Visit with Papa (and Uncle Jim)

Papa came to visit on Wednesday night.  Here are the kids with him on Friday, which was pajama day at school.

We spent Thursday shopping, and on Friday we wrapped gifts.  And wrapped, and wrapped, and wrapped.  My uncle Jim, who lives in LA, came to visit on Friday.  We finished the wrapping before the kids got home from school (thank goodness!  Thanks Dad!!!), and when they got home we baked and decorated Christmas cookies.  We put Uncle Jim right to work, and he helped with the wrapping and baking and decorating.

On Saturday, we spent the day at the Phoenix Zoo.  Daniel is sitting next to a stone that says, "Mommy loves you Daniel."  It even has a picture of Thomas the Tank Engine, who he loves!!

Emily, Papa, and I made this wreath for Uncle Jim.  Papa picked out the colors and helped us put it together.  Michael helped, too.  I think it turned out really well. 

As always, the visit was too short, but we are so grateful that we got to see them both!!!  

Santa

The kids are so excited for Christmas!!  We had a Breakfast with Santa activity at church last weekend.  It was really nice!  The Primary kids did a really fun skit and then they read the story of Jesus' birth from the scriptures while some of the children dressed up for the Nativity.

 

Band Concert



Emily had her first band concert earlier this month.  She just started playing the flute in August and she is doing really well!  She takes band at school but hasn't had any formal private lessons.  She basically taught herself.  She was recently invited to participate in the Honor Band, and she will get to spend a day at the high school preparing for it.  Nathaniel is thrilled, lol!

 

Emily with Grandpa and Grandma May

 

 

Family Portraits 2014

Here are our family portraits!  This time, instead of going to a studio, we chose a photographer who lives in our neighborhood.  She did a fantastic job and I am so happy with the way the pictures turned out.  These were taken on Oct. 13.

 

My Creative Kids

Emily had fun with her bakery project for math.  She had to do all sorts of calculations and then discuss the ratios she used for her pan cookie recipe.  She made the cookies all by herself!

Andrew and Emily had fun making a wreath with me.  Our Halloween one turned out pretty well, so we made a Christmas one, too.  Who knew I could be crafty?

Can you see the M on the fireplace?  It is an M painted black and covered with googly eyes.  Emily made it and I think it turned out really cute.

Phoenix Temple

We had a wonderful time at the Phoenix Temple Open House.  The kids had never been to one before and they were so excited.  We got to go on a tour and see every part of the temple.  Once it is dedicated (which happened today), we are able to go there to perform ordinances for our families.  We have a temple in Mesa and Gilbert as well, but it is pretty exciting to have a third one in the area.  It is a beautiful temple and we are blessed to be able to go to the house of the Lord. 

Halloween

It was our first Halloween in our new neighborhood and everyone had a great time!  There were block parties all over the neighborhood, and ours was next door.  We had pizza and chili and homemade root beer.  The kids and I had fun Trick or Treating with their friends while Daddy stayed home to pass out candy. 

Jonathan got a lot of use out of his Captain America costume.  I had to take this picture because they were just too cute.  Jonathan went up to Daniel and asked him to read his book to him, and Daniel was happy to do it.  How cute is that?

I tried to get individual shots of the kids but the photo-bombing was out of control.  I did get one of Emily.

Ready for some candy!!!!!