enjoying the christmas season

I've tried hard this season to do less sewing, shopping, and stressing and instead focus more on the joy of the season through baking, decorating, singing, crafting and visiting with friends.

We've made gingerbread men (Chrissie decorated, Matthew ate the candy), popcorn garland, snowflakes, hot chocolate, candy cane ornaments, etc.

A little visit with Santa. When Santa asked Chrissie what she wanted for Chrissie she said she didn't know. And then later she told me that she'd like whatever Santa gave her. Matthew said he wanted candy. Jane just stared

Chrissie was an angel for our ward nativity.

Provo, UT Girls-Divine comedy

You know your sisters with you find the same things Hilarious! My sister sent me this video, which as a warning may offend some, however, we found it too good. Way too good. I watched it over a dozen of times alone (Rick's out of town and thank goodness for humor to keep me sane) I laughed uncontrollably all the meanwhile texting my sister sharing our favorite parts. ohhh, I love sisters.

Yep. We're mature.

Thanksgiving Peoa-Style

We did the 12 hr. drive (one way) to Utah for Thanksgiving weekend-well worth the drive even if we only stayed for four days. We did some skiing, sledding, BYU vs. U football game attending, movie watching, and some real competive game playing (we played some mean games of choo-choo dominoes and phase ten).

Good side and Good side.

For some reason Chandra thought it was hilarious that I professed to have a "better side" face for pictures; its the side where the yellowing tooth is less visible (another thing that can't be fixed until after residency). So she made me take a picture with her on my good side.

Ahhhh, Jane with Aunt Jessica. Jane loves Aunt Jessica; she gigled when she saw her.

It was -14 degrees our first night in Peoa. The next day (Thanksgiving day) it was a whopping 0 degrees. However, the kids still wanted to be outside, so, we bundled them up tight (picture below). Rick took them sledding and Chrissie got frostbite on her cheek right where an inch of skin was showing.

october festivities

This past October flew by with medical student dinners the past several months. One night a month we hosted the whole residency plus the medical students rotating at the BNI; Rick and his co-residents are in charge of choosing this years medical students-thats three dinners for 30+ people. Then there was our Halloween dinner, visit from grandparent Lochheads, San Francisco trip, Oktoberfest at Sonntag's, and Halloween parties.

So many things with Rick being busy as always that I forgot to take a picture of the kids in their Halloween costumes until today.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding and the Wolf , who refused to look at the camera. I'd already bribed him with hot chocolate just to put on the costume. He doesn't do well being told what to do.

"Hey, Matthew there's a fire truck behind me." And that's what it took to get him to look at me.

Halloween Night

Halloween fell on Sunday this year. We debated about how to celebrate the holiday on Sunday. So, we decided to have a Hallowen dinner at our house with a few families.

Even though everyone was outside, Matthew and Ben stayed in the house and silently ate treats at the dessert bar. They were being very sneaky...

Still eating.

Ballet class

Chrissie started ballet last August. The ballet school she attends quite strict: no bracelets, no tutus, or anything of the like. The young girls wear ankle socks-an old russian tradition. But its the only school that uses a live piano for Chrissie's age.

Chrissie has a great time. As of late, her favorite pastime is being a ballerina as a favorite: she tells me "Mom, you hear clopping noises and you say, 'oh what are those beautiful clopping noises it must be a princess,' but then you see me and say, 'oh it's a beautiful ballerina.' " Got it.

San Francisco

Rick had a conference in San Francisco so we drove up to my parents and stayed a week with them. The kids and I met Rick for a day in San Francisco and I realized we didn't take any pictures. Highlights of that day in San Fran: Matthew getting angry everytime the trolley stopped, and it stopped a lot. He much preferred it going fast. And almost getting kicked out of restuarant because Matthew was bouncing between seats. My favoirte was walking along the coast with the kids. Oh how I love the ocean.

These pictures are from the time we spent with my parents.

The kids and I at Natural Bridges. This makes me miss northern California. The kids played in the sand, Matthew was terrified of the waves but loved jumping of the logs, and we got to visit the butterfly sanctuary.

Halloween Dinner

We kicked off October with a Welcome Halloween dinner (an idea I got from my friend)-and a splendid one indeed. The kids and I decorated, dressed up, and made spooky/festive food (the kids favorite were the ice eyeballs, which slightly creeped me out).

Matthew drank so much juice his stomach was expanding by the minute.

First, Rick showed up as a "doctor" (real original) so I sent him away to dress up as something a little more creative. He came back as a hawaiian cowboy....

Matthew growled throughout the night.


The silly straws were another favorite.

Chrissie and I made ghosts for the cake.

Trying to show the camera the ice eyeballs.

I look awesome....

The ballerina

The Lion

Primary Program 2010

Last Sunday was our families very first primary program with a child participating. It was a much anticipated event. Chrissie was very much a participant in the program. She had all the songs memorized and sang a decibel louder than the others. Her face was full of expression oblivious ot the congregation. With each song she would start to sing about a measure too soon in which the chorister would give Chrissie the "stop sign" hand signal, so Chrissie would stand there mouth wide open waitng for the "go sign."

Chrissie was given a little solo. I doubted the chorister, our good friend Barbara, who knew and loved Chrissie. I was certain Barbara would be singing a solo. However, Chrissie sang her part just fine: it was the eighth verse (Daniel the prophet) of the "Follow the Prophet" song (Chrissie had the entire song memorized). She got up to the microphone oblivious to all the people and sang her little heart out. In addition she had some impromtu microphone time due to an absent sunbeam.
Also, Chrissie had a scripture she memorized. According to Chrissie it was, "John baptism: 44. A new commandment I give to you to love one another as I love you love one another." Exactly like that without a breath.

Needless to say I had a headache after the event due my range of emotions. I was crying than laughing than crying...There's nothing like hearing my child sing (quite loudly) "I know He lives."

Princess Ball

Chrissie and Rick were invited to a stake Princess Ball. Naturally, Chrissie had been anticipating the event for weeks: she was a princess every day waiting for her prince to come home. And when he did get home before bedtime, oh, what a lucky man was he. She followed him around adoring his mere presence and serenading him with her angelic voice and batting eyelashes.
For her outfit she chose her doll party dress from 2 1/2 yrs ago (it use to drag on the floor, now, it's at her knees). I braided her hair into a crown on top of her head and we put roses from the garden in her hair. And then my darling husband, her prince charming, surprised her with a dainty, pink rose corsage. Chrissie was beside herself: real pink roses in her hair and a "flower bracelet"! She felt beautiful and had no qualms professing her beauty to us.

The report: Chrissie and Rick danced the entire night. And besides the fact she was in an old dress, wearing dirty ol' sandals, she told Rick that she felt like the most beautiful princess. Nothing like some fresh flowers and an adoring prince charming to make a girl feel like a princess.

seashells

After spending some time in the water and building castles, Chrissie decided "swimming" in the sand to be a most enjoyable pass time and she would leave tracks all the way from our towels to the ocean like a mamma sea turtle. This sand swimming is what caused her to make a most excellent discovery. She ran to me squealing with delight, holding something in her hand-a tiny seashell. To this little Arizona girl a sea shell is a rare treasure. So, she continued for the rest of the afternoon collecting sea shells. No more sand castles, no more wave chasing, no more sand swimming; she had some serious work to do-collect sea shells.