Christmas 2010

Just a quick run down on our Christmas 2010. We were so grateful to the Bean family for inviting us over to share Christmas Eve dinner and games together! I am so sad to have not gotten even one picture. (I have not been so good at that lately.) But it was memorable... decked out with Christmas china and chargers, delicious ham and pretzel salad (a must) and homemade buttermilk and banana cream pies! Ending with some games and the Luke 2 nativity and Christmas hymns. It was a wonderful Christmas Eve.

We arrived home to the begging of opening the traditional gifts of the pjs. They were SO excited about getting to bed... just getting to bed, not necessarily going to sleep. But I managed to get them to take a picture. Not sure about why Millie has silly putty hanging across her nose and Davis looking so serious...

For some reason, the kids seem to think it is a tradition to sleep all together in Davis' room. Millie opted for our bedroom floor and of course, Eli was just as happy to be in his own crib. However, it is tradition to line up in the hallway youngest to oldest before entering the family room with the tree and goodies. So here they are chompin' at the bit to start the show!

Eli was super happy about his dump truck and front loader. And don't tell him differently because he knows!

Natalie's dreams came true with the lap harp that was always on the top of any list -

And Millie's dream (for a year now) was a ukulele - she's pretty happy about it too!

We thought that Eli would get a lot of use of what Dennis and I remember as 'Sock and Bop It'. Remember? It's already got a hole in it. It did last a few days though.

Now I just need to brag a bit about THE best husband in the world. Usually we either know what we are getting each other (like his new float tube - how could I ever really know what to get when it comes to fly-fishing gear?) But Dennis really surprised me this year with this gift. When I began this blog, it has been my intention to print it in hardcover form from year to year. Thus, a tangilbe documentation of our family life. For months, I have been putting it off because it takes a lot of time (I know because I have started doing it a couple of different times). Unbeknownst to me, Dennis completely came up with this idea on his very own and began the transfer a couple of months ago. And it did indeed take A LOT of time... I was teary as I opened it and realized what it was. I think he wins BEST HUSBAND OF THE YEAR! Of course, he wins that all year long, every year.

Thank you sweetie! Now can this be your job from now on? I mean, since you know how to do it and all... and so well!

As Christmas approached, I asked the kids the ususal question, "What do you want for Christmas?" When only one or two things came out of their mouths and then an obvious struggle to think of other things they could possibly want (mostly due to a recently aired commercial), we took that to mean that they really didn't need much (which we knew already). So we decided to focus our efforts this coming year on planned family outings. After explaining our plan, we surprised them with the 12 months of Christmas - we had 12 envelopes on the tree that had the month and what was planned for that particular month. For January, we are all going to a BYU Basketball game. The following months include sledding at Soldier Hollow, out to breakfast, a trip to the Church History Museum by way of TRAX, bowling, hiking the 'Y', fun at Seven Peaks, an outing to the canyon, Clarke Planetarium, corn maze and pumpkin patch, a trip to Color Me Mine, and a delicious dinner and Temple Square Lights. So there you go... It should be fun to have something specific to look forward to each month to do together. I'm hoping that this will become our new tradition.

It was a beautiful Christmas season as we spent time together remembering how richly blessed we truly are. It is our family and our relationships that matter most.

So from our happy home to yours, we hope you had a Merry Christmas and wish you hope and love in the coming year.

December Happenings

It has been a couple of years since our family visited Temple Square during the holidays to enjoy the beautiful lights. In looking at the upcoming week of weather (because I can not fight the crowds and freeze my tail off), we decided to make it our Monday night Family Home Evening avtivity - joining thousands of others with the exact same idea! Parking was no small feat. But Dennis has skills! However, we did forget the stroller.

Eli spent most of his time on Dennis' shoulders. Dennis' ears and hair suffered greatly and he is saying that this does not need to be an every year activity. He may have a change of heart when the 2011 Christmas season is underway. We'll see...

The girlies -

The handsome boys - notice Eli already scoping out his next move.

Ah, now that's it. Just me and my man - however, just for a moment because we lost Eli for about 3 minutes right after the picture.

The lights were beautiful and the spirit of Christmas filled our hearts as we walked these sacred grounds of the temple. It was a wonderful reminder of what we really celebrate this time of year - to reflect on the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We attended Maren's SSA choir performance at the Provo Tabernacle. It was a wonderful concert as always.

This picture of the girls turned out blurry, but I just loved how they looked with the other instrumentalists and the organ pipes above them. It is such a beautiful building. This blurry picture means more to me now that the Tabernacle is gone. Just a week after this concert, the Provo Tabernacle burned and was gutted by fire.

We have enjoyed several concerts in this beautiful building and feel blessed to have been able to have done so. But I am sad to see this part of Provo's history gone.

I thought that this was pretty amazing. This picture of the Savior's Second Coming hung in the foyer of the Tabernacle and was found among the debris completely charred except the Savior. Just looking at it gives me chills.

Earlier in the month, I attended Natalie's activity day outing (church group of girls ages 8-10) to Temple Square. The sister missionaries gave us a tour of the grounds and visitor's center and we watched the movie 'Luke 2.' We went to the Church Museum of History and Art. We enjoyed seeing some Christmas art on display. One was especially impressive - Brian Kershisnik's Nativity.

