Gingerbread Houses!

Every Christmas season we have a tradition making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers.  This year was no exception.  Brian bought all the goodies to decorate the houses.  It took a lot of restraint for the kids not to load their houses to the brim with candy mistakenly thinking that they could eat all of it.  After we were done and took pictures they had about 5 minutes to eat and then we put them away.  The kids had a wonderful time.

Trip To Billings to See Grandma

I had a wild idea to take the kids to Billings in the middle of winter.  We hadn't been there for almost 2 years so I decided to just go.  Against Grandma's advice we started out going the Yellowstone Park way.  About an hour north the blizzard was so bad I couldn't see five feet in front of me or to the sides.  We were forced to turn back.  But, we didn't let that stop us.  We went a different route through Dillon, MT.  It added about 2 hours to our trip but the 9 hours in the car was well worth it.  We had a wonderful time hanging out at Grandma's. 

Violin and Piano Recital

Laurie and Megan take violin (and piano for a very short time) from Joanna Lords.  She is excellent with the girls.  They are so talented musically.  I could not be prouder of the progress they've made.

Enjoying Cold Autumn Days

This was one of the very first snowfalls of the year.  Michael loves the snow!  He keeps saying, "Side!  Side!" because he wants me to take him outside.  He is so much fun!

Michael's favorite and most used word is "CAR!"

Princess Hannah with her sidekick Ariel.

On cold winter days playing a good ol' game of chess is so enjoyable and satisfying.  We've pulled out quite a few board games already and Laurie (10) is at a fun age to play most games.

This was a once in a lifetime event!  All five of my kids in close proximity for an extended period of time NOT FIGHTING!!! Hurah!  Even Michael was enjoying "Little House on the Prairie."  Sorry Michael.  Five girls in the family.  :)

Rachel and Hannah and Michael are dancing to Christmas music.  They are excited every year to get out the Christmas tree and all the decorations.  Every year they each get a brand new ornament.  Nothing can contain the raw exuberance of children.  I love it!

Rachel found a new private spot to read her stack of fairy library books and Illustrated Stories of the Book of Mormon.  She is a voracious reader at 6 years old.  Her primary teachers (every single one independently) have always told me how smart she is.

Hannah playing "Littlest Pet Shop"--and Ariel of course!

Thanksgiving in Island Park

Brian invited us to all go up to Frank's cabin for Thanksgiving.  It wasn't a "cabin" at all.  More like a lodge/hotel.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  And the blizzard we had received that week gave us a winter wonderland.  Six antelope escorted the way up to the cabin for about 10 miles.  We saw coyotes, a rabbit, and a porcupine too!  It was a memorable Thanksgiving.

Laurie and Megan found the loft in my bedroom.  It became their "Hide-out" where they ravaged their Harry Potter books. 

Rachel FINALLY lost her front tooth.  Well, maybe "lost" isn't the right word.  Mom gave it a nice little tug and out it popped.  :)  She's so darling without any front teeth.  She will be singing the song, "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth." :)

After a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast we all got bundled up to go outside in the FREEZING weather. 

Megan LOVIN' it!  :)

Hannah's first time being pulled behind a snowmobile.

Hannah was so adorable in her little fairy outfit watching Toy Story 3.  Good times!


I always like to make my own Thanksgiving Feast even if we are going somewhere else for Thanksgiving.  So, two days before we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at home.  It turned out really nice because Brian was able to celebrate it with Connor and Rocky.  We had seven exuberant children enjoying a yummy dinner.  Following Thanksgiving tradtion we each wrote something we were thankful for about each person in our family and passed the box around the table while we read them aloud.  It was a wonderful time sharing this day with Brian and the boys.