Christmas

The BIG present...Playmobil Zoo...the kids loved it!

Adam reading The Chronicles of Narnia to Grace in his new hat.

Liam and his rescue helicopter.

Cute Claire...eating chocolate probably. We had enough of it lying around!

Luke with Dragonoid Colossus and lovely Grace

Super goes shopping at the zoo...this bird is hilarious. I highly recommend a bird for a first pet. Very low maintenance.

Claire LOVED her baby dolls...all three!

Grace in her new jammies

Twas the Night Before Christmas- 3rd Grade Play

This year Luke told me he was going to try out for the 3rd grade play, Twas the Night Before Christmas. This was in passing one day at home. I said "Oh that sounds like fun." Luke said he was trying out for the part of the villain. The villain in Twas the Night Before Christmas? Apparently the Abominable Snowman and one of the elves are the villains in this play. Anyway, a while later, Luke comes home all mad because he didn't get the part. He plops down this script that says Santa on the front. "You got the part of Santa Claus in the Christmas play? That's great!" Not so much. He was mad because he didn't get to be a villain. And he said he wasn't going to do it. And since I am trying to let my kids take more responsibility I said "So what are you going to do about it?" He said "I'm going to tell my teacher I don't want to do it!" to which I replied "Then what do you think will happen?" and he said "I'll still have to do it because she won't let me not do it!" Which was great because I didn't have to be the nag saying that he had to do it. After a few days he got more excited and then he was fine.

He has such a great memory so he had no trouble learning the lines. I was one proud mama. The first time they did the play he was so nervous he didn't want to go to school. Then after that they did it 2 more times and he was great. I was seriously crying I was so proud of him. I would have never have done anything like that when I was in 3rd grade, I probably wouldn't do it now that I am an adult. Great job Luke!

Luke and his partner in the dance number. This was one of my favorite parts. He had this look of extreme boredom on his face the entire time, despite knowing all the moves. It was so funny.

Delivering his lines!

Luke and Elijah, best buds and partners in Christmas shenanigans.

Santa and Mrs. Claus

Santa

Well (one of) my New Year's Resolutions was to try and keep updated on the blog. We go through our busy times and not so busy times. Actually we don't really have not so busy times...maybe I should say our crazy times and our busy times. I have lots of pictures from December I hope to get up in the next few days. Starting with the wonderful Santa who comes to the top of the mountain every year. Last year Claire had no idea what was going on and I don't even think she actually SAW Santa before we quickly plunked her down for a photo. This year was a little different...



And Grace was having none of it either, she chose to make a craft instead, one of her favorite things to do anyway. Oh well. I am picking my battles this year...BRING IT ON!

Moments of Thanksgiving

Say Say Oh Playmate

I wonder where she gets this face from?

Love the Daddy

Learning something new from big brother

Hey wait Grandpa I don't have lots of hair to begin with!

Always reading

Grandma Joyce shows me how to cut Grace's hair...I might try it next time if I feel lucky.

Singing in Payson

Me and Adam

Halloween!

Luke and his friend J at the school Halloween parade.

Grace as a vampire! I think she was the scariest one in her class.

Dragon Seth and Vampire Liam

Grace decided to be a witch on Halloween after receiving a witches hat and dress from our nice neighbor. She is still beautiful even with ugly witch makeup on. I tried to get her to have a big wart on her nose but she wouldn't do it. It looked so real!

Okay I thought this picture was stretched length wise at first but really my kids are just tall and skinny! Love those costumes!

Surprised! I don't think anyone got it, oh well, better luck next year. I thought it was funny anyway.

Carving Pumpkins

I love these pictures of Adam and the kids...he always has so much fun with them. Here he is carving his pumpkin and cackling up a storm.

Getting gooey...

Grace looks like she scared to death. This was part of my Halloween outfit, I wore it like 4 times that week...school and preschool parties and parades oh my!

Liam wanted to carve his own, it turned out awesome!

Mom's, Liam's

Luke's, Grace's, Adam's

I taught Luke how to carve just the outside skin off and let the light shine orange, he was carving up a storm. We all laughed because this is supposed to say Boo! but instead looks like Boob. We fixed it before the innocent neighborhood children arrived on Halloween night.

Twirling

Spring '06...Itty Bitty Ball

Fall '10...Conference Weekend

Just have to put this on here for posterity....whenever Luke's hair gets long enough he starts to twirl...must run in the family. I know several relations with hair fetishes, or at least they did when they were young...Eli, Marylinn, Kyle...am I missing anyone?

My Luke is Growing Up...and I Do Mean Up

Luke is 9! I can't believe it. Of course he was 9 three weeks ago, but here are the pictures. He is getting so big. He is a total smarty pants, gets excellent grades and still draws and reads like crazy. He is also the tallest in his class. He is playing Santa in the 3rd grade production of "The Night Before Christmas". We are so proud of him, he is such a good boy. Happy Birthday Luke!
This, in case you wanted to know, is an Azurill Pokemon Cake. Because it's all the rage, or at least it is with Luke. Also I made him choose the easiest Pokemon to make since I had to do it from scratch. In our family you have to quick and hurry and take a picture of the cake before someone decides to rake their fingers through it or sit on it, either one will do. It turned out pretty good I think. Strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting as per Luke's request. Yum. His friends came over the next day and polished it off, thank goodness!

Luke got this sweet Utes hat from Aunt Peggy.

Luke and Scott celebrating together

Grandma Linny, Luke and Adam...with Legos of course. What else?

Luke with Great Grandma Wanda. She really is Great!

Details

Luke has always been very detailed when it comes to artistic things...and still is. He bought this Etch a Sketch out of the chore store, it's a little one, maybe 4x5 or something close to that. He came to me later to show me his campfire scene. I am amazed. Click on the picture to get a closer view of the details. He is very talented.