Family Photos - November, 2015

I just realized the other day that I had not ever posted our newest family photos. I was so excited with how they turned out.  We are a rough group to photograph and as always, Jami's work was absolutely magical.  The fact that she caught all of us looking at the camera at the same time is pretty impressive.  Even better, she always manages to make all of us look like superstars.

The outtakes...the only time the kids wanted to look at the camera was when it wasn't their turn!

Books for 2015

Recently I was asked what I would do if I had one extra hour in the day.  I didn't even have to think about it - the answer was easy - I would read.  Currently I don't have a lot of free time so reading has become a luxury, and my favorite escape.  Listening to books lets me get through a lot more books because I can multi-task.  I listen to books while I drive, workout, or clean and sometimes find extra projects just so that I can keep listening.  Last year I chose a favorite from all that I read.  From my list this year, the best that I read was A House in the Sky.  It is non fiction, and pretty tough to read, but I was fascinated by the travel and impressed by the author's resiliency.  The fan favorite was definitely A Man Called Ove - it made me laugh, and cry, and everyone I know that has read it has Afallen in love with Ove.  So, enough with the rambling, here is the list:

Books I Read

Everything I Never Told You B+
The Rosie Project A-
My Sister's Grave B
Confessions of a Soiopath B
The Boy on the Box B+
A House in the Sky A+
What She Left Behind B+
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry A
Girl on the Train B+
A Man Called Ove A
Last Letter From the Love B-
All the Light You Cannot See B+
Good Ground B-
Wonder A-

Books I Listened To
The Kindness of Strangers B
Fingerlicken Fifteen B
The Hypnotist's Love Story A-
When I Found You B+
The Invisible Girls A
Sizzling Sixteen B-
The Silent Sister B+
Wife 22 B
Big Little Lies B+
After You A-
The Crossing B+

They aren't technically books, but I also spent a lot of time listening to:
Serial
This American Life

My Year in Review

Tonight the kids filled out a Year in Review.  Some required a little more help than others, but it was still fun to see their thoughts.

December Part III

Christmas morning brought one of the best treats ever, fresh snow - and lots of it.  All of the kids were so excited to bundle up so they could go out and play.  They made snow angels, rode on the sleds, and crashed into snow piles.  I couldn't believe how long they were able to stay out - I guess the cold doesn't seem so bad when you are having fun.  

The entire goal of Calvin and Miles was to get dumped into a snow pile

Looks like he was successful.

Ada and Preston requested a wild ride and were not disappointed.

A slow ride was enough for these babies.

Sunday morning, after a second Christmas breakfast, we loaded up the car and headed to Logan to hear Jacob speak and officially welcome him home from his mission in The Netherlands.  

 

I know Cheri and Dave were so excited to have Jacob home.  It was great to hear his talk and see how much he has grown - I was especially impressed with his maturity and his testimony.  Before we made the trek back home, we had lunch at the Nye's house later which gave the kids another change to play with their cousins. 

On December 28th Brycen turned 14.  We were able to meet him in Salt Lake to have dinner and celebrate.  He chose one of our favorites, Siegfried's Deli.  Dinner was delicious and I think he loved his gifts.  Success.

After dinner, we met up with Grandma Whitesides, Abby and Hannah and went to The Grand America Hotel to see their Christmas displays.  I have heard that their displays are really great, and they did not disappoint.  

This ginger bread house was made of ginger bread and chocolate
And the fixtures were made of rice crispie treats.
It smelled delicious.

Luke and Ruby loved the Rudolph window,
They said that Rudolph and Clarice were kissing. 

Luke thought the Grinch was amazing!
Ruby wouldn't get close enough to even have a picture taken.

New Years Eve was pretty low key at our house. Lots of errands and playing with new toys.   Luke found this blanket kit a few weeks ago and begged for it but I told him no.  I was able to buy it and get it made to surprise him.  He currently sleeps with a pile of blankets, but he always wants the Star Wars one on top.

My parents were sweet and came to watch the kids so that Tim and I could go to dinner and a movie. When we got home the babies were still awake so we got one last selfie to end the year.  So long 2015, you've been a good one.

Christmas Day - Encore

The big kids spent Christmas Day with their mom, so we we were all excited to celebrate with them the day after. I'm not sure that the babies understood why, but they were definitely excited to have a second celebration.  The kids came down and spent the afternoon with Tim shopping and hanging out together.  Then we did stockings, presents, big dinner, and a special breakfast the next day.  In all of the excitement (and work), I somehow missed photos of most of the fun so I was happy to see that I did capture some of the memories.  We didn't have a lot of time together, but really enjoyed each other while they were here.