Putting up the Tree!

So this year was, I think, the first year that we didn't get our tree put up in the last part of November. We were so busy that it got pushed back until the 4th of December. If any of you remember last year Austin was 1 and was NOT allowed to be in where our tree was. So Curt being the brilliant man that he is put our 8 foot table up sideways to block the entrance to our front room to keep him out. It was really funny to see everybody have to climb over the table but it kept the little man out. So this year we thought we would try to see if he could handle that much temptation. We also let him help put the tree up (since it's an artificial tree). He had a great time being our "helper" as he always does...even though sometimes he's not that much help.

Temple Square

On Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 we bundled up in our never-been-worn thermal underwear, heavy coats (except for Shelby who had left hers at the Church the week before) and drove down to Temple Square to see the lights since we hadn't made it down there the last two years. We love going down there. It's such a beautiful atmosphere filled with the Christmas Story and music and thousands and thousands of twinkling lights mixed in with the ever-present, "How much longer," "I'm cold," and, "Can we go yet?" It's something I look forward to every year. I really do! This was Austin's first year and he did really well thanks to the stroller! :)

This was inside the Assembly Hall. They had a bunch of high school choirs doing concerts. So we came inside for a few minutes and listened to a few songs. I would have loved to have stayed longer because they were REALLY good but Austin had had enough and started crawling underneath the benches and if you've ever been inside the Assembly Hall you know there's not a lot of room to maneuver. So instead of either one of getting stuck trying to get him to stay on our bench we decided to let everybody else enjoy themselves and we left.


My three handsome men!

This was outside in the Plaza. We walked around where they have those old fountains that go from the Beehive House down to the Plaza and Austin, for some reason that we didn't quite get, loved being able to see the water and cried, "Water," every time we went away from the water. So we had make an attempt to keep him by the water as we were walking. What a weird kid! He made us laugh though!

After we were done and almost everyone was frozen we made the trek back to the car where we had brought our own hot chocolate. It was still hot from being in the thermos the whole time. I think this was their favorite part of the whole night! It was good hot chocolate if I do say so myself...mmm, mmm, mmm.

Shelby's Christmas Choir Concert

This semester in school Shelby is in the 7th grade choir. On December 14th, 2010 they had their Christmas Choir Concert. We didn't get a lot of great pictures because we were literally in the very back of the auditorium. So this is the best we got, but we did get some great videos of her singing. She did a great job and even had a little solo part in the song, "The 12 days after Christmas," which she was so excited about because she loved that song and said it was so fun to sing.

Curt's 36th Birthday!!!

So December 11th is Curt's birthday. It was a Saturday and we had the Moss Family party that day as well. So that night we celebrated with the kids and then Curt and I went out to celebrate both of our birthdays. Now there is a story to his cake. First off, his favorite "cake" is cheesecake so we usually get him a cheesecake for his birthday. Second, when I bought the cake I could have sworn that I had a "6" candle but when I got home needless to say there was no "6" in the cupboard. So no, he is not 351 years old, but he is 35+1=36, hahahaha. The kids thought that was pretty funny! For his birthday he got a new pillow (which he's needed for a long time) and some ammunition. Yea, Curt!!!

Happy 35th Birthday to me!!!

Well as most of you know December is the month of chaos for us starting with my birthday. My birthday is on the 9th of December and this year I turned the big 3-5. Yes, I know, I'm old but I still have a lot of life left in me....most days anyway! This year Curt and I really struggled with what telling each other what we wanted for our birthdays and for Christmas so we decided to go really light. I got a hairdryer (which I was in great need of) and a gift card to Robert's Crafts since that's my new favorite place. Then I also got a Cricut machine for both my birthday and Christmas. Yea me!!! I love that thing. It's fun to play with! Then he got me this pretty cake which is an ice cream cake...YUM!!!

Annie Jr.

So almost since the school year began Shelby has been involved in West Point Jr. High's school musical which was Annie Jr. She tried out and ended up getting Molly, the youngest orphan, which we kind of joked about because she's so small. It was funny that that's what really happened. Anyway for months they had been practicing and they finally were able to perform it November 18-20th, 2010. We decided to go closing night. It was fabulous. She did such a great job and it was done very well. It didn't seem like a jr. high school play. She go so many compliments and she had a blast doing it. Here are just some of the pictures we have of our little drama queen!

This is her and Annie together.

Look at that pouty face!

This is her solo where she tells them to clean the place (like Ms. Hannigan) until "it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building!"

This is at the end. The kid that played Daddy Warbucks actually shaved his head for the part. Isn't that commitment?

We loved the girl that played Ms. Hannigan. So Kaylee and Carson wanted their picture taken with her. Shelby was good friends with her as well. They were sad that she will be moving on to high school next year and Shelby will stay in jr. high.

Here is Shelby and all of her adoring fans from closing night. Good job baby!!!

Halloween 2010

Well this year since Halloween fell on a Sunday everybody went Trick-or-Treating on Saturday night. We went to Grandma Moon's and Grandma and Grandpa Nye's for our big family Halloween dinner on Halloween day. This is our family all dressed up. Curt (Killer Gumby), Kaylee (Hermione from Harry Potter), Shelby (Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas), Austin (Spiderman), Kirsten (Witch...only because I have never been a witch) and Carson (Darth Vader). This was at Grandma Moon's house in her backyard.

This is a picture of Shelby the night she went Trick-or-Treating. This was her last year doing that so we let her go with her friends instead of with the family. She had a great time and with all her make-up on she looked kind of creepy. At school on the Friday before Halloween she was voted the scariest costume. I thought that was kind of cool!

Here is Carson. Curt was glad that he wanted to be Darth Vader. Too bad his light saber was a little bent! He enjoyed it though.

Kaylee had so much fun with her costume and was practicing how to do spells with her pretend wand ( a pencil) for days before Halloween. I guess it helped that we HAD to watch all the Harry Potter movies before Halloween. It gave her more spells to practice.


I thought Austin looked so cute in his costume. The only bad thing was that HE WOULD NOT even try on the mask. That was a definite NO! Other than that he liked his costume.

Here we are just being goofy...as always. Curt wanted the Gumby costume but then it was Halloween so he had to add in a sword with fake blood on it. I don't know where he gets these things but I'm always glad he comes up with them because life is never dull with him around!

This was at Grandma and Grandpa Nye's for the annual Halloween Dinner. This is with all the cousins dressed up in their costumes and then Grandma Jeannie is always there as well. It's great to have pictures with her!

A new tradition that was started last year is the making of the Witch's Brew (rootbeer) with Katie and Brad. They do such a great job and the kids love the fog!

Also started last year was the new annual pinata break. They go in turns from youngest to oldest and since Porter can't do it yet Austin was first.

Here is Carson swinging away at it.

Now it's Kaylee!

Now Shelby. She should be the one to go last since she is the first grandchild and the oldest but last year she didn't get a chance to hit it because Kaedan was so strong that he broke it before she could get to it. So this year she went before Kaedan since we all knew that Kaedan would break the thing apart. She came close though and then Kaedan finished it off.

This is what the table looked like inside Grandma's house. She always goes all out and it's so much fun. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Nye!!!