Don't mind Natalie - she wasn't really into the picture taking thing that morning. But isn't it a darling group of girls.

Natalie perked up a bit as I let her take some pictures with my camera. Not a bad shot, Natalie.

The girls really wanted to touch the temple. So here they are nearly hugging the temple! And now Natalie is smiling! I was so glad to have gone with this cute group of girls and their magnificent leaders. It was such a contrast with our hustle bustle evening to see the lights. The morning was brisk and clear and I believe we almost had the entire Temple Square to ourselves! It was a beautiful way to start any day!

One of our first snowstorms. Millie was anxious to get out and build a snowman! She did it all by herself!

Maren was cheerful enough to help out our elderly neighbors with their driveway. Eli took his trucks over to help out as well.

The finished product - ok, his face is a bit pitiful. I need to keep some bigger carrots on hand (no baby carrot noses from now on) and a bag full of rocks for eyes and a mouth. But the size of the snowman is impressive for a 6 year old, don't you think?

*Note: Eli did do his boy thing and karate chopped the snowman down not long after this picture. Millie was sad for a few minutes. But all is well - we have another foot of fresh snow today to build another one! :)

Birthdays

Before I can really move on to posting about our wonderful Christmas, I have got to catch up some very important happenings that occured at our house over the past few months.

Davis turned the big 1-2 back in September! It was the craziest of days that began with a soccer game 45 minutes away first thing in the morning. And having been still in the middle of our flooded basement renovation (more on that in a moment), the party thing was not happening. One of his birthday wishes was to have a birthday breakfast at IHOP. So we invited his friend, Bryson, to join us before they both had to be a the soccer game. He thought that was fun. And I hope that this day was special for him despite the juggling of a million things that needed to happen.

The next day he was able to be ordained to the office of Deacon by his dad. I am so thankful to now have two priesthood holders in our home. Davis takes this pretty seriously (as he should) and does a fantastic job at passing the sacrament, collecting fast offering and going early to set up chairs.

He is such an outstanding young man and I am so happy to be his mother. He is always so willing to do what is asked of him and does it cheerfully. He is a blessing to our family.

Happy 12th Birthday son! We love you!

Now on to our happy Marensita! She celebrated her 15th birthday in October! Dennis and I took her to a restaurant of her choice - Rodizio Grill - in celebration. It was so fun to be with just her... because it was all about her. She likes that. And she should... especially on her birthday, right? Maren is such a good girl. She knows what's right and she's never shy about doing it. She fills our home with her beautiful singing voice. She is very kind to let Eli play with her new iPod Touch - even when he sneaks into her room, climbs under her sheets so she won't suspect a thing, and plays the games on it - he really knows how to work that thing! Maren is always up for any kind of outing and she loves to watch chick flicks and sometimes I can even stay up long enough to join her! We sure love that Maren of ours! Happy 15th Birthday sweetie!

Millie has been asking when will she lose her first tooth. My answer was "about when you're 5''. As her 6th birthday approached, she was getting worried and I explained that it's different for everybody, but I bet that it would be in kindergarten. She finally lost her first tooth just days before her birthday. Whew!

She was very excited to have a "friend party" this year. And although we usually stick to the every-other-year stragedy for parties (her 5th was a friend party as well), it is her kindergarten year and it ended up being a very low-key, but super fun party! We decorated the treat bags with a Santa made from their hand prints, played some inside games, presents, cake and ended with a snowman pinata.

We are so grateful to have so many little friends in just our neighborhood/ward that are such good kids.

Millie was being silly waiting for the stick and her turn to whack the snowman.

We love this little fire ball of energy! Millie has such a creative imagination and a contagious laugh. She has quite a little booty shake and very good rhythm. Millie loves to snuggle and I love it when she does! She loves, loves, loves to play outside, but can be very well entertained being inside - preferably in her pj's. She will often come home from school, eat a little lunch and put her pj's on! We sure love our little monkey! She makes our home fun. Happy 6th Birthday Millie Moo!

let's back track a bit...

Way back in September we took a trip to "This is the Place - Heritage Park" while the Mills were visiting. It was a beautiful and somewhat clear day. And this visit we timed it just perfect as there were many activities to do and everyone was in costume. We haven't had such luck in the past so this was a treat.

I really do have good intentions - bringing the camera and all. And even getting it out! But I do not have one picture with everyone in it. Darn it.

But here we go...

The train ride was a hit for the small and not so small alike! Eli was patiently waiting his turn as he watched the bigger kids take their turn.

If we only had big fields to plow and harvest (nope, not even an itty bitty garden here), Millie would make a great little worker! Even then, she is a pretty good worker around the house.

And Eli - now he had a job to do and took it very seriously! With some help from Dad...

Millie and Natalie decided that they were grateful for washing machines! Me too.

Maren took a whirl around on those stilts. They are not as easy as it looks. But she got the hang of it.

As did Uncle Michael-

Now it was Eli's turn (he's the caboose with Dad).

We had such a great day and were so glad to have shared it with the Mills!