Toothless

I bought this shirt last year hoping it would fit this year, she, like all the rest of the kids, still wouldn't have teeth at this age, and that I'd be able to manage to get a picture.

Woo Hoo!

It fit, she's just now barely had two bottom teeth peek through AND I managed to get a picture...with a ton of help from Stephen. :-)

Winterhaven Lights

Don't you love the symmetry of this fuzzy night picture? I do, symmetry is good, it makes me happy.

Looking at more Christmas lights makes me happy too.

;-D Pretty clever. :-D

Uh, yeah Lincoln's asleep again. You noticing a pattern? It's because he wakes up WAY too early every morning, is sketchy on taking an afternoon nap, and is chronically exhausted and grumpy.

I think this is the coolest lookin' tree ever! I'm pretty sure that even if I had a cool tree like that there is no way I could talk Stephen into lighting it that way.

This was a favorite. The guy who lives here is an engineer and set his entire house and yard to lights and music as the water fountain danced to the rhythm. 

It was fantastic!

These last 3 posts are completely out of order. Why did I do it that way? I have no idea, it would have been just as easy to do it in the right order. We've had a busy break...I'm ready for school to be back in session. My how my tune has changed; I used to live for breaks from school back in the day when I worked in them and didn't have all the yahoos running a muck at home.

Zoo Lights

The Zoo lets you take pictures with Santa for free with your own camera. I thought it was very nice of them. I do have a confession...We were running really late that night. Stephen didn't get home from working till 5:50, 10 minutes before we were supposed to meet up, and I was going a little crazy...oh ok I admit it A LOT crazy. We were meeting with my brother's family. When we finally got there I found them in the Santa line. I knew if we waited in the back of the line we wouldn't get to have any time with the cousins, soooo we slipped in line with them. I know I hate people like that, but I did get my kids through as fast as I could and didn't insist on the "perfect" picture. I checked for super dirty looks and didn't notice any...it was pretty dark though.

Santa: "Whoa! What a worm!"

Yes, she sure is...no calm sweet cuddly baby girl for us. She's every bit as wild as her brothers.

After the very important business of putting in requests to Santa it was time to play with the cousins. 

Aren't they all so cute!

Catching the Snow

I'm told you only want to catch said snow on your hands, NOT your tongue. :-D Ha Ha Ha It was made with some kind of soap mixture.

Then my battery died in the camera so you'll have to trust me that the lights looked cool and the kids had fun.

My dear old camera humored me for one last picture of the whole gang.

Temple Lights

We had planned on getting up to see the lights before Christmas, but you know how plans go.


Lincoln wanted to see the "fireworks" lights first. It was really crowded around the Nativity scene so it was just a quick look for him. I did think it was great that he was so drawn to the light illuminating the reason we celebrate Christmas.


First order of business: Token Family Picture.
After managing to get this picture with the timer due to breaks in the crowds we decided going after Christmas is how we're going to do it every year. There were people, but it wasn't insane. It made for a much more enjoyable visit.

 This little girl was having NOTHING to do with the stroller and was SO SO SO happy walking around.

Garrett All Night: "Mom take a picture of us here."


Proof I was there. Garrett also requested taking a picture here. Stephen had been the one in the picture, but Lincoln wouldn't let go of my hand to go stand in with everyone else.

We also saw the Zoo Lights here in town this year. When the boys went through the lit archway there I told them to be careful in the "lighted tunnel of death". My nieces thought I'd lost my mind and corrected me saying, "No, it's the tunnel of light." 

While we were walking around the Temple Garrett noticed this archway and yelled,  

"Hey it's the Tunnel of Death!" 

That boy remembers way too much. They enjoyed going through this tunnel also.

In the end we had a "Silent Night" after Lincoln was kind enough to fall sound asleep for us. Garrett wanted one last picture by the Nativity before we left. Here it is in all it's glory.

In addition to the crowds being much lighter after Christmas it gave us an opportunity, after all the presents are opened, to reemphasize Christ's birth is the reason we are celebrating the season.

An added perk was they all fell asleep on the way home. Stephen and I were able to just talk and enjoy each other's company...almost like a hot date. :-)

Garrett: "Mom the aliens keep pulling on my belly button."

Me: "Wow that's pretty crazy."

Garrett: "Yeah it hurts."

Me: "Come here so I can check it."

It looked fine but had a little pink spot that must have been bothering him.

Me: "We can put some alien repellant alcohol on it ok?"

The Next Day...

Garrett: "Mom it worked! No aliens pulled on my belly button last night."


Stephen: "Remember, Mommy cleans ears and belly buttons and Daddy cuddles."


Uh huh.