Audrey's First Voice Lesson

Audrey has been singing a lot over the last couple weeks.  Every time she belts, "A Dream is a Wish" from Cinderella I'm proud.

I sing the same two songs to her every night before she goes to bed.  I love that she sings them right along with me now. I think we're going to take time to sing together everyday now.  Maybe I will convince her to be a singer.

I'm hoping to teach her a jazz song that she will be able to sing with me when she gets a little older.  I'm thinking this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzADF9IzZ9Q I'm excited!

Audrey's First Voice Lesson Continued

Last Gift of the Season

We couldn't travel with Audrey's one larger gift.  When she got home she went down for a nap.  When she woke up it was sitting in the living room.  As you can see her first reaction was, "why does this thing have so much hair".  The one she's used to riding at Gigi's house is a little more bald.  After letting Bubba ride and testing it out on her stomach she was ready to give it a go.  It took her a while to warm up to him but now she's a regular cowgirl.  Now she yells,  "YEE HAW"  every time she gets on.  

Christmas # 2

I was kind of amazed when I walked up the stairs to this.  With 13 grand children and 16 adults there it was quite the spread.  It took us until the afternoon to finish opening all of them.  It was so fun.  It's been a long time since we have done it all together.  Except one family, missed you Michael and Chrissy!

This is what Christmas looks like at Mom and Dad's house.  I miss it during the holidays. 

 I'm really glad I captured this moment.  Clara was so happy after she opened her Cinderella Shoes.

 Books are the best Christmas gift ever.  There's nothing like being wrapped in a blanket on the couch eating chocolate out of your stocking and reading a good book.  

 C's first Christmas.  She liked the wrapped boxes.  

 The beautiful younger sisters.  

 Audrey takes her time in unwrapping.  

 Perfect gift for a man.

 This is Mom's, "you didn't face".  I got her an I pad so that I could face time with her every week.  It really was a selfish gift on my part.  I cried.  Mom cried.  I want Audrey to have a really good relationship with her Grandma and Grandpa.  This was my way of making it happen.  

 Dad got a pretty sweet belt.  He never poses.  I had to take advantage of the moment.  He may hate me for this later.  

 Tessie's first Book of Mormon

 Tyler's first Book of Mormon.  

Beautiful memories.  I already miss them all.  

Christmas Eve

 I love Christmas Eve.  This year my sister did nativity puppets with the kids.  As I was sitting there watching them and we were talking and singing about the Savior I got a little teary. I felt such joy. I have an amazing family and I'm so glad that we got to celebrate His birth together.  

We had a big Christmas Eve dinner and Mom handed out all the pajamas that she had worked so hard to finish before Christmas.  Mom started the pajama project before she went to the hospital with a ruptured appendix.  She was in bed the entire time I was there.  I didn't mind because she had to spend lots of time with me.  I'm secretly a tiny bit grateful that she had to stay home.  I haven't spent that much time with her in a long time.  It was really nice.  

My favorite time spent with her was while we were sewing.  Even though I complained a little and some of the dresses were ridiculously hard to sew on, I loved being with her.  She probably spent a lot of time at the sewing machine that she shouldn't have, but she loves her grand kids. We finished them just a couple days before Christmas.  They were beautiful.  I'm glad she decided to make them one last time.  Audrey loves her silky jamies. 

Stole this photo from my sister.  None of mine turned out.  These are all the girls and Kimberly and Tamara their aunties.  

Below in the next post is a cute video of Audrey and two of her cousins that are just months older than she is.  They loved spending time together.  

Audrey's Cousin Friends

Finishing the Gingerbread Houses

This deserves it's own entree.  I took lots of pictures.  Probably too many.  I enjoyed decorating way more than building.  Maybe next year Paul and I could do a swap.  I've never seen so many different colors of frosting and different flavors of candy.  It was awesome.  

I think Jane loved it as much as I did. 

If we were doing a contest I would probably choose the James and Grant team as winners.  It's the outlandish castle below.  The best part is that the castle is under attack.  The candy people are having a war of sorts.

Paul in deep frosting concentration

 Grant's "Man in the Outhouse" house

 Paul's elaborate house

 Jenny's cute house

My store house

The Battle begins.   I believe someone has just died here.

 I'm not thinking the stretcher is going to help on this one.  

 King Noah hiding in his tower.

 The castle in all it's glory.

The End.  I'm sure you were on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Making Dinner

I love being in the kitchen with my family.  We bond over the making and eating of food.  It's awesome.  The conversation isn't too bad either.  The last time I was in town we did a Cupcake bake off.  It was one of the most fun things I have ever done with my sisters.  We kind of skipped over the competitions this trip.  Christmas is ridiculously busy. The next time I'm in town I think we are going to try a Chocolate bake off.  Anything chocolate goes.  Anyone can enter.  If you can handle it.  Dun dun dun.

Tam you are beautiful, I am jealous.  The End.  

 I had to take a picture of my brothers scruff.  I know you think it's weird.  I don't think I've ever seen Phillip with a stache.  It was sweet.  

 Love this smile.  Her brother's smile will melt your heart too.