santa's little helper

Little's leisure time on a Sunday afternoon, just 13 days until Christmas.

priceless.

gnome men

Dear Henry,

Today was first snow.

We drove up to the house and you said, "Yes, there's enough snow to make a snowman!" I was beastly and muttered under my breath that there probably wasn't enough.

You raced to the snow gear and didn't even complain that your snow boots were 2 sizes too small. I zipped you up tight with mittens and all.

I drove off to run carpool, and returned to find your handiwork amidst the front lawn.

Three jaunty little snowmen, no higher than my knee.

My heart melted.

twigs and blades of grass used for adornments.

precious.

I love the heart of this boy!

dear hillary

Today I went to Biztown with you.

I was just a mom-helper.

You were the CFO of Zions Bank.

You issued loans, took in deposits, and wrote all of the payroll checks for your employees. You were busy.


At one point, I stopped by to check in on you and you said urgently to me, "I am missing an invoice, and if I don't have and invoice, people don't get paid!"

Such a capable individual.

On task at all times.

Pleasant and even-tempered.

And look at this.

You received one of only four "Outstanding Citizenship" awards.

I think that I was the proudest mother today in Biztown.
Love you little CFO.

MOM

first tie

Little wore his first tie for the Primary program.
Also, his first official oxford shirt, which he said was, "scratchy."

Nine o'clock church is too early for our family.

Lovely, Handsome, and Lovely.

Ready for church.

dear maddi

Today you received your first piece of literature from a university.

Your are 14.

The mailer contains words like,

"options"

"early college"

"concurrent enrollment"

"eligibility"

I'm not sure that I know what to do with this information.

Did I know that you would be applying for colleges on that day when I posed your tiny body on the blue, shaggy carpet? I'm sure that thought was safely tucked away in my mind somewhere. Certainly, I must have hidden it in a place so that I wouldn't cry about it like I did today.
Daddy's not crying. He says this is great news. I need to get over myself, and I will.
We are proud of you baby girl, and we love you like crazy!

snake

Ok, this is snake number 3 that has turned up within 50 feet of the house.

He is by far the biggest and the creepiest of them all.

Note the bloody wounds around his face. Gross.

Yep, that's my babe coaxing Snake into the paint bucket with tennis rackets.

Little Hen, Soph and Parks witness the captured reptile. I just shudder.

mrs. crafty pants

Undeniably cute

I'm not sure about this one. It's really circle-y.

Too much?

Preschool. Hillary loved this teacher!

Perhaps Henry and Sophie's first outing together.

Who frowns at elephants?

Maddi all grown up now, with her cool peeps.

once in a while,

I get some surprises on the memory card in my camera. My kids capture the best shots.
Borrow my camera anytime, youngins.
love.

jump

Little just picked this up a day or two ago, and now he can't be stopped.He's worked up to 65 jumps in a row!

He's got the jump-rope fever.

It's a mother's right...

to take back to school pictures. Maddi looks so darling. One year until high school!

She is sporting Sopie's HSM backpack as a little joke that she and her besties came up with because they are cool like that in 9th grade.
I want Hillary's whole outfit, especially the purple keds.

Taken just hours before Little's whole world was rocked when he realized

that 1st grade is 7 hours long.

"It's so long. I hate it!"

Henry and Hillary reached for each other's hand as they left for school each day this week.

I watch them hand in hand until they dissapear down the street.

Best Buddies

Sophie and Henry

ready for first grade! Couldn't be cuter.

1 to 6 in no time flat.

Today.

Just yesterday.

I guess I don't even know what to say about that.

I just found a new hobby.

No more paper, no more glue stick, no more scissors.

and...
I only have about 7 years of photos to catch up on.

saving up for...

a bigger bed for Little.

Happy Birthday Hillary!

So you say you're not five anymore?
How time does fly! 11 candles on this cake.

Hillary opening gifts with her bff, Morgan.



Morgan made this pillow all by herself, just for Hillary.

A totally awesome turquoise camera from grammy.

A little friendly competition on the racetrack.

Trying to drench Maddi and Henry on the bumper boats.

A few days later at grandma and grandpa's house,

the celebrating continues.

Grandma's latest cake request is Hillary's famous

"yellow bear"

It is a perfect likeness.

He's old and sweet, and has been taking care of Hillary since she was 5.

Thank you Grandma for stitching him back up over the years.

Happy birthday sweet Hillary!

You are lovely and we are proud of you!

a coordinated effort

What do you do when all the girls wear black and white

to church without even planning it?

You must take a picture!

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

build forts, of course.

aaaahhh, summatime!

My cute sister invited us up for a day to come play with them at Snowbird.

It was a chilly day, but the pool was warmer than bathwater.

Little Henry's hair is like seal fur. It stays dry, no matter what.

Hillary doesn't even let her dad win.

Maddi checks the buckles.

Little calls it his "life guard."

Hillary and Sarah telling secrets

Lotta love now, but later, Little has a gnarly rash on his cheeks from his lifeguard.
Oh, and he lost another tooth on the top row.

All the single ladies

Thank you stay-cation.

Thank you Tiff and Rich. We had a blast!