See ya 2008!!

I am still on the lookout for some fancy battery for my new camera, so this picture is from my old one. We spent a great evening at our friend's house for dinner and games. I was surprised how well the kids held up as we didn't get home until 10:30. We had lots of yummy food and great company playing games while the kids watched movies or played games. On our way home we saw these deer just down the street, on our loop. I may have forgotten to take pictures at Erin and Bryan's but the kids agreed that these deer were there to say "Welcome to 2009!"

We're Back

My new camera's batteries are already expired and Greg is out right now buying new ones, so this will be a picture-less post. We had a wonderful time with my family this Christmas. It has been four years since we last made the trip (at Christmastime), and after all the delayed airplanes due to weather I know why we won't do it again for a long time.
It was a lot of fun being with my whole family and watching the cousins interact (only one mild concussion and one kicked out of nursery-neither mine though:). We did a lot, but at the same time had a lot of down time to just relax and be together. Greg and I definitely got spoiled by our parents, not to mention the kid's stuff. I think they were just really glad to have their 6 kids, 5 in-laws and 8 grandchildren all together.
Thanks to all the people that helped out here at home. Greg's brother drove us to and from the airport, and threw away our dead fish before the kids saw it. There were some goodies left on the porch and while they were soaked through so we have no idea who they were from, it was the thought that counts and we appreciate it all. I heard our driveway was cleared at one point. I wish we would have thought to put some salt down or something since this morning when I headed to the gym (a much needed thing after 10 days of gluttony), I got stuck in an embankment and had to dig myself out before I could leave.
We had a great little Christmas celebration here at home last night. Santa came to our house while we were gone, along with the couple things we got each other and the kids. It was nice to open the gifts and then actually get to play with some. With 23 or so people at my parents house we told the kids to just take their toys and hide them in the back until later. It is always good to go and see my family, I wish we could do it more, but it is always good to be home.

Christmas Letter

I really wasn't thinking that I would get around to Christmas letters this year. I just had to many other things to do and I thought I could use the excuse of "going green" and just email everyone. Well, it turns out that my computer loving husband thought that wasn't personal enough and so I compromised. I took a quick snapshot of the kids in front of the tree, not really caring what it looked like (I didn't know Nate's eyes were cross-eyed until later that night and I didn't want to try again the next day), and made 50 copies for family and far away friends. I figured anyone who lived close enough to us see my kids enough. I didn't even write a cute poem like I usually do, it is just the kids on a Costco generated card...and I feel great about it. For those of you who are seeing this, you have also seen the other 100 blogs this year and you know what is going on in our life. No big surprises like some Christmas cards we have received. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Blurb and Bloggled

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but Blurb is currently not supporting Blogger right now (only Livejournal and Typepad). It has been this way for a couple months and they are working on the problem. There has been discussion that it will be back in 2009, but who knows. I recently found a new program called Bloggled. On its website it says they will have a blog to book program coming in the new year. So frustrating! I know a lot of people who were really looking forward to making a book from their blog. I have been doing mine month to month, so I have thru October. I am just cutting and pasting the rest of the year and then will decide what to do come 2009 for next year. I have found a program that says they can take your blogger blog and turn it into a livejournal account, but Greg and I couldn't figure it out. Anyway, I just thought I would let you all know what I have learned. Have a great day!

Nate the Great Plays the Piano

I don't think I have mentioned these two things. Nathan now goes by Nate the Great at school. I guess his teacher read a book with that title at the beginning of the year and it just stuck. Nathan even got a letter from Santa at school that was addressed to Nate the Great, and he was so happy that Santa got his name right. Last year Nathan didn't like to be called Nate...I guess it just wasn't great enough.

Also, my Nathan has started playing the piano this school year and has amazed us with how quickly he picked it up. For his recital he played "All I Want For Christmas" and "Tree Hunt." When he started playing the first piece he had one of his front teeth missing. Tonight that space had filled in and the other tooth was missing. Nathan loved learning this song (though I was a little skeptical at first thinking it was WAY too hard), and wowed us, his grandparents and Aunt Katie with his playing. We can't wait to take the music home to play it for my family.
My good friend Tomie is Nathan's teacher and her little girl Hattie and my Annie are the best of friends. They have had a few ups and downs, but lately they are so cute together. Tonight was no exception. As you can see, they wanted to be a part of the recital as well.

Beadworks

That was a name of a store I frequented often as a teenager. I loved making bead necklaces, bracelets, earrings...you name it, I made it. Some of the pendants I had were quite attractive, a huge peace sign being the one I remember being one of my favorites. Now beads are coming back in to style and I am getting into them again. In this picture on the far right are two pieces that I bought a local store.

Together they cost $60 and though expensive I was hoping to get more bands for the face. Thanks to Holly and Marci I am happy to say that I made these other two bands and matching earrings, and I can't wait to make more. It was a lot harder than I thought to make it long/short enough and even in between the spacer bars. And while the beads were not cheap, I am pretty sure that I made them for less than I paid for the first. Now I just have wait to get more spacer bars in the mail so I can continue.

Temple Square

We headed over to Salt Lake again this year to see the beautiful lights at Temple Square. While there was no snow on the ground like last year, it was still pretty cold. We met up with Greg's sister Amy and her family briefly too. Annabelle was SO happy to see Ellie and they had a bunch of laughs before we parted ways. I can't imagine the time and patience it would take to string up all of these lights. My children seemed to appreciate the hard work and loved dancing around them. While parking is really tricky and it was pretty crowded, I hope we can continue this winter tradition.

Cookies with Grandma

My kids are so lucky. Last week they got an invitation in the mail for the 2nd annual Christmas cookie party with Grandma. They looked forward to it all week long. Greg and I were able to enjoy a few hours to ourselves while Grandma, and uncle Jeff, had fun with the kids. We browsed some stores, had a delicious lunch at Red Lobster, and watched "The Dark Knight". It wasn't a movie I really care to ever see again, but it was nice to hang out with Greg for awhile without the rugrats. The kids were so excited to show us their cookies when we got back and were eager to share... well, some of them were. Thanks Grandma for being so fun!

Star Gazing

Thanks to beautifully clear skies, an unusual thing this time of year, Greg brought out his telescope and we looked at Venus, Jupiter and the Moon. The boys thought it was pretty cool, especially the craters on the moon. I have to agree, but the hot chocolate after was pretty great, too.
While I openly dislike the snow, I am definitely missing it right now. It surprisingly doesn't feel much like Christmas without it. I guess it is growing on me, a little.

Counting to 1000

Nathan was so excited the other day when he brought home strips of paper with the beginnings of his count to 1000. It took a couple days, a lot of tape and paper, and lots of patience on both our parts. Nate was so impressed with himself, he couldn't wait to take it to school to show his teacher.