33rd Birthday

Thank you to my wonderful family who made my birthday so special. We have pulled through some rough patches this year and somehow it made this Christmas all the sweeter. I couldn't stop smiling. I am so grateful for a good sweet husband who is my best friend, for a beautiful daughter who fills my soul with laughter, for generous parents who never cease to amaze me, for fabulous in-laws so loving and kind, for my sisters who offer endless support, and enduring friendships. Thank you for all your love and good wishes. Right back at you!

Christmas morning

This was a total delight to have my mother-in-law, Debbie, brother-in-law, Vic, and my parents with us Christmas morning. Here is a sampling of the goodies Santa left. Can you guess what the long poll is?? (Hint: It is not a net to clean the pool. Answer at the bottom of this post.)
It was a Disney Princess/Barbie explosion at our house. Thank you to a few friends who were looking for new homes for their little girl toys! My mom and I stayed up late hot gluing new flowers to the Barbie mansion. So fun.

Never far from Uncle Vic.

Generously insisting that everyone receive a mani/pedi...

Graciously offering to help everyone else with opening their presents...

Santa brought several new books this year. Hallelujah that she is allowing all of us to read to her!

The Disco Queen has arrived! Thank you to Aunt Genet for these new Barbie roller skates! Here are some of her first attempts.

**Answer: The Long Poll is a tree lobber (sp?) used to cut down big branches as you trim your trees. It's a gift from my mother to my dad. How's that for romance?? ;P

Christmas Eve

Santa struck gold this year with his little gifts.
How did he know???
The Roast Beast Feast

Ensuring the family shot...

Katherine LOVES her Uncle Vic. No else could hold her while he was around.

Every year when I was growing up, my parents had everyone do a talent show, but when it came time for my mother to perform, she always said "Dinner was my talent!" So this year at my house, my mother performed playing "Silent Night" to show off the piano lessons she has been taking. Very gratifying to be able to say "And dinner is MY talent!" Thank you, Mom!

Our missionaries! The one on the right happens to be the granddaughter of a family I grew up with in my home ward. Talk about small world!

Santa arrived early on Christmas Eve, making this little one very happy.

... this older one, too!

Katherine's talent was interpretive dance. I admit, even as her mom who sees her dance all the time, I was impressed by her creativity. However, the length of this video just documents how great it is to be spoiled by the undivided attention of 8 adults when you're the only kid at the party! Sorry you had to miss it.

Block party

I think we have been blessed with the most fabulous neighbors in the world. Our 2nd Annual Christmas Luminaria party was a total success. Wonderful food. Great company... and Katherine LOST IT big time. Some good things just come too late in the night...

Sarager fun!

Andrea organized a cousins picnic over at North Mountain Park right before Christmas! So many kids to play with. Katherine was in heaven! She chased the boys as much as she chased down the balls. She loved playing with the little babies and was hugging and kissing everyone goodnight before we left.
She especially bonded with Larkin and Eliza. When we first ran into them, Larkin told me that her second favorite thing to do was to help people... (She didn't tell me her first!) But what a match made in heaven as Katherine loves to yell "HELP ME!!" while they are pretending the sharks are going to eat them. Thank you for a great time!

New bed!

Finally my little girl has a bed set to call her own! Best investment EVER!!

She pretends that she is Snow White & Princess Aurora waiting for her prince to come wake her from her slumber (Note the Flowers: Though she holds them serenely, they are really a makeshift sword ready to lob someone's head off he disturbs her when she's not ready...)

To the Dungeon!!

Hostage is one of our new favorite games. Morbid? Violent? Sounds just like Katherine. She loves it when Geoff ties her up. We just feel bad when unsuspecting house guests get suckered in!!