A Closer look at the Camels and Wise Men

The big boys all wore a backpack filled with blankets and then draped a blanket over it.

 The wise men sat on top of their hump.

Our Nativity

Cast list

Mary................................Lilly (the lovely)

Joseph..............................Slater (so handsome)

Baby Jesus.......................Princess Larkin, aka Eliza's dolly (played her part perfectly)

Donkey............................Sydney (it has always been her dream and she is finally strong enough)

Angel...............................Grammy (because she is one)

Wise Men (l-r)..................Turner, Lane, Eliza (or should we say "wise guys")

Camels (l-r)......................Travis, Price, and Steele (dare I say, the coolest part of the whole show)

Shepherds (l-r)..................Emma and Larkin (they lost their sheep)

Sheep................................Oscar (would rather hang out with the camels than the shepherds)

Cow..................................Marley (whose spots kept falling off)

Snowman building contest

This year on Christmas Eve, we decided that we can have just as much fun as the rest of the world. 

Who needs snow?

We built our own versions of snowmen using only toilet paper, some hats, scarfs, colored paper, and three teenage boys.

We followed up the Snowman building contest with a *snowball fight

*substitute snowball with marshmallow 

Big Babies

Marley:  Hey Mom, will you wrap me up like a baby?

Eliza:  Oooo me too!

Sydney:  Me too!!!

I loved to wrap my little babies up as tight as can be with a blanket so they were all cozy and warm.

It was equally satisfying to wrap my big babies.

Random Conversations #53

Eliza:  Ugh!  There is a fly in here.
Me:  I know, is it driving you crazy?
Eliza:  YES!
Me:  Sorry, it was driving me crazy a minute ago.
Eliza:  Well,... aren't you gonna get the fly wacker?

Family Home Evening

For Family Home Evening our great friends, the Kings, invited a bunch of families to go on a hay (or trailer) ride and look at  Christmas lights.  

We had a fantastic time with some fun people!

I just love this picture

This picture was taken in the amphitheater at the kids school.  We were at Marley's Christmas party and her class played a game outside.  There are a bunch of words painted all over to encourage the kids to do what it right and Eliza just sat down over truthfulness.  I'm thinking it would be a cool place for a photo shoot.  Too bad they lock it up every night and weekend.  

I wonder if anyone would notice if we did it during the middle of the day..... 

Holiday Heroes #2

Lane was one of four younger kids that got to be in the 5th and 6th grade play.

  She was amazing! 

 Lane hasn't always been comfortable in front of an audience.  

She has gone through actually freezing in front of a crowd due to stage fright.  

On this day she said her line perfectly and even looked like she was having a good time.

Holiday Heroes

Marley got to be in the 5th and 6th grade play, "Holiday Heroes".  

These girls were the narrators and let me tell you, they stole the show!

Elder Klippel

My nephew Tanner just left the MTC to go to the Brussels Belgium Mission!!!

He will be amazing!

Random Conversations #52

Me:  Eliza be sweet, Santa can see you right now you know.
Eliza:  Well, you know what.... tears.....sobbing.... tears.... I don't even think that Santa is probably real.

So sad to come to that conclusion at the ripe old age of 4.

Random Conversations #51

Me:  (trying to find my little girls)  Lane, Liza I have a job for you!
Sydney:  You know if you say it like that, they are never going to come.