christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!

Lining up for the 'first peak' at the Christmas goodies--a little excited (and giddy), wouldn't you say?

Eli's helicopter was a hit! He even tries to take it to bed with him...but just settles for the 'copter man instead! (a little figurine that 'drives' the 'copter)

With so many favorites to choose from, Millie sure loves her new Webkin, Emma the Elephant.

Natalie looking pretty cute on Christmas morning-

Whew! It was a success! Davis is wearing his Austin Collie jersey daily (or tries), Maren is enjoying all her clothes, make up and shoes...even Roxy got a couple of new dog toys! So we are good for another year!

And this is really what it's all about, isn't it?! Enjoying the little things....

We are so grateful for this time of year as we reflect upon our love for the Savior, our love for one another and our love for our family and friends. We are blessed.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a happy, healthy 2010!

wrapping up 2009

So the reality is...Maren has taken a good portion of the photos that appear on our blog. She is quite good with the camera. This fall she participated in our school's Art Festival (much like the Reflections program). There were several categories of different types of art (painting, writing, photography, drawing, dancing, instrumental, etc.) that followed a theme and students were encouraged to submit their work. Maren submitted a photograph and at the last minute, she drew a picture. Much to her surprise, she won 1st place with the drawing! I'll have to scan it in and post it later. During the week, the kids attended several workshops with guests that specialized in a few of these different areas. The photographer encouraged the participants to submit a photograph using the techniques that she taught. The winner would get a free photo session. So she went to work...Eli was her model.

This just cracked me up. The boy just needed a drink! And it tastes better with one shoe off, I suppose! We all liked this picture best. So she submitted it.

Maren was very pleased that this was the picture that was chosen! She won us, I mean, herself a free photo shoot with a fabulous photographer. In fact, Sanae took our Christmas card picture (our new blog header). Incredible and very talented...both Sanae and Maren!

I just love when our children love each other. Seriously. Isn't that the greatest gift a mother could receive? If they only knew....

Natalie made a little 'cushion fort' for Eli. What is it with kids and cushions? Then she joined him to read him books. Eli thought that was pretty neat. We are so glad that Natalie is becoming such a good reader! Thanks, Natalie, for helping with Eli!

And what could Roxy be so interested in, you ask?

Of course. That boy. Roxy (pronounced "Soxy") knows who she can rely on for a little extra treat! And I am positive that he was 'feeding' Roxy Cherrios and crackers!

So Eli is a bit obsessed with helicopters, airplanes, trains...anything that goes fast and/or flies! For a good 15 minutes or so, he was studying this little toy helicopter. I absolutely love his little fingers and his curiously intent expression on his face. Helicopters--it's serious business.

a boy and his dog...and his helicopter.

december

Maren participated in a weekly social dance class this fall which culminated with their Christmas recital. They danced the swing and all did a fantastic job! It happens that all but one of these cute young people are in our ward. Fun, huh? We are so grateful for this group of kids (and for the others that aren't pictured) that is Maren's age. They have so much fun together. We feel extremely blessed for the ward to which we belong. Our children are surrounded by so many good kids trying to make good choices and being good examples for each other.

Great job to you all!

One of the first snow days...and yes, it was cold, but Davis refuses to put his shorts away!

Eli really enjoys bundling up and playing in the snow. He especially loves 'sledding' with Millie.

'Sledding' didn't last long....it's hard work pulling an almost 2 year old! She was a good sport, though.

Ahh, winter.

she plays

After several years of asking, finally she plays. Natalie began her piano career this last summer and has quite a talent. She brought her Christmas piece home back in September in preparation for this Christmas recital. She had it down (and memorized) in two weeks! She has quite an ear for music. Since she was 4 years old, Natalie can hear a song and figure it out on the piano on her own (ok, mostly just Beethoven's 9th)...and it sounds good. In fact after she memorized her Christmas song, she hardly looked at her music again....which we are working on. She didn't even want to take her music with her to the recital 'just in case.' She did a fabulous job! A natural.

We are so grateful for her teacher, Samantha. She is an amazing pianist/teacher and a wonderful example. Can you believe she is only 17!? Natalie adores her to pieces!

Our little pianist playing "What Child is This"--

Congratualtions, Nat! You worked so hard and did such a fabulous job! Keep practicing! We love you!

another year older-

Five already?!

