HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHER!!
He has turned 1 year old (Dec. 29th) and the time has flown! It feels like he's always been with us, but I can't believe it's been a whole year since he was born. His name means 'happy' (Genesis 30:13) and happy he is. We are so blessed to have him in our family and he brings joy to all of us. Asher loves to run, climb (he has successfully negotiated the stairs-up and down-today), cuddle, and laugh. We love you Asher. 
We had friends and family over for a little party the night before his birthday.
He had plenty of help opening presents that night!
Lemon cake and Peppermint ice cream. It's fun having a birthday this time of year. We party all week long starting with Christmas.
Too afriad to dig in at first, he decided to use a no hands approach.
After cake, a fresh set of PJ's and it was time to play with the new toys.
CHRISTMAS
We had friends and family over for a little party the night before his birthday.
He had plenty of help opening presents that night!
Lemon cake and Peppermint ice cream. It's fun having a birthday this time of year. We party all week long starting with Christmas.
Too afriad to dig in at first, he decided to use a no hands approach.
After cake, a fresh set of PJ's and it was time to play with the new toys.
CHRISTMASChristmas Eve the kids got jammies from mommy and daddy. We sang songs, read scripture and put out the milk, cookies, and carrots. They all fell asleep really early and we up and going before it was light.
Santa got everything just about right this year and it didn't break the bank! Bubble gum, Build-a-Bear, Webkinz, clothes, $5 DVD's... it was a great morning.
It was Asher's first Christmas but we kept forgetting that fact because he's been with us all year! He wasn't sure what was going on, but the girls' enthusiasm was contagious.
There's nothing like a See's chocolate Santa to make you smile!
All Avanlee asked Santa for this year was a penguin and a sucker. Santa happily obliged.
New paints were a highlight. Within 10 minutes Asher had the red paint spilled all over our very light colored carpet in the livingroom. It caused points of contention throughout the day but we all survived... even if the kitchen was a bit more colorful afterward.
Pixies and webkinz make for great computer fun. I'm very grateful for fun educational PC programs and sites. Check out starfall.com -- it is a great site for preschoolers and beginning readers.
This is one of Asher's favorite and dangerous pass times--hanging out under the sink. we keep a close eye on him while he's in the kitchen. If we don't, all the cupboards are emptied in a matter of mintues.
Asher's aunt made him the cutest rocking chair for Christmas. He and the girls love it and often fight over who will sit in it.
MELANIE'S VISIT
Santa got everything just about right this year and it didn't break the bank! Bubble gum, Build-a-Bear, Webkinz, clothes, $5 DVD's... it was a great morning.
It was Asher's first Christmas but we kept forgetting that fact because he's been with us all year! He wasn't sure what was going on, but the girls' enthusiasm was contagious.
There's nothing like a See's chocolate Santa to make you smile!
All Avanlee asked Santa for this year was a penguin and a sucker. Santa happily obliged.
New paints were a highlight. Within 10 minutes Asher had the red paint spilled all over our very light colored carpet in the livingroom. It caused points of contention throughout the day but we all survived... even if the kitchen was a bit more colorful afterward.
Pixies and webkinz make for great computer fun. I'm very grateful for fun educational PC programs and sites. Check out starfall.com -- it is a great site for preschoolers and beginning readers.
This is one of Asher's favorite and dangerous pass times--hanging out under the sink. we keep a close eye on him while he's in the kitchen. If we don't, all the cupboards are emptied in a matter of mintues.
Asher's aunt made him the cutest rocking chair for Christmas. He and the girls love it and often fight over who will sit in it.
MELANIE'S VISITA friend of mine from HS in Cailfornia visited us the week before Christmas. Leaving Asher with a good friend, we took Melanie and the girls to temple square to see the lights. It was beautiful, albeit very cold. We had a good time. Here are my little eskimos.
Coming from Southern California I was fascinated when I first discovered that you can ACTUALLY see the individual snowflake crystals when you catch them on your glove. Who knew they REALLY looked like snowflakes! It sounds silly I know. Icicles were another very fascinating cold weather phenomenon we lacked in Santa Clarita. So when Melanie came it was fun to see that she was in awe of the same things. Here we have Mel holding a very large chunk of a broken icicle up Ogden canyon. Thanks for visiting Mel!
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Coming from Southern California I was fascinated when I first discovered that you can ACTUALLY see the individual snowflake crystals when you catch them on your glove. Who knew they REALLY looked like snowflakes! It sounds silly I know. Icicles were another very fascinating cold weather phenomenon we lacked in Santa Clarita. So when Melanie came it was fun to see that she was in awe of the same things. Here we have Mel holding a very large chunk of a broken icicle up Ogden canyon. Thanks for visiting Mel!
CHRISTMAS PARTYKyle's family are all relatively close and we have the opportunity to enjoy annual holiday festivities with them. Here are some pics from one of the events we attended. This first one was in a train were the children heard the Polar Express and had cocoa.
This was the fourth Santa the kids were able to talk with. It was a lot of fun to see and hear their reactions each time.
Sitting on Santa's lap is were Avanlee divulged her Christmas wishes. Good thing I was listening!
Fourth Santa's a charm. It was this Santa that finally persuaded Asher to sit all by himself without crying.
His preference, though, is to sit with Mamma.
H. GUY CHILD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHOIR CONCERT
This was the fourth Santa the kids were able to talk with. It was a lot of fun to see and hear their reactions each time.
Sitting on Santa's lap is were Avanlee divulged her Christmas wishes. Good thing I was listening!
Fourth Santa's a charm. It was this Santa that finally persuaded Asher to sit all by himself without crying.
His preference, though, is to sit with Mamma.
H. GUY CHILD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHOIR CONCERTI've had the priviledge of volunteering and conducting the local elementary school's choir off and on over the last couple of years (when I've been able). It is soooo much fun! I love getting to know the kids and giving them the opportunity to learn music and perform. We don't have a lot of fine arts finding and it's great to give this kind of service to the community. We sing and act and have a good time. My kids come with me and love to participate. We had a holiday concert the beginning of the month and it was a hit! We performed for the school, the parents, and finally at the city tree lighting. It was great!
PRIMARY CHRISTMAS PARTY
PRIMARY CHRISTMAS PARTYAt our ward's Christmas party, the primary did a nativity. Scarlett and the other Sunbeams were shepards. It was super cute. 
The kids enjoyed the singing and the narration before Santa came to visit them.
This was santa #1. They were so excited! It was pretty chaotic with all the kids there, but they didn't seem to mind!
Being so shy last year, I was very excited when Avanlee couldn't wait to talk with Santa (being allowed to use a micorphone helped!).
Our neighbor Morgan had to help Asher out.
Last and least I chopped my hair a good 8-10 inches the first of the month. I've been promising a picture so here it is.
We are so grateful this time of year to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am who I am and my life is wonderful and blessed because of His love for us and His sacrifice for all. I love my savior, I love my family and I'm blessed everyday to have both in my life. I couldn't ask for more.
This was santa #1. They were so excited! It was pretty chaotic with all the kids there, but they didn't seem to mind!
Being so shy last year, I was very excited when Avanlee couldn't wait to talk with Santa (being allowed to use a micorphone helped!).
Our neighbor Morgan had to help Asher out.
Last and least I chopped my hair a good 8-10 inches the first of the month. I've been promising a picture so here it is.
We are so grateful this time of year to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am who I am and my life is wonderful and blessed because of His love for us and His sacrifice for all. I love my savior, I love my family and I'm blessed everyday to have both in my life. I couldn't ask for more.
