New Year's Resolutions

Our 12 Days of Christmas

Christmas Card 2014

Something WICKED this way comes...

 

 9 girls, 

(8 blondes), 

7 stores, 

6 taxis,

a 5 course meal,

4 hotel rooms,

3 amazing hours of "Wicked",

2 glow-in-the-dark-bike-peddlers,

1 unforgettable weekend!

 

7.

The 7 best things about Aubrey on her 7th birthday (with 7 pictures from her special day).

 #1:

Aubrey is fiercely obedient.  

She is a rule keeper.  She has a serious amount of self control, this little one.  

Out of child and adult alike, she is honestly, the most trustworthy person I have every known.

 #2:

Aubrey has a heart the size of the whole world.

She is unusually sensitive, and tender, and caring.  Last week she told me about three different situations at school in which she put aside her own desires to go out of her way for someone who needed a friend.  (One time she even gave up her turn on the swing when she went to help a boy that had tripped down a hill and then started crying as his friends ran away without him.  She was incredulous about this situation.  She literally could not grasp how they could have left him.)

 #3:

Aubrey is HILARIOUS.

Funniest kid alive, I swear to you.

Her one-liners and bubblying sense of humor have us constantly rolling.

 #4:

She is a spiritual giant.

Aubrey's spirituality is on a whole other level.  Her faith is the sweetest, purest, most profound and beautiful thing I've ever seen.

 #5:

Aubrey is committed.

You can bet your bottom dollar that if you give Aubrey a job to do, she'll do it.  And she'll do it well.

 #6:

Aubrey is talented.

She is good at everything she tries.  She is one of those rare few who can be a great many things.  She'd make a great mom + nurse + lawyer + teacher + vet + athlete + coach + writer + artist + student + missionary.

#7: 

Aubrey is the greatest daughter, sister, friend, and girl.

Happy Birthday Princess.

We love you.

Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One By One

“It’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the prosperity we already have.” 

- Shakti Gawain

Dear Family,

When I count my blessings,

I count you first.

It's Great to Be Eight

November 8th was one of the sweetest days of our lives.  Our little recently-turned-eight Brooklyn was baptized.  It was beautiful and simple and perfect, and I will not attempt to describe it with inconsequential words.  But I will say that it was one of the most special days of our lives, and I could not have been more proud.

Halloween - Two Thousand Fourteen

 This year, like every year, I started planning our Halloween costumes in April.  We never even had to discuss what they would be this year.

It was blatantly obvious.

Brooklyn played the part of Elsa, Queen of Arandale.  Somehow every year, we find costumes that totally fit each of our personalities.  This year was no different.  Brooklyn was the perfect Elsa.  She has all of the sudden become very mature and poised.  She is protective of her family (especially her Aubrey) and she has a growing talent for being loyal and brave.  She is kind to everyone around her, but also bold in saying and doing the things she should.

Also, the cold really doesn't bother her, anyway.

Aubrey, naturally, was Princess Anna.  Fitting, indeed.  She is quirky and hilarious and sometimes a little spastic, just like Anna.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and gives love out immediately and unconditionally.  She draws people near her with her easy demeanor and infectious smile and she has a genuinely beautiful heart.  (With no sign of ice whatsoever.)

Kristoff (the official Arandale ice deliverer) was all Cameron.  He is really, truly, so much like Kristoff.  A smart and charismatic kid with a huge, tender heart.  He tells it like it is and is not afraid to take care of people he loves.  He is spunky and a little weird - good weird - and he really does have a thing for that princess Anna.  

 Luke was a Ukrainian (I honestly thought he was Putin until the end of the night).  Again, it fit - minus the drinking problem.  He is manly and smart and burly.  (You know, like all Ukranians...)

I went as Katnis Everdeen (from "The Hunger Games") since I'm a total chick-warrior and a whiz with a bow.

This year the festivities seemed to last all month long.  They included our ward Trunk-or-Treat activity (where Luke and the kids whipped out a full-blown dance party in the parking lot for everyone's enjoyment),  

the Garden Grove 7th ward party, and our annual party with our Residency friends.  

 (which included the world's most awkward photo...)

Happy Halloween.

The Pumpkin Patch (AKA Stater Brothers)

 Every year we go to the Pumpkin Patch and enjoy the bounty of fall and the glorious goodness of the world as it changes from....  OH, STOP.  

This year we went to the grocery store, bought our $4 pumpkins, and carved them one night before Halloween.

Cause that is how we roll.