Nothing says "Happy New Year" like Dodgeball!

We were invited to a friendly dodgeball game in our old neighborhood.  It was a lot of fun, and a great way to kill a couple of those evening hours while waiting to go to a New Years party at the Campbells.  Happy New Year!!

Pickleball Battle

It was Al-Dave's last day in town, and we had an epic family pickleball tournament.  It was a beautiful day, and I think everyone had a blast learning the sport.  (on a side note, these are the courts that Rick was the engineer on...so they are sort of his baby, too)

Edward Paper Hands

Cru enjoyed his paper claws made by Tirsa after family dinner.

Christmas Card Door

We got a slow start on our door this year, but we ended up with a pretty good looking door...thanks to all of the good looking people we know.

Desert love

We went out to Warner Valley to spend some of the beautiful day in the desert sand.  I loved the snow and all, but it is nice to have our normal December weather back!

Hotdogs Roasting on an Open Fire

We went through two packages of hot dogs, but it was worth it.  The kids all had a great time roasting hot dogs and burning stuff.  We really need to get a barrier around the fire pit, though.  I was afraid the whole time that someone would run right into the fire.!

Christmas Morning

Ready, Set, Open!

Christmas Eve Nativity

It was another successful year of the nativity.  MaKaty and Madsen made adorable angels.  Adelaide was baby Jesus.  Christian was a donkey.  Seth, Soren and Cru were wise men.  And Hannah was "stage manager". 

Christmas Adam 2013

We had our Christmas Adam celebration at Chrissy's this year.  We played Christmas Bingo, had a dance party, and watched Christmas movies.  All four of our kids slept over this year...which is a first! 

Hannah had enough sugar

Clearly she does not need any more of that delicious Christmas jello Alison made.  She is already sugar drunk.  She put her leg right through the hole in the edge of the trampoline and tore her leg up.  No more sugar for you, Hannah!

Tuacahn

I'm not sure what Santa was saying to MaKaty...but I wish it had been "Please listen to your mommy and daddy when they ask you to stay right by them.  There are a lot of people here tonight, and you might get lost.  And if you get lost,  please just stop and wait.  Do NOT go out to the parking lot and wait by the car, because they won't assume that you are there and they will be going a little nuts looking for you, and they will be alerting all the employees to look for you, and your mommy will be sick to her stomach, and your daddy will have to be the calm one."  Yeah...I sure wish Santa had said that...

Book Club Beauties

We had our Book Club Christmas party today.  I love these women so much!  We had a wonderful night just laughing, eating yummy food, and just enjoying each other's company.  I really needed this night!

Winter Recital

Hannah did a great job at her winter recital.  Keep it up, Hannah!

Phase One

Phase One of Operation Chair Redo.  So far, so good!

Temple Lights

It has become our tradition to go see the lights at the temple.  We bring hot chocolate and donuts.  We walk through the visitor's center.  We listen to the message at the Nativity.  And we enjoy the lights.  It's one of our favorite things to do to get in the Christmas spirit!

All my favorites.

a. it was our 13th wedding anniversary b. we were at the Staheli Farms live nativity c. aren't they the cutest?

Sunday Dinner

Occasionally we have Sunday dinner at our house.  It is nice that we now have a place big enough that we can fit people here!

Buddy the Elf

He said, "Mom, there is only a little left in this one...and we have a new one that is full, so can I drink this one?"  I said yes and grabbed my camera.  Who knew that Buddy the Elf lived here?

"Gingerbread" houses

Otherwise known as sugar covered sugar houses, dripping in sugar.

Engrossed

I read all three of the books in the Divergent series in about 4 days.  It was fun to be totally engrossed in another world for a little while!

A Note for Mrs. Morris

Cru wanted to give Mrs. Morris (his preschool teacher) a picture he had drawn.  He addressed this envelope himself.  He just asked me the letters.  He is getting so much better at writing his letters!

This Year's Ornament

Our book for the year is "The Last Straw".  We made these little bundles of straw for our ornament this year.  Not too exciting, but they got the job done.

Snow Play

Enjoying it while they still can! 

Documented

I had to document this snow.  We may never see our street like this again!

Let it Snow

In all my life, I had never seen a snow storm like this one in St. George.  It just kept snowing.  All day long.  For 10 hours!  We got at least 6 inches!  We just don't know what to do with that much snow!

The "Before"

I bought this chair at DI.  I am going to refinish it and recover it for Hannah for Christmas.  At least, I hope I can.  I have never done either, and it could go badly.  Here's hoping!

Pack Meeting

Seth received a couple of belt loops at pack meeting tonight.  They awards were in the shape of a rocket.  Seth is pretending that the rocket is heading for his eye.

