Holiday Happenings

First off, we got some snow and everyone is happy, except maybe me who has to drive in it. But it is pretty and makes things feel more Christmas-y!

Now on to lots of performances... Maddie's Ballet,

Kenzie's preschool (so cute, and short which was nice on a most crazy night),

and Kylie's orchestra. She just started playing the violin this fall and has enjoyed it.

I think this was our best effort yet on the decorating of the gingerbread house.

The lights on Temple Square with cousins Dustin and Abby. This was the warmest night ever for looking at the lights. Notice Tanner only has a sweatshirt on.

The Festival of Trees. This is taken at their gingerbread area. Behind them is the biggest gingerbread castle I have ever seen. The lady said it was all made entirely of gingerbread with no other internal supports. It was amazing! All the beautiful decorated trees, gingerbread houses, crafts and wreaths are donated and then auctioned off for Primary Children's hospital. It is a great event that we try to get to every year.

Finally the tooth fairy can come!

Maddie has been feeling a little left out that she had not lost any teeth yet, and she is a little old at 7+. But last month she finally had not one but two teeth pop out one right after the other. Yeah- the tooth fairy!!

Turkeys beware

Thanksgiving was the usual gorging and relaxing! We had a nice break from school and work. We had the turkey at our house with Paul's parents and my mom- small group this year. Dinner was yummy and we enjoyed the leftovers almost as much. Except I don't think we could ever get Kenzie to try the turkey. She is still mostly vegetarian- she has never liked much meat. The other kids don't know where that came from! The best part was that we got all our Christmas decorations up, inside and out. It's nice to have kids old enough to help with that now. On to Christmas...

Don't drop that bottle!

Kylie was in a dance festival for the Spanish Immersion program at school and her class got to test their balance with their dance. Usually the 6th grade gets to do something a little different and special since it is their last year. So they had to balance plastic bottles (with a small weight in them) on their heads for the entire dance. They also had a handkerchief that they dropped and picked up with their mouth- all with a bottle on their head. It was really something! They did so well. For months they had been walking around the school with these bottles on their heads as they worked. Kylie didn't drop hers at all and now has the posture of a beauty queen! I'm not sure what country that dance comes from, but it was a great cultural night.