One Sunday morning...

I'm not gonna lie...
we played hookie from church.
And did this instead...

It was a nice break
We were dressed for church
Does that count?
I can't complain about the actual photo session.
About 45 minutes, and over a hundred to choose from
And not much complaining from the kids
or the husband.
Thank you Sherie!!

Classic Santa picture

It never fails...

It seems there is always one screaming child.

I think it makes the picture cuter.

The boys asked for a trampoline.

Together.

They figure if they both ask for it, and nothing else, their chances are pretty good.

They seem a little too young to be figuring that out.

Lexie wants a kitchen.

Dicken's Festival

December 1 - 4
What a week! We had so much fun going every night and watching Noah. But by the end of the week, we were ready for a good home cooked meal, and to stay home. He did two plays each night, 1 Oliver - where he played an orphan; and 1 Scrooge - as Tiny Tim. And on Saturday there was a matinee, so 4 total performances that day.

the video took way too long to upload...then there was an error.

He had quite the fan club every night! 

Surprisingly enough, Cutler and Lexie sat and watched every single show.

Oliver: as an orphan

Scrooge: as Tiny Tim

Thanksgiving

November 25

Let me just start by saying this... I love that we have so much family, and that we live close to most of them...Until the holidays come around. That being said...this year is our year to have Thanksgiving with my family, and with Colby's family. I was very THANKFUL this year that we had an early Thanksgiving with my family so that we could enjoy our day without running around from one place to the next.

We started the day with breakfast at the Danjanovich's. Super yummy hootinannie's(???), eggs, biscuits N gravy...the works. After breakfast the boys broke the wishbone (from a turkey a few weeks before)

Then we met up with all the Labrum's for Thanksgiving Dinner. Lots of yummy food. Laughs. And good times. I was sad my parents weren't here for the actual day, but so glad we didn't have to split the actual Thanksgiving part up.
This year we are thankful for:
Our family...big & small
Our health
A good job to help take care of us
A home to stay warm and be protected
A free country to do the things we want
The gospel

Teddy Bear Picnic

November 20
Cutler, Lexie, and I joined Hallie, Blake, Mel, and gramma Sherie this year to celebrate Birthday Style at the Teddy Bear picnic. We've never gone before. It was fun. Very much for the little ones. Cutler loved it. You never can tell with Lexie.

she was totally intrigued with his hat. funny girl.

Cutler loved this dang monkey and just had to have his picture with him.

Jubilee of Trees

Christmas...It's the real thing!

That was our theme. Natalie always decorated her tree Coca-Cola.

And ever since she passed away, Sherie and the girls

have always wanted to do a tree in her honor.

This was the year.

And they asked me to help. [Ha, like I really helped.]

I was good at watching them create this amazing scene.

And it was alot of fun.

 Sherie even got us all matching shirts to wear

She has been planning and collecting things for a long time. And it paid off!

Two truck loads, a couple trips to the store, a ton of laughs,

and a million memories!  

We won Designer's Choice!

I was honored to get to be a part of this amazing tree. After the Jubilee, we had to deliver it. Sherie and I were the only ones in town, so we rounded up some boys to help carry the fireplace and tree. We delivered it to a family in Washington. The perfect family! Their whole basement was decorated in Coke stuff. Not just for Christmas. Like...DESIGNED around Coke stuff. It is the cutest basement ever. And especially now that it has our tree in it!

And just a little something I found...
Natalie's tree
The year before she passed away

Tiny Tim

I'm pretty sure I never posted anything more about the plays Noah are going to be in.
In 'Scrooge', he's Tiny Tim, and in 'Oliver' he's an orphan.
If you're in town this weekend, come see them at the Dicken's Festival.

He's been practicing a ton, and just over the weekend caught some stupid cold that's going around. I hope it doesn't affect his ability to perform! [I kept him home from school today so he could rest and not have to go outside.] Tonight is their last dress rehearsal and tomorrow is the big "opening night".

