Christmas 08

This was the first Christmas in 12 years that we stayed home. I wanted to be with the rest of my family in Az. But actually really enjoyed spending Christmas at home with our own little family. Santa was able to still get to us despite all the snow.
This is taken out our back window.

Ethan likes the fact that he doesn't have to go outside to get icicles. He just reaches out the back window.
Santa brought Kaden a cross-bow. The arrows seemed harmless enough, But the spongy yellow darts have Velcro on the ends of them. Kaden scarred Porters face with one.
Porters favorite gift was a firetruck from Grandma Gardner
Ethan's favorite gift! No not the truck, but the blanket. He keeps thanking me over and over again for it.

This is a shout out to Grandma Gardner!

We went to Karl's brothers house for Christmas dinner in Lehi. We got stuck parking the car on the street, Yeah it was that bad.
But Karl and Steve took it as an opportunity for a good time.

Karl trying to kiss up to the cooks, Liz and Caroleen so he could steal a few nibbles before dinner.
Karl and friend Darell working off Christmas dinner by clearing a path to the cars.
We enjoyed our white Christmas and spending time with friends and family.

Quick Rundown

I obviously haven't written in awhile , so here is a quick rundown of the last month.
We enjoyed Thanksgiving and Karl's brothers house in Lehi Ut. It was nice to not to have to travel. After Thanksgiving I was busy getting Christmas pulled together and ready for the Dance Studio's Christmas Recital. We went to Arizona for 4 days for the recital and was able to see a lot of friends and family, that made the trip worth it.
The students all did so great at the recital. My teachers are all really great this year. Thanks to Peter for all the amazing pictures.



Thanks also to all my family and friends that helped with the recital. I never can do it alone.

So we have also had a lot of snow here. Ethan couldn't ride his bike to school because the sidewalks are too icy. So those days I usually drive him to school. I'm glad we live close to the school because I went to get the car warmed up and I couldn't open any of the car doors they were frozen shut. Ethan had to walk to school and not happy about it. I do like Utah for one particular reason and that is there are plenty f service opportunities for the kids. Ethan and Kaden have had plenty of opportunities to rake leaves and shovel snow, for our neighbors and Home Teaching families.
Two Sundays ago, Karl got up early and He and Ethan pulled one neighbor out of the snow, shovel our drive and walks, helped with two other neighbors and walks. Then went around the block to help Karl's families that he Home Teaches. Restful sabbath. But all the neighbors are out helping each other and it is good for the kids to learn. Yesterday our neighbor lady had her baby in the car they had just come home from the Dr. He was sick and it had snowed a lot while she was gone and wasn't able to get her car up her drive. So Ethan and I grabbed some shovels and worked on her drive awhile until she could get home.
Karl couldn't get his truck out of the drive himself this morning. I was parked in front of him and he slid right into the back of the car with his truck. He was able to get me car out and just left the truck. We are really thankful for our heated-seats and 4WD . We never had much use for it in AZ. Especially the heated-seats.
And of course Porter keeps us in stitches laughing. He insisted on eating his cereal out of the big red bowl. Big appetite. He actually usually just eats bread and water (that's what he wants, honest) so if he was willing to eat some cheerios I gave him the bowl he wanted.

So that's our month in a nut shell. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.