Water...I Need Water.

Last week we were lounging on the driveway.  Then March decided to bring winter again. Our neighbor, Keith Jensen, captured this cool picture of Maya.

We also had a special visit from Grandpa Wiemers at Thanksgiving.  The cousins loved being together, and I think it is safe to say that Maya and Ellie stole the show.

Christmas Traditions

The more people in the Nativity play the more fun!  We get a little crazy with costumes and parts.  Not shown is me playing the innkeeper, Maddie playing the inn security guard (because she was at the time a security guard for the Gateway Mall), and Collin playing the guy who tried to sneak into the already-full inn, but was thrown out by Maddie right before Joseph asked if there was any room in the inn.  

 India and Maya were princesess (not angels) for the Nativity play.

 David the shepherd.

 With his trusty sheepdog, Apollo.

 Jared, the wise guy.

 Nathanael, the wise guy.

 Ammon the narrator and Maya the princess.

Princesses and shepherds visiting Baby Jesus (Wesley in my Mom's crib when she was a baby!) and Mary and Joseph (Josie and Bryce).

 The 2 wise guys and Waldo tag-along played by Brittany.
Rachel as King Herod in the background.

 Christmas Day!

 Bryce, Josie and Wesley

Cutest family photo ever.

 Following the footsteps of his dad.

 India loving the Real Salt Lake jacket she got from Daddy.

 Humongous pillow pet #1 - major hit.

 Humongous pillow pet #2 - major hit again!  

Apparently, I gave the girls the wrong colors.  

India is usually our pink girl, and Maya is our purple girl.

Visit from Grandpa and Grandma Parker.  And lots of Garey aunts and uncles visiting!

These girls are so goofy.

Holiday Catch Up

 Santa's chair at the rec center.

 Thanksgiving at the Reed home.  It was amazing.

Cousins!

 Collin and David trying pickled herring for the first time.  

What?  Two thumbs up?  

Traitors.

Wiemers tradition - pickled herring.  

It hasn't picked up among the other in-laws yet, I mean, ever.

 The girl likes sushi and pickled herring.  Definitely a Wiemers.

 Ammon's "I can't believe you won't even try it" face.

  

 These punks - the Reids - at Temple Square.

Not pictured is us at a shady, downtown McDonald's drinking something called but not similar in taste to hot chocolate.  

 Fun nativity scenes at Temple Square.

 Baby Gabey.

  

 Maya called this lantern at Temple Square, Leo the Lion who is the mascot of Real Salt Lake.  

She makes her daddy so proud.

Heck yeah, we fit over twenty people in our kitchen for Christmas dinner.

Wind Storm

Also back in December, we had quite the blustery day.  The power went out (boo), but India got out of school for two days!  There were lots of blown down trees, signs, shingles, fences, etc.  That weekend we only had one hour of church and spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up our neighborhoods!!! So fun! Many park and church parking lots were full of debris that was later taken to the dump.

First Piano Recital

India played "Hand Bells" and did a super job!  The sound isn't super on this yellow baby grand, but I LOVE the color.

Before Bed

The girls get a little crazy and like to wrestle daddy.

They always end up in tears, yet continue to beg for more crazy time with Ammon!

Walks with Maya and Wesley (my nephew)

We use our aprons more for painting than cooking.

 

I adore kid art.  I love it on the fridge, on the bulletin board, on the sidewalk  - not so much on walls and skin.

Valentine's Day

I have gotten out of the habit of making a big deal out of holidays.   But I made a great come-back.  I thought it would  be funny to decorate in black and white and broken hearts for Valentine's Day.  The girls got a new poem book by Shel Silverstein - their favorite poet!  Ammon replaced my phone I dropped in the toilet, and I got him got some schmancy stuff.   We played Valentine Tic Tac Toe and had a fondue dinner and dessert the next night since he was in class.