SHINGLES..I knew it!

Well as you can tell by the title, we have Shingles! Well not me but Chris! He has not been feeling well for about a week, but doesn't complain. Chris thought he may have pinched a nerve in his back and was trying to fight off the flu, so he would soak in a hot tub each night after a 12 hour work day, but to no avail would the pain subside. Iin the mean time he began to notice a rash on his back, then I noticed it on his chest and then down his right arm and shoulder. Finally after days of just dealing with the pain, he thought he just needed a trip to the Chiropractor, then the hot/ cold sweats began and sleeping had become almost impossible. I knew it had to be bad if he dressed for the "Old Farts" basketball game, but chose not to play. I finally convinced him he should see a medical doctor, not just the local chiropractor (even though we think he is awesome!) After work today he went to Insta-Care and the Doctor recognized him from an infection he had earlier this last year and almost immediately knew he had Shingles. Mind you, only 2 days ago, I mentioned his symptoms to my co-worker and she thought it could be shingles and Chris dismissed it very quickly. Well needless to say, Chris feels like "JOB" and feels like a Leper, but they also said this could have been triggered by a low immune system (DUH, CROHN's Disease , continual Chemo-IV for 5 years) and Stress....That would be Chris, so we are glad he finally went to the Dr.and is now on Antibiotics to help him through this newest and most un-welcomed challenge. Now, mind-you if he were writing this, he would say everything is just fine and that he is doing great...That is the kind-of man I married, THANK GOODNESS for HIM! I love you my leper spotted buddy - it could be worse, you could have limbs falling off...

January Happenings

January is 2/3 the way through and we have been as busy as ever. In this tough economy, Chris has resorted to working all waking hours of the day and not taking days off, I am putting in as many hours as possible at North Star Academy, with budget cuts there, I am only allowed 5 hours a day every other week, So we are working hard and I am taking over the evening family duties until Business picks up, but we are in this for the long haul and we work better as a team than individuals.

We had Keith, Cher, Willow, Zane and Reese with us through New Years and the we had a great time Sledding, eating, and just hanging out. Keith and Cher wanted snow and they definitely brought it with them!






After the new year we made changes in the business and have tried to make changes in our personal lives. I accomplished my First New Years Goal by January 3, 2010. The Young Women in our Ward challenged all of us as leaders and young women to finish reading or listening to the Book of Mormon in 32 days. With 3 days to go I finished on January 3rd. I was so excited that I went through the house and told all my kids my good news, I am pretty sure they thought I was crazy, but it was an amazing goal that I was proud of accomplishing!!!!!

Basketball season came back into full swing for Hunter and Stone! Both teams are doing awesome one is 4-0 the other is 3-1. Stone's Deacon's Quorum team is definitely struggling but are having a great time. The Young Women's Team has just started and with 1 game under their belt they are 1-0 with only 5 players the 1st game. Let's just say Alissa was exhausted and definitely out of shape - We will check in at the end of the seasons.

Baseball is also in full swing!!! Literally - Stone's RATS Baseball team (Respect, Attitude, Teamwork, and Service) began training the 1st week of January and we are working toward Cooperstown, NY in July 2010. We have our 1st Baseball Tournament beginning on February 12, 1010 in St George, Utah. Hopefully it will get warmer..... Wishful thinking for Winter in Utah?

We had more visitors this month with my Dad coming to town for my Nephew's Wedding. Chris Rupe, whom I refer to as "Sasquatch", he's like 6'4", I feel very insignificant near him, even though he thought I was 6 years older than I really am, Shame on Him! We were able to have the wedding at the Draper, Utah Temple and the Luncheon/Dinner was at a Church building in our neighborhood. I post only a few pictures because I forgot to get my camera out, but they are the pictures of newest Great Nieces - yes I said that, I currently have 4 great-neices and 3 great nephews, I think it is awesome! Like I always say "They are So YUMMY"

Alexis LoForte 4 Months














Cali Sellers 3 1/2 Months















Alissa Gibbons & Tanner Misustin (Cousin and Future Missionary)

19 - NINETEEN Years! 12-28-90 to 12-28-2009

{December 28, 1990 This is your typical 80's early 90's wedding with BIG HAIR, The White Grooms tuxedo, Silver-shiny tuxedos, cummerbund's & Royal Blue Satin bridesmaids dresses, that can never be worn again...}

After 19 years you still make me SMILE, LAUGH & CRY! 19 years of not always wedded bliss, but I would not change places with anyone! I have my best friend by my side for eternity. 19 things I love about Chris:

