Dance

The girls performed just beautifully at their Christmas dance concert this year.  

I put them in the same class this year, which has helped Carly.  She didn't like going much last year alone.  

I didn't get Hailey on the waiting list in time, so she didn't get in to dance.  I put her in tumbling instead, and I'm pretty sure it's more useful and fun.  She loves tumbling, but that doesn't stop her from dancing her little heart out on the sidelines.

Abigail is 8!

Abigail is my sweet, kind, loving, hyper, thankful, loud, compassionate, church loving, creative child.

She is such a blessing in our family.  She wants to be old enough to babysit Ike all by herself.  So sometimes I will ask her to watch him for 20 min. while I do housework or fix dinner.  She loves it and is so good at it.  Her room is always messy with projects and cardboard boxes that she is cutting into something.  

Favorites:

Books- Mercy Watson

Food- Quiche and Cutie oranges

T.V. show- Studio C

Activity- hand sewing and drawing

Game- Monopoly

Season- Summer

A few nights before Abigail's birthday, we had a grandparent party.  They came over for cake and ice cream.  Ab wanted a snowman cake, but as I was getting ready to put it together she changed her mind.  We decided on a snowflake cake instead.

 She was such a happy girl, she loved her presents.  

Especially the earrings since she recently pierced her ears.

 My sweet 8 year old.

On her real birthday, we opened gifts as a family and went to her favorite restaurant, IHOP.

 Oh, I wish this wasn't blurry... but you can see how happy and excited she was.

 After she opened her doll, she jumped up to hug me and Ben.  She is such a grateful child.

 She had looked at American Girl dolls, and really liked Kit.  She has freckles and short hair like Ab.

 Dinner at IHOP

 Since it was her 8th birthday, it called for a friend party.  I gave her some options for the party.  She decided to pick a friend to take for manicures, pedicures, and ice cream.

 I had so much fun watching Abigail and Kate.  They kept whispering and giggling with each other.  They are such cute friends.

Ab really loved her snowflake on her toe.

November 2014

November came and went so fast, with lots of fun events!

I love finding Carly and Ike together.  She just loves him so much

 My parents had their 35 wedding anniversary.  They invited us kids over to dinner and watch old slides together.

 Abigail's class does a reader's theater every couple of months, where they read little stories to us.  I love going and watching her read her part.  She gets so excited and nervous :)

 I've told the kids that since there are three of them in school, I can't possibly go to each of their parties.  They are usually on the same day, so I signed up help with 2 parties for each of them.

Thanksgiving was Abigail's turn.  They had a big pow wow set up with lots of  different stations.

2 different kids randomly commented on how weird it was that I was her mom because we don't look alike.  Well, excuse me... but she's the only one that does look part like me :)

Carly and her friend, Payton, at their Thanksgiving feast.  My friend was nice enough to send me a picture of them.

 getting a tired baby out of the tub.

 Luke joined choir this year, and he loved it!  They had a concert at the Eccles building.  It was so fun to watch him.

 After the concert, we walked down to Beyond Glazed and had some gourmet donuts.

 poor Isaac just got cheerios.  I think there was a white tree behind my head, not static hair.

 I got Christmas stuff out the day before Thanksgiving.  We've never done it that early, but I guess I was excited this year.  Isaac got antlers put on his head a million times that first day, and he hated it.

 We took Luke to get his hair cut.  I thought the girls looked cute watching him.  They asked the lady  endless questions about all sorts of stuff.

 Thanksgiving day

 We love freshly bathed babies I guess, because we take lots of pictures :)

 We had Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house this year.  We had Jess and Matt, Jed and Shannon, Mom and Dad, and us.  A little small this year, but fun.

 Shannon brought a fun craft for the kids to do.

 Luke and Lisa came over after dinner with cute baby Nash.

Crazy fun boys