Christmas Celebrations

We had a grand time at Nana's for Christmas Eve. Great food, great people, great fun. We had a little program featuring finger tricks, juggling, jingle bells, rudolph and Santa himself.
We also took a few snapshots of the kids before church on Sunday and tonight before bed in their Christmas Jammies.

Jingle Bells

Rudolph: by Nana

Must Be Santa: by Nana and Papa

Scrooge Dance

Maybe he wasn't happy about my recording it all. No, this one probably stems from the fact he ruined a Christmas surprise for himself. Ah well...
CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Okay, I think I've wasted enough time doing these. Your turn :-)

Elffin' Dance

Click Here, Daddy made it in time for the annual elf dance. Mom recorded it all.

SNowball Fight!!!

Daddy must've been at work when this took place (the kids wanted Zoe involved...sorry dad...only enough snowballs for 5 apparently)

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A Merry Christmas Concert

We were able to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square with the "Kings Singers" Concert last Thursday night. I signed up for the free tickets back in November. Then it was just luck of the draw that we got them. We took some neighbors with us and wanted to go to dinner prior to the concert...which didn't start til 8. So we left Spanish Fork at 5 pm. It took an hour and 15 minutes to get downtown Salt Lake b/c of holiday traffic and snow. Usually we can get there in 50 minutes...especially in the carpool lane. Well, we had to leave the restaurant by 7:05 so we could get to the concert and in our seats by the required time of 7:30 (so they could start letting standby people in). We ate at "The Dodo" in The Gateway and it was delicious. But we all just ordered sandwiches so it could get to our table fast. After parking in our designated parking garage spot (as per the parking ticket provided with the tickets) we had to literally run (the girls all in high heeled boots) to the conference center 2 1/2 blocks away. It was still snowing and freezing. Then we had to stand in the LONG lines outside the doors to go through the metal detectors before entering the main building. We were lucky to get 6 seats together. It was a hectic evening up to that point. Then we enjoyed the concert (which will be broadcast on PBS in Dec. 2008). Last year's concert will be broadcast on PBS the week of Christmas this year. Anyway, it was very well done. Our only complaint was that it wasn't near loud enough. I like going to live concerts to literally FEEL the music. I couldn't feel it at all. We might as well have been watching it on TV...we could've at least turned up the volume. But all in all, it was beautiful. The program indicated that the restuarants and cafe's ON temple square would be open after the concert for desserts etc. So we decided to go to one afterwards. Well, we walked across temple square to The Lion House only to find it CLOSED. Then all the people following us to do the same thing, followed us over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg to the cafe's and restaurants there. They were indeed open as they were advertised to be, but by the time we waited the 10 minutes in line to even get into the buffet area, there were about 5 dessert plates left and none of them worth the wait or eating. So, not having gained a pound, we left and briskly walked the cold blocks to our car and drove the long traffic-filled drive home. Exhausted, we crashed into bed at midnight and vowed to just watch it on TV in the years to come. Happy Holidays everyone...avoid the chaos...just stay home, put a CD on the stereo and turn up the volume. Here's a little Christmas video with a few seconds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's performance to set the mood for a relaxing night at home. Peace be unto you all.

Zoe in the Snow

Sorry for so many posts at once. Since I was with the sick kids last week, I didn't get any posting done. I'm catching up. Yesterday we got dumped on...tons of snow. Zoe LOVED the snow. We had fun with her in it.

A LONG Week of BLAAAAH

As we were decorating the tree last week, our oldest said he had a headache and was cold. He had a fever but the aches were the only other symptoms. So he didn't get to enjoy the decorating as much as us. By Wednesday our 6 year old came down with a fever and sore throat. I took them to the doctor and it was...STREP throat. They each took a bit of consolation in Zoe. By Thursday, our youngest had it too. I was worn out. But, in the end, they're all better, except for the common cold and hopefully the antibiotics will keep them tough for the onslaught of germs at school next week.

Decorating For Christmas

Last Sunday we decorated the family Christmas tree. Then we enjoyed the lights with some Christmas Music. My house isn't an entirely decked out place, but it feels festive for the season. We enjoy it.