19. His gray hair (My non-gray hair, well I am not sure what color my hair is anymore?)
18. His ability to quote any movie line.
17. When he brings me a Diet Coke at work (fountain drink with a straw)
16. His big blue eyes
15. His and My love of sports (spectating, watching & playing)
14. His home movie taking skills (we wouldn't have any if it weren't for him)
13. His acceptance of my potty mouth (that's a big task)
12. His soft baby- like feet (even though I don't want to touch them...)
11. His wacky sense of humor (Sarcasm works for us!)
10. His knowledge & Love of the Gospel
9. His ability to get the kids to do their chores (No tazer involved)
8. His understanding of female hormones ( 3 teenage daughters and 1 wife ( with a teenager frame of mind)
7. His acceptance of my extra 15 pounds.
6. His ability to make our bed every day.
5. His acceptance of me not knowing how to delegate.
4. His commitment to his church calling and Family Business.
3. His amazing ability to Teach ALL he comes in contact with.
2. His ability to give me space when I am have a bad day or year?
1. For making me the luckiest person in the world and picking ME

Christmas Day 2009

You know Chris kept on reminding me,"Iit will come whether we are ready or not." And guess what, it did, and it left just as quickly. I may need all of you to remind me of this each time I get a little too high anxiety for 1 - 24-hour period of time...
Well the morning came and without a glitch , the kids stayed in bed until 8:30 am, a record! The doorbell rang and, Surprise! Grammy and Papa (Gibbons) were here to see Christmas! They had to wait a little bit, cause we were all just getting up. The night before we gave the traditional Christmas Eve PJ's and the this year I outdid myself with the girls, if I do say so myself? I found the greatest Footie Jammie's just like the ones of A Christmas Story (Pink Bunny Footed Jammie's) for Zoey and Alissa and a similar pair for Jocelyn with Sock Monkey's. They were awesome!!!! We did presents, stockings, had amazing Cinnamon French Toast, cleaned up, Went to the Movies, ate Dinner at IHOP (Mom did not want to cook) and we came home to watch "Tim Hawkins," one of the funniest comedians out there, LOOK HIM UP!!! Now we are all retiring to our rooms and YES it ended and no one was maimed, bloodied, arrested or otherwise on Mom's bad list (JK).
This year was a year of service and understanding how fortunate we are to have what we do have and not feel bad for what we don't have. We are very blessed to live in our neighborhood, Extremely blessed to have awesome extended families on both sides. We are blessed to have a business that is is still up and running, A mom who works to help make ends meet through this economy, Obedient Hard Working Children (well after they have been threatened several times, that is) , A countless number of amazing friends and most importantly the knowledge that our Savior was born and died so that we might be able to live with him and our families again someday. With all the craziness & U-turns that life may throw out at us each day, We are so truly grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.

(I still think we need to skip Christmas next year and celebrate Festivous & The Airing of Grievances....)

Christmas Eve 2009 - Next year Festivous!!!!

Christmas is almost to an end, and I have made an Executive decision, We will skip Christmas Next year and celebrate Festivous, NO TREE, but a POLE and we will all be able to participate in the airing of grievances...... Some days I definitely wonder if it is all worth it, especially when I get the Devil Glare form Little Gibby, need I say more. When life does not go according to his plan he throws a fit and death glares everyone, Mind you, I think he may rethink that idea next time we are at Uncle Ryan's... When the death glare came out, Uncle Ryan put Hunter over his shoulder and took him out back and White washed his face in the snow, (What a riot) I wish I could happily say that the death glare we left outside with the Snow, but it came back in with him, What to do?

Elizabeth Edwards 1915- 2009

The most amazing woman in the world was laid to rest today!
Elizabeth Helen Edwards,
my maternal grandmother, lived to be 94 years old. She outlived her husband and both her children, including my mother. She was probably the most amazing, beautiful, well groomed, happy, charitable, loving, and strong woman I have ever known. I am a better person today for being a part of her posterity and having her in my life.

My brother Keith, and I were able to fly out to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend graveside services for my grandmother at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. Although, Gram lived in Mtn. Home Arkansas, we had services in Oklahoma so that her body could be laid to rest with Grandpa. Mind you - we are only 3 days til Christmas and our Families were very selfless in letting us go pay our final respects. The most amazing thing was being able to be representative of the Gospel to our extended family. We are very fortunate to have the understanding that this is only a good-bye for a short period of time and that Gram has had an amazing reunion with her loved ones and that we will be reunited with her again someday. Tulsa, quite a big city, did not know that...

