Christmas

Christmas Eve was at Grandma Ellie's and Grandpa George's.

Maggie was thrilled with her robot dino and giant, giant, GIANT snake.

Christmas breakfast was with Grandma Kay and Grandpa Jack.

I think this one was pretty jazzed about her new iphone.

We stayed Christmas night with Papa Doug and Grandma Trea at their new St. George location.

Kiki demonstrates that tacos should be eaten with pinkies UP.

As usual, December in Phoenix is beautiful.

We played outside and the weather was nice enough for me to run every day.

We visited Aunt Leigh Ann's grave.

Great grandma and grandpa Steele.

It was a great Christmas break!  We celebrated New Year's there also- lots of food, fun, and family.

And, sadly, FLU.

But we made it.

December.

These two can be real pervs.
They were asleep.

They find lots of comfy positions.

Maggie had a gymnastics meet.
As usual, she is the tallest kid in the class.

Our Hatch cousins came to visit the week before Christmas.

At first there was no snow, which left plenty of time on the balance beam for Jake and Dylan.

We shopped at City Creek with the little ones.  

We saw the lights at Temple Square.

It was so much fun- I'm hoping that the Hatch family ski trip becomes an annual tradition.

Lily has become quite the runner.  They love to go in the mornings and are happy to put on their jackets.

Maggie's school Christmas party was called "Elf Tryouts."

They made candy, built toys, and the like.

When I picked her up from school, she was very worried that she hadn't made the cut.

A day or two into Christmas break, she received her official welcome letter and elf identification card.  She was completely thrilled and maybe cried a little.

I definitely cried- something about the magic of her wonderful teacher (Yay, Mrs. Terry!) just touched my heart.

Kate's Eleventh Birthday

Kate turned eleven on her last birthday-

We had an epic celebration- lunch and pedicures...

...followed the next day by cake and ice cream with the family.

Kate is about the sweetest kid you've ever met.  She gets good grades, has nice friends, and is an all around good child.  I'm hoping I'm not jinxing myself with all of this praise- we sure do love her though.  

Early December-ish.

Kiki and I went on a school field trip together.

After years of work, Kiki is A: reading on grade level, B: loving it.
It makes me so happy- I about cried when she brought this home.

 After Lily ate a book, we made arrangements to meet the author and have the replacement signed.

It was a red letter day- Maggie couldn't believe how lucky she was to meet her very favorite author.

BTW- Jessica Day George could not have been any nicer or more approachable.

I was seriously called out on my lack of hair skills, so I bought a book and have been trying to redeem myself.  

Maggie's friend Elle was baptized and we got to go!

These three girls are the same age.

We went to the live Nativity in Alpine with the Hunters- it was a great time and a magical way to begin the Christmas season.

We call her "Quality Control."
She's never far if we are in the kitchen-
just in case a mistake is made.

 The girls and I got to attend the Tabernacle Choir Concert.  It was incredible!

The highlight was that BIG BIRD LED THE MOTAB.

Kiki was mad at Kate and I was so sick of the whining that I told her she would have to submit her complaint in essay form.  This was turned in not long after:

Lily and LaBoeuf. A Photo Essay.

These two will unmake my bed and climb between the sheets.

The one on the left puked and the one on the right ate it.

She just wants to be a little bit closer.

She feels really fancy in her new running coat.

Lily, this is for your own protection because I'm prolly going to kill you if you eat one more pair of shoes.

Mama is always the favorite.

Lily did this.
To a book we borrowed.
A book that was signed by the author.

This is her favorite facial resting spot.

Chewing on some big old beef knuckles.

Throw pillows.

Also, she ate this remote.
And a second one just like it.

Playing.