Double Digits

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

10 years old today

She loves winter- fitting since she was born in the heart of these chilly winter months

She loves snow - how delightful that we had a perfectly timed flutter during our photo shoot.

She loves this new Christmas outfit (thanks Grandma)

right down to these rockin birthday boots!

Love you Abby girl!!!

365+1 Week 51

Merry Christmas everyone!! Can you even believe tonight is Christmas Eve?  Can you even believe that I only have one week to go and I have completed by Project 365?  I can hardly understand how this last year has gone by so quickly!!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!!

Photo's #351-358:

"Beauty"  This a a photo of the beautiful flower's that my sister and niece brought for Liv after her dance performance.  She ADORES them!! Thanks again you two :)

"Lunchtime"  My favorite dressing to put on my favorite home lunch, a spinach salad.  That must be specified because my true favorite lunch would be going out somewhere, anywhere!!

"Candy Cane"  We are all starting to get very excited for Christmas!!

We went with the Davis family to a live Nativity up in Cottonwood Heights.  It was FREEZING!! I don't think I have ever been so cold- OK, that was a little dramatic, but really- it was 15 degrees outside.  But, they had lots of fun animals, and a tour of old town Bethlehem, and the girls couldn't get over the real baby in the mother's arms. A really beautiful sight to see.

My Santa Babies!!! A neighbor friend brought these by for Eva and Liv.  So silly and fun- they had a blast walking around with them hanging from their yummy suckers all afternoon!!

"Elf"  This is our version of an Elf on the Shelf.  Abby recieved him at school during her class 12/12/12 celebration.  We quickly looked up the original book and instructions (because I am that out of the loop on "hip parenting" and had just heard of the real thing 2 days before) and he has been reappearing in some pretty silly places ever since. I have been discovering Eva almost daily having conversations with Elvis (as the girls have named him) politely instructing him to PLEASE PLEASE bring her a real puppy on Christmas morning and don't even worry about what her Mom says!!

The Lights at Temple Square.  We met my brother and his family, as well as dragging my father along.  It was just about the most perfect night to go strolling through the lighted grounds.  After freezing earlier in the week, it was nearly 50 degrees that evening and we had a glorious time together.

Paul and I dressed in our best Christmas Sweaters for the Griffiths Family Party!  We have been wearing them out together whenever we could this month!  The moment I saw that Green Reindeer hanging on the store rack,  I just knew Paul HAD to have it!!! It just brings a great big smile to my face!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

365+1 Week 50

Photo's #344-350:

"Wrapping" Every year I pick a different color scheme and this year was dominated by pattern.  I love the green dots next to the bright red stripes.

Every year the girls participate in a service project at school called "The Teddy Bear Hug".  Each student is asked to donate a small bear, one that can easily be carried by a little child, to donate to the Ogden Homeless Rescue Mission.  On the day of the event the entire school lines up in a HUGE line, weaving around the school, and they begin passing the bears down the line.  Every child hugs each bear to send it off with their love to another child who has very little and is in need of something to comfort them and love.  It is a truly wonderful thing and my girls very much enjoy participating each year.

"Celebration"  Tonight Paul and I attended his work Christmas party.  It was adult only this year at Thanksgiving Point's Harvest Restaurant.  It was lovely and we enjoyed a delicious meal as well as playing some fun games and getting to know all of Paul's coworkers and wives better.

Today we addressed, stamped, and mailed our Christmas cards.  Olivia had her best friend move to California last month, so she decided to send a card to her as well.  She also included a small gift inside and I hope it arrived safely!!

"Lights"  I love to sit by the tree in the evening and read a magazine.  So beautiful, so peaceful and calm.

"Hat"  In the fourth grade Abby gets to study Utah History.  I remember doing the same thing at her age.  She is enjoying the subject and was very pleased to dress up in period attire for school today and have a Pioneer Christmas celebration in class.  She looks pretty cute :)

Olivia's Christmas Ballet Concert.  I wasn't able to get very good pictures, but she did a great job dancing as a sugar plum fairy.  Thank you to all my family that made it to the event- she was so excited to have you there.

365+1 Week 49

Christmas prep is in full swing, the excitement is beginning to build and yesterday evening Paul and I spent our date night finishing up the shopping.  I still have to put some stuff together, but it feels good to have everything purchased a full 10 days ahead of schedule!!

