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.

Happy Birthday to Ruby Pearl - our little treasure!

We can't believe it's been a year since little Ruby-Roo entered our lives! She has been such a good puppy. It's true that if you're not careful when you open the front door she is an opportunist, out to roam the neighborhood for a few minutes, but she does always return, much to our relief (someday she just might not since she doesn't watch for cars, etc) but other than that we truly can't complain. She is friendly, sweet and well-tempered - and very, very loving. Give her a moment of your time and attention and she's your friend for life. Here are some pictures of our first-year's journey with sweet Ruby Pearl (she earned her middle name because last year she was born on Pearl Harbor Day: Dec. 7). Can you believe how little (and dark!) she once was?

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sometimes a little mischievous,

but the occasions are rare

and usually very laughable!

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taking a little snooze

Here's a song our family sings to her often:

(to the tune of the Scooby-Doo theme song)

"Ruby, Ruby, Roo,

We love you!

We love to see your tail wag!"

datenight at temple square.

Dinner at Tucanos. (mmm...farofa...)

Sharing a Toblerone candy bar for dessert.

Walking hand-in-hand on sacred ground

amid what seemed to be a billion twinkling lights.

So happy.

How old are you today, birthday boy? How many fingers?

Today was Carson's birthday. Or rather, the day we celebrated his birthday. It's actually on the 22nd, but this month gets so nuts and there's so many gifts received on the 25th, that it's just easier to celebrate it the first week of December. He's been so excited to be a "whole hand" (old enough to use all five fingers when asked his age) and I have to say he's been a great sport today since he had to share his celebratory birthday with my piano recital (not the funnest thing a 5-year old has to sit through). Here he is with his best buddy in the whole entire world, his big brother, Wyatt!

This picture was funny because he had to go the bathroom,

but I was insisting on taking the shot first.

Joke's on me since he was so uncomfortable

he couldn't give a proper smile.

We got to celebrate with 2 very good friends, Cyd and Sadie, who came over for a fun sleepover while their parents do some Christmas shopping in Salt Lake.

When we asked Carson what he wanted to do as a family for his birthday, he enthusiastically replied without hesitation: KANGAROO ZOO (a room of inflatables)

So...what is he into this year?

Star Wars, Legos, Toy Story, and...

POWER RANGERS!

Everyone had to have a PR ring on their "birthday cookie".

Carson says his favorite ranger is "red, then blue".

Notice the UTAH UTES wrapping paper?

He saw that at the store and insisted

we buy it for his birthday gifts!

a Power Rangers watch!

Carson, you hold such a large piece of my heart! You are my snuggle bug and I'm sad that I can't stop you from growing up at such a fast rate! You're my little buddy and I love you more than I can say!

Here we come a-caroling...

back row (l. to r.): Ryan, Keaton, Lovely, Bruce, Norris, Alec, Me

middle: Maddie, Brandon, Halle, Tanner, Samuel, Gavin, Me

(again - or Charli, rather...I'm so huge I take up the back AND middle rows!)

front: Makena, Ed, Wyatt, and Ashlyn

I love recital days!

Today was our Christmas Recital and I am so proud of my students!

They played beautifully and with dignity and made it so much fun!

After everyone performed it was picture time, which of course means a "silly picture", too:

Halle and Wyatt made my heart burst with pride! You could tell by their expressions as they played that they were really concentrating and wanted to do well. No major flubs and they both were pleased with themselves, which couldn't make me happier as their teacher OR as their mama! Way to go, kiddos! I love ya!

Halle played "Believe" from The Polar Express in a duet with our neighbor, Gavin

Wyatt played a duet with me, "Go Tell It On the Mountain"

And they both played together with a 3rd student (Ryan) in a trio piece of "We Three Kings". Duets alone can be tricky, so trios really take some focus. They did fabulously!

Hate to play favorites 'cause I have such great students all around,

but must admit, these two are my absolute FAVES! xoxo

warm and fuzzy feelings.

love this guy.

Baby Charli says hello...

I cannot wait to kiss these cheeks in person!

