Christmas Greeting

We Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

10 things we are thankful for from 2008

1. Taryn decided "No Mo Diapies fo me mommy!" (She is potty trained and rarely has accidents)

2. Taryn can say her own prayers without prompting!

3. Cami is reading a few words and writes really well.

4. Cami can count to a hundred and knows what 2+2 is!

5. Both of our girls smile big and often and love each other and usually act like it.

6. We got to go to Sea World and San Diego while Dad had a work trip there and the girls are still talking about it (good memories made!)

7. We didn't get crunched by any semi's and our new truck is fabulous!

8. Brent still likes his job and is still really challenged by it and is busy "rolling out" the product now

9. Brent gets to do a lot of camping with the scouts he works with and survived "the narrows" (although survival doesn't mean he didn't walk funny for about a week after)

10. Amy figured out how to post pictures on the blog (maybe too many :) )

11. Taryn can spell her name when asked and will actually write it (but only the T is legible)
12. Cami can color inside all the lines and really likes to do projects. Our refrigerator has never been so pretty.

13. We got to see Ryan married and play with the Weight family in Chicago for a week (I HIGHLY recommend WICKED)

14. No oned drowned during summer swimming lessons and the girls are both asking for more

15. Taryn's face is down to normal size and she hasn't gotten anymore hives for a few weeks now

The list actually could go on and on. We feel very blessed this year and are greatful for all of our friends and family. We sincerely do wish you all good holidays and a great new year! Please keep in touch!

Winter wonderland

This year has seemed much more "christmasy" than the last few and maybe the pictures below will explain some of that. It has snowed more in St George than I have ever seen. It snowed for several days, and one night it was cold enough the snow actually stuck. The first round of snow the girls were outside often sneaking out to "taste" the snowflakes. It was so funny because they walked around with their faces up until Taryn face planted on the hard driveway because she really couldn't see (snowflakes in the eyes and not looking down at all). Only a mild bruise resulted on her forehead and nose. By 7 am the next morning the girls were ready and BEGGING to make a snow man....
By 730 am we were all out in the snow with Frosty (as the girls named him). Fortunately for us he did not dance off anywhere with our children. After Frosty was finished Daddy introduced the girls to the concept of snowball fights and after a few tears of surprise and anger the girls did get into it first attacking Dad (as he asked for it) then turning on mom. After the extravaganza and dad leaving for work, they covered the back yard in snow angels. The girls stayed out for what seemed like forever until mom convinced them their fingers and toes were going to fall off and they could make another snow man and grandma and papa's in a few days.

A few nights before the snow storm we decorated a ginger bread house....no not all of the candy made it onto the house and Taryn was very taken with the frosting....Thanks Jess! (a friend who brought us the kit)

Waders

Needless to say these waders aren't used in fishing....They are the latest accessory in dress ups!

Pink Alert!

We had our Christmas dance recital on Saturday and it was soooo much better than the spring event. It was on a stage and the girls had REALLY STINKING HUGE TUTUS (both of which made the girls incredibly excited). Another highlight was that Cami was terrific. She knew all the steps and looked just like a real ballerina. Taryn participated this time instead of laying on the floor for the whole dance and she didn't kick anyone. There were however some moments of excitement.....See the play by play below.

The opening move right on cue.

Taryn following along looking cute. So far so good.

Taryn realizing she had a big tutu on that twirled great and she had most of the stage to try it out on....She bolts completely forgetting the routine.

Cami continuing to rock it and Taryn spinning and twirling back stage and loving every minute of it.

After the recital Taryn says "mommy I have so so so much fun!!!!"

After the recital Cami said "I remembered all my steps!"

Two girls trying to cooperate for a picture when they are really tired and danced out...but who wouldn't be carrying around a load as big as those tutus!

dreaming of sugar plum fairies

Ever since we unpacked the Christmas decor this is how Cami has slept...

This is how Taryn sleeps every night. She goes to bed and sweetly smiles. Then as soon as the light is out and we are out she sneaks out and grabs a collection of books to fall asleep with. After she gets back in bed it takes two seconds to fall asleep-unless of course we go in and take the books and then it takes about twenty minutes until she is done crying and saying "you a mean mommy!!!"

First lights of the season

Last Sunday we took the girls to look at lights and a nativity. They had a lot of fun and wanted to put up our lights right away. We finally got some on the house today and this evening when Taryn looked out and saw them for the first time she stood really still (amazing for her) and all she could say was "WOW! WOW!" I love the magic of this season.

The nativity program thing

Cami light gazing

The St George LDS temple with lights

ps-As suspected no Cami would not eat the turkey on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving favs

For Thanksgiving two sisters came down and celebrated with the two of us that live down here and it was a blast! Wednesday night we got together for a little taco soup action then Thursday we had sooo much fun. We ate around noon and the girls helped me craft turkey cup things for candy corns. They felt very grown up to use sissors and glue by themselves. After dinner Rebekah and Josh created a great treasure hunt at around town locations and the kids pretended to be treasure explorers. (Thanks for waking up at 6 to go hide the clues and for all the time it took creating the idea). They found a pot of gold at the end. Friday we went to a craft fair with the girls and later the boys hit the new james bond flick. While the boys were gone the kids helped me "rake" leaves. The boys got home just in time to feed the ducks and eat pizza. These were very aggressive ducks-probably didn't get enough turkey the day before-luckily Jared's nip wasn't too serious. Saturday we hiked and picnicked and crafted more (hooray for cricuts!). By Sunday I think we were all tired but then we got a surprise treat when our friends the Lewis's stopped by on their way through town. It was a super busy super fun weekend. The nicest part was Brent actually took off work and played with us the whole weekend. The girls had serious withdrawal on Monday.

After the treasure hunt the cousins gave their best explorer faces...

Here comes the leaf fight...I mean "raking"

The Weight girls and the Lewis's

The latest playtime- watch out paul mitchell!

So one of the new favorite games at our house is "doing hair." The girls used to be content with barbies and babies but recently discovered it is soooo much more fun to use real people. Their favorite is to spray hair to soaking the twirl the comb all up making fantastic knots (fantastic in not a really nice way). After one or two rounds of this it is now a single parent activity. (Thank you Brent for taking one for the team!)