2011

A few things that made 2011 even better


1. My new squeezebox. The name is a little questionable. Really squeezebox is what they came up with?
None the less, I love it!!! Pandora and all my computer music now plays in my kitchen.



2. My second item is Pandora. How was I so slow to get on this bandwagon? I found Pandora last March and have been hooked since. I especially like my Coldplay channel.



3. Oh dear. They sell this at Costco in two really big jars. Every night around 10:00 I have a big bowl of salad with this dressing. Yum!



4. I also found Kirkland brand grated Parmesan cheese that I put on my salad each night. Double delicious.


5. Although I am very far from being fashionable I do like this store for their stylish but affordable clothing. I saw them last Jan. on a trip to Vegas and am excited that there is one now 20 minutes away rather than 6 hours. Especially since they don't sell any clothes online.



6. I have absolutely no idea if it really helps out the wrinkles that are appearing faster than I would like to admit BUT it makes my skin feel so soft that it is worth it. :)


7. Love this show and thank goodness for Netflix and HULU.

Christmas festivities

Harrison Nativity
All of the grandkids were so cute and did so well this year.

This picture reminds me that everything I ever need is right in front of me. How adorable are they?

Auditions for the Best Christmas Pageant Ever
OR
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth (and a couple bottom ones).
You choose the caption :)



After we got together with Jim's family, Lizzie came home and drew this. It is still on our fridge.

The kids waiting for the go ahead to go downstairs on Christmas morning.

Lilly with her new ladybug boots because one day she will outgrow her "froggie" boots.

Afton and her new Cinderella doll

Jim and his new bike trainer :)


Someone got a new bike for Christmas!
Taken with MY NEW digital camera. Yahoo! Such a crisper picture than the ones above that were taken with my cell phone.


Someone else REALLY LOVES her new bike!

MERRRY CHRISTMAS 2011

Let us adore him

Gotta love the mind of a 3 year old girl (Afton) at Christmas



*I especially like how Gaston is showing off his muscles to baby Jesus

One word...

ADORABLE!

Afton and Lilly
3 1/2 years old
Dec. 2011

Tradition Continues

My dad made amazing gingerbread houses during Christmas as my brother and I were growing up.

Here is our attempt for 2011.


Step 1: Make a mock house out of cardboard


Step 2: Have the master (my dad) help you assemble it

Step 3: Modify it as you decorate because your dog ate the gables one night while you were gone. If you notice the top windows from the cardboard model are gone.
Step 4: Add detail


Step 5: Protect it from the dog who still wants more.....

Nativity Scene

Our kids had a chance to act out the Nativity Scene at a senior center near our house. They were being filmed for Music and the Spoken Word. Filming or not it was the cutest thing to see these neighborhood kids dressed up and act out the nativity scene. I didn't take very many pictures because I didn't want to get in the way of filming.

Lizzie was a beautiful angel and silent narrator.
Ethan was a great shepard.
Afton and Lilly were adorable sheep.

Lizzie right before it started

Ethan and the other shepard with their "sheep"

"Come let us adore him"

December

It is here!!! The Christmas season!!!

Even our dog seems to enjoy the magical glow of twinkling Christmas lights. As soon as the tree goes up he seems to think that the tree skirt is his new nap place. But really who wouldn't want to be under the comfort and peace of a Christmas tree :)





In other Christmas news:
I have on good authority that my childrens 3 Christmas presents from Santa have been picked out.
Jim and I have also gotten them each their annual Caldecott book, pajamas and a special present from parents.

We have Christmas books wrapped ready for one to be unwrapped each night and read together. Stocking are hung by the window with care.

I really enjoy the magic of this time of year. I love the ages my children are at.

As we were putting Christmas stuff up Lizzie kept saying "This is so magical mom!" Ethan is already saying Christmas is going to come so slowly.... (don't we all remember that feeling as a kid?)
And Afton and Lilly, well they just love everything. Lilly keeps saying how beautiful the tree is. Afton, well she has already broken a few ornaments. I know I should be mad but I can't. That age is adorable at Christmas.

Magical

I still need to post about carving pumpkins, Jim's birthday festivities and some other things BUT every once in awhile I notice a moment where I am so grateful to be a parent. All the messes, meltdowns, etc. are worth it for those "moments". Last night was full of them.

