Sunday, February 7, 2016

Christmas 2015

CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS
We told the kids about the first Christmas in the Book of Mormon.  Nathan decided to build us a model for FHE of Samuel the Lamanite with his LEGOs.

You can tell that Audrey was just as excited about Christmas as the other kids--thus the gate around the tree.  Jared spent many hours restringing our tree with LED lights, and you can tell it is bright and beautiful.

The kids decided we needed a better Nativity set, so they made this one out of LEGOs.


CHRISTMAS EVE


 Jared had to work all day on Christmas Eve, so we were relieved when he finally got off in time for dinner and our Christmas program.  Abby took a turn as Mary.  


Nathan was both a shepherd and a wiseman.


Maddy enjoyed being an angel.


Audrey was the star of the show.

Our family all got Alamo ornaments this year to commemorate our first year in Texas.

Maddy got this cute little rice baby kitten that Abby made for her.


The kids enjoyed making and decorating gingerbread cookies with me.  They set out a plate for Santa and a plate with mini cookies and a doll sized mug for Felix (our Elf on the Shelf).  Nathan made a few of his into "wookie cookies."

The girls decorated a space for their dolls complete with garlands, a fake tree and ornaments, stockings (sewn by Abby), and a fake fire place.

CHRISTMAS MORNING
Nathan was excited to get a LEGO tree house.
The girls got a doll table and chair set.
It even came with a tea set.
Jared got some more great books to add to his collection.

Audrey loved her tea set and piggy from Grandma D.

She thought she was pretty cool in her sunglasses from Maddy.

She really liked her new Magnadoodle from Santa.


On the top of their list of favorite Christmas gifts were the magic wands that Jared made for the kids.

 Abby's wand: cherry and unicorn hair
 Nathan's wand: jatoba and dragon heartstring
Maddy's wand: purpleheart and phoenix feather

The kids got a new wagon (since Jared broke their old plastic one by trying to haul stuff in it).  Audrey loves going out for rides in it every day.  
Once the kids finished frosting the gingerbread cookies, the girls decided to decorate graham crackers with the extra frosting.
Santa brought this 1000 piece puzzle called "a Rocky Mountain Christmas."  It is a painting depicting several ski resorts in Utah.  As we put the puzzle together Abby asked, "Mom, why are the people siting on telephone polls?"  It took me a minute to realize she as talking about the chair lift.  Her comment made Jared and I think that we've been away from Idaho and Utah too long!

January 2016


Audrey likes to ride on her car.
I caught Audrey the other day trying to crawl in her doll's crib.
We've had some nice warm days this month that we've spent at the park.  Audrey has really taken to the slide.  She loved going down with her big sisters and brother.
She also loves swinging.

Rides on Daddy are also fun.

Audrey likes dressing up and carrying bags around.

She also likes pushing her baby doll in the stroller.
Cowgirls take good care of their babies.
Abby and Maddy love going to activity days together.  They learned about the temple and then designed their own out of marshmallows.
Audrey rarely cuddles anymore because she is too busy getting into things, so it was a sweet moment when Audrey fell asleep on Jared's chest.



Maddy riding on a Komodo dragon statue at the zoo.


Riding on the horse statue.

Hanging with the orangutans.


We restocked our food storage this month.  Audrey thought the 5 gallon buckets were the perfect size for her.
We got a new tent that is is super easy and fast to set up, and which is actually big enough for our whole family.   We set it up on our living room for FHE.


Audrey trying on Maddy's boots.
Jared and I have been taking a yoga class together on Tuesday evenings.  One night we showed the kids some of the poses that we do.  Audrey really likes doing the downward dog pose.

Abby with a little green dog that she made out of play-doh.



Playing at the Mayborn.


The kids love dancing on the giant piano.



The kids dressed up like travelers for a game they were playing in the backyard.
Nathan in his cowboy boots and hat that he got from Grandma D. for Christmas.
I've been called to be the personal progress advisor for Young Women's.  We had a Wizard of Oz themed New Beginnings and I had to dress up as Dorothy.

The girls took some of the balloons home, which Audrey loved playing with.

I've been trying to teach the kids some basketball skills at the YMCA after my yoga class on Thursdays.   Audrey has taken to it like a natural and loves chasing balls and carrying them over to her little hoop for a slam dunk.


The kids love visiting the Mayborn with their cousins.  The Mayborn has a new Tinkertoy and Mr Potato head exhibit that they really enjoy.

The kids love the Historic Village.  Audrey's favorite part is the small rocking chairs on the porch of one of the historic houses.


Cousins rocking together.

Audrey loves bath time.


Jared uses his medical knowledge at home to help our family and the Cranney's with various aliments.  Here he is wearing his loops as he removes a tick from Christian's neck.
Jared is reading the Ranger's Apprentice series to the kids.  They look forward to cuddling and reading with their Daddy every night.