with you... Can you tell the kids didn't have any fun?

Hans Solo (PJ) Princess Leia (Me), Yoda (Madi), Darth Vador (Uncle Scottie), and Young Padawon (Mckay)

Scott (Darth) and Heather were amazing help and made the whole party. It would not have been successful without them.

After the party was over we quickly changed and rushed over to Mckay's football game. He did so well and almost tackled a kid twice his size. We didn't use any camera tricks, that kid next to Mckay really is that tall.

After Mckay's football game we headed over to Grandma Cutler's for a family swim party and pizza. (Mckay, Preston, and Braxton)

Mckay was so excited to get some more Star Wars Lego sets.

Hopefully all of Mckay's wishes came true that day.

Then: August 29, 2003

Now: August 29, 2009
We love you Mckay and hope that you had a great day!