- First of all we actually had a successful FHE. (Yahoo!) We cut out leaves and then wrote something we are grateful for on them and decorated them. Then we put them on a branches in a vase and now we have a "thankful tree". The kids thought it was awesome and I have a new table centerpiece. WIN, WIN.



- Lizzie lost a tooth and being the artsy girl that she is thought just a note and her tooth wasn't enough. Here is her note. Scroll down for the "Lizzie touch"
"Dear Tooth Fairy. I have lost 5 teeth now. I had this one for weeks and today I got it out!"


INSTEAD she built a whole rest area for her tooth fairy. If you notice there is a house, Littlest Pet Shop animals (as Lizzie put it- to keep her company), a note asking the tooth fairy to draw a picture of herself and write her name, and Lizzie even left some Reese's Pieces as a snack. :) I personally liked how she even set crayons out.


Here is Lizzie with her creation. You can see Ethan's hand in the background. He got into it too and starting setting up lego paths to a big lego creation as part of the "tooth fairy tour".

The tooth fairy left a note in very fancy, curly handwriting (which Lizzie got a kick out of) thanking them for such a great place to come to. I can't find the note. Lizzie has put it somewhere safe in her room and she is at school right now.

Needless to say the tooth fairy left more money than usual and even left Ethan some money for having such a great place to stop.

40

In honor of Jim's 40th birthday here are 40 reasons why I think he is amazing. Most of these are from a blog post I did of him for his 37th birthday in 2008. Luckily they are all still true so I just had to add three more :)



1. He volunteers in Ethan and Lizzie's classroom. Not too many dads do that.
2. Went on a field trip with 25 first graders (in 2008 for Ethan) to Silver Lake
3. Takes Lizzie fishing just him and her.
4. Takes Ethan golfing with him and Uncle Tom
5. Was so patient and understanding during 15 weeks of bedrest
6. Brings me flowers after every priesthood session
7. Is one of the most unselfish people I know
8. Gives me backs tickles when I hardly give any in return
9. Gets so excited over shows like How It's Made and Dirtiest Jobs
10. Has such a strong love and testimony of the gospel
11. Loves nature!
12. Can fix just about anything
13. Invents new ways to fix just about anything :)
14. Is an amazing father to his 4 kids
15. Makes really good homemade Macaroni and Cheese
16. Makes cookies for his family almost every Sunday
17. Was so supportive of me when I was training for a half marathon (and marathon)
18. It brave enough to take 4 kids to the DI and a myriad of other places that I would not take all four.
19. Always makes time for me when I need to go have a girls night out with friends
20. Forgives me of all of my shortcomings
21. Still laughs at the word fart.
22. Has taught the kids to giggle at the word fart :)
23. He has a doctorate.
24. Doesn't complain too much about our usually messy house
25. Gets excited about something (composter, snow blower) and that is all he talks about and researches until he gets it.
26. Is not afraid to try new opportunities (is starting his own business- and still doing well)
27. Is so patient.
28. Is the medicine man for the kids when they are sick
29. Absolutely loves to take care of his garden
30. Respects his family
31. Asked me to marry him
32. Encouraged me to finish my schooling and would even have dinner ready for me to eat in the car while he drove me to ASU for my bachelors.
33. Babysat our new baby Ethan every Monday and Wednesday night when I was getting my Masters.
34. Knows medical terms when things come
up with our kids.
35. Goes to work every day to help support our family
36. Actually misses us when he is at work.
37. Actually takes pictures of himself with a big rooster on a merry go round :)
38. Wore his birthday crown the whole time for his 40th birthday party.
39. Fixes all technological problems that I break
40. Is Jim :)

Halloween 2011

Jim and Alisha celebrating the end of WWII :)



*I really don't remember being this much shorter than Jim. Either I have shrunk or he is wearing his big black shoes with a little more heighth. I am totally going with the shoes.

Indiana Jones Ethan (for like the 5th year in a row)

>
Candy Corn Lizzie

Our ladybug Lilly and bumblebee Afton. For anyone checking- yes they are the same things as last year just new costumes since the other ones don't fit anymore.

Ashton

Random pictures from a 5 day vacation with the Harrison/Cook/ Higley family in Ashton, Idaho.

The family - all 23 of us :)

Our boy- Ethan

Fixing a flat tire :)

Lizzie with her art project- one of her favorite activities.

Older cousins being so nice to push the litle girl cousins. They loved every minute of the swing.

Jim and Lilly

Sweet Afton

The "older" cousins eating together

Best Friends

Amazing view from our cabin.