New Year's Eve Fun

We went ice skating today at the Cottonwood Heights Rec Center. It is the first time that we have ever taken our kids ice skating, and I now know why . . . it was quite the project.


Sarah was really hating it as soon as we started lacing up her skates (she said they were "too tight"), but she ended up loving it the most. But, wouldn't you love it too if all you had to do was hold onto hands and get pulled around the ice. Michael and Emma both started off totally dependent on their adult helper, but toward the end they insisted on skating independently. It really went a lot better than I had imagined. But . . . in case anyone else is going to attempt this outing . . . it would really work best with a 2 adult: 1 child ratio. We did have a wonderful time!!!

New Christmas Eve Tradition

We had such a fun Christmas Eve, and I think it will have to be a new Tradition. Early (well 10am) on Christmas Eve morning we went to Fat Cats to bowl. Barb and Colby got us all matching shirts for Christmas, which Sarah now calls our "bowling shirts."


I can't recall who won (I think Colby knows) but I think it was someone under 10. But the adults did have good form.


But the kids were pretty cute. Sarah had to gallop back after each of her turns. Then we went crazy on the arcade games. We won way too many tickets.


Then we found Deal or No Deal and we won even more tickets. I am not sure if the kids or the adults had more fun. But there were smiles all around.

Temple Square FHE

Last night we all (minus Ben who had the stomach bug that is going around) went to Temple Square to see the lights. It was beautiful and so much fun to be all together. A bystander took this picture of all of us.

The kids had a blast with their aunts and uncle. They loved running to the various manger scenes and "I spying" the lights.


After we were done our sweet grandma and grandpa took us all on carriage rides around Temple Square. It was so much fun. We had to take two carriages because there were so many of us but we got to drive right by each other and wave.

The horse that pulled the carriage below was Bob. Every time they stopped, Sarah would yell "Go, Bob!" And when they passed our carriage which was pulled by Ralph, she would say "Sup, Ralph." It was so beautiful and so much fun. Thanks grandpa and grandma.


After we were sufficiently frozen we walked back to Andrew and Becca's for hot chocolate and popcorn. They were fabulous hosts in their new home. Happy One Week Anniversary to them. We had such a fun time eating and drinking and watching "The Snowman."


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Andrew and Becca's Wedding

We had such a fun time coming back home to see Ben's sweet brother Andrew get married. The happy event took place on December 16th, just two days before our ninth anniversary. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple . . . it was a cold and snowy day . . . but very beautiful.


All of the brothers and sisters and little cousins were in town for the wedding so we got to play together a lot. The luncheon was at The Mandarin . . . it was fabulous!


My girls absolutely loved their dresses that they got for the reception. They twirled all night. This picture is of all of the cousins together, except Tom and Asher who were a little to squirmy to stay still for long.


And of course, it wouldn't be a wedding without "the jacket." For those of you that don't know the history . . . this jacket was worn by Gene on his wedding day. Andrew wore the jacket to Dave's wedding. Daniel wore it to our wedding. Andrew wore it once again at Katrina's wedding. And Ben did the honors at Andrew's wedding.


Congratulations Andrew and Becca!!! We love you!