Happy Birthday Abby!

 We celebrated Abby's birthday a day early because Brynn had a ballet showcase we invited the grandparents too.  We decided to save them another trip during this busy time of year.  Abby requested a Strawberry Cheesecake.  She LOVES to be celebrated and we love celebrating her. 

This is the cute outfit Abby received from Grandma and Grandpa.  It came with sparkly pink tights too, but Abby wanted to wear thicker leggings because it was so cold.

The Lights at Temple Square

We made our annual trip to Temple Square to see the lights.  We bundled up to weather the cold and enjoyed touring all of the visitor's centers in the late afternoon and then walked out just as the lights were turning on.  We plan it that way every year and it's our little secret....shhhhh!  We beat the crowds and still get to enjoy the lights and the atmosphere that fills Temple Square at Christmas-time.  Like always, we had a struggle getting a picture with Aaron.   I took a minute and  to talk with him about what it might be like when he is older and has children of his own, who want to see what he looked like as a child, and how sad that there will be very few pictures of him because he refuses to cooperate.  He didn't like that idea one bit, and decided to be a little more cooperative the rest of the evening. 

The Rewards

Sometimes the rewards of being a parent are few and far between.  Somedays can be downright hard, but man, when the rewards come, they are worth gold.  One day in early December I was feeling very witchy.  My kids were acting up and I was at my wits end trying to prepare with the busy-ness that happens around Christmas-time.  I had volunteered to visit Aaron's classroom to talk about some of our Christmas traditions.  I did the presentation and shared some homemade English Scones and Devonshire Cream with his class and then packed up my things and left.  As I was walking down the hall, Aaron burst out of the classroom and asked what the cream was called.  I told him, and he headed back into the classroom.  A few seconds later he burst out again and with a smirk on his face said, "What is it called again?"  I told his again and he entered the classroom again.  He came out a third time and came running down the hallway to give Isaac and me a hug and to tell us good-bye.  This moment made all of the sourness in my heart disappear.  It's amazing how much simple things can have such a powerful affect on our emotions.  

Alpine Community Theater

Abby has been doing a fun Music/Dance/Theater class this year through Alpine Community Theater.  Its been perfect for her because they spend a little time on each thing each week and it keeps her busy mind engaged.  In December they had a cute Christmas performance.  She had lots of fun performing.  Abby loves to be on stage and the thing she was most looking forward to was having a microphone around her ear taped to her cheek.  She thought that was pretty cool.  She did a wonderful job and it was lots of fun to support her.  Afterward we went with Grandma Rowene and Grandpa Billy to Blue Lemon to celebrate with some yummy dinner. 

Gabe and Elise Get Married!

Happy Halloween 2012

I have a love/hate with Halloween.  I love that my kids get to dress up, but  I hate having to come up with costumes every year.  It can get so expensive.  I feel like we should have set some ground rules in the beginning.  Rules like: You have to wear something we already own.  We've let them be whatever they want to be and very year they have a specific desire to be something.  I feel obligated to make it happen and then we end up spending so much money on the costumes.  But then when you see them all dressed up cute on Halloween Day, it kind of makes it worth it.....key words, kind of.....

Peanut Butter M&M's - the world's best Halloween candy - rather the WORLD'S best candy!

Fall

I love this beautiful picture of fall from our backyard.  One of the things I missed the most while living in California was the lack of Fall.  Winter I didn't miss much, but I really missed the Fall.  It's a happy time of year for me.

Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!

To say that Isaac was pleased with his birthday this year would be a very big understatement. He relished in it. We knew he needed a bike, but according to him, he really needed a new sweet sword. He received both. He ran around the house humming the theme to Pirates of the Caribbean as he showed off his sweet fencing skills.  Earlier in the week we celebrated with Vest cousins where he received a new scooter.  He said that night, "This is the best birfday EVER!" 

On his birthday I took him along with Stephen and a little friend from the ward to Thanksgiving Point Museum of Ancient Life (aka the Dinosaur Museum in our house).  We spent the morning there and then enjoyed lunch at the deli.  Listening to the little boys talk was so much fun.  I love the conversations they have. 

When we got home, the boys played with the toys his friends gave him and his primary teacher stopped by with a birthday gift and a cookie that was bigger than Isaac's head.  He was so genuinely happy that his teacher remembered his special day and he thought it was out of this world that she made him a giant cookie.  What a fun day.  We are so happy for the laughter, light and happiness that Isaac brings into our lives every day.