One Tradition.

One of our December traditions is making gingerbread houses with graham crackers and bulk candy. Here are the 2009 Gingerbread Houses!


Good enough to eat!

Merry Christmas!

From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas!!!

Sugar cookies part two.

Here is the second session with the sugar cookies. And yes, it took two days to get them done, well maybe three if you count the day the dough sat in the fridge.
Look it's "Gingie" from Shrek.
It actually looks like my kids are having fun, oh, they are!
Nice one Amanda!
"Gingie" gets dressed. And he found his leg.
Cute cookie, Lauren!Done, done, finally done. Yum!

Start the Sugar Cookies!

Making sugar cookies has become a Christmas event. This year Lauren and Amanda mixed up and cut them.
We have several Christmas cookie cutters.
Ready set cook!

Lauren and Calli

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad stopped by the other night and had me take a picture for their Christmas Card. Luckily Lauren got them to laugh and then we got this cute picture. Love you both!!

Here are our lights!

Here they are, some of you have asked me about the pictures of our lights. I am finally posting them. I waited for some snow and we have a little now.
Seeing the glowing lights at our house makes me feel happy and Christmassy inside.
I am so glad that Kerry like to do them every year.

Quick trip to SLC

Last Sunday night we were on Temple Square in SLC. We had to be in Utah for Kerry's re-board exam which is required for PA's every six years. While we were there for our short trip we decided to see the lights. They are pretty much the same as the last few years but still very pretty.
We only had three kids with us. Kieran stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Smith so he wouldn't miss any school. After the lights we walked around the Grand America Hotel which is amazing. Very fancy.
Kason found Santa but he was a bit stiff.
There was a really cool gingerbread display.
Then we stopped in the restrooms. You could move into them, they are enormous and so richy, just like the rest of the Hotel. As we walked out Kason said, "That place makes me feel like a peasant!" Didn't even know he knew that word.

Happy Birthday Amanda!

17 years old today! We love you!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was less than a week ago but it seems like a long ways back already. I wish I still had leftovers, that has always been my favorite part of the meal!
We had a quiet Thanksgiving with just our family at home. The day started with a science lesson, turkey heart quiz anyone?
The kids each made one part of the meal and Lauren set and decorated the table.
Here is my family, ready to eat and very thankful!

Orchestra

Kieran had his fall orchestra concert a couple of weeks ago. He is playing first violin and has really improved his playing so much in orchestra.
I am so glad that he enjoys his violin music!
And here is Kerry orchestrating the putting up of the Christmas lights. Wait til I post a picture of them, they look awesome this year!

Manny-our little debater!

Here is Amanda with her trophy and T-shirt from her last debate tournament. She got 3rd place out of the 50 kids in her Novice Lincoln-Douglas Division. She also got a Top Ten Speaker award! She is doing awesome in debate.
Here is her trophy.

Netflix

We've tried out Netflix for the last 3 months or so and have liked watching the good old shows like Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island. The kids really like them, especially Lauren and Kason. Tonight they were watching the "Grand Canyon" Brady Bunch episodes. Remember how the Brady's got trapped in a ghost town jail and then later Bobby and Cindy got lost in the bottom of the Grand Canyon and an indian found them. Now there is some reality TV!! Just wanted to take you on a short trip down memory lane. :)

Malad Gorge

We stopped at Malad Gorge on our way back from the Boise concert. I've never been there. 150 foot bridge span, 250 feet to the depths below.
I took these two pictures while we were there too. I just can't decide which one I like better.

Sadie Hawkins

Amanda went with her friend, Jessica (orange shirt), and a group of other friends from Hillcrest High School to their Sadie Hawkins. Here is a pic. They had a fun!

Skillet Concert!

On Nov. 5th there was a Skillet Concert in Boise. We took Amanda as an early birthday present. She was sooooo excited!
Kieran got to go with Kerry and Amanda and I stayed at the hotel with the younger kids.
Here they are in their shirts!
And pulling the rock faces. They had a blast!!!
Skillet is a Christian rock group. Emphasis on the rock. They have some pretty cool music with better lyrics than so many songs. The electric violin and cello add another awesome element to their music. The main singer and his wife, who plays keyboard, lead the group and the drummer is the other woman in the band. Check them out at www.skillet.com

When parents aren't home.

When I downloaded our camera the other day I found this on it. What kids do when their parents are gone!!!

Grateful Month.

It is the month to be thankful. Some of the things I am giving thanks for are my family, my friends, my health, my life, my Savior. I am trying to be grateful this month for many things and focus on giving thanks. So, if you are reading this, thanks for caring.

Kason turns 8!!

Kason turned 8 last week. He had a mighty fun week with a party, birthday, halloween and a baptism. What a lucky boy!!
He looked so handsome in his new suit.
And so did his Dad.
He had a really nice baptism at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's pool and we had lots of people there to share his special day. Thanks to everyone took time to come and be with Kason. He was so excited and that made it fun! What an awesome boy! We love you, Kason!