Lightin this place up

We were supposed to go to the Salt Lake temple on Monday for FHE to see the lights. But Braden had to work late. Again. As it turns out SD training is not all that family friendly. So we decorated the tree and were ready to read our bedtime Christmas story by the time Dad got home. 

Lila loves her some Christmas 

I should have made this my Christmas card photo. If only I hadn't had them printed a week ago  (not that I'm showing off. That much). Take that busy Christmas season. Now to send them all. Before Easter.

Why yes, I am 8 months old today! Thanks so much for taking pictures of me in the same week you gave me a bath. 

Getting tired but I just keep spitting

finger fascination

Whoa! Solid death stare, baby gangster!

But then you ruined it with the Bubba Gump lip.  

Squeezing out every last drop of summer possible.

Last trip to the splash pad

 On labor day I took the kids to the Aquatic Center. I was a bit apprehensive about doing this, as Braden was in Uruguay TDY at the time. I had taken the kids to Seven Peaks water park the week before and I swear it stripped weeks, if not months off my life. It's an ongoing struggle of deciding what I can handle on my own when he's gone, as far as outings and adventures go. I don't want the kids to miss out on great things because Dad is gone. Over the course of their life, that would be a lot of things. So I bucked up and decided I would give it a go. And it ended up being a fantastic day. I loved watching the girls play in the water. They were so full of pure joy. Lila and Maisey played their hearts out together for hours in the water. Holding hands and wrestling. Never even a moment of sadness or contention. About 10 trips to the bathroom with all the girls, but who doesn't love a chance to check their tan lines in the mirror? Every 20 minutes.

I love their love

Oh these two.

Giving Thanks.....all the way from St. George

We jetted down south for the weekend to hang with my family. It was a nice little trip. My Dad just finished his last radiation treatment and felt well enough to stay up way too late playing games and eating rubbish with us. I got to go shopping with my Mom, we ate delicious food, watched the cousin magic happen, and only had one ER trip. I shall miss being 3 CD's worth of driving away from all these clowns. 

Weird picture. A turkey carving a turkey. And with such pleasure.

Anabelle was watching the Nativity presentation. I love to watch kids watch things. And then sometimes I take pictures of them watching things instead of watching them myself. It's one of the few, if not the only, thing I do that annoys them. 

 We went to the St. George temple the night they turned the lights on.

The old 'baby bear in my jacket' photo. Classic.

Who knows how many ornaments were crushed by our other children while this photo was being taken. 

It was delightful to watch these little girlies play. 

Dad scored this very special gift from our white elephant exchange. Lucky dog. Get it? I said lucky dog and it's a picture of a dog. 

Braden got almost as lucky with this creeeeepy porcelain doll. And don't think for a second that we haven't looked it up on ebay to see if it's worth any money, cause we have. And it is. We just can't decide if we can let it go.

And this is Tim eating a barf jelly bean. Because going around the table taking turns eating terrible tasting things is fun for mature adults.