M.C. Escher

A couple days before 2017 ended we headed down to the BYU Museum of Art.  They had an M.C. Escher exhibit I wanted to show the kids.

12.30.17

Lizzie pretending to be her own art exhibit

Ethan and Afton checking out some of the other art

Jim at one of his favorites!

What's a trip to Provo without a stop to Krispy Kreme?

Axe Throwing

We had one of the funnest group dates in awhile!!!  We went with a group and went axe throwing.  It was so fun!!!  They show you a technique for your target and then a little competition sets in.  It really was such a fun new kind of date night.

Jim got an almost bullseye!!!

  He did pretty awesome for having to throw left handed because of his right shoulder surgery.

Axe master and his wife :)  Trent Whitney won the competition in our group

Our group in action

These 6 men are the best of the best!

Ted Sierer, Mark Roberts, Aaron Hadfield,

Trent Whitney, Jim Harrison, Rick Black

Some of my FAVORITE people!!!

Sconecutter- 20 years later

Part of mine and Jim's first date on December 27th 1997 included a trip to Sconecutters.  Recently we have made it a tradition to go back every December 27th. 2017 marks the 20th year since our first date!!!  How can that be?  That is so crazy!!!  20 years!!!! 

This year we had the pleasure of the Higley's joining us.  

The multiples only table :)

Twins and triplets

9 years old and basically 3 years old

What happened 20 years later.........

Me and my favorite boy.  A few more wrinkles, grey hairs and life experience than 1997. 

I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else. 

Cute!  Lilly and Annalisa

We also got to celebrate Birthday Eve for these cute kiddos. 

On December 28th they turned 3!

Christmas 2017

Christmas Morning.......

 Afton

From Santa-

 Big turtle Beanie Boo

new slippers

Ball Maze

 Lilly

From Santa- 

Big dog Beanie Boo

new slippers

Boogie Board

 Liz

From Santa- 

Slime Making Box

Fiesty Friends stuffed animals

Old Navy box with GC, shoes and shirt

Ethan

From Santa- 

Chromebook

WiiU game

Death Star Ball Maze

Jim

From Alisha-

 Rock Em Sock Em game

Axe throwing date night

Utah State sweatshirt

Bee shirt

Keen shoes

new cast iron skillet

Mom was taking the pictures that morning and forgot to get any of herself (oops!)

Alisha

From Jim- New cups and dishes

stuff for my cell phone

Illustrated Harry Potter book

New cookbook

Lots of my favorite delicious treats- coke, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, chocolate and caramel

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning-

Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year.  Church was just an hour long with Sacrament.  I really liked going to church on Christmas Eve (and Christmas last year).  It was the perfect touch to be reminded of the reason for the season.  

Christmas Eve

 at Grandma and Grandpa's 

Cash and teens just go together :)

 

And 9 year olds :)

Before heading home my dad did his annual reading of "A Visit From St. Nicholas"

Back at Home for Christmas Eve

Kids in their Christmas pajamas

Afton had wrote this note for Santa.
 It just about melted my heart.  Such a sweet tender note.

Santa came!
Here are the 3 wrapped presents from Santa ready for Christmas morning!

Harrison Nativity

12.23.17

Another year for Harrison Nativity.  It is always so fun to see all the grandkids take their parts so seriously.  This year we had all 17 there (yay!).  They did an amazing job and the spirit of what happened on that night in a manger was felt very strongly.

Jim and his friend Asher :)

Our awesome kids as sheperds and angels watching over the baby.
Ethan- 15 Lizzie- 13
Afton and Lilly -9

Cast call in the Green Room

Jim and I had an eventful two weeks in December.  He had shoulder surgery (thus the sling) and I had 12 stitches on my right eyebrow to take out a squamous cell carcinoma growth.  This is me one day after the stitches were taken out.  Jim was about 48 hours post surgery and still in a lot of pain but smiled for the camera. 

Me and a smiling Annalisa

Temple Lights

Last Tuesday (December 12th) we headed downtown to check out the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

All bundled up for the cold

A group of Young Women were handing out roses as acts of kindness.  Lilly was one of the recipients.  She was so proud of her rose all night. 

Liz is really good at awkward photos right now :)

What was waiting for us when we got home