Once There Was A Snowman

We were surprised by a big snowstorm overnight.  (it is always a surprise, even if it is predicted)  Cru wanted only to make a snowman.  So we did.  It was not great snow for building, but we made it work.  His buddy even came over to see it.  I asked Cru to put his arm around the snowman, and this is what he did.  So cute!

All About the Tree

We attended the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and then came home and decorated our own little tree.  Always busy at Christmas-time!

Neighborhood "Giving Back" Party

Our neighborhood held a party instead of giving neighbor gifts for Christmas.  We had hot chocolate and brought treats to share.  You could choose to donate the money you would have spent on neighbor gifts to a local battered women's shelter.  Our little neighborhood raised over 500$ cash, plus donated a ton of items...and we avoided the super stressful task of assembling gifts for dozens of people.  WIN-WIN! 

Decorated

It was fun to decorate a new place this year.  I am REALLY wanting a new tree next year, but we will see...

Children's Museum

The kids were so excited to check out the new children's museum in town.  Many of the exhibits came from the Vegas museum, including the favorite...BUBBLES!  Hannah spent a lot of her time here, figuring out how to reach through the bubble pane, creating a film on her own hand, and then blowing bubbles out of her own hand.  We are excited to spend a lot more time there in the future!

Samurai 21

We went out to lunch at Samurai 21 with most of the family.  Cayden was so fun to watch because he had never been to a hibachi grill before.  He was just like a little kid, clapping and loving every minute of it.  It was wonderful to spend time with family over the holiday!

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for this beautiful girl.  When did she get so old?! 

Guinea Pig Monkey Boy

Cru got to be the guinea pig for our friend who was shopping for a new play set.  She didn't want to bring her own kids and ruin the surprise, but she wanted to see how a kid would play on all the different choices of swing sets.  Cru was happy to try everything out for her.  He kept showing us how much of a monkey he was. 

Grrrrr!

So frustrating to have a broken washer!  Thankfully, Rick was able to take it apart and fix the problem.  Even just one day of not being able to do our laundry was pretty tough to catch up on!

Two Little Indian Boys

Cru and Jake were such adorable little Indian guys.  They weren't thrilled about having their picture taken, but they cooperated pretty well!

Hannah and Adelaide

We went to Ethan and Alison's house so that the rest of the family could meet Miss Adelaide.  She was loved on by everyone.  She is such a sweet little chunky thing!

Running for Ryan

We were amazed at how many people came out in the cold to run for Ryan.  The rain stopped just in time for the run to begin, and then started again just after the last runner crossed the finish line.  The rest of the fundraiser was hugely successful as well.  So many people who love and support Ryan and her family!  It was a good day!

Enlisting

I enlisted Hannah's help in painting the signs for the fundraiser.  Kate also helped paint some, and even Cru!  Seth helped me attach them to the posts, and Rick helped me set them out.  Thank goodness, I could never have gotten it all done on my own!

Ryan's Army

Up WAY too late getting all the stuff ready for the fundraiser.  So many amazing women.  I was so lucky to be able to be part of this!

Batman Builds

Batman was super proud of the sweet space ship he built all by himself.

Look What the Mailman Brought!

I was super excited to get 200 of these babies in the mail today.  Fight for Ryan!

Planning Meeting

We went to Cravings for a Fight For Ryan planning meeting.  I love these ladies so much!

Moon Watcher

Hannah came running into my room begging me to use my camera because she wanted to take pictures of the moon.  When she came back, she expressed frustration with how hard it is to get good pictures of the moon.  I know.  I have tried, too. 

Saturday is Sod Day!

Rick and I lay almost the entire backyard by ourselves.  It was hard, muddy work!  Thankfully, as we were finishing the last little bit, our neighbor came over and helped us.  We were so exhausted, it probably would have taken forever on our own!  It looked fantastic when we were done, though!

Goodbye View

With our neighbors house being framed, our view was pretty much instantly gone.  We knew it was coming, but it still sucks.  Still, Cru thought the crane delivering the trusses was pretty cool!

Busy

Keeping this counter clean any time is a challenge, but with the fundraiser coming up fast, it was pretty much impossible.  Here you can see the stacks of flyers I need to take for distribution in the schools. 

Sunrise Run

It was one of those runs where the sunrise was more and more beautiful every step we took.  I think I took about 5 pictures on this run, trying to catch the most beautiful moment.  Unfortunately, sometimes you just have to be there to catch the full effect!

Precious Cargo

We worked every single night this week until we could no longer see anything.  Cru hopped into the wheelbarrow as Rick was transferring fill dirt across the yard.