Bookworms!

My poor children are growing up in a nerd filled household. They haven't figured it out yet, which is good. Reading is a big part of our lives, especially during the dark, winter months. Actually I am proud that we all like to read so much. It makes me feel like my children are building a good, stable base for their futures.

I do find it funny though that Lydia will read so many books at once. She started "Inkdeath" by Cornelia Funke not long after Christmas. It is the third in the Inkheart series. I personally have read the first two and really have enjoyed them. I wish Eleanor (an older lady in the book) didn't swear on occasion though. In the meantime though she read Lemony Snicket's "The Bad Beginning". Lydia and I have also been reading "Alice in Wonderland" in the evenings before bed. A few days ago she also starting reading the "Diary of Anne Frank". I am thrilled about this one. It is one of my absolute favorites. She is going to do a Biography on Anne Frank at school and thought she would read her diary. What amazes me is that she can keep all of the books straight.

I myself have been known to read a few at a time, but not 3 or 4. I am currently listening to "Jo's Boys" by Louisa May Alcott. It is the third of the series after "Little Women" and "Little Men". I am really enjoying it. I am finding more and more that I tend to gravitate to classic books which center around the family and home. They are ideal images of family bliss. I also started "Shirley" by Charlotte Bronte a few nights ago. It is interesting thus far. Most of her novels are pretty dark and depressing so we will see where this one takes me.

I received the complete works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte as a late Christmas present. Wes had intended to give it to me at Christmas, but he left it in the trunk and forgot about it, until he went grocery shopping a few weeks after Christmas. He was embarrassed, but I was super excited!! I have already read "Wuthering Heights", "Jane Eyre", and "Vilette" before. I now need to read "Shirley" and "The Professor".

Adelle loves to get stacks of books from the library and she is usually content to have me read to her for an hour or so. She has been choosing a lot of Bernstein Bear and Blue's Clues books recently. I enjoy these moments with her and I hope they will last long into her adolescence. By then we will probably be into chapter books. She has been known to check out books that we have read over and over again. The most recent one is "Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty". She begged me to act it out with her last night after we had already read it. It is funny to see her dancing around the living room being Ella Bella.

Wes hasn't read too much since Law School. I think it is because he was forced to read so much dry material in order to become an Attorney. He did pick up a few fantasy books at the library the other day. He said they were awful though. I found him later that evening writing his own story. I hope he will let me read it sometime soon!

I am sure in the summer the reading will taper off a little because we will be having outdoor adventures, but right now I am going to savor our little reading moments.

Erica and Jeff are Home!

Last Saturday Jeff, Erica and Ellen arrived home from China. Ellen was in China for a couple of weeks and of course Erica and Jeff where there for 4 months. Our whole family was excited to visit with them on Sunday night. We enjoyed asking them about their journey and learning a thing or two about China and it's culture. Most of all we were just excited to have them home. They have been missed so much. Wes remarked later in the evening how wonderful it is to have everyone home.

Jeff, Ellen and Erica brought us gifts which was so sweet. Adelle got some stacking panda dolls, a pink, stuffed jellyfish, and a bracelet. Lydia got two bracelets, and a blue, stuffed jellyfish. One of the bracelets that Lydia got has a real (dead) beetle embedded in a glow in the dark rectangle. It is super cool! We all got chopsticks. I got a beautiful clip from Erica and a pendant from Ellen.

Adelle asked if she could sleep over on Sunday night, but since it was a school night we had to say no. We decided that the girls will sleepover on Valentine's day. That is the day that Wes and I are going to stay at a bed and breakfast in Logan.


We are so glad they are home! Did I say that already? :) We can't wait to get together with them again!

Ellen, Erica and Lydia.

Jeff with his new panda puppet.

New Year's Eve Celebration

My dad and his band were playing at a local First Night Celebration this year and invited us to come. We decided to be bold and adventurous and take him up on his offer. Lydia wasn't with us since she is currently at her dad's house. We really missed her and wished she was with us.

It was a smaller but energetic crowd at the community center. The dance floor was really hopping! My dad's band, Hardly Workin' has been around now for about 23 years and I have so many fond memories of listening to him play as a child. It was great to listen to some of the old tunes again! These guys still have that same spunk and charisma!

