Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas

For those of you I don't have address' for... here is what we're sending out this year:


and the letter that will accompany it:

The past couple of years our annual family letter has been dwindling... and this will probably be the last. Don’t worry, you’ll still get a card, but it has become increasingly difficult to condense our year into one simple letter. I’m sure you will all miss Chris’ thoughtful letters, I know I will. But, we are grateful for new technology that allows us to keep in touch with our friends and family all year long. If you haven’t already, come find us on facebook, follow our family blog (www.thehigbees.blogspot.com -and please let us know if you have one), Chris is even on twitter, and there is always good old email (cohigbee@gmail.com, kthigbee@yahoo.com) or even snail mail! We hope to hear from ALL of you!!

So, for the final edition of our annual epistle here is what’s going on in a nutshell:

Chris started a new job with HireVue as the VP of Marketing in March and is lucky to be able to work from home. He continues to love all things outdoors, going to sporting events, movie nights and performing when he can (he just produced and performed in an awesome Christmas Concert for a corporate event). He was an awesome Cub Master for the past couple years and just recently started working with the 16-18 year old Young Men in our church.

I am busy with your basic mom stuff... lots of housework and driving... it seems to never end. But I also find great joy serving on our city’s civic events committee, serving as our church music chairman, and was recently asked to be a cultural arts specialist for our area. I am most excited about turning my passion for photography into a business and really hope to spend more time on that this coming year. I really love being with my kids and having the opportunity to enjoy them as they grow.

Cassidy is back in school at UVU and just had a very successful semester. She has developed a love of Interior Design and thinks that might be the major for her. She is still working at DownEast and just got a new (to her) VW Beetle... so cute! She also nannies quite a bit for families in our neighborhood. She is a VERY busy girl. Cass continues to be the life of the party and is so fun to have in our home.

Max turned 12 this year and is in Jr High! He is doing great and enjoying all the things that come with it (cell phone, a little more freedom, pimples and squeaky voice). You wouldn’t believe how much he has grown!! We can hardly keep him in shoes and pants that fit and hope his growing doesn’t blow our budget for the coming year. He also plays the piano, cello and guitar and participates in Boy Scouts. He started club soccer this year with his Dad as the coach. It was quite challenging, but he really grew a lot and we are now looking forward to the spring season.

Abby is in the 3rd grade accelerated learning class at school and loving(?) the challenge. She really loves taekwondo and is doing quite well. She also takes dance and performed in 2 recitals... she even did a tap solo! She loves to sing and always has something coming out of her mouth... lucky for us she is actually quite good. She also loves poetry and art and earned an honorable mention in the reflections contest at
school. She is becoming quite a lady and trying really hard to be responsible. She was also baptized this year and we are so proud of her decision.

Afton is still a light in our home (despite the picture... it was very cold). She is always happy and cheerful and loves everyone wholeheartedly. She started preschool in the fall and LOVES it. She is learning so much, I am continually amazed at what she can spell and the concepts she comes home with. She has a very detailed imagination and is a joy to play with. She loves her little brother and is a great helper with him. She is also the child that always offers to help me fold laundry, clean toilets, do dishes, make dinner, you name it (I am really hoping this quality sticks around). I can’t believe how quickly she is growing!

Cole is truly our little monkey. He climbs everything can get out of anything and never stops. Ever. It is quite exhausting to be his mother, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Someone has to be with him constantly! But, he is so fun to be around and keeps us laughing... we’re convinced he will be the “class clown.” In spite of the challenges of his busy-ness, he is a very consistent little guy as far as naps and bedtime goes, which is awesome! He adores his older siblings and wants to do whatever they do. He also has quite the vocabulary and even signs a little. I am so excited to watch him grow this next year.

We have had a lot of great adventures as a family this year... Las Vegas for Spring Break, a beach house in Ventura in August, a couple family weddings, new schools, new jobs, and holidays spent with loved ones. We are grateful for family and friends like you who enrich our lives. We feel very blessed. We hope this finds you all healthy and happy and loving the life you are living.

Much Love,
The Higbee Family
Chris, Katie, Cassidy, Max, Abby, Afton, and Cole

Happy Holidays!!
We wish you all the very best!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Blog? What Blog?

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Wow. I am so behind on this blog... it is overwhelming. I have been so busy it's crazy. But, I didn't want to let this wonderful day pass without expressing my gratitude so here I am. I won't bore you all with a list... just know that I feel so blessed... words can not express how thankful I am for my life, where I am in this journey and the people who are on it with me.

I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this video. Random people on the streets of New York City. Brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I hope it helps you remember the little things that make your life wonderful! (blogger chops off the right side... you can still see it pretty well, or you can double click on it to see it on Youtube.)



So, what are YOU thankful for?

Friday, November 6, 2009

Flashback Friday- Things I found on Chris' Computer

Every once in a awhile, when we don't have the camera handy, we'll take pictures with Chris' iphone. Of course I forget that they are there and never go back to see them. While looking at some other pictures on Chris' computer I came across these fun memories and thought I would share them for this weeks flashback. Hope you enjoy.

