I remember receiving new pajamas every Christmas Eve.

I also remember my mom making my sister Dede and I nightgowns to match our dolls for Christmas.

My girls wanted dolls for Christmas this year.

I thought it would be SO FUN to make them nightgown with little matching nightgowns for their dolls.

Well, it just the thought of the project started to feel overwhelming for me.

My friend Mi'Chelle stepped in...

and SAVED THE DAY!

They are so beautiful

My pictures don't do them justice!

The girls love them...

and so do Julie, Kit and Lizzie!

THANK YOU Mi'Chelle!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve~

We enjoyed...

gift giving to friends (nothing like the last minute)

a birthday lunch with Ethan and Asher...cute babies born last year on Christmas day!

shopping with Nana and Annie for Nana's house

delivering baskets to Viola and Miss Rice

our annual tradition of lights on Temple Square

dinner at home (sourdough grilled cheese with homemade tomato soup)

singing Christmas songs with Annie and the girl's accompaniment

opening up the first Christmas gifts (new pjs)

Annie leading the girls in deep breathing/yoga...they were bouncing off the walls!
reading the Christmas story together on the couch

the girls having a sleepover in Ellie's bed

the days before Christmas

filled with tradition

brimming with anticipation

family together

home with twinkling lights and a warm fire

the days before Christmas are among my very favorite of the year.

tonight as we gathered together as family---

poised for a game night,

my brother (who lives in AZ) walked in the front door with his family.

they were so quiet (or we were so noisy)

that i didn't notice until my cute nephew said,

"hi guys!"

i looked down in surprise.

they had told us they weren't coming.

to have us all together---

is more than i anticipated~

i am still grinning from ear to ear.

her majesty

There is a rule that we have in our house...

that Danny and I are able enforce as well as any other rule (not very well).

we only eat in the kitchen...or dining room

I walked down the hall to help Sophie get ready for the day,

I had just heard her stirring.

There she was.

In bed.

With a bowl of oatmeal and a spoon in her hand.

Kate came up quickly.

"Mom, she was really hungry and didn't want to leave her bed for breakfast."

she said in an empathetic and compassionate voice.

What a sweet sister...spoiling lil' Sophie.

They are all so lucky to have each other. 

to give

i saw this here and it sure put this beautiful season of giving in perspective. there is so much more that is possible...the joy of giving~

in a snow storm

I think this might be one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken...

I broke two of my STRICT rules...

1.  never shoot portraits in a snow storm

2.  never shoot when it is 10 degrees outside

I normally would have cancelled the shoot...

but they were flying out the next day...

and I knew it would be fun.

I was worried about the snow disrupting the images....

but I actually like it.

a lot.

It is nice to have one less rule to worry about :)

p.s.  Aren't they a beautiful couple!?  They are really great people too :)

two people~ in love.

i have a project to finish today...

it is full of a few favorite things

sparklers

big red balloons

twinkling lights

falling snow...

and two people~

in love.

sent to the classroom without recess- or NOT

 
A few months ago, my friend John shared a post on Google Buzz.  The picture was interesting...and then I read the contents.  I thought I might be sick.  (If you like chicken nuggets and want to keep eating them...DO NOT PROCEED!)  See info here if you are brave.  My girls and I enjoy nutrition conversations frequently...so I decided to show them.  I read a few details...and now they know what chicken nuggets are made of.  What has come from this added knowledge?  TROUBLE!

A few weeks later....Sophie was at preschool.  Her teacher asked what she was thankful for.  She wrote each item on a construction paper feather to complete an adorable turkey.  One of Sophie's items was "chicken" (which she will never eat by the way) and then she added "BUT NOT CHICKEN NUGGETS!"  Her teacher (we love you Brittany) wrote the whole thing down...and I thought it was really funny.

Kate came home from school yesterday, happy about the day!  She was relating her day to me and then remembered---lunchtime.  She told me she was sitting in the cafeteria with friends.  One of the boys was eating a chicken patty sandwich from the cafeteria.  Kate informed him matter-of-factly, "There are chicken eyeballs in your sandwich."  Kate described the rest of the conversation this way---
"False!"
"True."
"False!"
"True."
"False!"
(now a few of Kate's friends chime in with her...)
"True!"
The boy proceeded to threaten telling the lunch duty.
He did.
Kate got sent to the classroom.
No recess.

She was trying to save the poor boy!  :)  Wouldn't you want to know if you were eating chicken eyeballs!?

Danny's advice- ignorance is bliss.

UPDATE:  This story was fabricated.   At the dinner table tonight she "fessed up."  Kate DID have this discussion with a classmate.  He DID tell on her.  HOWEVER she DID NOT get sent back to her classroom.  I guess the story was much better in her mind...with a few extra dramatics.  Oh NO!  What are we in for!?

picture Kate with homemade play dough, originally taken Dec. 2009