Christmas & New Years

Ah Christmas - it was a great one! 

We prepared by sprinkling out some Magic Reindeer food - it really helps to guide Santa's sleigh to our house.

 

We put out cookies and eggnog for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

 

We got our Christmas pajamas and headed for bed.

 

 

 And after finally dragging the parents out of bed, we headed downstairs on Christmas morning to see what was in store for us.  Santa was good to us, as always.

 

 

Santa surprised Sam with a stuffed elf - he named him "Melf".  

 

 Santa got us everything we were hoping for - and more!

 

 

 Sam had been asking for a new cat - and so we all went to the local humane society a few days before Christmas and picked out the cutest little cat - her name is Angel.  We love her!

 

So many fun presents!  Thanks to everyone for the great gifts!

 

 

Sam and I got to have a double-sleepover at Uncle Noley's.  Lots of fun was had there too - but what happens at Uncle Noley's, stays at Uncle Noley's.  Here is one picture that we texted out - rubber band guns.  Ahhh - so much fun!

 

And then it was New Year's Eve.  We went out to dinner and then made our traditional toasts for a great New Year.  Welcome to 2017!



Pre-Christmas Events

December held a lot of fun events leading up to Christmas.  We started with our Christmas programs at school.  Sam's was up first:

 

Sam showed his mad umbrella spinning skills in "Raindrops Keep Fallin'".

 

Here is "Jingle all the Way".

 

And here is the perennial favorite song "Hot Cup of Cocoa".

 

And here he is with his teacher - Mrs. Abbott.

For my program, I'm sharing "Sleigh Ride".

 

And "The First Noel/Pachelbel's Canon" - Mom's personal favorite!

  

My teacher, Mrs. Johnson is fabulous!

 

And here I am with my best friend, Ben.

 

In other events, we went to a play - The Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly.  It was fun!

 

Mom took us to Temple Square - it was pretty, even though we were there during the day without all the lights on.

We wrote and mailed letters to Santa Claus.  He is always so nice to write us back during this busy time of the year!

We got a Christmas tree and decorated the house.

 We had a great snowball fight.

And then came Christmas and New Years - - - next post.

 

Sam Alert:  Hey everyone - Sam here. 
I think this picture speaks for itself.  That's one handsome boy right there, if I do say so myself!



 
Ok - Sam out!



And November Disappeared Too!

Well somehow November got away from us and we're now solidly in to the middle of December.  Let's catch up on a couple of big things from November before we move into Christmas events.

 

November is always full of lots and lots and lots of yard work.  We love jumping in the leaves and stomping down leaves in the trashcans.

 

Check out this huge leaf we found.

 

 

We finished up our fall horse lessons.  We have really enjoyed horse lessons and are already asking when we can go riding again.  Here I am with my horse, Big Jake, after my horse show.

 

And here's Sam with his horse, Duke.  

 

We're quite the proud set of horsemen!

 

Then over Thanksgiving week, we went on a road trip to go visit our Aunt who has been sick. 

 

We took a little detour and made a stop in Hollywood --- it was a complete and total surprise for me and Sam.  Dad and mom had us completely fooled that we weren't going to get to do anything fun on the trip.  But then we walked in to Universal Studios and we just couldn't figure it out - until we saw some Wizarding World of Harry Potter stuff.  

 

And finally the parents told us we got to spend a whole day in Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. 

These ginormous smiles you see on our faces lasted all day and really pretty much all the rest of the week.  It was the best day ever!

 

It was everything we ever hoped it would be!

 

You have to have your picture taken with the conductor of the Hogwarts Express - don't you?

 

The shops were amazing - here we are in front of Zonko's Joke Shop - and Honeydukes was right next door.

 

I was chosen to meet with Mr. Olivander for a wand fitting.  It's true - the want chooses the wizard!  It was sooooo coooool!

 

We both got to have new interactive wands.  

 

We rode the rides - here we are waiting for the Flight of the Hippogrif.

 

And the really long line was for the Forbidden Journey - which was absolutely incredible!

