My Christmas Favorite

I keep meaning to catch up, but am overwhelmed at how far behind I am.  So let me start by just posting a link.  I saw this video today and am in love with the song and the Christmas message.  (Gotta love those Piano Guys)

http://youtu.be/ugV6QGcafEE

Enjoy!

2012 Nutcracker Performance

Princess M's ballet troupe puts on The Nutcracker every year at the end of November.  They incorporate all the different levels of classes into the various parts of the ballet, from the prima ballerina as the Sugar Plum Princess to the beginning toddlers as the tumbling clowns.  It's a real delight to watch each year.  Unfortunately this year I didn't get any still shots of PM in her mouse costume, but I did get some of her part as a maypole dancing villager at the end.  

Isn't she gorgeous?

This year Alex helped out with some of the male parts as well.  Here's the two of them backstage after the show.

I think one of her favorite parts about performing is that she gets to wear stage makeup.

Congratulations Alex and Princess M on all you hard work through the fall and a fantastic performance!!!

Dress Up

 The girls just love playing dress up, especially with friends over.  And with Princess M in ballet, we get a couple new costumes every year to add to the stash.

I love how Princess M's short ballet tutus look like full length princess dresses on Monkey.

Temple Trip

We took a day trip to the temple while Princess M was in school.  Monkey fell asleep in the car, so Funny Girl got her very own photo shoot with daddy while I did a little Temple work.

You'll notice a theme in her poses.  I think she definitely has a favorite.

Monkey woke up for the drive home.

Unplanned Nap

I went outside for a few minutes and Banana Girl wanted to hide from me.  I guess I took longer than she expected, because this is what I found when I came back...

She was fast asleep, still in a hiding position.

I Love being a Mother!!!

Very Hungry Baby Shower

I threw a baby shower for my friend Rhena who is adopting a beautiful new baby boy.  We chose the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" as a theme and I had a fun time poking holes in all the food.  Here's a slide show of the shower:

Baby Shower - slideshow

Happy Birthday Princess M!!

Princess M turned 7 years old this week.  I can't believe how quickly she is growing up!

I think she liked her presents this year.  She got the princess journal she was wishing for, as well as some princess jewelry and a window catcher painting project.

Here's the answers to her birthday interview this year:
Age: 7
Favorite color: Pink
Favorite food to eat: Mac & Cheese
Favorite toy: Littlest Pet Shops
Favorite Movie: Brave
Favorite song: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Favorite TV show: My Little Pony
Favorite clothes: Easter Skirt (Fix it, Mom!)
Do you collect anything: Jewelry
Best friends: Hannah, Emma, & Mazzy
What do you love about yourself?  That I get lots of friends because I'm kind/nice.
What do you love about each person in our family?  Mom: She's kind.  Dad: Because he takes me to places.    Funny Girl: She plays with me.  Monkey:  She's kind.
What is your favorite thing about school?  Specials - PE, Art, Computers.  & Play with friends.
Who is your teacher?  Mrs. Shrieve
What is your favorite thing to do with Mom?  Go places
What is your favorite thing to do with Dad?  Cuddle & Read Books
If you had a day alone with Mom & Dad, what would you do?  Eat at a restaurant, talk to each other, go home and play a game.  Maybe go to Phoenix to Uncle Wayne & Aunt Sue's house.
What is something funny that Mom/Dad say?  Mom: Moon made out of cheese!  Dad: Nothing funny ever!!
Best thing you have learned this year?  How to read!
What makes you most proud?  That I complete stuff.
What makes you happy?  Get new presents
What makes you laugh or smile?  Hearing something funny.  When someone says we're going somewhere fun.
What makes you sad?  Not going somewhere I want to go (like AppleBee's)
Where would you like to go on vacation this year?  Disneyland
What are some of your wishes for this year?  Get a watch & flashlight.
What is your testimony of Jesus Christ?   Glad that he's living.
What do you want to be when you grow up?  a Vet

Princess M continues to amaze us with how mature she is getting, and how quickly she learns new things.  She's become a really big help around the house, plays well with her sisters, and is constantly teaching them all the things that she is learning herself.  They love to be with her and miss her when she is at school.  She's a very smart girl, not only in school, but in understanding the world around her.  She's trying to follow the gospel and do what right in her life, and wants to grow up just as fast as she can.  We're so happy to have her in our family, and are very proud of the decisions she is making in life.  We love you very much, Princess!!!  Happy Birthday!

New Toy

We got a new ipad, so of course we had to try out its camera functions:

Not quite as good as a normal camera, but fun none the less.  Back when Princess M and Funny Girl still had long hair.  They are such beautiful girls!!

Halloween 2012

Princess M designed her own jack-o-lantern this year.  She drew the face and Alex cut it out for her.

Princess M (with her purple vampire teeth) and Monkey.

This was Monkey's first Halloween where she became aware of what was happening as we trick or treated. She got very good as saying "Trick or treat" and "Thank You" and then running as fast as her little legs could carry her to the next person she could find holding a candy basket.

Princess M wanted to be both Rapunzel and use the neon pink spray on hair color that I had bought.  So we modified Rapunzel's hair do just a bit.  

Ready for School!

That afternoon, Monkey managed to climb her way into the crib full of stuffed animals, but couldn't get out.  It resulted in an unintentional forced nap.  Isn't she adorable?

I was feeling festive and made these jack-o-lantern quesadillas for lunch.  

We got to have the girl's best friend along with us for Halloween this year.  We started out at the ward's trunk or treat party, and then proceeded to the mall for their festivities.  Everyone had a great time, and went home to bed exhausted.

