The Midway Creche Exhibit 12.5.10

Our tradition on the first Sunday in December is to have dinner with Dave's mom and sister and attend the wonderful creche exhibit in Midway.  It's my favorite way to start the Christmas season and helps remind my little family that Christmas is about the arrival of our Savior on earth, not just about getting a whole bunch of stuff from a guy in red (which is fun, too.  Not knocking Santa or anything.)  

Ben started dinner a little before the rest of us.  He ate yogurt.  We ate roast, potatoes au gratin, orange rolls, green beans, and I don't remember what other amazing food David's mom made.  We had the better end of the deal.  Wish I knew why this kid won't eat real food.  He told me to take off the crust from his orange roll...  SERIOUSLY, kid.  Get over it already.

The boys decided that dishes sounded like more fun than waiting in line to have the kids' picture taken in costume.  I think they were wrong, but I didn't complain.

And Then We Gave Thanks 11.25.10

Thanksgiving was a lovely day.  We cooked and cooked and cooked and ate and ate and ate.  We laughed, and talked, and played some games.  I think we played games.  We always do, so I assume we did.  I was in a cooking and food coma, so I don't really remember.

Chelsea attacked my mom.

And Chad read books.

All in all, it was a very very successful Thanksgiving.

Real Halloween 10.31.10

The real Halloween night was spent snug in our house.  In Utah, Halloween (like the fourth of the July) is celebrated on Saturday if it falls on Sunday.

David thought it would be funny to take some of the kids trick-or-treating to some of our neighbors, and he was right.  It was pretty funny.  They hung out at the different houses, eating their candy.  I think everyone welcomed a little disruption since the night was a little anti-climactic.  Halloween shouldn't be boring.

Concerto Festival, Pumpkins, and Trick-or-Treating 10-30-10

Saturday morning the girls and I headed over to the U for their Federation Concerto Festival.  Kate played a Lynn Freeman Olsen concerto, Celebration, Mvt 1 and Sophie played Haydn in C Major, Mvt. 3.  Can you tell from their smiles how well they played?  Their performances were real pay-off moments for each of them.

I just love Soph's attitude in this next picture.  Sophie, of course, hates it.  She's texting Bridget to report on her Superior and is telling me off for taking yet another picture.

President's Circle is exactly what a college should look like:  old brick buildings with lots of character, an expanse of green lawn and gorgeous big trees.  And spending so much time there (this is where Ben's preschool is, as well as where the music building is) has had one big effect on me: I'm feeling more and more at home there.  Fingers crossed that I'll have a reason to spend way MORE time there starting in the fall...

After our concerto festival, we carved our pumpkins.

And then we went trick-or-treating in the pouring rain on our old street.  We love and miss our neighbors.

And honestly, this is the PERFECT trick-or-treating neighborhood.  (That's my brother's house with our car in the driveway.)  The charming houses, the trees with falling leaves to crunch through, the crowds and crowds of happy kids and friendly parents...I absolutely miss it, but am glad to have excuses to go back.

July 4th. I mean 3rd. 7.3.10

In Utah, non-religious holidays that happen to fall on a Sunday are celebrated on the day before, so we partied all day Saturday in the old neighborhood. Kids' parade, lunch at the Loosle's, then a barbecue at John & Katy's while Dave worked at Deer Valley...just like old times. Except this year we had to drive. Bummer.

Picture of the Day 1.7.10

Yesterday was Epiphany or Three Kings' Day. Normally, the kids put their shoes under the tree on the EVE of January 6 and the next morning they find treats inside their shoes and a present under the tree. THIS year, we decided to put the shoes out on the night of January 6. Why? Because I forgot on January 5th, of course. Are you at all surprised? We like Three Kings' Day...the kids love extra presents, David and I like spreading out the Christmas fun just a little longer, and I love having an excuse for keeping up our decorations.

Easter Weekend Pictures

The neighborhood egg hunt, the Ingham egg hunt, Kate's birthday and Easter...so busy and so much fun.

Christmas Memories

I can't believe Christmas 2008 has ended. My house can't either. It's still covered in Christmas decorations and downstairs the presents have yet to all find homes. But the calendar tells me it's over, so I'd better accept it and prepare myself for some cleaning extravaganzas.

Before that, however, here is some evidence that this holiday season was well-spent.

First, the Heber Christmas parties. We spent the Saturday before Christmas with David's extended family at his mom's house for our annual caroling party: cold Heber nights, warm soup, and lots of fun conversations. I especially love watching the cousins together, both older and younger. I love the mix of ages in David's family, and how much love is shown to us by everyone. The next night was our annual Sinterclaus party with Paul, Cindee, Rachelle, Bill, & Mom. We eat a simple dinner, then move to the highlight of the night. Poems. Everyone is assigned a person and writes a poem describing all his or her wonderful attributes. At the end, we add a little something that person could work on this year to be even more amazing. Funny funny funny and also often sweet. Paul and David's poems generally become way over-the-top songs. The kids started joining in a couple of years ago, and their poems are sweet.



Christmas in California was NOT warm, as I had hoped, but we still managed to have a fantastic time.

Christmas Eve was filled with memories. The extended family party was held at my Nana's house, just as when I was growing up. She is a gracious and kind hostess. The food was delicious, and the BEST PART OF ALL...I made it to the grown-up table. Yes, I did. I never thought it would happen. I've been at the kids' table my whole life, but because we were missing Aunt Jan and Uncle Jeff, the powers that be decided that David and I were ready for that big step.

The Nativity was sweet. Kate was an angel, Sophie was Mary, Josh a shepherd, and Cole was Joseph. The older cousins were wisemen. There were no animals, until later that night when Cole was surprised with a puppy. Oh my. Our gifts fell short after that.

