Ward Christmas Party

We just got a new bishop who is a friend of ours and super great. I'm excited for our ward even though we really are going to miss our old bishop. Our old Bishop is probably one of the funniest people on earth and yet the biggest softy of all times. It was a great and unique combo. He could have you rolling in the aisle one minute and then crying the next minute.

Anyway. . . our new Bishop was now in charge of the ward Christmas party where it was decided that they would order Chinese food. He knew that most traditional chinese food I can't have (being celiac) so he told me to call the place and order my own meal. So. . . I ordered SUSHI!! How's that for church food:)

The kids with Santa (aka an RM about 22!!)

Even Amy sat on his lap and didn't throw a complete fit. But Ti and Tate were way too big for Santa this year. Hmmmmm. . . wonder if Santa is going to visit them this year!??????

Early Christmas from Mrs. Clause

We got a big snow and the kids always shovel two of our neighbors driveways for them. Shirley always loves to give them a Christmas gift for doing so. She brought them these snowball launchers and she gave the girls snow brick makers. They were so thrilled. Of course the new snow was super exciting to play in anyway and now they had new toys to play with.

Thanksgiving and Joe's baptism

We had a such a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!! I am so grateful for Kate and Brian and Jenny and Paulo coming to our house. We started off the festivities with all the dinner preparation. Mike Behm fried us a turkey. It was the most moist delicious turkey I have ever had.

We turned the garage into a never ending slumber party. We set up the projector so they could watch movies on the "big screen" and had heaters running so it was warm. They went from the garage to downstairs and they never knew they could have so much fun. I don't know if it is my hearing aids or what but I thought the noise level was incredible. It was a good noise don't get me wrong. The best part of Thanksgiving though was Jenny and Kate's leg wrestling. Let's just say, I wet my pants and Jenny broke her toe. Enough said.

We decided to combine Thanksgiving with a baptism. Joe and Sophie were baptized on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was such a great event. They were so excited and we had lots of friends and family there to show their love and support. There was such a sweet spirit there and you can tell that Joe and Sophie felt it and were excited about being baptized. We came back to the house where Ted threw down a big Carne Asada Feast. Everyone was fat and happy. Two days of feasting and I think I am carrying a baby that already weighs 10 pounds.

On Saturday, we celebrated Luke's 5th birthday and Amy's 2nd. We went bowling and then to a park for cupcakes and presents and a KICKIN' game of kick ball.

Emma of course found herself a PINK ball. Nothing else mattered!

Ti and Sabrina found these mustaches in the 25 cent toy machine.

Typical. . .

Off come the clothes. . .

Down the hall she goes. . .

This is a daily if not hourly occurrence trying to keep her clothed. She loves to be only in her diaper.

Getting Amy to Smile. . .

You never know with this girl. . . but you can pretty much count on the fact that a real natural smile AIN'T never gonna happen.

An Attempt at School Pictures

This year at school they hired a local photography studio that does mostly weddings and family pictures to take the individual pictures and the class pictures. I didn't like the prices or the packages or even the poses. And now I'm really glad that I didn't order from them because the class photos turned out horrible. I decided I would try to get some myself. Next year I may order from them. . .

It took several days and in between shoots Joe cut all his hair off.

good thing there are brothers to help in the smiling process

I'm so awesome!

Uncle Rico pose

No hair!!

It's too much even for Emma.

Amy is another story all on her own. Trying to get her to do anything is quite the accomplishment.

Now for the ones I ended up with. . .

Not too shabby considering how long this process took.

An attempt at family pictures was more hair pulling than the individual ones . . .

Notice the one sock on and the one sock off. . . That led to many tears (mostly mine) trying to cover them up or trying to get the one sock off or trying to get her shoes back on.

FINALLY we got a couple of cute ones. . . (And now I think I need a beer! j/k)