Afton's first haircut
We all know about Afton's hair issues... I've blogged about them quite a bit. She just can;t seem to grow it and we were thrilled when she finally started to get a little more length. However, it was growing in pretty unevenly so we were debating getting it trimmed... a thought I just couldn't get my head around. One day, way back in December, Chris was getting his hair cut and we were in the area so we stopped by to say hi. Imagine my shock when Chris asked the barber to cut Afton's hair and tossed her in the chair. I baremy had time to protest and just kept saying "I can;t believe you're doing this". Well, she loved it, she was so cute the whole time, and she looked adorable when all was said and done. We've had it cut a few times since... just to even it out. It's still growing so slow and so thin, but it's getting there.

Christmas Devotional
Just because there are so few pictures of me on this blog. Chris snapped this at a family get together to watch the Christmas Devotional last December. Yeah me!

'LaReve' in Las Vegas
Remember this? When we got to Afton's show I realized that my camera didn't have the memory card in it (Max had taken it to use on his Nintendo dsi... the little stinker), so we got this not so great shot with the iphone. Afton's show was the main reason we went to Vegas and it was awesome. SHE was amazing!! Totally worth the trip.


'Keane' in Concert
Chris LOVES 'Keane'. Lucky for him they came to Salt Lake in June and I took him for Father's Day. I must admit that I was not a fan... I just went because he wanted to. That definitely changed at the concert. It was THE BEST concert ever! Seriously amazing and the main singer is a great performer. I was in awe the entire time and may have even developed a little crush on him. I am most certainly a fan now and can't wait until they come back to town. You can bet we will be there!!

Just because...
... he is so cute! I found this on Chris' phone and it brought a smile to my face. I'm not sure when it was taken or why, probably one of the kids playing with the iphone, but I love it. Look at those eyes! They melt my heart every day.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Happiest Birthday Girl There Ever Was

You'll remember that I mentioned in a previous post that Afton has really been looking forward to her birthday... a lot! We have had a lot of family birthdays lately and it killed her every time it wasn't hers... AGAIN. Well, once a month we get together with Chris' side of the family and celebrate all the birthdays for the month. On this particular night Afton's was included, but there were also about 8 others. You never would have guessed though. She took command of that party and made it her own. When the song was sung she want right to the front of the room and beamed like she's never beamed before. Chris and I were laughing so hard. I had to share some of her joy with all my friends on the blog!!
I'll bet any of you ten bucks you have a big grin on your face right now!

Boy Scout Court of Honor

Max has loved the last year in Boy Scouts. They held a Court of Honor just before he turned 12 and he earned his Tenderfoot, 2nd class and a few merit badges. He has now moved from the 11 year old Scout group and in with the big kids and is loving it. He is working hard on his 1st class and getting ready for his first winter campout... BRRR! Sounds miserable to me!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Flashback Friday- Cutest Baby EVER!!

(in my very biased opinion)
WARNING... total photo overload ahead.

Last June I was waiting for a client who was running pretty late so I decided to grab a few shots of Cole. I literally ripped his clothes off and threw him up there, which is why he has slight cheeto coloring around his mouth, lots of teething drool, and on obviously wet diaper. I was alone so I didn't have anyone to help with a reflector or keeping him in place so getting him to smile and not lunge at me in between shots was quite exhausting. The results, however, are some of my favorite pictures ever!! These are straight out of the camera... I can't wait to photoshop them a little bit!
This one is blurry, but I love his face!
Is that not the sweetest face ever?
EYELASHES!!
If you weren't already baby hungry... I bet you are now!!
I'm not gonna lie... It kinda makes me want another one!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Birthday Pictures

I wanted to take some cute pictures of Cole with
the left over balloons from his birthday party.
He was so cute and happy to go along...
...and then he was done.

One-Two


Max is officially 12!! He had his birthday last Friday. I can't believe it. I especially can't believe that on his next birthday he will be a teenager! Crazy how quickly time flies. I still remember so clearly the day he came into our lives. He is our firstborn and his arrival was probably the most life changing of all of our children. He made me a mom. He has had to endure all of my learning moments. I am grateful to him for his patience and helping me learn to be a good mom. I remember back when it was just him... no other kids around. He and I had some really good times. He was totally my little buddy. I remember telling Chris how much I enjoyed spending time with Max and just having conversations with him... even when he was just 2. He was always so curious and interested in he world around him that even a trip to the grocery store could be an adventure. He has been a joy and I love the young man is becoming. Over that past few months we have noticed huge changes in Max, both physical and otherwise. He is definitely taller, he's shaving, we all know how proud he is of his armpit hair, and he grows out of clothes and shoes faster than I can replace them... which is great for his younger cousins! But it's the other differences that mean the most to me. He is mellowing out, he's great with his younger siblings, he tries to be helpful at home, he is quick to apologize, he is loving school and scouts, he practices his instruments without being asked... he really is becoming a man. We love this kid so much and are so proud of who is and who he is trying to become.

Happy, Happy Birthday Max!!
(Sorry this is 4 days late)

Dress-Up

Afton pretty much lives in dress-ups... but on this day her outfit wasn't her traditional get-up so I had to snap a pic. Such a pretty little peasant girl.