12.18.2011

December 2011

December 1
Letters to Santa are in and the holiday anticipation is in high gear!

December 2
New Christmas movie and hot cocoa are a great way to get into the spirit.

December 3
Thanks to our school principal, we all enjoyed a Christmas festival at the symphony.

December 4
To remind us of the true meaning of the Christmas season we love to watch the LDS Church's First Presidency Christmas Devotional from Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

December 5
The missionaries and us demonstrated our architectural and design prowess in trying to come up with the best gingerbread house ever!

December 6
The women gathered and brought cookies, lots of cookies! The RS Cookie Exchange was a big success and all enjoyed the new creations and traditional masterpieces available.

December 7
The activity for tonight was painting nutcrackers from the dollar store.

December 8
With Bobbi's new folding technique, the snowflakes this year turned out great!  She sewed them together vertically and hung them from the roof and they are ready for the rest of winter.

December 9
Daddy's work children's Christmas party was a blast at the science center (well they all loved it but not necessarily the Santa part)

December 10
To combat the stresses of the season, a little pampering is always welcome.

December 11
A highlight of the season for us was dinner and visiting with our beloved Gehmlich's

December 12
A new adventure for our family is a membership at the YMCA to see a more active, healthy family in 2012 and have lots of fun in the process!

December 13
With free passes in hand we decided to hit the links and improve our short game, it was more like hockey for the young ones but we all had fun.

December 14
Let the Christmas concerts begin! T has been in a singing group since September and they did some single and group songs.  Her solo was well received and wowed the crowd!

December 15
New Christmas storybooks were a fun way to spend the evening.

December 16
Our tradition of spending an evening looking at Christmas lights brought us to the mall downtown to enjoy the glorious Christmas display. It was phenomenal!
December 17
The ward Christmas party was a huge success. TJ sang a solo (Away In A Manger) and all four girls sang "Christmas Bells" together. We are so proud of them and their courage!

December 18
The Cantata was a wonderful success. Lyndon, Bobbi, and TJ were the narrators and had solos as well. The spirit was felt strongly by all who attended, and the Hallelujah chorus at the end was triumphant!

December 19
The girls all did an amazing job at their Christmas concert - "The Xmas Files". TJ was one of the head angels, B was a fantastic Caroler, BB was the smallest and cutest little angel, and JJ was some Christmas lights. Wonderful production!

December 20
Sometimes you need an ice cream treat..even in the winter. Delish!

December 21
Bobbi celebrated her birthday with a night out at a wonderful hotel. The kids joined in the fun at the beginning of the night by playing at the waterpark. Bobbi got to relax in the hotel room that opened right onto the waterpark. Add in a Chinese food dinner and some cold stone ice cream for dessert = a perfect evening!

December 22
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without acting out the Nativity story. We were so grateful to have our friends, the Northcotts, join us. We definitely needed a handsome Joseph, a strapping Wise Man, and their gorgeous little angel to make our Nativity cast complete!
December 23
We celebrate "Christmas Adam" by sleeping in front of the tree. The girls were lucky to have their very own tree to sleep in front of downstairs!
December 24
This photo is actually from Christmas morning, but on Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story and the girls get to open one gift..Pajamas! B's were spot on with guitars all over them.

December 25
Christmas morning was a blur as we opened gifts in Regina, then headed straightway to Calgary to join family for Christmas dinner! It's always a great time when the siblings get together :)

December 26
We all enjoyed our visit to the NEW Spark Science Center! Very state of the art, very cool, very open. I loved it. Lots to explore and lots of fun to be had!

December 27
This photo is coming. I spent a couple of days with my sister, Laurie, and we had too much fun to be legal. Today we laughed SO HARD at the movies that my stomach hurt. I need to do that more often.

December 28
Dinner at a fabulous Chinese Food place with Laurie and Lewis. We always have great conversation and I find out I love them even more after each and every visit!

December 29
Devon spoiled me once again with my second trip up in an airplane. The sunset view was unbelievable, and Lyndon even flew most of the time himself. Thanks for an amazing experience, Dev!

December 30
Never let your brother choose the cards for "Headbanz". Especially if he is playing with his siblings. That's just asking for trouble! I had a fantastic, though too short, visit with Kathy and her amazing family. It was wonderful to see Aaron, too. I miss my family sooo much!

December 31
The East Stake never goes half-way with their celebrations, and the New Year's bash was no different. The decorations were amazing. I wish I could have captured them better. The food was outstanding, and the company was great. Too bad Jules, Erica B., and I took off early to catch Mission Impossible 4!