Christmas morning we met on my parents' bed as always (it's always funny) for prayer before heading downstairs to open presents. Sophie didn't get a lime green sewing machine, but she seemed happy enough with the white one that showed up. Waffles with ice cream and strawberries were next, then laying around the whole day. We watched a few episodes of Planet Earth, played some games, and napped a little. Some of us never changed out of our pajamas, but I won't tell which ones. We had carne asada and chile relleno casserole for dinner. All in all, it was a truly successful Christmas day.

We're Back...For Now...

Whew. We made it to California before Santa, but we cut it close. Due to my perpetual disorganization, we left on the 23rd at 3:00 pm. Yes. It's true. David drove like the wind, and we got home about 12:30 Pacific time, but we were all very very tired. Especially me. Because I stayed up all night. Again. Can someone teach me how to get everything done on time and still go to bed at a normal hour? Please? I'm begging you.

Was it worth it? YES. If just for the time connecting with family, I'd do it all over again (yeah, that means you, all you crazy Youngberg brothers and sisters, as well as my wonderful Paullin family.)

I'll post pictures when I get my head on straight.

And now I start packing for a few days in Aspen Grove. Winter Wonderland, I'm ready for you.

Well, actually, I'm not at all ready...But I will be when I get there. For now, there's the laundry, the finding a home for Christmas presents, the finishing up (ok, really, starting) delivering Christmas neighbor gifts. Oh, and Christmas cards...

Santa Calls

We had an exciting visit tonight from the man in red himself. He was as charming as ever, and certainly made all of us feel even more in the Christmas spirit. All of us except Ben, that is. When the Santa Invasion occured, his little face filled with terror, he ran to Katy (our wonderful neighbor), and clung to her before she handed him to David.

The Christmas requests? They were eventful, as none of the children stuck to what they had decided they wanted earlier.

Josh wants a cell phone. But since his parents (meanies) won't allow it, he wants a camera with a detachable lens. Nice one, kiddo.


Sophie wants a lime green sewing machine. Lime green, you ask? Oh yes. Lime green. Do they make lime green sewing machines? No, they don't, well, certainly not in normal sewing machine factories. But Sophie has assured me that Santa's elves can make anything she wants. ("Or do you not really believe, Mom? Are you saying Santa's not real, Mom?") Stinker.


Kate wants five rings. Luckily, she doesn't care if they're Five Golden Rings. She just wants rings to fit into the remaining ring slots in her jewelry box.


Ben? He just wants Santa to go away, already.


It's always fun that Cole and Emily happen to be visiting when Santa visits. What a great coincidence!



Santa assured us he would find us in California. I hope we make it there before he does...

Merry Christmas, everyone. We are grateful for you and all that you mean to us.

Christmas is Coming

We love Christmas around here, at least in theory. In practice, making Christmas special is tricky, and leads to lots of late nights and therefore, grumpy kids. And Mom. And sometimes Dad. I'm sure that in the long run, the traditions are all worth it, though, and really make December life feel exciting.

Some of our favorite traditions:

Picking out our Christmas tree, then having hot chocolate in mugs bigger than our heads.
Decorating the family room downstairs, too.
Doing the 12 days of Christmas for a couple of families every year. (Oh no. We forgot last night. Oh no.)
Reading in front of the Christmas tree.
Reading Advent scriptures.
Sleepover in front of the Christmas tree.
Christmas lights on Temple Square.
The creche exhibit in Midway (which we missed this year due to illness. Sad.)
Decorating gingerbread (Ahem. Graham cracker.) houses. We had a BLAST with Eric and Christina making them just last night (thus forgetting to do the fourth day of Christmas. I could just slap myself. Argh.) Thanks, guys!
Watching Christmas Story.
Acting out the nativity on Christmas Eve.
An impromptu Christmas Eve concert, complete with drumming to Little Drummer Boy.
Clam chowder and a Yule log for Christmas Eve dinner.
Taking treats to people we love.
Lots of fun.
Lots of treats.
Lots of secrets. The good kind.

I love this season. I love the idea of the Christ child in all his purity coming to earth in the most humble circumstances possible. I love teaching my children about Goodwill to Mankind. It's all good.

Except the not sleeping enough.

Thanksgiving 2008

I'm finally posting our Thanksgiving pictures.

The truth: My basement did NOT get fully organized before Thanksgiving. I did not recover any chairs, make any new curtains, or even take a shower before the first guests arrived. (I DID eventually take a shower, but after the first group showed up. It was embarrassing to be caught in my pink striped pajamas, especially when I realized that my shirt was inside out. Oh well...take me as I am, I guess.)

The other truth: It didn't matter. Perfection is not a prerequisite for gratitude. I was surrounded by my little family and some of my wonderful extended family, we ate delicious (I mean De-Li-Cious) food, we laughed, we relaxed, we loved.

So Happy Thanksgiving, a week late. I'm still eating like it's Thanksgiving, and I'm plumping up daily. Time to renew my commitment to exercise and eating right. Well, not right, but right-er.

Giving Thanks, Day 27

I'm grateful for a beautiful Thanksgiving day.

Happy Halloween

We had so much fun on Halloween. I loved having Halloween on Friday. It felt so much more relaxing, especially because Kate and Sophie get out of school early on Fridays. I set up my backdrop for Halloween pictures for our friends again (sorry, Liz!) and had a lot of fun trying to get decent pictures. They didn't all turn out great, but they were fun to take.

Here are our family's Halloween pictures. I decided to dress up. Can you guess what I am?