New Year's Eve 2009

Our kids all had other plans for New Year's Eve so Jeff and I decided to go see "Savior of the World" at Temple Square. It was a fun date.


The girls seeing us off. Love this picture of the three of them.

Waiting for the show to start. The Christmas decorations were beautiful inside the conference center.

Temple Square 2009

For so many years I wanted to see Temple Square at Christmas time. Now, I have that opportunity every year and wouldn't miss it. It is beautiful. Can there be a better place to be at Christmas time? As we were entering Temple Square, the nativity story was playing over head with beautiful music and thoughts from President Monson at the end. It was a neat way to listen to the story.

 

Behind the kids are the shepherd's. The light is on the Shepherd's as they were being mentioned in the story. I loved at least a part of the nativity behind the kids with the Christus above them in the background.

It means so much more to come to the Salt Lake Temple with my family since this is the temple Jeff and I were sealed in.
Look how we have been blessed since we were sealed here almost 18 years ago.

Sitting in front of where our story began.

Madi having fun with the camera

Love this cute picture of the girls with the lights behind them.

 

Beautiful

 

Christmas Morning 2009

There is no morning more looked forward to than Christmas morning no matter what age you are.

What the kids saw Christmas morning as they were coming down the stairs.

First peek

Taylor found her present from Santa

Madi and Mikayla opened their present from Kenny. He was so cute, he didn't know what to get them. I think he found the right gift because the girls really liked it.

A date with THE Kenny Ballard

If you look at the very fine print it says, "Transportation not included". Kenny doesn't have his license yet.

 

Gift from mom and dad

When Emma opened this present Jeff wrapped this is what we found written on the box.

 

Who wouldn't want a doll that poops and pees? 

 

 Her first I-pod

 

Jeffrey and his presents

Taylor's cute bunny, Flopsy

Twinzies. Everyone says she is the spitting image of me(I don't see it, she is much prettier). More people say we look alike, and maybe we do, than she and Madi look alike.

 

Madi and her new glasses - non prescription, just for fun

 

My present from Jeff. Starbucks hot chocolate

Christmas Eve 2009

Christmas Eve is always a special night. It is the night where we spend time together as a family relaxing, playing games and eating. Everyone gets to open one present Christmas Eve after winning a round of bingo(or in the case this year...21) and we close the night more reverently by reading of the Savior's birth and a short movie on His birth.

We love doing puzzles at Christmastime

Madi blessing us with her talent and playing beautiful Christmas music on the piano.

                                           Kenny was our special guest for part of the evening.

We all choose what to add to our Christmas Eve feast. It is not usually our healthiest meal.This year it was crab, shrimp pasta, spinach dip, cheese ball and crackers, cookies, fudge and rocky road - oh and some carrots.

Time to open up presents from each other. Taylor got make-up from Mikayla.

Emma got Webkins from Jeffrey

Mikayla got that thing that rubs off hair from Olivia.

Olivia got jewelry from Madison.

Jeffrey got a Wii game from Taylor.

Madi got a $15 gift card for I-Tunes from Emma.

Finally, after a scripture story and the short movie "O Holy Night" the kids are all nestled all snug in their beds in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there. It is tradition that they all sleep in the same room Christmas Eve.

Christmas Sunday

Christmas Sunday is one of my favorite days. This year it was the first day I was finally able to feel the spirit of Christmas. We went to church and had a beautiful program in sacrament meeting. Jeff, Emma and I were all in the choir this year which was fun. We came home and Olivia and I made treats while Emma read Christmas books to Jeff. Then we all gathered in the family room to watch a movie together. To end the night we had friends drop by to visit. As we were gathering for prayer and scriptures that night, I mentioned to the kids how I really felt the true spirit of Christmas that day and it was because of the feelings felt while talking of and singing about Christ in church and then bringing that spirit home with us. What was neat was they could all feel it too and they recognized they could feel it because it was a more Chirst centered day. It was a beautiful day.

Christmas - Time Fun

I am not sure why, but I decided I would work over Christmas break at Deseret Book. As it got closer to Christmas and life got busier, I felt like I was missing out on a lot at home with the kids.Thankfully, Jeff was able to be home for the kids a lot while I was gone. He was a great help and was doing what he could so that I could enjoy the holiday and feel the spirit of it as much as possible. I told him my favorite part of this job was when he would drive me in and pick me up just because and when he would come in to visit me because he missed me. He was cute and I love him even more for it.

Not that I don't take pictures anyway of things we do, but this time I wanted to get pictures so that I could remember what we were able to do together this Christmas even though I wasn't around as much as I would have liked to have been.

Every year the kids choose a siblings name to buy a present for(they all agreed they could get a better present if they only had to buy for one). They love it and it is now the present that gets opened Christmas Eve instead of the pajamas from mom and dad. Here they all are heading in to Target.

We have a brand new tradition thanks to Cherie Bakow. We started a twelve days of Christmas books( although Cherie does one for every day in December). I wrapped up the books and each night a child was able to open one. That child would then read that Christmas book to us. This is Madi reading Red-Headed Robbies Christmas Story to us - love this book.


Annual gingerbread house decorating


Madi's photo fun


We went to the Davis girls basketball alumni game. Gerald is a wealthy local man who does a lot for the basketball team. he puts on this fun day full of food, presents for everyone and of course the alumni game.

The girls at the game with just a few presents so far.


Madi and friends

one present table


lunch at the game


Gerald gave all the B.B. girls a Snuggie.


Since we live so far from friends and family now, we have to start new traditions. This new one is going to see the latest Christmas movie on "Christmas Adam"(the day before Christmas Eve). We saw The Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey. It was very well done.


My girls did a lot a baking for me while I was gone. On this day they made, peanut butter kiss cookies, fudge and rocky road. I guess this picture isn't something we did together but I wish it was.