More December

It was a comedy of errors trying to get this picture taken. It was after church and we were all dressed up, so I thought, "Hey, why not?"

The problem was we didn't have anyone to take the picture. Mitchell kept whining to get out of his "church clothes" Claire had wet through her diaper and the warm spot on my side was getting progressively bigger with each passing second, and McKenna and Meghan kept poking each other! Hans was mumbling "Serenity Now!" under his breath and I was literally praying vocally to prevent myself from strangling the nearest child!
After much debate, Hans finally ended up setting up a ladder in the family room, and carefully placed the camera on one of the rungs. (We don't have a tri-pod. I now realize this is a very sad fact.) It took several shots to even get a fairly decent one. So....here's to "fairly decent". Merry Christmas!

P.S. While flying back from GA to visit my little sister, Amber, the first part of Jan. I left my camera under my seat on the plane. I realized it shortly after passing the security gate, but unfortunately it was too late to go back. Delta called from baggage claim up to the gate to see if it was still there and... no such luck. It was gone that fast--stolen! So sad. All of my Christmas pictures and videos were on the camera! This "fairly decent" family shot by the tree is our only visual reminder of our Christmas this year. I'm so glad I made my family take this picture afterall!


Meghan and her two best school friends after their "Gingerbread Kid Caper" program!

December 09

These were taken at Meghan and McKenna's "Dance Showcase" Christmas recital. Santa came to visit afterwards. (almost) All of our kids loved sitting on Santa's lap to chat about Christmas wishes.








Claire was less than enamored with the "jolly old elf".
Maybe next year will be better. :)


These were taken afterwards when the kids were just messing around.




Strike a pose McKenna!





McKenna was in two numbers. One Jazz dance, and the other she was a monkey in the production number "Night at the Museum". She loves this number and enjoys dancing with so many other dancers in the company. (They have several girls ages 4-18 dancing in this one.) They will be performing at the half-time of the Utah Flash (minor league professional basketball team) game this Friday at UVU at the McKay events center. They are so excited!


Meggie does hip hop dancing. Here she is with some of her peeps.




"Yo Meggie's in the house!"


Claire just chillin' in her highchair one day.








Meghan got to bring home Curious George for her 2nd grade class as school to hang out for the weekend. I walked by this nativity one day, and upon seeing George in the stable I busted up laughing! These are the day to day things you see as a mother of small children, but this time I grabbed Meg and snapped a picture. Apparently, she thought the nativity was incomplete without George.


This was another trip to see our favorite Great Grandpa! This was taken at Grandpa Furness's house in Salt Lake City.


Aunt Sharon, Uncle Roger, Aunt Martha and Aunt Mary and Grandpa

Meghan's Baptism

Meghan was baptized on Saturday December 5th. It was such a special occasion. Meghan was so anxious and excited!
We are so proud of her in taking this important step in following Jesus Christ. She was so happy--just glowing all day!


Meggie and Hans in our bedroom the morning of her baptism.


Meghan opening up the new scriptures we gave her. She loved the engraving of her name on them.


Meghan isn't too much of a girly girl, but she absolutely went crazy about her baptism dress. Hans & I took her on a special outing to get it and she was just giddy about it.


This is a painting of the Savior that Grandma Sherri gave Meghan. She loves this thing! She carried it around non-stop for a few days. Now she's glad it's in her room.


Hans and Meghan just before her baptism in front of the baptismal font.


Melissa and Meghan


Meghan in her jumpsuit.


We kind of have a tradition in our family with baptisms. Whoever is getting baptized gets to choose a special baptism celebration cake. This was Meggie's cake.


The only shot we have of the luncheon we held at our place after the baptism. Aunt Dawneen, Uncle Mike and family were there as well as Grandma Sherri, Grandma Cynthia and Grandpa Bob, Great Uncle Roger, Great Aunts Mary and Martha, and Great Aunt Diane and Uncle Gary. It was a wonderful celebration. We love our Meghan!

Thanksgiving

It was so fun having Grammy Sherri here for Thanksgiving. We had a ball! We made a big turkey dinner, and it was delicious! It sure helps having your mom around when you take on a meal like this. We tried a new stuffing this year, and it was to die for! It had sausage in it--yum!



Ya think Meg is happy about the rolls?




Quit monkeying around McKenna!




These are little decorations for each place that the kids made. Gobble Gobble!

Meghan's 8th Birthday Party

For Meg's 8th birthday she wanted a big party at home. She choose a cupcake theme. The invitations were cupcakes, we decorated cupcakes, ate cupcakes, played fun games and had a generally SWEET time.




We found this really cute polk-a-dot fabric and made aprons for party favors. And we found these fun little soaps that looked like cupcakes to give out too. I know this may seem a little bit overboard, but I have to say, as much work as those aprons were, it was so worth it. I loved seeing it all come together at the end and seeing the look of pure joy on all of those giggly little faces!









Our family birthday party for Meghan.

Halloween

Here's the kids right before trick-or-treating. Meghan wanted to wear the darling dress-up outfit Amber had made her last year, and she wanted to be a "Neopolitan Fairy" (like the ice-cream.)

When McKenna saw how cute Meghan looked in her get-up, she says, "I want a costume like that! But I want to be a Rainbow Sherbet Fairy!"

So...I ended up calling Amber for some instructions and... walaah! It actually turned out pretty cute. The girls loved the outfits, and had a blast wearing them and explaining what they were. After that, I was just glad Mitch wanted to be Mario, and Mario was a costume that didn't have to be made. :)




Meggie at the ward Halloween Carnival!


"The Neopolitan Fairy sinks another put!"


Hans and little ladybug Claire.


Mario with the mustache.


The kids and their jack-o-lantern creations, a few scary faces, a Frankenstein, and a pirate ship.