Photo's #337-343:

"Old" While at my parents this evening the girls were telling Grandpa that the "kid" tree had an ornament made by everyone in our family except me.  He quickly went and found the ornament that I had made while in Kindergarten and turned it over to their care.  They were delighted to find a spot for it on the tree back home.

 "8:00" We are out the door at 8:00am every weekday morning- give or take a minute or two.  Abby is always ready to go- sometimes we have to drag Olivia with us!!!

"Hold"  Eva likes to hold my hand as we walk into school each day.  It is a joy to be the mom in her life and that she isn't too old for this just yet.

Today we had a Barbie Wedding in our family room.  It was spectacular from the preparations and music right down to the perfect clothes selection for each of the guest that lined the aisle.

"Holiday Reflection"  I am in love with this photo- turned out so perfectly!!

Eva had her holiday School Class Devotional today.  It is always so cute and such a wonderful way to kick off the season.  She sang her little heart out and performed perfectly as a stable girl who helped to sweep it out and make it fit for a King.  Despite her nerves, she stepped right up to the mic and delivered her line with gusto "The wise men knew of Jesus and took him gifts".

At the ward Christmas Breakfast they had a photo booth- Thank you Emma for the great shot of my girls hamming it up!  It was a fun time full of scrumptious food,  a delicious hot chocolate bar, and of course Santa himself making an appearance.

365+1 Week 48

Photo's #330-336

"Number" We have several Christmas count-downs in our house.  This cute one was given to us by a dear friend and it has quickly become the house favorite- the girls just love erasing and writing in the new number with the chalk each day.

"Tree" I have come into the front room several times to find Eva looking up into the beautiful lights of our main tree from down below.  I can fondly remember doing this as a child, except ours was always a fresh tree filling my senses with the fragrance of pine, and many years it was dusted white with flocking (accomplished by my parents taking the tree out on the back porch and turning on the old Kerby vacuum in reverse!). No matter the circumstances, the wonder of the season through a child's eye is always magical!

We have attended Story Time at the library in Lehi once a week for over 8 years!  Abby wasn't even 2 years old when I started taking her, then I was pregnant with Liv, then I had two toddlers while simultaneously carrying Eva, then I had three children who loved all the activities, stories and games.  We always brought home a large bag full of books that we would read together. We had the same Head Story Teller each and every year and she once made a comment to me that she has enjoyed watching my family grow up with her! Now, all three girls are in school, and we no longer are able to attend that morning story hour, but we do still go over every other week after school and pick out books.  No longer do we fill our bag to the brim with picture book (Eva still likes a few), but instead, Abby picks out fat Adventure chapter books.  Olivia is in the same section selecting Fairy Fantasies, and even my little Eva is now in the reader book section picking out level 2's.  Oh how the time seems to have flown right by before my eyes!!

Abby has started her Science Fair Project.  She is grinning from ear to ear as her father helps her. Can you guess what her experiment is by this picture?

Today I have another picture of the on going Science Fair Project- because it has basically taken over our lives!! Everyone is in on the research.  Log books have been made and the fascinating results are starting to take shape.  Do you know what she is testing yet?

Abby's Chorale Christmas Concert was this evening.  It was sooo wonderful!  I mean really really wonderful!! Paul and I were so impressed with all the performances from the 4th grade up through the High school.  Truly, no joke, her music teacher had that 4th grade singing so well we thought they sounded better than the high school.   She had them singing Bach in perfect harmony.  Oh, and Abby was giving the assignment to play the chimes for one of the songs and she took it VERY seriously, she was doing "Air" chime practicing all week at home and she did a spectacular job!!

Weekend game night.  We always have a fun time together and some of us get very excited when we have been dealt a good hand!!

365+1 Week 47

Last week was filled with birthday fun and holiday celebration!  Enjoy!!

Photo's #323-329:

"Stacked"  Olivia was so proud of the height she had achieved while stacking up the Jenga pieces with patience and precision.

Even though her birthday wasn't until Wednesday, with it being so close to the holiday we decided to have Eva's party on Monday.  We invited friends, had a donut tower (she doesn't like cake these days), opened many fun gifts, including this Cuddle-up-it Yellow dog from her Dad that she had been wanting for weeks!  Then we went over to the Kangaroo Zoo and jumped out every last ounce of energy left in them. I think this photo is classic- pure excitement over every detail of her day!!