Adelle literally danced the whole entire night. There were only a few moments when she rested to get a drink or a little snack. We all had fun dancing, even Wes and I.

We counted down to midnight with the mayor and then headed outside to see the fireworks. Adelle kept saying how wonderful and beautiful the fireworks were.

Channel 5 news was even on hand earlier in the evening talking to the Mayor while my dad and his band were performing. Maybe you saw them.

We left about 12:30 AM to head home. Adelle managed to stay awake the whole evening, even in the car. It's good she had a long nap earlier in the day. We ended up going to bed around 1:30 AM. That is so super late for us.

It was honestly the most memorable New Year's Eve I've ever had. It was such a blast. If my dad's band performs again next New Year's Eve we will have to come and bring Lydia this time. I am excited to see what this new year will bring. Here is hoping that prosperity and good fortune comes your way this year! Happy New Years!!!
Adelle dancing the night away.

Adelle and the band.

Adelle dancing with her daddy.

Adelle and Grandpa.

Another picture of the band.

Adelle was really getting tired here (even though she wouldn't admit it) so daddy picked her up to dance.


Love the glasses!
Getting ready for the big moment.

Our first moment and picture of the new year (well after I received my New Year's Kiss from Wes).

The big fireworks show to end the night.

Snow Adventures

The Saturday after Christmas while I was attending the temple and making Christmas exchanges Wes and the girls ventured out into the big wide, snow covered world. They decided it would be funner and safer to walk to the bank instead of drive. I love these pictures that Wes took.

The girls standing on their own snow mountain.

This is the snow capped mountain near our home.

Wes and the girls first ventured through the park, but then decided to take the neighborhood side walks.

The snow covered park

Play Time

The day after Christmas the girls and I had fun playing with each other. I had thought about going out to make some Christmas exchanges, but the snow was just coming down! We probably got close to 2 feet!

Adelle was so excited to play with her little bear factory which she received. I had to help her with it, but she absolutely adores it! It came with two little bears and a doll to stuff. Now that they are stuffed she keeps asking me every day to help her do it again (take the stuffing out and re-stuff it). The bears actually have zippers on the back so they can be done again and again. We still haven't re-stuffed them. Maybe we'll have to these next couple of days!

The girls and I then sat down for a chocolate party. We used the elaborate play chocolates from Aunt Sarah and had pretend hot cocoa. I love my girls!


Adelle with her newly stuffed bear.

Adelle and her newly stuffed and newly dressed bear.

Of course for the chocolate party the new friends had to join us, even Blue.

Lydia being silly again :)

Adelle with her little petite chocolates. She had to dress up for our little get together.

Christmas at My Parents Home

I made a breakfast casserole to take to my parents home, tried to get gas before we left (which may I say was a a nightmare) and we headed out the door. A very large storm had come in and was blowing snow everywhere. We ended up being about 20 minutes late, but we were just glad we made it.

We headed inside, ate some yummy food, and gathered in the living room to open presents. There were a lot of people and a lot of presents so it was hectic, but still fun.

From my parents we received some new PlayStation 2 games, some gift cards, and clothes for Wes and I, including new shoes for me. Yeah!

Adelle received clothes, church shoes and tights, and some new Kelly Barbie dolls. They were collector edition dolls (Raggedy Ann and Andy, Alice and Wonderland and the Mad Hatter, and a Princess and a Prince). They of course are already out of their packaging. I have saved the Collector Certificates. Why I'm not sure, but I have anyway.

Lydia received the Little House on the Prairie Book set (which I may read at some point myself), clothes including a beautiful new dress, and some church shoes and tights.

Julie's mom gave us Lehi Roller Mills baking mixes. Yummy! The girls can't wait for me to make sugar cookies with them. I am waiting until our pile of treats from our neighbors is gone. Allie gave us a gas card which is always appreciated.

Sarah and Matt gave me new jewelry (which just happens to match my new top that Wes made). The gave Wes a Joann's gift card. They gave Lydia a new book and Adelle received these wonderful realistic looking play chocolates.

