Let's Wrap Up December!

We were blessed to have Diana & Lucas stay on an extra week or so after Nick went back to San Diego. 

The week dawned with fresh snow on the mountains. (Actually, this is a sunset!)

 There was plenty of napping too. It would appear that Roxie fell asleep mid-text!

 Gram pulled out all of her old tricks such as Rachel and Richard's ton of Duplos...

 

...building blanket forts...

 ...bath time and jumping/lotion afterward...

...and pulling out the mini flashlight when the boy got fussy.

 

Roxie took care of the tickling department!

 One evening we all piled into the van and drove south to Provo for the annual BYU Athletic Dept. Christmas party. It is held in the Cougar Club room under Edwards Stadium. Diana wanted a shot of Lucas in front of Heisman Trophy winner, Ty Detmer's wall. Very cool! We sent this one to his Daddy who was Cougar Blue with envy!

The party is always fun with plenty of good food.
As usual, my girlies did not appreciate my photo taking...

 ...until I cried! (No, I just looked really sad!)

 There was plenty of passing the boy around...

 ... and coloring in the kid's area where Lucas charmed rather large athletes.

 Coach & I complied with the request for a photo the FIRST time!

Then Louie finished up the bread sticks!

 We had SO much fun during those days but all good things must come to an end, so they say.

I took this photo a few days later at the airport with a lump in my throat
and tears all of the way home.

Once at home I found evidence in one of my fake apples that Lucas had been there . 

A little love note!

A few days later we were excited to get this photo of our California gang!

Nick loves Santa! Lucas is not so sure!

I caught this wintry shot one morning of the Little House on the Corner.

 Too bad it was garbage day!

 

Dr. Sarah arrived mid-month and we settled into a cozy, fire-building, movie-watching norm.

Oh, and the "Mom! Stop taking pictures policy was still in force! 

Roxie took every opportunity to find warmth. Notice her fleece vest matches Rachel's shirt? 

How clever of her!

We went out to Thanksgiving Point and attended Holiday Lights with Britt. It was one of her last events at this job. She was moving on the BIGGER things!

One night we went to Salt Lake City and enjoyed the lights on Temple Square. 

SO beautiful and peaceful there!

Say "cheese"!

"One was enough Mom. Knock it off!"

 I always love the floating tea lights in front of the temple.
Can you call them TEA lights if they are on Temple Square?

 Such a beautiful backdrop for the Holy Family!

And there were Shepherds abiding in a field of snow, wondering what they were doing there.

Santa came and filled the stockings!

We love him forever because he left us Nutella and Chocolate-dipped Peeps!!

 Oh, and a game to dance away those calories!

There were lots of long winter's naps still to be had...

 ...yeah, I got the message.

 This is me taking a nap. well actually it is my feet under a quilt and pillow, taking a nap!

 This is my most awesome and biggest word score ever
 in "Words With Friends" before I fell asleep!
YES!!

I baked gingerbread men after Christmas because I just couldn't get around to it before!~ I love my Mom's old gingerbread man cutter! Takes me right back to my little girl days, standing on a chair, helping my Mom with her apron tied up around my chest.

 

 There were more naps and mucho book reading! This man can fall asleep anywhere!

 We got a fun new game called "Pictionary Man".

 You have to draw the word right on the little guy. It was funny, loud,

 and sometimes a bit irreverent...ahem!

 Diana sent us this darling photo of herself and Lucas in South Carolina at Nick's parents' home. 

Makes my heart want to burst with love! After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?
Let's not mention that he is munching on the baby Jesus in his manger!

 Sending love to all of you who make me smile and hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Halloween Over, Bring on Thanksgiving!

I have never been so excited for a Thanksgiving in the Little House! Nick, Diana, and our Little Lucas are coming!! It's going to be a busy month. I feel the need to get the house ready for an irrepressible, perpetually moving/exploring little one year old! There is a lot to move and secure. Under the kitchen sink is a veritable poison stronghold! We are going to pull out some of Richard's old toys (yes, I still have them, don't mock!) and clean them up as well.

I between then and now I have a trip coming up myself. It's one that took me by surprise and I am so excited for it! I am going to Toronto to be with Dr. Sarah when she receives her Doctoral degree!! She has gone to school up there for 6 long years and we have never been able to go see her there. We found out just two weeks ago that everything checked out with her dissertation to put her in the November convocation. Many prayers were said for the funding to appear so that at least one of us could be there with her. It is really unbelievable how prayers are answered. I have my airline ticket ad am waiting anxiously for my passport to arrive. You pay through the nose for a rush order so they had better get it to me! I'll be gone for a week and be home on the 20th. Just in time to get Thanksgiving ready!

Halloween was her usual fun night with the help of my amazing kids. I am not much of a costume, decorate the outside of the house kind of gal. They do it every year and it is a lot of fun to see the end result. Nothing too fancy, but we got lots of compliments! Spooky music and blinking ghost light, spider webs and a growing skull in the candy bowl that some cute kid tries to take as a treat every year. Here's some of what went on this week:

We spent an evening at Cornbelly's. Lots of fun and only a little bit cold, maybe in the 40's.

Britt and Richard decided to climb the rock wall. Richard looks all spidery here!

B reached the top first ( her side was easier!)

Richard reaches the top!

  My two youngest went on a terrifying monster truck ride!

 Next came Dee and I. He's a scary driver!

 He made it all better with a smooch though!

We have to throw these in to gross-out the kids, you know!

Then we were off to watch the darling pig races! This is a favorite of mine. But that darn Dusty asked the crowd who had the prettiest Mom there. Rachel made the most noise and I got the prize for my beauty...I got to kiss a piglet!

It was a side/European type kiss so Little Piggy kissed me too!

Then later Dee kissed me in the same place. When I pointed it out I thought he might die! Picture Lucy in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" after Snoopy kissed her!

My girlies at home were very creative this year. Britt was Fiona from Adventure Time! Rachel hand made her Steam punk outfit from the aviator cap all bedazzled with gears, to her blouse and skirt. She did this in two days and it is really a fine job of sewing! Take it from one who sits behind a sewing machine nearly every day, she is amazing!

 They had a hard time getting baby brother to dress up. He's just a bit too cool for that. They wanted to go out to "Slurp" a local Shaved Ice and beverage joint and wouldn't let him come unless he joined them in their costume fun. He came downstairs with his Dad's rabbit fur hat from Moscow and a grim look on his face. Perfect!

Here we are behind Slurp where you park. Don't they look like little Trick-or-Treaters?

Slurp is one of the many businesses that has sprung up in the old houses on Main St. I love that these places are being preserved and that we get to go inside and enjoy their craftsmanship. Look at this lovely window!

I did my part inside of the Little House on the Corner. I love the older "vintage" style of pumpkins and black cats. I'm starting to collect them a bit at a time.

Love my Disney candle holders from or trip in 2006!

This cute scarecrow has been around for a long time. She was a gift from my mother-in-law!

Brittany made the jumbo candy corns. They are so cute!

Rachel was responsible for the spider attacking my cute little birdie!

So, now it's over, clean-up has begun...on to LUCAS!!!!!

 Hide the pens Gramma!