The Eva celebration continued today by enjoying a lunch out at her favorite restaurant (Winger's, because of the popcorn) with Grandma and Grandpa.  Another perfect afternoon for our darling little girl! (Also, Abby has learned how to crochet and that is a scarf she made for Eva around her neck-it turned out really cute!)

"Fly"  We went with several of our cousins down to the Air Extreme in Provo.  The kids had sooo much fun!  At first Eva and Liv didn't think they were going to like it, but once they got over their nerves and gave jumping into the foam pits a try they were hooked :)  I took so many fun pictures of everyone flying through the air doing fun tricks, but decided on this series of Brooklyn teaching Abby how to do her very first forward flip!!  Yes, Abby now thinks she is qualified for the Olympics!!!

Thanksgiving started out bright and early at the Fleet Feet Turkey Trot 5K.  Abby and I had been training for several weeks and she was ready to set her personal best and place in the top three in her age group.  I made these fun ear warmer headbands for everyone that was running in our group and I have to say they turned out sooo cute!! We received comments all along the race route and it was perfect because we could easily find one another amid the crowd of near 1000 people.  It was by far the biggest race Abby had run in and I wish I had a camera on the route when she looked in front of her and then behind her and said "Holy Cow Mom, there are so many people running!"  She did run her best race yet, crossing the finish line in 30 minutes flat and took 2nd place- being edged out by a mere 30 seconds for the top spot!  But she didn't care because second place received a pumpkin pie and this girl loves her some pie!!  As usual, my family of runners cleaned up again with Kobe, Jill, and my Dad taking first place in their ages and bringing home THREE Turkey's!!

 As for the rest of the day it was relaxing and fun as my family gathered at my parents house for a traditional meal in which Jill and I were put in charge of carving the Turkey- a first for both of us and it had to be documented- much harder then it looks, even with an electric carving knife!

 And of course we had the table of pies, one to delight every set of taste buds!!

Friday we just lazed around ALL day.  Really, we didn't do anything but snuggle and cuddle together on the couch all day watching shows- it was FANTASTIC!  Oh, also a smidgen of time was spent getting all of these girly toes into the Christmas spirit- let the count down begin!!

Saturday we set up the tree as well as all the other Christmas decorations. That evening we turned on the lights outside- I do really love this time of year!!

365+1 Week 46

Photo's #316-322:

"Music" Abby at home practicing before we go over to Grandma's for a lesson.  She has now passed my ability to help her- I am so proud! Today she started learning "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" in preparation for the Griffiths family Christmas Dinner Talent Show.

"Reflection" Tonight the girls discovered that if they shined their bed reading lamps against the closet doors they could put on a shadow puppet show.  I was particularly impressed with Olivia's cute doggy- it appears to be wearing a sweater :)

Tonight we had the chance to go and see the High School presentation of Peter Pan.  A couple of kids from our neighborhood were in it and they did an excellent job! I was quite impressed- the music was fun and the cast was very funny.  Abby loved when they all took flight (on strings) to Never Land,  Olivia was entranced by Tigerlily, and Eva- of course- loved Nana the dog as well as that hilarious Crocodile!!

"Handmade" Olivia has taken to stealing empty toilet paper rolls and turning them into masterful pieces of art.  Here is her latest, in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Shortly after I snapped this photo she discovered a few more empty rolls. A cute little Pilgrim girl and Indian now completed her set.

"Drink" In preparation for the Turkey Trot 5K race next week, Abby and I have been going on evening runs together. She is getting faster, in fact I almost can't keep up with her when we run up the hills! She is dedicated and determined to place next week and I am positive she will achieve that goal. I have found it really fun to have her as a running partner!  Also, when we get our cold and chilly bones back to the house she insists on having a cup of hot chocolate, why not right?!!

Olivia had her school class devotional presentation today.  She was so nervous, which is a new development this year! I had to really talk her into going up on stage, but she conquered her fear and you would never have known from the audience. The theme was "One voice to change the world". They talked about hero's in history from the beginning of time up until the first Thanksgiving who stood up for what they believed and in the process had an enormous impact on our world for good.  She was cast as an angel in the pre-mortal world making a choice to follow Christ and come to earth to receive a body.  It was beautiful and heartwarming and she did an excellent job!!

My parent's celebrated their 40th Anniversary today!  5 of their 8 children and spouses were able to take them out to dinner and celebrate.  We had them share how they met and when they got engaged. It was fun to hear and wonderful to spend the evening together. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!