Favorite Traditions

It was a beautiful night. The snow Paul wished for, and not too freezing, my wish :)

We ♥ seeing the lights at the SLC Temple each year, something I've done since I was little. We watched "Joy to the World" in the Visiting Center, the kids led us right up to the front row- wo. It was enjoyed by all, except maybe Sage, she was sound asleep before it was over.

Sophie left her mark

Do you know who's who?

Merry Christmas!

We also can't let December pass without attending the nearby temple, while the kids are in school. At such a busy time of year, it's kinda my gift to my HF, although the opportunity seems like His gift to me.

2009 ABC's

2009

A is for acquaintances. So thankful for our friends, family, and neighbors!
B is for Basketball. Trevor (5th grade) is our Jr. Jazz player this year.
C is for Custom Decorators, Dianne ♥'s her new job as a Design Consultant.
D is for daring, we are daring to have five kids :)
E is for Eagle. Nick (our senior) earned his this year! We’ll have the ceremony after Christmas.
F is for Fridays. My volunteer day at the kids school, they like having mom come, then its adult time that evening with my sweety.
G is for gospel. We are grateful for a living prophet, our testimonies, and for the gospel in our lives!
H is for Hooray. Trevor won first place in his Pinewood Derby out of 30 cars, they all did great!
I is for “In”. Sophie and Sage (1st grade) love soccer and making it in the goal and I had fun being their coach this fall. Go Orange Rockets!
J is for Jesus. We honor and celebrate Him at Christmas time and throughout the year.
K is for Keeping Up. (Not with the Jones, but with life) Not always easy but worth it.
L is for Love. Paul & I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year in Park City, same place where we spent our honeymoon.♥
M is for movie star (they wish). Our boys starred in Broadway Kidz this summer in the local theatre and Josh (9th grade) has a big role in his school play, performing next month.
N is for Nissan. Paul works hard as Finance Manager, we like our new Nissan Armada.
O is for Over the Moon. We are over the moon to have Sophie and Sage in our family, along with our boys, Nick, Josh, & Trev!
P is for Primary, where we hang out each Sunday. I serve in the presidency, Paul teaches Sophies and Sages class, and Trevor has a half year left before going to Young Men’s.
Q is for Quiet, someday we’ll have it, then we’ll probably miss the noise.
R is for road trips. This year we took some fun road trips to St. George, Midway, Flaming Gorge, Wolfcreek...
S is for Saxophone. Trevor is playing the saxophone in the band, just like his dad did.
T is for Temples. We enjoyed being a part of two beautiful new temples in our area and having them so close.
U is for Utah. It’s a great place to live.
V is for Volleyball. Josh’s team took third (close second) at Regionals. Go Summit Hawks!
W is for Wakeboarding. Our favorite summer sport.
X is for X-cellent, Nick lettered in swimming and is determined to keep getting faster. He swims the 500 & 200 meter and relays.
Y is for Yuck. Our economy, Swine flu, Math homework, & Asthma.
Z is for Zion’s National Park- it’s a beautiful place to hike and explore during Spring Break.

It’s good to hear from family and friends this time of year. We are grateful to remember the birth of our Savior and all he does for us. Sending warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010!

Love,
Paul, Dianne
Nick, Josh, Trevor, Sophie, & Sage

Trev (right) and his buddy on the Sax. Not bad for just learning this year, good job boys!

Radiant in Red

Girlfriends!

Sage left, Sophie right

I ♥ these velvet Christmas dresses. They used to drown them now they barely fit, this will be their last year wearing them I'm sure.

They don't really like having their pictures taken, but they got into this photo shoot and posed themselves, lol.

XOXO

I'm on a roll. I'm wrapping up Christmas posts so my kids have the fun memories, it came quick this year and was so nice, but I didn't have much time to blog about it earlier. I better hurry before the New Year, we're already comparing gyms :) I could use it after all the Christmas treats.

Architects & Designers

Christmas isn't complete without Gingerbread houses. This year we paired up so they could basically decorate their own house- Josh & Trev/Sage & Mom/Sophie & Dad. We missed Nick, he was at a swim team party.

Masterpiece!

Good enough to eat!

Santa then and now...

2009 w/ Santa (Sage left, Sophie right)

Christmas was wonderful and came too quickly, but we fit in most of our favorite traditions and enjoyed time with family & friends. The girls were thrilled to see Santa, they like to cook and asked for an Easy Bake Oven, my little chefs. As on other fun blogs, I like to look back and take a trip down memory lane with Santa and the girls...

2008 w/ Santa (Sage left, Sophie right)
(We came straight from school. Glad Trevor is in this one, he said he was too old this year, happens all too fast :(

2007 w/ Santa (Sophie left, Sage right)

2006 w/ Santa (Sage left, Sophie right)

(Great memories, the girls were home only a few months here, age 3 1/2. Don't mind the extra arm & knee in the pic, they were petrified, but fine as long as they were touching me :), Santa didn't want to put them down, the girls were proud of themselves for being brave)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in the air...

c

I would love to take a photography class, the last one I took was "a few years ago" in college :). I like these pics, I usually take quick snapshots.

Christmas stories. Keeping up the tradition, I buy a new Christmas book each year and add it to my collection. I spread them out under the tree to tempt the kids, which works well. When it's real quiet, I often find them checking out the books and reading their book of choice. We also read one each night before bed.

Something sweet for our sweet teachers in Primary

Sophie in black dress, Sage in red w/ Shrek Santa hat :).

The girls were excited for their Winter Program. It was so cute and just the right length, short and sweet. I was bummed that Sage's teacher requested they stay in uniform, when the other two teachers let them dress up. Funny though, Sophie was the one that complained that she had to wear a dress and dreaded tights while her sister got to stay in her school clothes. Can't blame her really, my panty hose are off as soon as I walk in the door when I have to wear the dreaded things.

tight group of girls in Sophie's class

of course they love Sage

sisters

Sophie, her friend, and awesome teacher

Sage and her teacher, expecting her first baby, a boy!

Deck the Halls

Isn't it beautiful? Even if it is decorated at kid height with a few clusters here and there. Someday when I have my designer decorated tree again, I'm sure I'll miss the kids touch on the tree :) It's been fun decorating this year, the memories with each ornament, the nativity & stockings, singing Christmas songs and sucking on chocolate mint candy canes. Paul went all out on the lights outside- the kids love coming home to the house all lit up.

Hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season!

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. - Roy L. Smith