Sleepover

A week ago we watched some friends kids overnight and ours and theirs had an absolutely grand time. Our little girl loved their 6 year old...adored her actually. They watched "Twelve Dancing Princesses" while the boys watched "Ben 10" in the basement.

Old Friends from Michigan

We were so excited to be able to meet up with our old friends from Michigan. Our two girls are the same age and were best buds there...although they were too young to remember. We had a wonderful visit after my hubby took their family pictures. Our daughter had to pose for a few too. It was great to see them!!! We miss Michigan!!!

Zoe Love

We sometimes let our neighbors dog come over to play. We were watching her for them for a few days so that happened more often. Our little princess LOVES to play with both of them. Bella is the smaller dog (a mini australian shepherd).

And Zoe loves to hug people. Our 6 year old takes advantage of the affection often.

Zoe

Every day when I get home from the gym (or from anywhere) Zoe is there to greet me. She likes the salt on my face especially. Then she'll wait for my husband to come in the door too. That usually doesn't happen at the same time so I don't know why she does it. But she likes him best so she waits for a minute just in case. Most of the day, after she's been walked and fed in the morning, you'll find her lounging or sleeping somewhere on the main floor (she isn't allowed upstairs and only goes downstairs to the office when someone is in it). She's been a good dog. A bit more work...but a good dog. And most mornings, she's what gets my hubby out of bed (for her walk).

Hattie's Haircut AGAIN!

(again, the name Hattie comes from a book about a girl getting her haircut) Our little 3 year old's hair grew out to her shoulders and she kept begging me for a haircut so here it is...bobbed again. She loves it and I think it makes her look so cute. Granny wanted to see pictures so this post is specifically as per her request.

Hiking Rock Canyon

Here is a video we took while S and I were hiking with Zoe in Rock Canyon this morning.

BUSY BUSY BUSY

I have been so busy lately I can barely remember my name. I was in charge of something called Super Saturday at our church for the ladies. It's a day when they sign up to do all these different kinds of projects and have lunch. It's a huge logistical and planning nightmare, but I did it, it's done, and it's overwith (last saturday)...thank goodness. I signed up to do a project knowing that I wouldn't actually have time that day to do any of it. I spent all of Monday and Tuesday of this week doing the project...10 Christmas stockings. 5 are a gift and 5 are for my family. Then, while I had the sewing machine out, I had to mend everything in my "mending pile"...hem pants, patch pants, etc. I also had to do wrestling practice and matches for my son and piano lessons and I'm working on sketches for a book that are due this next week. I'm glad that super saturday is done though. I can now keep my head above water and see the shore...I'm almost done with the sketches. We've also been taking care of the new dog, Zoe. She's pretty easy but it is one more thing to watch out for in my life. My 6 year old is so happy to have her though that it makes it worth it. I think my husband will be glad when we can get away together in January so I can pay a little more attention to him instead of my list of to do's. Sorry honey!

Birthday Gift

My mother-in-law gave me these steel storage cylinders for my birthday. I finally mounted them under my kitchen cabinets and am using them to hold spices. I love it.

Happy Halloween

Here's our Jawa, Barbie Island Princess (as per the movie), and our Alien. We had a great halloween...complete with party on Monday night at Nana's carving pumpkins and roasting hot dogs with everyone dressed up. Then last night we did the whole shebang...trick-or-treating, dinner, games and all. The special feature of the night was my husbands annual halloween portraits for the neighborhood in our garage. It was fun. My husband and 6 year old both had to have their picture taken with Zoe (our new dog). So Cute!!!

We got a DOG!!!

