Preschool Christmas Program

Mac thought he should go up too since he goes to the same preschool

They had a lot of costume changes

He was dragging a little by the end

Overall a huge improvement from last year where he was too scared to go up and sing. He got up, he sang, he did all the motions and he did a great job. Yeah David!

See what I've been up to lately

Word is I got a part time job writing menu plans for an online nutrition website called:


http://www.superhealthykids.com/

Check it out. It's got some neat stuff. The woman that started it, Amy Roskelley, is passionate about spreading the good word of nutrition to the public and her partner Natalie I knew from my BYU days. That is actually where I heard about the position. Nothing I've done is posted yet; my plans don't start till Dec. 31st but it's been fun- if not also a little stressful and time consuming. There are some fun tips and recipes available for free with great pictures to look at. Go ahead, check it out.

Foothill Choir

This is my sweet, enthusiastic, rarely-focused six year old Gabriel. We enrolled him in the elementary choir this past semester hoping to develop his non-existent ear just a little bit. I'm not sure that it worked all that well. From what I could tell Gabe was mostly just mumbling along with the songs and not really 'singing'. Poor child. He does actually like music but is at the stage where shouting out a song is more fun than singing it. I think that my  favorite part was actually listening to the pre-performance show. An adult group that just happened to have Alex McLean in it, Zach's friend from back home. The little kidos danced around in the back while we listened to them preform.

 We are planning on trying the violin next. He will start after the new year. No quitting this one after four months though. Mom and dad are serious about these music lessons. He's in it for the next 10 years or until the doctor has to straighten his neck because it is so crooked from practicing.

2011 Thank you note

I found this today in a book I picked up. It's a thank you note to Santa from last year. I didn't remember I helped Gabe write it but it made me smile when I read it so I'm saving it digitally now.  

Dear Santa,
      I miss you and i love you. Thanks for all my presents. I won't ever forget you and I don't know why you show up all the time at Christmas. You are so special.
Love,
Gabe

Sun meet snow

Sun meet snow. Snow meet Sun.

May you have a long and happy friendship.

Aren't those precious?

BYU Christmas Party

        This was our third and perhaps last Christmas party at BYU. The general idea is that kids go from station to station to get small prizes and candy in the mist of general chaos. I took some mediocre pictures trying to learn to use a new lens I bought recently. Perhaps I'll have better luck next time.The festivities started at 9am and we didn't get there till 10:30 and by that time all the crafts and doughnuts were already gone. It didn't dim the children's enthusiasm for the "ice fishing" though  or the candy cane pinata.

"Hey, I want one of those!"

Ring the Reindeer

Thanksgiving

Rail Barron. We spent hours and hours playing this game at Ben and Joy's house on Thanksgiving. In the end we didn't even finish one game since it was getting too late and there were little ones to put to bed. Mitch was the closest to being King of the Tracks but who knows, maybe I was on my way to an outstanding come back.
As for the rest of the day the food was good, the company was good, and the resting was good. Zach and I took our annual "Thankful Walk" together and made it through the alphabet of things we are grateful for- not the least of which is health, friends, and family. I think the ipad debuted on the list this year too though. Giving Thanks > Making wish lists.

A Quiet Place

I love quiet moments. I love black and white photos. I love window light. 

The End.

The many sides of Mac

Last Sunday when I put Mac in his room alone to wait for lunch it got very quiet. That can only mean one of two things- either he's doing something he shouldn't or he went to sleep. (Only rarely does it mean he's engaged in a nice quiet activity like looking at a book.)When I went into the boy's room to check on him I found this. He had crawled under David's bed and fallen asleep. I snapped a picture and tucked a blanket in around him. It reminded me of the time I found Gabe asleep in the closet when he was about the same age,except when we found Gabe he had some how misplaced his pants!

If David is costume king then this is his prince-in-training. 

Most days they are like peas in a pod running around playing one thing or another together. 

On Thursday I was giving thanks for an adorable 3 year old to jump on the trampoline with. Love his Crazy hair

You make me smile Mac :o)

Look Who's Walking

(Photos taken by Zach- thanks babe)

You guessed it, Ruthie Anne is walking! She took her first steps a few weeks ago (9 1/2 Months) and now she does it all the time. She isn't a full walker yet though. She still crawls a little bit, and occasionally spider man crawls with her bum in the air, but it is becoming less and less frequent. She is my earliest walker so far. The boys were between 10-11 months. It is so fun to watch her test out her new sea legs but I'm also sad to see her babyhood winding up so fast. By the time they say their first word I declare it officially over and into the toddler phase. She has been such a delightful baby I wish I could freeze her in time. I guess I'll just have to settle for taking a lot of pictures and enjoying it while it lasts. 

A Nice Niece- Sarah

What can I say- those Hutchins are baby people, adults and teens alike. Sarah and Ruthie became fast friends in her short stay here in Utah. Just think Aaron and Rachel, a child looking very similar to this will be her OWN baby in less than ten years. And THAT will make you guys grand parents. Whoa. 

Costume King

This is my second born. He is master of finding items around the house and turning them into costumes. All the boys like to dress up but the other two usually stick to the contents of the costume box. David likes to think 'outside the box' if you will. This was a toy ball before it became a cap. He likes to be silly and it makes me laugh. 

On a more serious note, Zach's Uncle David passed away two years ago today, the man for whom my David is in part named after. So in a way this is my David helping us remember our other David. Here's to you Uncle David! (We love you Dad and Aunt Shirley!)

Kangaroo Zoo

 Mac's Birthday Part II. A green light to run and jump and yell all you want. What's not to love if you are a little boy?