 

Our most favorite part was doing all the spells around Hogsmeade with our wands.  We did spells all day long!

 

 

 

The food at the Three Broomsticks was delicious.  We had Pumpkin Juice, and every temperature of Butter Beer possible (frozen, cold, and hot).  

 

All in all - it really was the best day ever!

 

A family photo opportunity with students from Durmstrang and Beau Baton.

 

And a final picture with the Hogwarts Express on our way out.  

 

We got to spend some time with Aunt Jen Jen.  She's still got attitude even with everything she's going through.

 

We drew pictures for her and tried to make her laugh.

And of course, what would a trip to So Cal be without a stop at our favorite fresh seafood market.  A yummy dinner was had by all.

And here I am for my traditional photo with Mr. Shark.

 

Here's Sam and I with the Whale and another Shark.

 

Sam Alert:  Hey everyone - Sam here.  We've gotten a little lazy with blog posts - sorry about that.  We'll try to do better. 

 

Here's just one picture for you to make you smile - here I am one morning trying to get ready for school, pretending I don't know how to put on my sweater vest.  Silly Sam!

Ok - Sam out - have a great week!

Where did October Go?

Well October sure got away from us and November is now well under way.

Let's catch up on our exciting happenings from October - seat belts on!

 

Cross Country - Sam ran cross country this season.  He had so much fun and did great! 

Here he is at his first race - his distance was 2K for his age group.

 

 

His time for race #1 was 11:38:44.

 

We snuck off for a 2-day trip to Star Valley for the Star Valley temple open house.  The weather was perfect and it was great to have a little get away.

Here we are at the top of the pass before you drop down into the valley.  

 

The temple was beautiful - tiny but just perfect.  

 

And the flowers they planted around the temple were amazing!  So fall-ish 

 

Mom and her boys!

 

Nothing like a roll of hay in a picture of a temple.  Bet there aren't many temples with hay fields on either side!

 

We always get to drive the car on the way up and back from the cemetery.  I got the drive up.  It's one of our favorite traditions!  

 

Such a blue-sky day!  We love this little cemetery.  

 

Here's Sam driving out from the cemetery.  The fences were in fear of their lives, but we all made it out without injury.  

 

We stayed at some fun new cabins just south of Afton.  It was a great weekend!

 

We wanted to do the Intermittent Springs hike but it was packed with people.  So we stopped at Janee Falls in the same canyon and spent some time throwing rocks and playing in the water.  

 

A family photo.

 

Water and Boys - the perfect combo.  

 

Sam the dog - head hanging out, tongue hanging out.  He makes us laugh!

 

Somehow we all got sick after we got home from Star Valley - one at a time, about 48 hours each . . . and then the next one . . . . and the next . . . and so on.  I was the first to get it - and this is how I spent one night.  It was brutal!  

 

Once we all finally recovered, we headed to our favorite pumpkin patch with Grandma G and our cousins.  It's always a fun time!

 

It's always so hard to pick the perfect pumpkin.

 

The debates about the qualities of each pumpkin were fun for the adults to listen to - or so they told us.  

 

Another great family tradition!

 

 

I finished up football season in October.  It was a fun season with dad as my coach. 



 

I pulled lots of flags this season, made lots of touch downs, threw, kicked, caught, and ran.  

 

Sam also finished up cross country.  See him in the middle there - getting ready to start his last race.  

 

He ran and ran and ran.

 

And he dropped when he was done.  

 

He ran his last race in 10:09:44.  That's a huge improvement over the season.  He did great.  

 

And here I am with my football medal.  

 

We carved pumpkins.  

 

And we celebrated Halloween.

I was "Marty McFly" - you know, the kid from Back to the Future. 

And Sam was Sorcerer Mickey.  

 

There were some birthday parties for friends during October too.  I did my first real body surfing at the Provo Beach Resort for one of the parties.  It was so much fun - I'm hooked.  Bring on the beach and the surf!  

Ok - other happenings in October coming up next - which translates to a look at our annual trip to Jackson and the Tetons.  A wonderful time was had by all!  Soon . . . .