We're back... Happy New Year's Eve!

So happy to be home, but miss the warm and family.

Kate and I went to Arizona over the weekend for a reunion.I LOVE my Grandma Miller

We went from doing this: (72 degrees)

To waking up this morning to this: (22 degrees)

It was the first time in 7 years that we were all together as a family:

I have 5 strong brothers and 2 BEATUIFUL sisters

I had such a great time with my family.
On Saturday we went to the temple & had a dinner reunion. On Sunday we went to Tuscon. On Monday we hiked, swam, and saw more cousins, and everyday we ate Mexican food, and a lot of other food-too much!

We hiked in the Superstitions:

We picked and ate these:

Kate loved the hotel room and bed:

And one more bonus picture from Christmas-

"The Stair Picture"-Christmas morning 2008:

We had a fabulous Christmas by the way and got very spoiled by grandparents and uncles.
Thank you!!
Party Tonight and Happy NEW YEAR!!!

It's Christmas Eve- & more snow pictures...

Today it warmed up to the mid 40's making the snow perfect.
We played outside of hours this afternoon.

Kate likes to get dressed up in her snow clothes, but doesn't actually like to play in the snow.

B made a snow chair for all of the snowmen around- they must get tired standing.
It's really big.

We also made a "bat cave" for our snow bats Jane and Bruce.

This is what the snow looked like yesterday when we opened the door.
*Tonight we're off to friends to have dinner with LOTS and LOTS of more friends.*
So excited for SANTA!

2 More Days!!

I Love this:


And this one is very beautiful too, made by missionaries, just a little longer.

Warm Wishes from all of us!

Dear Family and Friends,
With Jane starting kindergarten this year we have all gotten into the “alphabet mood.” Here’s our 2008 in review:
A- Apples. Anagrams. Amiable. Adirondacks. Amorphous. (Brad’s contribution)
B- Bruce turned 3 in January and we spent his birthday bowling.
C- Cousins let us come play with them in South Carolina in February.
D- Daddy tells us lots of jokes and funny tooth fairy stories.
E- Easter eggs hunts were in the snow, dinner with friends.
F- Fourth of July was spent camping/hiking with friends in Alleghany.
G- Games are played all the time, Bruce is a Memory master. We all love tackle.
H- Halloween costumes were: a witch, batman, Little Red Riding Hood, and core sample of the earth.
I- Incredible Broadway play was seen in June- Wicked! Loved it.
J- Jane turned 5 in March and we had a snowy Princess party with friends.
K- Kate turned 1 in July and we had a sunny banana split party.
L- Library story time was every Friday. Kate is a big fan of books.
M- Mommy is described as “incredibly beautiful, extremely smart, and exceptionally happy” in Brad’s stake conference talk.
N- Niagara Falls is beautiful, close, and visited many times. (Followed by Anchor Bar)
O- Ohio was a fun trip we took with mom and dad in June. We went to Kirtland & Cleveland.
P- Praxair continues to be a great place for Brad to work.
Q- Quilts received from grandmas throughout the year were loved and cuddled under.
R- Running- Liza took up an old hobby and ran 8 5K’s with friends.
S- Starting kindergarten was a big event for all of us in September.
T- Thanksgiving was so special with family coming to town, and very delicious.
U- Under water swimming lessons were enjoyed by all this summer.
V- Very beautiful dancer, Jane started ballet and really enjoys it.
W- Winter lasted long and is just starting again.
X- x-mas, we wish you all a merry one.
Y- You for all the trips to made to come visit, you are all always welcome.
Z- Zoo trips are always a great time, especially when Dylan is in town.

“If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must listen for the sound of sandaled feet. We must reach out for the Carpenter’s hand. With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth.” President Monson

Happy Holidays from all of us!

*Quick update: They canceled school again today because it was icy and windy this morning. Right now the sun is SHINING and it's beautiful. We got about 16 inches, the roads are clear, and it's really fun to play in.

School's Canceled!!

24.3 °F Heavy Snow- Freezing Fog

Followed by lots of mugs of Hot Cocoa!

Return of the Snowshoes!

Yesterday we woke up to about 8 inches of snow so we decided to try out our snowshoes.

They still work great!

Jane waiting for the bus... ;)
(we talked about coats being on the outside, whatever.)

We built a little sledding hill.

Kate LOVES to swing in all types of weather.

Actually, they all do!

Some things we've been doing lately...

Here are a few pictures of things we've been doing lately:

Wearing funny slippers (she laughs so much it's so cute)

Making Christmas wrapping paper:
Take 3 kids, 2 colors of paint, and lots of big blank sheets of newspaper roll. We do this every year!

Pretending to be St.Lucia
Jane came home from school Friday telling me about what they do in Sweden with St.Lucia and I asked her if she knew she was Swedish. She looked at me like- "what?"
Also for show and tell last week she sang "Stille Nacht" Silent Night in German for her class. Her teacher liked it so much she had her sing it for the other 5 Kindergarten classes in their rooms.

We have gotten lots of packages!! THANK YOU!!
This one came from Andy in Alaska- we don't know what happened to the outside.

I took snacks to Bruce's preschool- we love our fruit Christmas tree.

For Brad's birthday we had a party with 29 doughnuts and hot chocolate/cider. We LOVE Stephens.

Apparently Bruce has been taking pictures too- so funny to think of how he views things.

Happy Birthday to the Man I LOVE!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!!!

Silly Baby Cakes

This little girl likes to get into trouble lately...

Last week it was cold, no snow though, and Kate kept escaping outside in the back to play- with no shoes!!! Freezing!

She likes to dump out cereal,
(I love the hand in her mouth)

Eat markers,

But does not like Santa!

* * Happy Birthday Amy and Alexis! * *

Nutcracker

Today Jane and I went on a special date to see

The Nutcracker
It was beautiful!
We both really enjoyed all the dancing and costumes. This production was a little bit different than normal, but still great. I really loved the flower dancers. Jane liked the baker and the Mouse King. Jane was going to be in it, but the part they wanted her to be was just sitting and she "was so bored" so we decided to see it instead.

Jane looking so pretty

I love this girl!

Friends we went with- thanks!
(Don't know why I'm looking like that- yikes)

Will Forte Skit

We watched this really funny skit this week that we thought to share. (It's a catchy song)

Thanks Dad & Christmas tree

THANK YOU DAD- They're BEAUTIFUL!!

Last night we set up Christmas:

Before-

After-

Downstairs

Stockings & Books
(Remember that St. Nicholas comes the Night of December 5th- put your shoes out!!

Happy December!!

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

- A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
(can you guess what I'm reading?)

We have a tradition of setting up all of our Christmas decorations on the first Monday in December, which so happens to be tonight!

This is a beautiful wreath my friend Amy made for me ;)
Here is another amazing quilt from my mom. I love the snowmen!

Bonus: Here's a great one of my family that came:Guess who told them to close their eyes?

Grandpa and the girls in the Sacred Grove

Jeff and Kate