Frosty Comes to Town

Uncle Kelly finally arrived this week, so Josh and Clara put him to work building a snowman.  He made sure that we had carrots first (for a nose), and requested that Uncle Curt buy charcoal on his way over so that the eyes would be made out of coal.  I fashioned a top hat and we were good to go.  I gave Josh and Clara some early Christmas presents - an igloo maker and a brick maker.  That should keep them occupied for at least 10 minutes.

We love when Uncle Kelly comes to visit.  Then I can take pictures and stay warm while he does all of the work with the cold wet stuff!

Sled Dogs

They actually aren't dogs, but we went sledding after a big snowfall.  We have a few different parks in the area with perfect hills for sledding.  The snow was pretty deep and slushy so they didn't get much traction, but we still had a lot of fun.

Gingerbread House

One Sunday night we made gingerbread houses with the besties.  We each bought a kit because we like things to be easy.  Lo and behold - it was! 

The Besties

Temple Square 2012

We decided to go to Temple Square before it was too cold to enjoy the lights.  It was really crowded, but very beautiful.  Fortunately, the uncles were there so Clara had shoulders to ride on.

 Clara and Uncle rob

 Clara with the lumenarias

 Ama Ancy, Curt, and Papa Rick

 Josh and Clara

Thanksgiving Point Lights

We decided to go see the lights at Thanksgiving Point on Thanksgiving weekend.  We ate at Rumbi Island Grill and then headed over.  Ama Ancy, Papa Rick, and Uncle Curt came with us.  The lights were wonderful as always.  Josh fell asleep as we were driving through them and after we got ice cream he said, "So when do we go see the lights?"

Another rare picture of the four of us.  I vow to do better at that.

Thanksgiving 2012

This year for Thanksgiving we headed South to my aunt and uncle's house.  My cousins came up from Arizona.  After eating themselves silly, the kids put on a show where they jumped off a rock and onto the trampoline.  We all watched and discussed how we did the same thing on Thanksgiving every year when we were growing up.  Except we didn't have a trampoline in the ground.  It didn't have a net or pads around it.  It was four feet in the air.  We all survived.

 Gordy had too much turkey.

Christian wasn't feeling well. :(

October 2012. Includes Halloween.

 We spent General Conference hanging out with friends while Dave was out of town.

 And sleeping in strange places like the living room floor.

 Or the kitchen floor.

 We played with cousins Hazel, Ellen and Ruby.

 ...and Maggie and Sam.

 I joined Ocean Avenue.  And bought Clara a t-shirt.

Then she lost a tooth.

 Then we decided that the kids should dress up and go beg for candy.  Except Josh, who maintained that he had absolutely no interest.

 Clara finally got her wish to be a bat after begging for two years.

 The kids were all ready for action.

 Cleopatra and the bat (both toothless)

 At the last minute Josh said, "I should bring a grocery sack in case someone wants to give me candy."  Aunt Loree put her foot down and made Josh dress up in Spencer's costume from last year.  It was awesome.

 So Bat and Mario were ready for action.

 Dave was responsible for stopping the boys from running too far ahead.

I did this and stuck a bowl of candy on the front stairs.