Cousin Kaylee

We got to have  our cousin Kaylee over the other day.  What a little dolly!  I took a few snapshots of her playing and she was too cute.  I loved how she played with the nativity set.  She took very good care of the baby Jesus.  When she asked to play with it she said, "Can I play with this please?  I will be so very careful."  How could you refuse that?

 Don't you love how they are all so close to baby Jesus?  This is how our nativity's should be set up.  Good job Kaylee!

 Focusing on what Christmas is all about.

Christmas at Eaglecrest

This was Brooke's last elementary school program:(  She was one of the three French Hens in the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Check out the nine "ladies" dancing.  Gotta love their spunk!!

Brookie's Gymnastics

Brooke is taking gymnastics this year and they had a parent's camera party.  Yay!  My kind of party!  The girls went to different stations around the gym and we took pics and videos.  She's doing so great.  Way to go Brookie!

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

A great reminder...

Ituma Family

This is my dear friend Kristen.  She and her family are BEAUTIFUL inside and out.  Love, love, love her.  To see more of their family go here.

A Children's Christmas Story

My friend Dana shared this with me and I thought it was delightful!

Oh Christmas Tree

We put our Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving, and I love what happens around it in our front room during the month.  Little gifts start to appear under it... we have family prayer and scriptures around it... we visit... we rush past it to get to the front door and off to school... Sam gave a great Family Home Evening by it and it was after her lesson these pictures were taken.  There's something magical about a Christmas tree (if only it could take itself down...).

S Family Photoshoot

Ok, it is getting cooooold out there!  This cute family was brave though, and you wouldn't know they were freezing!  Can you tell this is Terrence's brother?  Great sports and awesome family.  Thanks for braving the cold guys! To see more go here.

I love this picture.  As I was placing them I asked which one was taller to know where to put them.  They immediately turned and did this...!

It's Coming...

Yippeeeeee!  I got my first Christmas card in the mail a couple of days ago.  I love going to the mailbox this time of year.  It's like visits from old friends.  Terrence and I did some Christmas shopping the other day and put a nice dent in the smaller list we have this year.  As your kids get older, their list get smaller, just the price of each item goes up.  I mean way up.  Cell phones and electronic gadgets are way more expensive than Barbies and Legos.  And what happened to playing Christmas music in the mall?  All I heard was Rap.  I don't know, it's so fast maybe it was Christmas rap and I just didn't get it.

Sadie Hawkins

Sadie Hawkins was Sam's second dance this year.  Their theme was 1920's Clue so they wore t-shirts with 1920 something printed on them.  I love Sam and her fun personality and that when she wants something she goes for it!  Way to make it happen Sam. You're the best!

Candy Shop Wars

Brooke's teacher this year lets them choose how they want to do their book reports each month, and Brooke chose to do a video with her friend Erica.  The book was Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull.  We had fun making it, but the best part was watching her grin and even a little shriek of glee or two while she watched the final product.  It definitely made it all worth it.  She loved it so much she asked if I would put it on my blog so she can watch it whenever she wants.

The Barlow's

I had a fun photo shoot the other day with the Barlow's.  Hey, this is the second family I've done with all boys in the last couple of weeks.  I have one with all girls next week just to shake it up a  little.   If you'd like to see more go here.

Salt Lake Temple Lights

Last year we got to go to California for Thanksgiving, but it put us a little behind for Christmas (not to mention Kacey's broken arm and surgery and Terrence's broken foot... it's all kind of a blur).  So six months ago I wrote on our calendar a few things I really missed and wanted to do this year:  1) put up Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, 2) See the lights at temple square, 3) make caramels!!! and, 4) no broken bones.  So far 3 of the four have happened thanks to Terrence's help.  So glad he's back in commission this year.

We went to temple square last night and ate at Crown Burger (mmmm, Jr. Crown burger...) it was the most beautiful I have ever seen it (the lights, not the burger).  I don't know if it was the "tropical" weather we're having here in Utah this week, that they've expanded it to cover the church office building grounds so we're not like cattle in a crowded pen, or if it's just that I hadn't seen them in so long.  They were spectacular.  I also learned why there were so many tripods there.  I didn't bring mine and you can tell.  You really need one to capture the bright lights in manual without blur, but sometimes it's more important to just capture the shot than have it be "good".  Anyway- it was beautiful.

 I love this floating manger scene on the reflection pool.

 I hope they will always want to be at the temple doors.

 Love Sam, right after this picture she said can we go home now, and every minute after that.  Only the later ones were more like, CAN WE GO HOME NOW?!?

 This house is in Lehi and we probably could've stayed home and just done this.  This kids were mesmerized.  It was like Griswald's Christmas.  I have never seen so many lights on one house in my entire life.  It was synchronized to music and all.

Christmas shopping on Friday.  Ahhhhh.... let the madness begin!