Grandma Walter gave Wes and I cash. She gave Lydia a Fur Real bird which really chirps and tries to drink out of a bottle. She also gave her some more littlest pets. She gave Adelle her bear factory which she has been wanting so much and an outfit for one of the bears.

Phil gave the girls silly putty and gave our family a fun board game set.

We had fun visiting with everyone. It was funny to see little Cedric get excited about his presents. He received an electronic dog from my Grandmother Walter which absolutely made him laugh every time it would flip. My parents also gave him a very cool toy piano, an upright one at that. It is amazing.

After things had settled down Lydia and I played Phil's new Harry Potter Clue game with him. It was a lot of fun to play a board game with him again. Phil and I used to play board games for hours when we were kids! I enjoyed winning too :) I have a competitive streak which I forget about sometimes.

We then headed home to spend the rest of the day relaxing and trying out our new toys. Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and I wish it wouldn't go by so quickly.

Thank you everyone for your love and generosity. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Adelle getting her "girl" princess PlayStation game! She was quite excited about that. Ken and his wife Jackie are behind her.
So many presents!

Of course we always have to give hugs and say thank you.

Lydia Loo looking pretty.

Sarah and Grandma Julie opening Cedric's new piano.

Since we were a bit crowded I let Adelle take some pictures. These were her results.

Me.

Allie with her initials on her forhead.

Phil.

Sarah.

Grandma Walter at extreme close up!

Her sister.

And her little cousin Cedric.

Christmas Day

We woke up at a pretty decent time Christmas Morning, got ready for the day and opened our presents. The girls were super excited that they got vanity desks. Santa brought Lydia a vanity desk, 2 new webkinz dogs, and a Littlest Pet Shop Gym she has been wanting so much. Adelle got a vanity desk, a pink unicorn she can wear for pretend play, a Sleeping Beauty light up barbie, and a Sleeping Beauty walking horse to go with her barbie. Santa also brought the girls Legos to share. In their stockings they had a chocolate animal, a new littlest pet shop pet and colored pencils for Lydia and crayons for Adelle.

Lydia received from us the book Inkdeath (3rd book in Inkheart series), a timer/stopwatch to track her reading minutes from school, some play-doh, and a new Sunday Dress with tights.

Adelle received from us a Blues Clues DVD, a little stuffed Blue dog, a new unbreakable piggie bank, some new books (Bernstein Bears and Blues Clues), play-doh and a new Sunday Dress.

The family gifts were a Wall-E DVD, a Sleeping Beauty DVD, and a giant book about outer space which is super cool!!

I gave Wes a new Jacket and a green sweater. I also updated our personal scrapbook for the year which he just loves. I gave him the scrapbook last year. It contains pictures and stories of our little getaways that we take a couple of times a year.

He gave me the Asian shirt that he made, a new green hoodie sweater, a new watch and a receipt for a Bed and Breakfast stay on Valentine's Day. Woo Hoo! It has been a year since we have stayed at a Bed and Breakfast. The one we will be staying at in February is located in Logan which I think will just be far enough out of the valley to feel like a get away.

Lydia was sweet and got each of us presents this year. She made Wes and I a painted Christmas Ornament. She made Adelle a picture and also gave her a Princess jewlery box filled with bouncy balls and jelly braclets. Lydia helped clean the house for my present and also gave me cash. The silly girl :) It is the same cash she had found while cleaning her room.

Wes' dad surprised us and showed up at some point in the morning. He came bearing gift which he had personally picked out for each of us. It was so sweet! He gave me a new lantern and flashlight which will be great for when the power goes out or camping. He gave Wes some new tools. He gave Adelle a new movie (the princess and the goblin) and a magnet story book. He gave Lydia a new Spiderwick Computer Game and each of the girls got cracker jack.

We made sure to send him home with a bag of rolls (yes, one of the bags Wes had searched forever to find Christmas Eve), and some leftover ham.

Our day wasn't over yet though. Wes still had my parents to visit.
Adelle wearing her pink, winged unicorn.

Opening presents!

Lydia being silly!

Wes in his new jacket.

Wes reading the outer space book to Adelle. It is huge!