The Nutcracker - A Family Tradition

Jim and I have gone to the Nutcracker Ballet in Salt Lake City at the Capitol Theatre almost every year since we have been married. It is kind of a tradition we have enjoyed. Last year as we sat through the ballet and thoroughly enjoyed it we thought Samuel might enjoy it as well. So this year we decided to take him with us. One of his favorite movies is Fantasia (which has a lot of the nutcracker music in it) so we figured he would enjoy the ballet. He was so excited when he found out that we were going this year. When we arrived at the theatre there were large nutcrackers around the foyer and he was just thrilled to see them all.

We took our seats and waited for it to begin. He was so good sitting there. The curtains were drawn and he just had a huge smile on his face. I am happy to say that he did very well for the entire performance (he was a little tired toward the end). I think it was a little different than he thought it would be, but I think he still enjoyed it. In a few years when George is old enough we will take him too and make this a family tradition!

A Special Visit

A few days before Christmas we had a special visitor come to our house. He called Samuel and George by name and Samuel was just in awe! It was so cute to see his eyes light up - even though we haven't played up the whole Santa thing, he was just fascinated. Samuel has sat on the lap of two different Santas and each time he told them he wanted sunglasses for Christmas. Not sure where that came from, but ok. George on the other hand didn't really know what to think. He was a little unsure about sitting on Santa's lap.

Another Great Year

We celebrated Jim's birthday earlier this month. Jim is such an amazing man - I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful guy. We started the day with a ward Christmas brunch where everyone sang Happy Birthday to him. It was cute. Then we just hung out together and had dinner later in the evening with my parents. I think overall it was a nice day.

Opening presents


Wearing his new clothes and sitting in his new chair


Samuel wanted to be just like daddy, so he tried on the new clothes and sat in the new chair as well!


Blowing out the candles (he isn't really 33 - there are some extra floating candles around the cake - those were just the only number candles we had).


Cute picture of George - always smiling (even with his constant booger face)!

Imagination

I just love the things that Samuel comes up with sometimes. A few days ago Samuel informed me that he was going to make a Santa costume. He went into his art studio and a few minutes later he emerged with his costume.



You can't see it but he also put on our stockings and used them as his Santa boots. I thought it was pretty creative and he just beamed when I helped him attach his mustache and beard. I love that he has such a creative imagination.

So Many Things To Be Grateful For

I have always enjoyed this time of year. I love that we have a holiday where we stop and think about all that we are truly thankful for. I have so much to be grateful for - I don't even know where to start.

One of the traditions we have started in our family is that we buy the newspaper on Thanksgiving and read through all the crazy adds. Once we have read them we separate all of the papers and then start the tossing of the papers in the air. The first year we did it Samuel thought it was so great. Because the paper on Thanksgiving is so huge it really makes a big mess. George joined in on the tradition this year as well and thought it was just as cool as Samuel did.

Before the tossing began:


Getting ready to toss:


The tossing:

Samuel helped me make some special turkey friends for our Thanksgiving feast. He insisted that his turkey needed to have legs and feet along with three toes (claws?) on each. We didn't take the time to do this for all of the turkeys, but I thought it was pretty clever anyway.



Note to self: get the candy corn at Halloween time - they are impossible to find at Thanksgiving. We improvised with almonds and swedish fish.

We were able to spend Thanksgiving day with my family at my sister's house and then we headed up to Bountiful to visit some of Jim's family as well. It was a nice day overall.

Spending Thanksgiving with a large crowd brings back fond memories of my childhood where we would gather at my Grandma's house with all of my cousins, aunts and uncles. There was an adult table and a kids table. The table was really several tables connected together to create one HUGE table. We served the food "family style" where you just passed all the fixings around. So, this year as we sat around the adult table at my sister's house and passed the fixings around "family style" it was as though we were back at my grandma's house celebrating Thanksgiving. Even though it gets a little crazy having so many people (and especially so many children) around I am so thankful to have a family like this.

These were the best pictures we had (we left the camera in the car and were too busy stuffing our faces to go out the door and get it so Jim used his cell phone).

Another great Thanksgiving day!

