Ruffle tree skirt!

Thanks to my friend, Shelly, for this idea. She found it on pinterest. I copied! :)

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December 2011 Photo Shoot with Jen Fauset

Jen is so talented. I LOVE the pictures she takes. We were so blessed to get some beautiful photos of our family. 

Minivan Express

First, a little peek at our budding photographer's skills... there were only about 20 more of these I had to erase.

 Every year here they have a big neighborhood lined with luminarios. You can drive or walk through it and at the end there is a live nativity and choir by members of our Church. The whole neighborhood gets into it. There are stations where people set up hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes. There are people dressed as Santa. On this one night in December, there is a live community band that always plays out of someone's garage, and a lot of the neighbors set up fire pits in their front yards and roast marshmallows. It is really Christmas-y, and we love it.

This year we decided to make it a type of Polar Express ride for our family. We got the kids ready for bed, and as they were climbing in they noticed a ticket on their pillow, inviting them to ride the Minivan Express (idea from here). They were so thrilled and convinced that secret elves had come in and left them the tickets.  We had hot chocolate (in sippies) and candy canes in the car.

 Scott punched each of their tickets...

 All buckled up and ready to see some lights!

 We are so festive.

We are definitely making this a tradition. It was a blast!

Second poop on the potty!

I've been putting off the inevitable, but it's time, and thanks to her siblings, we've started. She pitches a fit about getting on the potty, but does ok once there. Wish us luck. It's my least favorite mommy duty thus far.
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Give Thanks part 2

We went up to UT for Thanksgiving and had a blast! Here's the sign as you drive into my sister's gated community (we are the Crane's, not Quink). It was so, so much fun to hang out, go swimming together, do our annual cousin and family gift exchange, see the lights at Temple Square in SLC, celebrate Jacqui's birthday, play games and laugh together. Thank you, Scott fam, for a FABULOUS time!

My kids are at a great age... self-entertained (or entertained by older cousins--thanks!) so there was minimal mom duty on my part and no midnight waking up!

Olivia led the girly activities every day. She is awesome with the kids! Love her! They were thrilled when she dressed up, too.

Cousin exchange... best buds.

My dad's got some minute-to-win-it skills! Wouldn't that be a cute Christmas card if he and my mom did that together and spelled "Merry Xmas" or something?!

Malia

Playing Bananagrams                                     

                                     

Guess who won...

 Did anyone shower that day? I don't think Jare did... I definitely didn't. Nice.

 My dad really impressed with those skills

 Melts my heart Addison

 Corban during gift exchange... it was nice to do it at Thanksgiving. The kids were thrilled about getting presents early.

This year the whole family participated in a turkey trot. I think we took over the neighborhood! It was really fun. Jeff borrowed enough joggers that we had all the little kids covered. I was pretty impressed with everyone's jogging skills.

Addison and Malia

 Jared and Jacqui

 Brody and Treston

 Baby Lily, Darin, Michelle, Tarah, Lisa

 Proof that I was there, my dad, Ash pushing Brookie (See? mommy duties taken care of! Thanks, Ash.)

 Scott pushing Eliza and Alisa

 Eth, Jacqui, Jeff

 Josh

 Jared

 Corban, Addison, Malia

 Taking over the neighborhood

 Amanda

Jake post run... playing at the park with Grandpa, Liv and Ash watching kids. Thanks!

 Alisa climbing with Eliza

 What am I doing?

 Brody and Lily

 Afterwords, we cleaned up and met for a family picture. We took a lot of good ones inside. Just when all the kids had had enough, we realized that Olivia and been hiding through the picture taking time. Aaahhh! So, we moved outside and bribed our kids to get them to smile. 

Li and my Mama

 Who is this grown up young woman? Seriously... that happened too fast!

J&J fam

Our fam

 J & T fam

 M&D fam

 The whole Clan

 Us again

 Mom, Dad and Li

 Lookin' hot

 Li and Jesus

 J&A fam

Playing in the fall leaves. It was such a pleasant day!

 Josh had his own personal photo shoot... he cracks me up!

 Food prep for the feast