Last entry for 2011. I know everyone says this, but it seems like time is flying faster each year. I'm grateful to have photos to remind me of what we did, and who we were in 2011. Now it's time to face a brand new year and a brand new start!

11.25.2011

November 2011

New month, new 'do! Let's see if it "grows" on me. Not my favorite at the moment!

November 2, 2011
We attended the funeral of a man we only just met a couple of weeks ago, who died of TB and had little to no family here. It really makes you hug your loved ones a little tighter.

November 3, 2011
The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe.  ~Mark Twain

November 4, 2011
A favorite snack for all of us, except daddy. Not sure what's wrong with him. He's a pickle guy, but can't seem to stomach eating a cuke. That's okay. We'll still keep him.
November 5, 2011
We love having friends who we can mooch off of, especially where guns are concerned. The girls (and, yes, daddy) had a "blast" shooting out near the Howie's place!
November 6, 2011
Sorry little leaf buddy. Winter has reared it's freezing head. Thanks for the color, while it lasted. We'll see you again in, oh, about six months.

November 7, 2011
A fun discovery...Pebbles is a dog MADE for the winter. She absolutely can't get enough of running and playing in the snow. Must be that built-in winter coat :)
November 8, 2011
Our precious little snow angel!
November 9, 2011
The girls all had special singing parts in the school remembrance day assembly. I was one proud momma!
November 10, 2011
A little daddy-daughter-date with the Halls! TJ had an absolute riot and loved spending some special one-on-one time with daddy. What a treat!
November 11, 2011
We headed to the war memorial monument downtown to help the girls show respect to all veterans who offer up their very lives for the freedom of others.
November 12, 2011
Happy birthday, Mr. Elijah! JJ had fun being the only girl at the party...even if things got a little wild :)

November 13, 2011
Oh, BB, I could look into those gorgeous peepers all day. You have your daddy's eyes, you lucky thing! Gorgeous color and full of mischief!
November 14, 2011
Time to officially get out the winter gear and pack away all things Summer and Fall. Boo! Hiss! We won't go quietly!!
November 15, 2011
My latest addiction...solitairre on the iPhone. I have become pretty quick at it and love seeing my name at the top of the leader board for score and time. A fun waste of time!
November 16, 2011
Let the snow sculptures begin. There has to be something good about all of that white stuff all over the back yard.
November 17, 2011
Hooray! It only took 2.5 hours in line, but we made it into the FIRST showing in the city of Breaking Dawn part 1. Best part? Enjoying it with my gorgeous husband!
November 18, 2011
Pebbles is quickly growing into a full blown dog! Though, we are thrilled that she will forever keep that adorable puppy look. We sure love her!
November 19, 2011
Having a bit of fun with a long exposure and a tea light candle. Have I mentioned that I {heart} photography?
November 20, 2011
Perfect representation of our JJ...full of personality, nails painted a bright, fun color, and mouth wide open singing, talking, laughing and doing all things joyful.
November 21, 2011
'Tis the season for doctor's visits. Thankfully this time it was only an earwax build up that needed to be flushed out and not an ear infection. TJ still didn't enjoy the visit :) I didn't enjoy the 2 hour wait!
November 22, 2011
Our first visit to Agribition was MOOvelous! I had no clue just how HUGE some of those bulls are! It was a good time as we got up close and personal with some beautiful bovines!
November 23, 2011
JJ, you are such a card. You just had to lay out your outfit for Western Day at school...3 days early. Yes, we all know how important fashion is to you, my dear...and you do it SO well :)
November 24, 2011
Yee Haw! Western Day at school and my four cowgirls couldn't look any more "western...y" Have a hootin' hollerin' good time!
November 25, 2011
BB was uber excited to have daddy chaperone on her class field trip to the Science Center! Always a LOT to discover there!

November 26
Out shopping on a bright and beautiful morning. I just loving hanging out with JJ. She always makes mornings so much fun.

November 27
In a household with five girls, nailpolish is an absolute MUST have. And if it's bubblegum pink? Even better.

November 28
Family night at the pool is always a huge hit with the kids. We tried a new pool and loved how warm it was! We will definitely be heading back there.

November 29
 TJ entered a drawing/coloring contest with the local paper. We'll wait with fingers crossed to see if her fun snowman wins. Check out the hole in it with the kids peeking through. Cute!

November 30
 Got the NEW Christmas tree up and decorated! We are officially ready for December to begin!