All We Need Now Is A Trader Joe's

I went on opening day (two days ago). Everyone was super friendly and they had it so organized I didn't even mind waiting for 30 minutes. Jim was super happy about it too.


Jim's animal style fries

The First Snowfall

Samuel was super excited to see snow falling and actually sticking to the ground on Saturday. He begged me for most of the morning to get out his winter gear. I finally gave in and dug it all out of the basement. I tried to explain that he probably didn't need his snowpants and boots and big coat and mittens and hat. But he insisted. He had a blast playing in the inch or two of snow on the ground.




Just today he asked for Christmas music. I guess he is really feeling in the winter mood. I don't mind though. George really seems to enjoy the Christmas music as well. He gets into it and starts dancing. It is pretty cute.

A Dictionary - Really?

I thought it was funny that at our trip to the local library a couple days ago, Samuel chose to check out a dictionary. Of the thousands of books to choose from, he chose the dictionary. At least it is a children's dictionary so there are some pictures. He kept asking me to read it to him today. I tried to explain that the dictionary isn't really the type of book that you just READ through. I explained that if you want to know what a word means you can look it up in the dictionary and find out. I think he understands now the function of a dictionary. We would think of a word and then look it up and I would read it to him. It was really cute when he kept saying "Hmmm. That's interesting" after each word I read about.

Halloween Costumes Finished (sort of)

We had a halloween carnival tonight at the church, so this morning I realized that I needed to get the costumes made for my boys. I think they turned out ok. Most people could tell what they were (I think) or else they were just being polite. Either way Samuel was thrilled to wear his green jellyfish. George didn't really like wearing his so much - but that wasn't a surprise. He hates anything on his head. oh well.




I think I will try to modify George's a little so that he likes it on his head.

Wonderful Fall Weather

Saturday was a perfect autumn day. I had my booth at the Farmer's Market and had a good day. Jim brought the boys over to say hi, eat yummy pizza, and play at the park.

Wedding Reception

After the great party on Friday we met Jim in Salt lake for my good friend Juliana's wedding reception. It was so fun to see her and catch up with other friends that I haven't seen for a while. Juliana was my first room mate in college and a wonderful friend.


It has been hard to see each other since our lives have gotten so busy, but every time I am with her it is like we haven't been apart at all. She is wonderful and I am so happy for her. She was a beautiful bride! I loved chatting with my other good friend LeeAnn as well.



I feel fortunate to have met such wonderful people in my college days. We have had some good times.

Halloween/Birthday Party

This past Friday we headed up to Bountiful for the annual Halloween/Birthday Party for Kyle that Grandma Moss puts on. The kids all had a great time as usual. It is always fun to be with cousins, run around, and make noise.

I had seen these

on the Family Fun website and thought they would be fun. They were a hit. And so easy to make too.

George was sure happy.


Laurelee and cousin Karolann - so cute!


Kyle the birthday boy.


Look at all these boys!

Grandma Moss sure knows how to throw a good party.

Adventures in Pumpkinland

Today I took the boys to Pumpkinland with my cousin and her son. The boys had such a great time walking around the corn maze, playing on the bouncy toys, looking at the animals (George especially liked this) and playing with Parker. It was such a perfect day to be outside too! A big thank you to Rachelle who invited us to go with her. I think it will have to be an annual tradition now.





I think George looks so grown up in this picture - walking by himself in the corn field. He absolutely loved just walking around.

The Photographer

Lately Samuel has been very interested in taking pictures. I figured I would let him take a few pictures (aren't digital cameras great). He took some pictures of our fish tank and I think some of them are pretty cool. What I thought was really neat is that he took pictures of stuff I have never seen before because they are taken from his point of view.

Like the underside of this large piece of coral - pretty neat.

And some great angles of the fish and other coral.

This Never Happens

Yesterday George skipped his morning nap. He played hard for most of the day and by the time he sat down to eat an afternoon snack (or early dinner) this is what happened. Anyone who has been around George knows that he is ALWAYS moving. I couldn't believe my eyes when I came back into the kitchen after stepping into the other room briefly and saw him asleep in his chair. He must have been REALLY tired.

Double Barrel

Where did he learn this?

It's That Time of Year Again

So rewarding to go out, pick veggies from your garden, and then bottle them. Not to mention how yummy they taste.