New Year's Eve

We met Bret's family at the BYU Art Museum the morning of New Year's Eve for the Carl Bloch art exhibit.

Bella was excited to see Aunt Natalie since we didn't see them as much this Christmas. The exhibit was wonderful.  I would recommend it, especially if you can take some time without kids!

The kids like the Tassot exhibit downstairs, because they could use magnifying glasses.

Best of all was this interactive pad they could jump around on.

The pulled out some of their best moves.

After, it was off to the Brick Oven for lunch.

Later, Bret's parents came over for a little Disney Sing It. 

Some of the songs are surprisingly hard.

Junie and Grandma singing her favorite, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.

The girls and I all had matching owl jammies.  We didn't quite make it to midnight, but 10 is pretty late for us!

Sledding

 With all the snow, we decided to bundle up and head out sledding.  We went to a little hill close to our house.  

 Junie was all decked out in Minnie Mouse.

 She went down the hill with Grandpa one time and that was enough.  Junie really does not like to be out in the snow.  She wouldn't even let us put her down after.

 After a bunch of rides by Bella these three sillies jumped on and headed down together!

Always better to have someone help you up the hill!  Great fun in all the fresh white stuff!

Merry Christmas!

And the big man came!

 Junie was as happy as can be with her stocking, lots and lots of lipstick.  In fact, we could barely pull her away from the lipstick in order to open her presents.

 Bella was very excited about her new camera and a bed for Alex.

 With Dad ready her Christmas book. 

 Junie showing Grandma Chris the finer points of lipstick and sharing, just a little.

 After making sure she had a generous coat, we finally pulled her away from the lipstick to open a few presents.  She was thrilled with this costume and put it on immediately.  Then she refused to take it off for the rest of the day.

 Dancing in her crown from Bella and the ostrich from Fantasia.

 This coloring cottage seemed to be their favorite gift. (Hundreds of dollars on presents and they love a cardboard box!)

 Everyone grabbed a marker and took a turn!

 Then they set up the inside with their new stuff.

 Even though you can't tell from the look on her face, Junie really loved her Minnie Mouse coat.  Maybe the earmuffs were a little much!

 Junie reading her favorite story with her daddy.

 After all the chaos, we cleaned up and headed over to see my family. Junie was thrilled with her fancy nightgown.

 She still wouldn't take off the tutu so the nightgown just went over. Both the girls were really excited about their new art easels too.

Last stop over at the Baker's with even more presents, dogs for everyone!  What a great day!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without new jammies!  Or as Bella told Junie, "We get to open another present on Christmas Eve. But it's not that great, just jammies."

Bella's owls.

Junie in penguins. Somehow we missed her favorite part of the outfit, Rudolph slippers.

And to all, a good night!

DeYoung Party

Christmas Eve is always spent with the DeYoung Family.

 The girls did their penguin dance for the talent show.

 And were very excited to see Santa.  Junie went up to him several times, trying to scam a few extra candy canes.  No surprises in what they asked for, Bella wants a camera and Junie wants lipstick.

Grandpa DeYoung, guess which one is the real Santa!

Cookies for Santa

 The girls were becoming increasingly concerned about our lack of cookies for Santa as Christmas was getting closer, they probably asked about it every day.  Finally, Christmas Eve morning, we broke out the cookie cutters.

 Junie would only make Rudolph's.  She also would not share the cookie cutter with anyone.

 Bella was a frosting and sprinkling master.

She picked out these two special cookies for Santa.  I hope he likes them!

Tidwell Family Party

June found a way to keep herself and Uncle Treav entertained for the Tidwell Family Party.  How did kids survive before iphones? As for me, it was fun to catch up and see so many of my cousins.  I wish we got together more often.  

Lunch Break

With Belle being out of school for Christmas break, we decided to meet Dad downtown for lunch to celebrate!

 You can't celebrate without a little ice cream!

 After, we headed over to the Grand America to check out the display windows.

 We had a good time finding the letters of the alphabet in each one. This is the letter B.

 The letter J was in this one.

 They had fun gingerbread houses, of course we liked the pink one!

 In front of the gingerbread tree.

 Mom's favorite window.

 Junie wanted her picture right here, so she cheesed it up extra good. This was a great way to spend a long lunch with Dad, I'm sure we will go again next year!

Watching these three walk to the car was a pretty great moment too!

The Next Show

Tonight was Bella's school program and she was more than a little excited.  She is always a great performer and she put on quite the show, singing and dancing for the crowd!

Gingerbread Cottage

Later the same afternoon we made our gingerbread house.  After years of lopsided houses (And that disastrous castle year!), when I saw this premade house at Costco, I knew it was the kit for us!

 Junie even got in on the decorating this year.

 Bret and Bella did a great job on the decorating!

 All candied up!

The finished house with it's little tree!