Unfortunately, in all the excitement to get out the door, we didn't get a picture of the girls in their trick or treating costumes this year.  Monkey was the cutest little green witch, Funny Girl chose her favorite mermaid costume, and princess M wore the same costume that she wore to school.  Now that I think about it, we had a family picture taken at our ward Halloween party, but I have no idea where it is now.  If I ever find it, I'll tack it on at the end of this post.

2012 Family Photos!

We haven't gotten new family photos in so long due to a lack of knowledge of any good photographers in town since moving back here.  (Rachael, we miss your amazing photography skills!)  But I finally found a local woman, from the blog of one of our ward members who used her.  We spent an afternoon up the canyon and this beautiful site; and I was very pleased with the results.  Our favorites are now decorating the blog, but you can see the whole shoot in this slide show.

2012 Family Photo Shoot - slideshow

Last of September Photos

Here's just a couple cute photos we have of the older girls:

 These are of the girls reading scriptures together.  After the first one, I had several on the camera of them smiling; but as is the nature of photographing kids, one would have a great smile and the other would be blurred out or not paying attention.  So thanks to photo editing, I just took the best smile from each, and put them together into one photo.  I thought it made a great photo.  (just ignore the line down the middle of the room where the floor and china cabinet don't quite match up.)

 And here's the girls getting their hair curled.  Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the results, but they were adorable with and without the curlers.  Banana Girl looked just like Shirley Temple.

One of Those Days

I walked out of the computer room to find this:

I'm thankful that at the sight I didn't blow my top, but instead saw the humor and ran for the camera.  She was having so much fun, and her little footprints were precious.  I cleaned it up with a smile.

That very same day, I walked into my craft room to find this:

 What you see here is about 1/4 of the packing peanuts that were scattered in this room as the children swam in them.  I did not feel quite so humorous about this one.  And I wasn't feeling up to cleaning it either.  I shooed the children out of the room, turned off the light, shut the door, and tried to pretend that the mess did not exist for a while.  (I don't think I got around to cleaning that one for several weeks.)

A Mermaid Birthday

The later end of September brought a double birthday for Banana Girl and Alex.  This year was a "friend party" year and Banana Girl chose to have mermaids as her theme.  I had a lot of fun preparing the food and Mermaid tale towels for the girls and we had a great time partying at the pool.  Unfortunately, Alex had a class for his work and ended up missing the whole party.  I made him his favorite meals that day and had a little family party for him that night.

2012 Sept Birthday Party - slideshow maker

Here are the results of Banana Girl's Annual Birthday Interview:

Age: 4

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Toy:  Merlia Doll, Big Ariel Doll, Mermaids, Cinderella doll

Favorite Movie:  Tangled, Beauty & Beast, & Brave

Favorite Song: "Slippin Through My Fingers", "Honey, Honey" (both by Abba), & "I Like to Look for Rainbows" (Primary Song Book)

Favorite TV Show: My Little Pony

Favorite Clothes: Black, sparkly dress

Favorite food to eat: Zucchini Bread (w/chocolate chips), Ramen Noodles, and Mac & Cheese

Do you collect anything: No

Best Friends: Lacy, Julie, Lexie, Mazzy, and Hannah

What do you love about yourself?  My special things, toys.  I'm a good friend.  Good colorer.

What do you love about each person in our family? Daddy: always does what I want to do.  He loves me sooo much.  Mommy: She likes to sing with me.  She loves to take me places and loves my favorite color.  Princess M: She loves to play with me.  She teaches me to read and do ballet.  Little Mouse: She plays pink-a-boo, she laughs when I'm silly.

Why do you want to go to school?  I want to learn stuff about school.

Who is your teacher?  Princess M

Favorite thing to do with Mom:  Mommy & Daughter Dates

Favorite thing to do with Dad:  Daddy & Daughter Dates

If you had a day alone with Mom and Dad, what would you do?  Play princesses & princes

What is something funny that Mom/Dad say?  "I wish that you were a little Boo Boo."

Best thing you have learned this year:  to be like a princess.

What makes you most proud?  Giving people presents

What makes you happy? Playing with friends & swimming

What makes you laugh or smile?  I don't know

What makes you sad?  Mommy or Daddy doesn't let me go in the car with them.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year?  a park or McDonalds

What are some of your wishes for this year?  Wish for no time-outs.  Wish that it was Christmas.

What is your testimony of Jesus Christ?  He loves me.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  an adult & a mommy

Is there anything that you've never told me that you want to tell me now? no

Is there anything that you've never asked em that you want to ask me now?  no.

Grandma's Birthday Party

Early September saw a return to school for Princess M.   Here's my big first grader on her first day:

Immediately after starting school, we took her out for a week to leave on a another trip/reunion up at the Heber Valley Camp for Grandma Kidman's birthday weekend.  We did remember the camera this time and took a TON of pictures.  Here's a slide show of all the pictures from the birthday retreat:

Grandma's Birthday Retreat - how to create a free slideshow

We stayed a few extra days and were able to attend my nephew's eagle scout court of honor.  Congratulations again J man!!!  You rock!

On our way out the door to start our long drive back home, Grandma taught my girls to do a proper cartwheel.

We Love You Grandma!!!  Happy Birthday!

We stopped halfway home for the night in Vegas at my Aunt and Uncle's home.  They have such a lovely home there and are always so willing to let us stop and rest up before driving the rest of the way home.  Plus the girls were so excited to be able to swim in their backyard pool.

As it so happens, after taking these pictures I set the camera in my lap while I read by the side of the pool.  Well, Little Mouse started throwing towels into the pool and as I jumped up to save the towels from the water, the camera slipped right into the water instead.  Thank goodness we were able to salvage the pictures from the camera; but the camera itself was ruined.  You can guess what we got this year on Black Friday.  Until then, we pretty much just took pictures on our cell phones.

Anyhow, ruined camera aside, it was a very nice trip and we were all very sad to have to come back to normal life again.