Catching Up

Maybe someday I'll be a regular blogger again. It's not looking too likely at this point, though. Here's a few photos and words about what we've been doing lately:

The week of Christmas we spent an evening at my parent's house watching the BYU Bowl Game. We had some good friends visiting from Nevada (we were in the same ward in Arizona years ago) and Niles went skiing with them that day. Then they came with us to watch the game and were introduced to the Pew family tradition of paint brush cookies.

Atom painting cookies

Jady and Dawn West with Niles. They were all exhausted from skiing all day.

Cousin Micah and Jet take a turn painting.

Logan and Preston West paint cookies with help from their mom. (Somehow I never got a photo of their daughter, Karsten!)

Minnie displays one of her artistic cookie creations. We loved having the Wests come visit and hope it becomes an annual tradition. They brought us a gift of something they had discovered called a "Cocomotion." It makes wonderful, creamy hot cocoa so now we think of them gratefully every morning while sipping our hot cocoa.

We spent Christmas Eve at the Cranes. We had a yummy dinner including homemade tamales by Nile's mom. Then we had a program with music and scriptures. Minnie and Jumble actually agreed to perform some pieces for the program. Rachael and Sarah also participated on the viola and piano. It was wonderful.

Christmas morning: Santa brought some surprises for the girls:

A fish tank with one beta fish and two African pygmy frogs for Jumble.

And a fondue pot with lots of ingredients to try it out for Minnie. Both of these things were not asked for, but things that Santa thought they would like. (Santa was right--whew!) I wasn't too sad about Minnie's fondue pot myself! (That may or may not have influenced Santa's decision.)


The boys got Star Wars stuff--no surprise there. Here is Jet looking a bit different than normal.

Santa knew that giving Atom the same thing would eliminate fights!

That afternoon was spent at the Pews, opening gifts with all the cousins:

Minnie received a quilt made by Grandma. It is made of scraps of cloth from all the birthday dresses Grandma gave her over the years. (Jumble already has one.)

Grandpa made Jumble's present--a shadow box to hold all her marching band photos and trinkets. This one has all her stuff from the 2008 season. (Now he just needs to make her another one for the 2009 season! :)) I know this was a whole lot of work but I think he enjoyed doing it (likewise about the quilt Grandma made for Minnie!)

Later that evening we went back to the Cranes for more opening of presents:

Atom anxiously awaits his turn to open. All kinds of fun and much-needed items were received there like coats, boots, shoes, jeans, shirts, a movie and even some AF band clothing for Jumble!

The Pew family came to our house for New Year's Eve. Everyone brought their own Chinese food (or Thai food or Arby's!) and it turns out everyone in Lehi and American Fork all had the same idea as all the Asian food places were overwhelmed with business. But we eventually all got to eat. Then we visited and played games until after midnight.

Minnie, cousin Emily and Tim.

Cousins Zane, Erin, and Taran.

Erick, Liz, Rachelle, and Minnie.

Niles--the Star Wars trivial pursuit master! He even beat Erick--who always wins every game he plays, for those of you who don't know. It was a night to remember! Jet looks on.

Atom plays with cousin Gwen.

So at least that gets us to the beginning of this month which is almost over. I was going to post a photo of Jet getting his Wolf badge, but the camera is in my closet and there is currently a toddler sleeping in there, so I'll have to add that later.