I never thought I'd see the day when I would have a dog as a family pet in my home. I never thought I'd allow more than a fish or some other caged creature. But...after years of persistent prodding, I finally gave in to my husband and son. We were able to "rescue" an 11 month old female Bernese Mountain Dog. Rhett initially saw the post in the online classifieds and contacted the family who was trying to sell her. They had to move fast b/c of military reasons and couldn't take the dog with them. Before we got far with communications though, they moved and gave the dog to Azure's Safe Haven Rescue who promised to find a great home for Zoe (the dog). They had over 1000 hits on the ad they posted and even though we wanted her, it took quite a bit of persuasion for them to let us (non-experienced dog people)adopt her. The clincher happened at the "meeting." When the handler showed us the dog, she took right to my husband in a way she did with no one else she met. He loves her (as do our kids...especially our 6 year old) and is so glad to have himself a dog. (Even though I made him promise to be the pooper pickerupper, the dog walker, the mess cleanerupper, etc.) He's willing to do it for the chance to own a dog...especially a Berner (nickname for Bernese Mt. Dog). They are a very large but very gentle breed and she is stellar in manners. We still have a couple of things to work on with her, but she's smart and I'm just glad we didn't have to go through all the major puppy stages (just the latter ones).

This is my husband and the Rescue Worker who lobbied the committee to choose us for Zoe. She's in love with Zoe and promised she'd be bringing a Christmas present for her.

This was soooo sweet. Our oldest, who is usually terrified of dogs, quickly warmed up to Zoe. Neither of them even noticed when I snapped this picture.

Our 6 year old loves to play tug-of-war with Zoe...the 60 pound dog always beats the 36 pound boy. Imagine that.

Tagged by my Sister-in-Law

So now I'm supposed to fill this out I guess...Leah, since you read this, you have to do it next...TAG YOU'RE IT! These are obviously questions about me and my spouse.

WHAT IS HIS NAME:
Honey (to me anyway)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER?
11 years in February 2008

HOLD OLD IS HE:
33...two years older than me.

WHO EATS MORE:
Probably him...especially when it comes to ice cream.


WHO SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST:
I'm sorry to say I don't remember...do you, honey?

WHO IS TALLER:
He is by far...I'm a shorty

WHO SINGS BETTER:
Probably him...although neither of us are soloists

WHO IS SMARTER:
Him on some things, me on others. And these days, probably mostly him...my brain has turned a bit mushy since I've been on the elementary level with my kids for the past 9 years.

WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY:
Me....

WHO DOES THE DISHES:
Me (mostly)...except on Sundays, usually do them together

WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED:
Him

WHO PAYS THE BILLS:
Me...

WHO MOWS THE LAWN:
Whoever can't stand it looking bad the most...more him than me

WHO COOKS DINNER:
Me, except for Sushi...he does a great california roll

WHO DRIVES WHEN YOU ARE TOGETHER:
Him always. He gets nervous when anyone else is driving.

WHO IS MORE STUBBORN:
He would say me...I would say mostly me...but he can have a great streak of it too.

WHO IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT WHEN THEYRE WRONG:
He usually calls me to it...then after I argue about it, I sometimes relent. I'm kind of a know-it-all

WHOSE PARENTS DO YOU SEE THE MOST:
His...they live a mile and a half away and mine life more than 3 states away

WHO KISSED WHO FIRST:
He did. But it takes two you know.

WHO PROPOSED:
He did. Very well planned, on my birthday, under a lunar eclipse.

WHO IS MORE SENSITIVE:
He is...I grew up with 6 brothers, I'm not very sensitive inwardly or outwardly.

WHO HAS MORE FRIENDS:
Probably me.

WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS:
I do by far. He has 3 and I have 8.

There...I did it. :-)

Park City Trip

Friday night we took the kids and some friends up to Park City to the Westgate Resort. We get deals on rooms there. Anyway, we had a "Grand Suite" complete with 2 bedrooms with a King bed in each, a full Kitchen, a living room and 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette. We got there about 5:30 and made dinner. After that we all headed down for a dip in the indoor/outdoor pool. We had a great time swimming...even outside in the 45 degree cold. It felt warmer in the inside pool area after you swam under to the outside area. Our little daughter quickly rediscovered her mermaid side after a timid start and all the kids got good and tired out. After quick showers, we let them watch the rest of a movie and hoard around the popcorn. It was funny, like a feeding frenzy.

And the boys played Gameboys of course.


Then we sent them to bed and had a little adult chat and game time. Our friend Rob is really funny...quite the story teller.


In the morning, the kids all kept cozy while we whipped up French Toast for Breakfast.

On the way home, we stopped in Heber to visit our friends who moved this last summer. Here's our daughter and their son dressing up...dog and monster.