Lydia and her Strings!

Last Wednesday Lydia had her orchestra concert. This is her second year learning the violin. She sounded great! She looks quite grown up when she plays as well. Her music teacher was quite enthusiastic as he played piano while the kids played their string instruments. Lydia seemed quite focused and I am so proud of her!!!

Violet enjoyed listening to her sister as well.

She wasn't too happy when I told her NO when it came to grabbing the camera.

Sweet Gingerbread

Sunday the 12th of December the girls and I decided to make the gingerbread house from the kit I had picked up at Costco. I wonder if consumers are beginning to get more lazy because our house came pre-built. The only thing left to do was to decorate it with lots and lots of frosting and candy. Lydia and Adelle decided to decorate the house and I decided to decorate the tree and two gingerbread people.

Adelle and Lydia found it was harder than it looked. They kept remarking that my frosting looked better, but I encouraged them to keep trying.

Violet looked on and in time grew impatient. We gave her snacks to keep her occupied.

My little project turned out okay. The girls were disappointed when I covered the bottom in coconut since they aren't big fans.

The kit came with the cutest gummy snowman. The girls even made eyes peeping out of the windows. In the front yard they even put pumpkins covered with icing since at the time our Halloween pumpkins still were on the front porch covered with snow. What did I say about lazy? Adelle took over the icing at the end and was quite proud of her icicles. Wes didn't join us because he confessed to Lydia this year that gingerbread kits are like paint by numbers and he just isn't a fun. We girls still had a fun time! I know we will all enjoy eating it after Christmas, even Wes!

Feeling Boxed In?

The other night I decided to have a little fun with violet. She can make a mess super quick and loves pulling out toys and books all over the living room. I decided to put her away with the toys. She enjoyed being in her little box for a bit, but protested soon after!

It gave her the grand idea a few days later to try and get in the box by herself. She ended up needing rescue when she got stuck hanging over the box, unable to climb in or get out. Silly girl!

Haircuts!

On December 1 we went to our local haircutting establishment to get Wes and the girls' hair cut. We decided that even little Violet was getting a little shaggy, so she got her very first trim. I asked them to save some of her hair, but then I forgot to take it :( She got to sit in daddy's lap to get it done.

She did pretty well, especially if I kept taking pictures. It was enough of a distraction.

Adelle decided to get a drastic change and chose an A-line cut, which we all think makes her look so grown up.

Her hair looks so thick and full now.

Lydia's hair was getting pretty long. She went more subtle and she looks great as well!

Wes got his hair cut as well. I myself decided to wait until Friday for a friend of mine to work her magic on my hair!

Snow Lydia

I love my Lydia. She is growing up more and more every day and I know that soon she will no longer be my girl, but will be a young lady. Lydia's aunt requested some pictures of her for a project. I caught her while she was playing in the snow!

Need Power?

I am totally behind on my blog thanks to my home computer being on the fritz! About a month ago we had a MASSIVE snow storm. There was very large amounts of very WET, HEAVY snow. We lost power from 3:00 in the morning until about noon. Wes pulled out a box of puzzles that were supposed to be a family Christmas present since there wasn't much for us to do. It was a Sunday so the girls and I still headed to church, but it was cancelled after sacrament since the power had been off most of the day even at the church. The girls helped with part of the puzzle and then Wes and I finished it up. I was so grateful when the power came back on. I was worried how chilly it was getting without the heater.

Oh I'm Thankful!

Thanksgiving was great this year. I didn't take pictures AGAIN this year. Drat! I have this great camera and I didn't even use it. I really need to get in the habit again of snapping photos.

On Thanksgiving Day I spent a lot of the day working on the 2008 blog book and everyone enjoyed relaxing. Later in the afternoon Wes got my brother Philip and we headed to Wes' parents. It was fun to see everyone again. Violet was pretty entertaining. She was a little timid at first, especially around her uncle Jeff, but she began to warm up. At one point we were all copying her when she would clap and stop clapping and she just thought that was the greatest thing.

Adelle and Philip played Battleship while dinner was being made and after dinner. Adelle had a melt down at one point when we discovered that she had in fact been moving her ship to avoid being hit. I love her. She promised to be honest on the next game. Phil was really great with her. He really seemed to be super comfortable and he even began playing the piano and singing at one point! I love him!!!

Dinner was wonderful and we really enjoyed visiting with everyone. After dinner Wes and I enjoyed joking with his aunt and siblings while looking at the ads. We really didn't want to leave when 8:00 rolled around, but we needed to get Violet to bed.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we headed to my step-mom's house. It had been snowing since the night before, but we braved the weather and made it there safely. Dinner was marvelous! The deserts were super yummy too. The girls and I especially liked the little cake balls and Candy Apple Salad. Yummy! We also enjoyed seeing everyone. It was really great to see my sister Sarah's art. She really is developing into quite the talented Artist. I could never draw or paint like she does and I am so proud to see her learning so much and working so hard at it! We couldn't stay too long though because the snow was still coming down and we knew it would be a long, scary drive. We did manage to make it home again.

I am so grateful for loving family that surrounds us, especially during this holiday season. I love each and every one of you. Thank you for loving us with all of your hearts and taking such good care of us!!!!