Christmas Highlights

Snow Angels

The first major snow fall of the season came this weekend to the girls delight (and Mommy's driving dismay). They couldn't wait to get their cold weather gear on and head out into the snow. My sweet hubby braved the freezing cold temperatures and took these photos so I could blog about my little snow angels.
When was the last time you made a snow angel? I can't remember when I did, I'll have to get bundled up and join them next time, I'm sure it'll still be exhilarating even at my "old" age.

I just love this picture and these two darling girls!

Baptism Day

What a special day for a special girl. Paislee got baptized and confirmed on Saturday, December 6th. She was so excited, you could feel the joy just flowing from her. We spent the month of November having FHE going over the aspects of baptism, so she would fully understand the choice she was making. We're so proud of her for the decision she made to be baptized and how hard she has been trying to be so much more mature, helpful, and loving to her brother and sister.

Don't these two photos just say it all? Inside you just know she is hopping up and down waiting for her big moment.

Tree Trimming Time

Each year we pick out a tree that looks an awful lot like Daddy, tall and skinny. This is one thing that Jake is insistent on and I don't push too hard to get my way, a fresh, live noble fir is the only tree for us. One of my favorite moments to capture with a picture each year is Jake centering the tree, this year Grant decided to help Daddy, I just missed the shot of his little head lined up next to Jake's under the tree : (.

Ella loves hanging the ornaments on the tree, you can tell which ones she hung because they are usually clustered together on the same branch. I try really hard to let my type A personality go into hiding during tree trimming and then when the branches get too heavy and the ornaments fall to the floor I redistribute them in a way that I prefer (don't tell the kids).
Pure concentration, plus she's standing on a chair which means that there are ornaments about 4 feet up the tree!!!
Ella is our official star topper, this is always the last thing to go on the tree at our house.

Here are the girls playing Vanna and modeling our tree. I love how proud they are of their accomplishments. Isn't there something totally calming about a lit tree, a fireplace roaring, a cup of cocoa and a clean house? I guess 3 out of 4 aren't bad!

Thanksgiving in Corvallis

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled to Corvallis, Oregon to visit Jake's sister Angie and her family. Traveling was "terrific" and it took 12 hours to get to their home (it should only have taken 9 at the most, at one point we went 1 mile in 20 minutes). The kids were so relieved to get there and Clara (who is 9 weeks younger than Ella) was waiting up so patiently to see her cousins.

Thanksgiving dinner was great! The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. I want to add a disclaimer, no food was wasted on Grant's plate, he ate every bite. After dinner we participated in a Butler family tradition, a pinata. This was our kids first pinata experience and they loved it! Each child got a chance to whack the pinata and they dove for that candy and the toys.

On Friday we headed to a local bounce house where we all worked off our Thanksgiving pounds. The kids ran around like crazy for an hour and wore the parents and Grammy Shar out! Paislee had fun making new friends, Ella was all over the place, and Grant was hesitant at first and then had a blast once he figured it all out.

The weather was really nice, lots of sunshine and the kids spent a lot of time outside playing. We also took them for a walk through a local wetland, it's amazing how green everything is there and a nice change from this desert climate.

We spent a lot of time just visiting, playing the Wii, and hanging out. For Kenyon's birthday Jake, Kenyon, Angie and I went and saw Twilight, I'll keep it brief....I was disappointed!

We are so lucky to have so much family to celebrate the holidays with. Thank you Kenyon and Angie for welcoming us into your home, feeding us well, and entertaining us thoroughly, we love you guys!