Birthday Sisters!

Emily turned 14, and got a new bike (a few days late), and since it's (a very snowy) December, we have no photos of her riding it (yet).  After having a quick lunch with us at "The Pie Dump" (local hangout), she had a super fun friend day the Friday night of her birthday, getting introduced to Olive Garden, and swimming at Crystal Hot Springs! We had her birthday dinner of Chicken pillows, and some pretty awesome Cookie Dough Cheesecake on Sunday. 

pretending she got her bike

The next week was Jane's turn, and from waking her up for birthday cereal and presents to blowing out candles, she was barely sure what to think.  Her serious expressions always crack us up (or disturb us?).  At least she loved playing with her new baby and play tent!

 

 

We Need a Little Christmas...

 The day we got home from Idaho, we spent sorting out, and putting up Christmas decorations.  It was fun putting our familiar things into a new setting, and it's snowed SO MUCH, that we've had lots of good excuses to put our fireplace to good use!

 We've had lots of nights of Christmas stories, City Celebration with a hayride, Candycane hunt (in the snow!), crafts, and cocoa, library (and school night) Christmas crafts, our ward Christmas party that Brian and I got to help with, and Christmas concerts for Brent, Anne, and Emily.

 Anne & Lucy thought it was required to participate in the "Ugly Sweater Contest" at our ward party, so they worked hard creating their own decorations, while I kept thinking that this last minute attempt was pretty pathetic, and not worth the effort.  They showed Mom though, winning a prize for their "homemade sweaters."  Fun girls!

Idaho Thanksgiving

After missing a few years of Idaho Thanksgivings, we finally made it this year! We enjoyed time with Grandma and Grandpa, and fun cousins.  There was time for trampoline parks, movies (teens), card games, visiting, carols, exercising(!), and relaxing.  We were so glad to have a fun long weekend together!