All that December Brings!

RHS DANCE COMPANY CHRISTMAS RECITAL

December 8, 2009
We attended our very first RHS Dance recital with Zoey Dancing. Well needless to say, we think it was awesome. The best thing about the recital is was, that it was only 1 hour long, start to finish! That is very rare in the dancing world. Zoey was able to be in multiple dances, including the infamous Sophomore Superheroes, that won the crowd over. We continue to be amazed by her talents and personality she displays.

ESA (Energy Solutions Arena; aka THE DELTA CENTER)

December 4, 12, & 26th, 2009

I hope my children never complain that we didn't do enough for them... Well As of December 12th I have worked at the ESA or (Delta Center) 4 times, Chris 2 times and Jocelyn 2 times, and for what you say? To help send Stone "Gibby" Gibbons to Cooperstown this summer with his Super league baseball team. Yes this is a fundraising situation for The RATS Baseball team, all the money we would earn if we were to get goes to the boys and their fees for "Cooperstown." It is all for good cause, however, The work "SUCKS". I didn't think so until this last time. Mind you we have 8 volunteers each week and we are all busy setting and cleaning up the stand, it sometimes gets slow during the actual games, dependant on the opponent the JAZZ are playing. Well we had 3 not show the last time and I will tell you, I have total validation why I did not ever work in the fast food industry, mind you I am pretty sure Jocelyn will not be looking into that industry anytime soon either. Only 1 more shift to go Dec 26th and I am absolutely NOT looking forward to it!

2009-2010 JR JAZZ BASKETBALL BEGINS AGAIN

December 12 & 19, 2009

Well here we go, A new season for the Gibbon's boys! ( WE figured out the other day we have been involved with Jr. Jazz Basketball for the last 11 years) Hunter began this season with a new team and a new coach, and was so excited to see 2 of his good friends on the team, Joshua and Taite. So this year is looking up for him! With 2 games done his team is 2-0 What a start! Stone is on the same team he has been the last 3 seasons with Coach Tracy, Coach Burns and yes, his dad. He continues to be a key competitor on the team and loves playing with the neighborhood and ward boys! With 2 games under there belt they are currently 2-0 also.

RHS A'Capella (Choir) Concert

December 12 & 15th, 2009
Well after 4 hours of decorating on a Saturday morning the RHS Auditorium looked liked a Winter Wonderland for the Winter Magic Choir Concert at the High School. Alissa has been singing with the A'Capella Choir at RHS this year. With all the choirs at the school, this one is the largest in number with approx. 150. The others are Men's Choir, Madrigals, Woman's Choir and 1 more I can't remember, but I am impressed with how amazing these kids sound!

New class presidency, AARGH!!!!!

December 13, 2009
Well it is that time again where we needed to make a few changes in the Mia Maid class presidency, so on my knees I began the search for a new president... After coming up with the new class presidents name, she then in turn comes up with the 2 counselors and secretary name. Not knowing what lie ahead of me, Jocelyn was asked to be the 1st counselor and Zoey Gibbons s the 2nd counselor..... OK 1st of all they really don't like me and they really don't like each other most of the time, so this should be a definite test in the Gibbons Girls home...

Annual Neighborhood Food Drive

December 16, 2009
Well being in the Young Women's Program I was given the amazing opportunity, along with my class presidency to head up this year neighborhood food drive. With fliers out to all 153 neighbors in our ward boundaries, and announcements made at church, We were very fortunate to come up with enough food to feed 6 families in our neighborhood for the holidays and beyond. It makes me very proud to live in an amazing area where everyone around is so willing to help, even when they are facing hard times themselves. Charity Never Faileth in the Golden Meadows Neighborhood!

Tiffany Dance Company 2009 Christmas Recital

December 19, 2009

Well the 4th Annual TDC Christmas Dance recital was held on Saturday Dec 19, 209 at the Riverton High School Auditorium. This year we added to our family members performing.We had Hunter doing the new All Boys Hip Hop class and wowed the crowd with his standing back flip... Jocelyn and Zoey are only taking 1 class each at TDC so, they were not going to dance at the Christmas Recital, however Tiffany is awesome! She asked the girls to do an encore presentation of last years Music Box Dancer(Mix hip-hop, ballet & Jazz), after 1 week they tweaked, changed and redid a little and performed! It was fun to watch.