Kendall Christmas

We had Christmas at the Kendall’s the next day.  I made book of our trip to Yellowstone and was excited to give it to them.  I think Audrey was just as excited.  She’s been pushing me to make more photobooks over the last year.  I’ve been a little lazy. 

Anne sat down and played legos with Audrey.  Audrey was excited to get a new set but apparently was not into building it right then so we had to come back to it. Anne also let her choose some books off her shelf to take home. A few days prior to this Audrey told me that she couldn’t have anymore books because our bookshelf didn’t have anymore space.  I was ban from buying anymore books and yet she was willing to take them from Anna.  She’s always had a soft spot for books.  I hope that someday she’ll have all the space she wants to collect and read them.  I love that she finds so much enjoyment in it.

  While at Rod and Anne’s we made a snowman family in their backyard.  It was the highlight of Audrey’s winter because up until that moment in time it had not snowed at all in Montana. Later in the week we played games with Aunt Nicole, Uncle Grant, and Uncle Karl.  Paul loves playing games with Grant.  He loves that Grant knows all the rules and leads us through the whole thing.  Game time is always a good time.  Audrey also stamped pages and pages of paper with Uncle Karl with the new stamps he gave her.  

We saw the play the Wizard of Oz and went out to eat.  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” has always been my favorite song.  I’ve sang it to Audrey before bed since she was a tiny baby, so going to the play with Audrey and Paul’s family was a treat.  Audrey and Paul, Rod, Anne, and Karl, went to the Bean museum, saw some nativity displays, and visited Paul’s old stomping grounds at BYU.  Audrey couldn’t stop talking about the air gun and how much she loved shooting it.  Nicole and I went to get our nails done.  I felt bad going while I was sick but enjoyed spending time with Nicole.  We also went to Bath and Body Works to buy lotions, candles, and soaps.  I love it when they have sales after the holidays.  My hands get to smell like Christmas for a good few weeks post Christmas.  It’s the little things :). 

Audrey loved playing with Hamilton and spending time drawing and coloring too. Anne is sweet to keep her drawings and Audrey looks forward to adding to them every time she’s at their house.  She also enjoyed playing her first ever game of Guesstures.  She’s such and actress most of the time, I’m sure I know why she likes it.  

I’m so glad that we got to come for Christmas and that Paul was able to spend time with his family.  He lights up like a Christmas tree each time he is with them and it makes me so happy when he gets to come with me and enjoy some extra time with them.  

Back to my Camera and Christmas

I feel bad for myself that I haven't been here in a while.  I've taken a step away from my camera and I'm really excited to get back to it.  I've missed taking pictures of my little family.  In the meantime I'll place Christmas here for your enjoyment.  

This year we went back to Utah.  It was an off year for my family so no one was really there until after Christmas.  It was fun to enjoy time with just my parents.  My Dad read "The Night Before Christmas" to Audrey on Christmas eve.  It was so good that I had to record it for myself.  I remember him reading to me as a child fairly often and it was pretty great to see him read to Audrey.  My Mom got down and played Lego's with her on Christmas day.  It always warms my heart to see Audrey doing things with her grandparents.  I hope she has these memories forever.  It makes me think of quilting and making cookies with my Grandma, listening to and trying to play the piano with Grandpa.  Playing ping pong and always losing with my other Grandpa and always asking for him to give me a tour of his office once again, it was full of stories from his past that I loved to hear him tell.  I loved getting advice from my other Grandma; many times I thought how strong she must have been to have gone through so many difficult things in her life.  I always admired her baking and was treated regularly to the very best pies.  I feel so lucky to be blessed with the very best of parents and grandparents. 

I was super sick during the holidays.  I could barely speak half the time and sleep was difficult because of all the congestion.  I thought after dealing with it for a week prior to leaving to Utah that I would be fine but it lasted at least another week.  My Mom was so sweet to make me warm tea over and over again.  She also took time out to make Audrey's favorite bread...which made her so happy.  She even made sour dough rolls just for her for Christmas eve because she knew she would miss the regular ones.  

Christmas was the best.  There are a few moments that I'm so glad I caught on Camera.  The gratitude on Dad's face after opening a gift from my sisters.  The awe on my Mom's face and the excitement on Audrey's. Benji and Karalee were sweet to come and spend time with us and be apart of our Christmas.  

Audrey has wanted a camera ever since she was five and broke the last camera we gifted her.  We found a good solution online and she has been the paparazzi ever since.  I'm so glad too.  She seems to get what I don't.  I'm grateful to have another photographer in that family. She was running around taking so many photos of my parents.  They were so good to indulge her and I was grateful for the pictures.  

Audrey got a new scooter this year.  She exclaimed as she opened it that she didn't need it because she already had one.  

The one at home is a three wheeled scooter.  It's so short that she has to bend over to ride it...it was made for a three year old.  She loves it because it doesn't take anything to balance on it.  What she doesn't know is that I have ulterior motives.  She is 7 and still can't ride a bike.  I guess she doesn't care enough to ride it.  She doesn't like to go out on it very often, I have to beg her.   When I suggest we take the training wheels off she has a screaming melt down.  There are literally no kids in this neighborhood so she has nothing pushing her.  Someone told me that the two wheeled scooter would help her with balance.  I hope it does.  I know she doesn't care to ride her bike, but I feel like it's a right of passage as a child. The training wheels are just going to magically disappear this coming summer.  I'm not going to force her, but I feel like she'll regret it later if she doesn't try now.