Traci, Scott and Christmas!!

(Friendly reminder--I'm not one who bears my soul and deepest thoughts in my blog--save that for my journal--but I sure can take a lot of pictures!!)


We had my sister Traci and our new (as of last December) brother-in-law Scott come for the week of Christmas. They were so fun to have!! Scott played almost non-stop with the kids and Traci is the fastest dish doer in the west . . . and east. I'm not sure we could have pulled Christmas off without them!! We REALLY enjoyed having them here.
Two baseball fans, playin' some ball . . .

Little hike in the foothills

Nicole reads Calvin and Hobbes to the boys

Happy four month old Heidi

Happy married for one year couple--with baby on the way!

We are babysitting some gerbils while some friends are out of town. Nicole who only wanted a dog for Christmas--but knew that was out of the question this year--said that getting to watch her friends gerbils was one of the best things about Christmas. That and having Traci and Scott come!

Visiting the Nativity at the temple. Isaac was the only one brave enough to face the sun for the picture.

Christmas eve dinner

Opening-o-the pajama ritual

Christmas Morning

Heidi taking notes for next year

Gotta love the stocking dump

The one thing Ryan wanted for Christmas this year-- a piggy bank.

Curt opening his gift

Nicole and Isaac playing with Curt's gift

The candy man

Heidi's first Christmas

Isaac's new "real" bat

Riding the World's Longest Tram

a view from up top

We watched the skiers/snowboarders and played around in the snow a little. It was a little too cold/windy for Heidi so we stayed inside.

enjoying the ride

Saying goodbye to Scott and Traci--it was so great to have you here!

December Whirlwind

Kids "dressed up" as shepherds for our ward Christmas party

Isaac's preschool Christmas Program---He goes to a really great preschool, at a Methodist? church. It may be some other Christian denomination, but it proved a quite different program than I am accustomed to. The cover of the program handout read "Rockin' Jesus Tonight" and the kids sang songs called: "Ha Le La Le Lu Jah," "Jesus is Rockin' Tonight," "Are you Going to Praise the Lord?" "Hey Baby Jesus," "Rock the Baby," and "Love Came Down."

a trip to AZ for Tori's baby shower and a quick visit with the Salisbury girls--minus Annie who we missed.

Our TEN year anniversary!!

hours and hours of cutting with scissors--I'm not exaggerating here--hours and hours

snow angels

and a little elf! He wore this thing all month, even slept in it a few times!
OH! And we finally potty trained Ryan. Happy to not be forking out diaper money for two kids anymore!

More thoughts . . .

Nicole says she never wants to go into space--she is scared of black holes

She says they stretch you out

Isaac said he is sad he can't marry Nicole or Heidi

Why?

Because he wants to stay in our family and he loves them a lot

Thanksgiving

The Salisbury family took a little drive over to Flagstaff, AZ . . .



. . . to join the Vaughn and Tammy Peterson clan . . .
. . . and the Royce and Jen Peterson clan
. . . for a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend! There were: lots of cousins . . .
. . . lots of help with the food prep . . . Pearl was a pro posing for the camera . . .

. . . Eva showing off her baby blues . . .
. . . wishes for a dog--couldn't stay away from Odin . . .
. . . Will mashing potatoes, Henry supervising . . .
. . . Vaughn carving the turkey . . .
. . . waiting patiently
. . . the girls and super yummy food thanks to Vaughn and Tammy and Royce and Jen . . .
. . . a fun movie night
. . . some rock band action . . .
. . . keeping Odin out of the house with all the kids running in and out . . .
. . . attending a REAL rock band--my brother Royce's!! Very cool. (Isn't he cute playing his guitar?) I need to learn . . . I missed out on a jam session with Curt/Vaughn/Will on the guitar, and Tammy on the drums!!
. . .and Lots -o- love. :) Too cute a picture not to post.

OH! And thanks to Mom and Dad for sending some REAL apples with Uncle Steve who was driving through Flagstaff on Friday. It's been a while since I've had authentic WA apples!!

Heidi 3 months--per grandparent request :)

Heidi loves to suck not one, but both her hands at the same time.

Kid thoughts

Ryan (has a cold)--"Mom I need some medicine." Me--"Well you don't have a fever, so let's just make sure you eat well, and get lots of rest." "But I do have a fever." "No, you really don't." "Yes, I do, it's in my foot!"

Isaac (I was talking to him while swinging him)--me "Isaac will you stay five for me, I don't want you to grow up." Isaac--"But I want to grow up." Me--"Why, it's much more fun being a kid, you get to swing, play etc. . . .what's so fun about being a grown up?" Isaac--"You get to make dinner."

Nicole (our bookworm) Reading to herself tonight says "Mom can you get me a drink of water, sometimes when your reading to yourself in your head you mouth gets dry like when your reading out lout." :) Anyone else ever have that happen?