But she was just this -

And then this -

And then this -

Now she is five years old! It is so fun to see what they have become so far in life, but it is hard when they figure out that they don't 'need' mom and dad quite like they did as a newborn. (of course, we still have several years ahead of us with this little fire cracker!) Millie loves to snuggle, gives awesome bear hugs, kisses me 'just because,' loves our reading books together at bedtime and is constantly busy. She doesn't like any attention on her if she gets hurt (she'll grunt at you), she loves to play with friends - very social, she's an early riser and has become pretty computer savvy. Millie giggles...a lot and is rarely seen walking anywhere! Can you tell that we think this girl is pretty special?

The Christmas Choir Concert was on her birthday, so we celebrated as family earlier in the day and had her first friend party the following week.

Concentrating hard before the big blow -

Millie and her cute bunch of girlfriends.

Me and Millie on her big day-

Happy Birthday, Millie Moo! We sure love you to the moon and back!

'sing, choirs of angels...'

This year all 3 of our girls participated in the children's choir. It was such a sweet concert...truly a choir of angels. All dressed in white choir robes, the children's (and young ladies) voices sounded especially beautiful in the Tabernacle. This is Millie's first year participating in the choir. Some days were better than others when it came to going to the practices (playing with friends always sounds so much more appealing!). But she ended up enjoying the concert and did a wonderful job!

Such a sweet smile.

And Natalie counts down the days for 'choir day.' She LOVES it and has a beautiful voice to prove. She did a fabulous job, as well!

Ahh, Maren. This girl was born singing with a perfert-pitch singing voice. As always, she did a great job! She is quite a talented singer! This year she has been helping with the young singers, which is Millie's group.

Thank you, girls, for a wonderful concert to set the tone of this Christmas season! We are so proud of each of you!

Pre-Summer BBQ

I just came across these pictures from a get-together way back in May with some our dearest friends. It had all the feeling of being far away in a canyon--a running stream, wide-open spaces, a fire to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, logs to sit on by the fire and the smell of smoke in our hair and on our clothes. But we were just steps away from all the conveniences of home!

And Eli just loved those wide-open spaces!

We really did have dinner before Natalie enjoyed this smore...but doesn't she make it look so good!

A leash for Eli would have been helpful. He was very interested in the fire. Dad had one hand on Eli's shorts and one hand helping Millie roast her marshmallows.

Natalie was trying to avoid the smoke while roasting...

Alan giving Davis some roasting pointers, I'm sure.

We sure love the Bailey and Butters families. We really need to do this more often! Thanks Bailey family for inviting us to your beautiful outdoor retreat!

halloween 2009

Now that it's almost December....I thought that I had better hurry and document Halloween! Usually it begins with a morning of getting costumes ready for school, school parades and parties, then home for a few hours just to do it all over again. But with Halloween falling on a Saturday, it really made the day a lot less hectic. We filled our bellies with warm chili and rolls before heading out to fill it with junk!

Here is our very own nerd and ninja...

And our hula dancer and cute little witch...

Can't forget the carved pumpkin! Notice the singular word 'pumpkin'...just didn't happen for all of us to carve one this year, and I'm way past the guilt! But, man oh man, Eli LOVED 'helping' daddy!

We tried and tried to get that cheetah costume on Eli. But to no avail, he ended up in his moose pj's. Cute as a button and ready for bed when we were done! He really caught on to the whole 'ring-the-doorbell-and-get-candy' thing!

For being Eli's first real Halloween, I failed in the photography department. But again...no guilt. All in all, we had a great Halloween!

ready or not!

It's snowing outside and it's only October! But I must confess...I do like it! Not the mess that it brings into the house and car, not the on and off of snow clothes multiple times a day (really), not the ferocious wind that usually accompanies the storms, but the crispness of the air (ok, sometimes down right bone-chilling), wearing sweaters and jeans, hot chocolate, the coziness of being indoors when it is too cold to be outside (again, ask me in a couple of months how I feel), and the beauty of fresh fallen snow - nothing like it.

I admit, I think before Halloween is a bit early for this white stuff. I was still enjoying the fall foliage.

But it's here -

And so are the snow clothes! Millie was so excited to get all bundled up (only twice yesterday) to eat some fresh snow!

But with our Fall/Halloween decor in place, our spiders dangling around the kitchen and all the costumes ready for use, we are ready for this eventful time of year - even if it means snow!

Eli frequents the table and countertop in order to get a closer look at our 'piders. He gets very excited about these little guys.

Kissing the 'pider.

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!