We can't wait to go watch him. I'll get some video of it and put it on here for those of you who can't be here.

Cub Scouts

Along with turning 8, for a boy, you get to start cub scouts. Noah has been watching me do things for scouts for a couple of years now and would come with me every once in a while.
Now it's his turn to go to scouts!
At the first of the month they welcomed him into the pack and gave him his book to start working on.

 He hasn't been able to go to any den meetings yet because of play practice, so after this week he can finally start doing that. And hopefully get caught up!

Mr. & Mrs. Chad Miller

November 5
[finally]

Kadence & Cutler were a flower girl/ring bearer

Chad & Amber both had amazing vows. Boy am I glad I didn't have to do that.

Chad wanted Peyt-Peyt to be there too so he could promise her the same things.

And he gave her a beautiful little necklace.

 We got such a kick out of watching the kids get their groove on.

Since my parents aren't here, the wedding was pretty much up to Amber and me. I was stressed. And worried. And nervous. Mostly worried that we'd forgotten something...something very important. But we didn't. And everything turned out perfect. I thought anyway.
I'm not gonna lie...
I'm glad it's over.

Choose The Right

 Baptism Invitation

front

back



You plan for this day for what feels like forever.

I remember when Noah was 4. I remember thinking, 'Only 4 more years and we'll baptizing him. He's half way there'.

And now the day has come and gone.

It was a crazy day. We squoze a lot of things into it. But the Baptism was the best part of all!

Earlier in the week Colby said to me 'What do you think about having Kent confirm Noah?' It had never crossed my mind, only because I think it's such a special thing, I just thought Colby would want to do it. But I got where he was coming from. We decided that it was ultimately Noah's decision.

When we asked him he wasn't quite sure what to say. He said he didn't know.

We gave it a couple days then asked him again.

He immediately said Papa.

Kent had been out of town for 2 weeks. He got back the same day as the baptism.

He had no idea this was coming. [I don't think]

Colby talked to him just a few hours before and asked if he would do it.

~~~

I was fine the whole day. Never got emotional. Surprise!

Until during the musical number.

She sang "No Ordinary Man"

I turned around just to look at everyone and saw Kent crying.

I lost it.

Noah was the only one from our ward, so we had the room all to ourselves. Our whole family was there.

Minus a few who had good reason.

All the kids rushed up to the plexi-glass to watch. I stayed in my seat watching through the mirror.

They walked down the steps and into the water.

Colby immediately got emotional.

So did I.

As soon as Noah was layed into the water I started crying.

And it was over

~~~

While we waited for Colby & Noah to change our sweet Bishop said a few things. Then he had all of us introduce ourselves to him. He talked about baptism being the gateway to Heaven. And behind the gate was a very long path. Full of all the things we have to do to return to our Heavenly Father. This is what he talked to Noah about during his interview. And Noah remembered. He answered him back when he would ask something.

And then Kent confirmed Noah. And he did such a great job.

I am so blessed to have so much family around. So many priesthood holders who are able to take part in these important things for my kids.  

~~~

After the baptism we had a dinner at the church. After thinking about all who would be there we decided our house isn't big enough for everyone.

Luckily there was a ton of food left over from the wedding.

We dined on homemade soups: butternut squash, and broccoli cheese [Sherie]; chicken noodle [my mom]

homemade breadsticks [Sherie's neighbor] bless her heart, Sherie asked her to make 40, she made 90

chicken salad sandwiches; chips; fruit; brownie bites; pumpkin bars [Jennifer]; cream puffs; cheese cubes; Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist

 Noah's grandma great made him this totally cool [he doesn't think it's cute] blanket. It has little scouts and flags all over it. He's sleeps with it every night.

I am so happy for Noah and the choice he made to become a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ

of

Latter-Day Saints

He has set a great example for his brother and sister and lots & lots of cousins.