Gingerbread 2013

Making gingerbread houses has become one of the favorite Christmas traditions.  The kids talked about it for weeks.  We saved it for Christmas afternoon this year.

Brad's masterpiece.

Armed and dangerous.

Mother Mary

Abby loved being Mary this year.

She took the role very seriously!

Christmas Cookies

The kids love decorating cookies this year.  Abby even got in on the action!

Sharing Time

Our tiny primary did a little nativity on Christmas Sunday.  They were cute.

Not very reverent, but cute.

Grant, the Shepard

 Grant, the Terrorist?

The whole gang

I was released as counselor in Primary.  I have served there for about 3 1/2 years.  I feel surprisingly sad about the change but I am sure it will be good for me.  I felt inspired by the lessons I prepared and grateful for the simple truths of the gospel.

Santa Girls

 No Santa anxiety here.

One day I received a letter in the mail addressed to Anna from Santa.  I hadn't realized that Anna had written him.  But she had.  On her own she drafted and placed her mail in the box.  She told me she asked for a cotton candy machine.  Do I want a cotton candy machine?  Do we have one now?  You probably know the answer....  Thank you Aunt Sarah

Let it Snow!

It snowed just enough for school to be out for 3 days and the kids to go sledding!

Fast Friends

We got to visit with our dear friends, the Sams.  The kids hit it off so quickly and it just made me miss them so much!  What an awesome family.

Temple Lights

Fun Night at the Arizona Temple Lights

Tempe Town Lake

An afternoon roaming around Tempe Town Lake.

Driving to AZ

We drove to Phoenix for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Here we are on the road.  We were so glad to be going in our direction at this point.

Fun cars on the road.  Followed this beauty in New Mexico for a while.

Northern Arizona does have snow people!

 The kids wanted to get out and play in the snow for a minute.

Tulsa State Fair

Brad's parents came in town so we went to the State Fair.  I haven't been to a state fair since Brad and I were dating.  That was a long time ago.

First stop:  Petting Zoo

Abby loved the animals!  She couldn't get enough.  Unfortunately, they had fleas and Abby was bitten all over her legs.  GROSS!!!

Next stop:  Corn Dogs!

And a cute little picture of Abby and Brad!

I think I am good for at least another 12 years!

The Grasshopper

We celebrated Parkers birthday earlier this month.  I made this most rich chocolate cake for him.  It was chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache frosting.  It was quite rich but it was what Parker requested.

He wanted a RC car for his birthday.  That would be short for remote-controlled car.  (I'm learning boy things all the time!)  The Grasshopper was chosen.  He and Brad built it together and even do little repairs on it if it gets damaged.  It's quite possibly a precursor to when Parker turns 16 and Brad buys an old Mustang......

They have had lots of fun with it!