A step back in time...

Last night we visited a live nativity in one of our very most favorite neighborhoods (Harvard & 15th East). It was recommended to us by one of our former bishops, Kevin Pinegar, and I'm so grateful he told us about it. Yes, it was chilly, but we bundled up and for the most part kept warm. I can't believe how much thought and work went into the display. An entire neighborhood and people of several faiths came together to produce one evening of a recreation of the town of Bethlehem, complete with an ancient marketplace, Roman soldiers collecting "taxes" (food donations), shepherds abiding their flocks by night, wise men travelling by camel, and of course, the beautiful stable with the babe lying in a manger. It was a lovely experience shared with some of our dearest friends, the Riches. (Thanks for driving all the way up from Utah County, Troy & Chantelle - we loved spending the evening with you and your fun boys!)

This is Mordecai, the camel.

He smelled REAL good...

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The marketplace, where they "sold" fruit & vegetables,

wheat, linens, and animals - like chickens and goats.

a huge, wonderful, exciting announcement: WE'RE ADDING TO OUR FAMILY

We're thrilled to announce a new member of the

Taft family will be arriving soon. We look forward

to hearing the pitter-patter of feet running around.

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OK, maybe not "feet" as much as PAWS.

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Four of them.

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Accompanied by a wagging tail.

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Yes, we're getting a puppy!

My Christmas present from Brett was permission to get a dog!

He wanted to surprise me with one, but knew I'd love

picking it out myself, so instead he gave me a

cute little stuffed dog (which Carson has named "Puppio").

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We pretty sure we've found what we want and are

anxiously waiting the day our tiny, fluffy

SHIH TZU will be coming home to us!
Here's me opening my gift:

And here's the kids' reactions (love moments like this!):

Gobble 'til you wobble

We had the treat of offering Jo a ride out to Vernal after she was finally able to arrive into Salt Lake (poor gal had to bunk up with friends in Vegas due to the high winds and snow storms in Utah).

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Mr. Wy was excited about his new iPod (new to him, anyway), but still wasn't willing to entirely give up listening to the movie playing in the car - who says you can't have your iPod and DVD, too?

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Two turkeys carving the bird...

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Kael, Carson, Wyatt
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Mom and Dad are giving "snowbirding" a try for a month or so down in Pahrump, NV with Faith and Les after the holidays. To help stay connected, we all went in together on a laptop computer for them to use in the trailer down south.

Ah, the ol' OLIVE-ON-THE-FINGER routine. Classic.

Carson, McKay

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Fawn and Laurie, having a good time!

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THANKSGIVING DINNER AT THE KREMIN'S MEANS:

Parker House Rolls,

Relish Trays, Fruit Salad w/Marshmallow & Cream Cheese dip, Broccoli Salad, Sweet Potato Casserole,

Peas, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, and Stuffing,

Turkey (Mmmm....dark meat!) and Ham! All very good, but my favorites are the rolls, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Homemade stuffing. Give me a couple platefulls of that and I'm in hog-heaven!

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And for the after-dinner entertainment...(drumroll)...

Ta-Da! The annual unveiling of a major award!

welcoming in a new decade with nothin' but good ol' fashioned fun!

Spending New Years in the Basin was relaxing, fun, and soooo wonderful!

Mom and Dad were brave and took on Halle in Kings in the Corner, with the Arizona rules, of course. (Dad, loved watching the western with you, and Mom, thanks for the scrum-diddly-umptious food, particularly the PORK CHOPS WITH GRAVY!!! Do you still have leftover rice? Next time I won't make the mistake of doubling the serving size!) There's something about going home that is so relaxing. You just feel so comfortable and at ease. If the kids were entertained, you could find Brett, Mom, Dad, and Myself reading our books. I finished "The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie", and it did not disappoint. Brett finally wrapped up "The Lost Symbol" and Dad enjoyed John McCain's autobiography. Last time I checked, Mom was working her way through about 3 different books! Maybe she'll finish sometime before Easter! ha ha

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We also enjoyed watching "A Christmas Story" on the big screen at the Vernal Theatre (great idea, Nickole!).

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This was our second time spending New Year's Eve at the Red Canyon Lodge with Mike & Fawn--that place is so great and fun! It's like having the accomodations of a simple motel in the rugged backdrop of the mountains next to a wood-burning stove! We laughed because two years ago when we did this, Fawn and I totally overdid it--the food was delicious but WAYYYY too much in quantity (shrimp, crab, steak, you name it). This year we decided to simplify and just do fajitas, but both Fawn and I forgot so much of what we needed (OK, she forgot one thing, I forgot everything!). Still, we managed to have an abundance of great food and an even better time! We even found the perfect sledding hill--fast enough the older kids had fun and mild enough the smallest kids felt brave enough to go by themselves!

Thanks guys, for another wonderful New Years!

See you in 2012???

This was so nasty, disgusted, and just plain WEIRD.

Natalie cut into the tomato only to cut a spider that was INSIDE the tomato in half! The spider was still wiggling it's leg even after it was cut. From the outside the tomato looked pretty much unblemished, except for the teensy-tiniest little healed-over pin-size hole that no one would have even noticed had we not been looking for an entry point. Talk about heeby-jeebies!

Nice face, Bert!

kind of hard to see, but can you make out the baby to the

right of the doe? so sweet! and the mama stepped in front

of the fawn after this picture was snapped to protect her

baby. i loved that!

Paige & Natalie gave Halle a little makeover

just in time for the countdown.

Hmmmm...

all I had hoped for, and so much more.

Monday night was incredible. One of those nights you go to bed, snugly & warm in your blankets, with a huge smile of contentment on your face. Brett and I went on a double-date with my parents to see Pioneer Theatre's production of "A Christmas Story". I admit I had high expectations, so high that I was nervous I'd be disappointed. Turns out I had no cause for concern, as it lived up to my ideals. I left the theatre so happy and satisfied, I even made the comment to my dad that it may have been better than the movie. (Gasp! Blasphemy!)

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The night started out with a much-craved Greek dinner at Aristos. Yum! Fun to go somewhere "out-of-the-norm". My gyro was divine, Mom's shrimp kabob was delish, and Dad's lamb stew was tender & sweet. I won't even get into the tsatsiki...words can't do it justice! :)

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Parking for Pioneer was a nightmare, and stressful. Everyone was in the theatre except me (long story) so I sprinted (I use that word lightly, inasmuch as a 5'5", 170 lb. woman can sprint) from the far end of the Utah Stadium parking lot all the way to the theatre door, where I was informed by a very serious-looking usher that I had 20 seconds to get into my seat before the doors would be locked behind me. Made it by the skin of my teeth! But the point is, we all made it and we're so very glad we did! It was clean, funny, and sweet. We laughed out loud more times than I can count and by the end my dad and I both had tears in our eyes. I'm so glad I could share this experience with my parents.

Black Bart is tough,

Baby-pink Bunny is not.

This scene was obviously a riot, but I wish

I could share a picture of the "soap-poisoning"

melodramatic bit. Too, too, too funny!

"But the bell rang...the bell rang!"
------------------- I think one of the characters I enjoyed most was Mother.
The actress had a very "Joan-Cusack" quality about her.
Here, the Old Man is opening mail that
informs him he's won a "major award".

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Let me explain this picture.

I said to Brett, "Try to look like you're in love."

So here's my swooning impression.

He just looks ruggedly handsome.

No, seriously, isn't he gorgeous?
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Hate this pic of me, but love it of the folks.

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This really was a highlight of my year--

thanks for driving out (braving snow), Mom and Dad!

There's nobody else I'd have rather seen this with.

I love you so much and will never forget that night with you.