This one was our favorite because she was smiling.

I wonder if she'll look more like Wyatt?

You can't see hair well in 3D images, but in the 2D you can and the tech kept commenting on what an impressive amount of hair Charlotte has already.

I guess we'll find out soon enough!

(Halle commented on the picture below, that Charlotte has a "fat neck".

It's actually the umbilical cord that kept floating in front of Charli's face.)

We had a hard time getting a great shot of her face

because her hands and feet were always in the way!

"This little piggy..."

Mouth open

I'm so amazed at the blessings of technology. Can you imagine what women 100 years ago (or even less!) would say at the opportunity we have to see our unborn children in such detail???

I'm making my list, checking it twice...

One of Santa's elves disguised as someone close to me asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year, and in the moment I drew a complete blank. The only thing I could really think was, "I honestly don't need anything." What a wonderful feeling that was! - to know that I had been blessed with a life where my needs have been met and I truly can sit back and know my children don't go hungry, I have not only a roof over my head, but a roof that is attached to a home that is beautiful, warm, and filled with the people I love.

The conversation ended and then of course later that night a couple things came to mind - not things I need, mind you. These are all things one can live without. But with a greedy sparkle in my eye I decided to write them down, in case Santa's handsome elf ever wanted to give that question a second chance...

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A few baby "wants" (again, not needs, but they sure are fun to have):

I can't believe how lucky [blessed] we have been. The biggest laugh I've gotten out of this surprise pregnancy was the fact that last May when we had a yardsale I sold - even gave away - the last of our baby stuff, I was probably 2-3 weeks pregnant and just didn't know it. So we're basically starting from scratch and yet through the generosity of friends and neighbors we pretty much have everything we need. They have been thoughtful enough to offer their baby items they no longer wanted to hang onto. We have a crib, baby swing, baby bathtub, playmat, even carseat. I've been given some clothes and even diapers! People truly have been so good to us that we're well-equipped for Charli's arrival in February (January?????). The above 3 items are really all that's left on my baby wish-list.

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I am shuffling-challenged. I cannot shuffle cards gracefully or effectively. It's like watching a 3-year old trying to use scissors for the first time. My parents gave me their old shuffling machine, but the lure of it was too much for my kids and one day I found it in the playroom next to a pile of 52-pick-up and yes, they had shuffled on down to Buffalo and broken my shuffler. So I'd love a new one. Not only does it spare me the embarrassment of trying to control my hand-eye-coordination with a stack of UNO cards, it makes me look super-cool and chic that I even have one in the first place.

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I'm not a daily reader of my NOOK, but I love to keep it in my purse and when I find myself waiting (in the school carpool line, the doctor's office, or while our BMW (Big Mormon Wagon minivan) is getting the oil changed), it's wonderful to be able to pull it out and read a little something of my choosing. I'd love to put a few more books on there!

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I also wouldn't turn down a gift certificate to here:

to shop the after-Christmas sales, because next year I want a 6 ft. slim prelit tree for my front room window. Do we already have a tree? Yes - and I love it! It's in our family room and it has decorations from my childhood, Brett's childhood, our children's childhoods, and souvenirs from our travels. To me it represents who we are and where we've been. But I have a hankerin' to put a 2nd tree, a more formally decorated tannenbaum, in the room guests see first when they enter our home. I wanted it this year, but decided it would be smarter to be patient and hit those clearance sales in the days following Christmas. (See how greedy I am? One tree isn't enough...)

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A little birdy told me this was a delicious scent, and if I have a weakness for one thing, it's perfume. I can go cheap on many things in life - clothes, food, even some hair products. But man, do I love me some expensive perfume. And if it isn't expensive, I am enough of a snob I want it to smell expensive. Wouldn't mind trying out Victoria Secret's "NOIR"...

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This may sound unusual, but I've wanted to do it for a long time and never feel I can justify spending the money, so I'd love a gift certificate for some business that transfers home movies from VHS to DVD. Our VCR has finally bit the dust and it saddens me that I can't just pop in a videotape of memories to watch.