Despite nighttime sickness, I am still trying to make sure we don't forget any basic traditions. So we bought a pre-made house and stuck it together. You don't see Talan, he was way too busy eating the gum balls.
We decided to spend a little of our Christmas budget to take our kids to Tepanaki. It was fun to see the kids react to the chef who prepared our meal right before our eyes.
Talan didn't enjoy the shrimp hitting him right in the middle of his cheek. In fact he was very put off that the chef would throw food at him.
The kids ate with chop sticks and actually finished the majority of their meal. Braeden wanted to go back the very next day.
Every year we have a tradition to see the Forgotten Carols. Mom buys the tickets and we have a grown up night at a wonderful production.
Michael McLean is one of the most talented performers I have ever seen. This production makes us laugh and cry at the same time every single year.
I was scolded by a family member (Steph) for taking this picture. OK it was one of a few. However, the rules say no FLASH photography. (I turned my flash off)
She didn't mind me taking a picture of her, though.
Thanks Mom for providing this wonderful opportunity to truly remind us of the real reason for Christmas. I always leave the production with something newly learned every year.
Every year we celebrate the Festival of Trees. Traditionally, Angi, Vinessa, Marci, Lexee & Aaliyah and myself go. However, this year Lexee was going to perform at the Festival with L.A. Dance Company so we made it a family event. We were missing Grandpa, Jake & Adam of the Baldwin's but Lexee had a huge crowd to cheer her on.
She has worked really hard this season and did a great job! She is very thankful for Nana and the opportunity she has given Lexee & her cousins to be a part of such a great Dance Company.
Every year we trek downtown to see Temple Square. This year we went with Grandma Baldwin, Jake, Ness, Carter & Ethan. We planned to go a little earlier than usual, and we weren't the only ones.
It was a beautiful night and there were tons of people. Apparantly we weren't the only ones with the great idea. We didn't really have to bundle up, it was quite warm for the time of year. Talan particularly enjoyed the "elephanties". There was one elephant on an ethnic display. I wouldn't have even noticed, but he had to see it up close.
While walking through the crowds we noticed some things people were saying. One man said to another woman, "Oh put your big girl panties on and get over it!" Another woman said to her child, "You don't want to know what'll happen if you poke me in the eye again!" We made it our goal to listen to others as we fought the crowds. It was so funny! Not everyone fares well in crowds.
My cheap digital camera does not do justice to the beauty of the temple. And to top it off the batteries died. But you get the idea!
Here's is how we got to this masterpiece...
We drew out a plan for our Christmas lights this year. WE (Cody) needed to remember which end went where to attach to the extention cord...cords :)
Talan drove us crazy wanting to get on the roof with dad. We THOUGHT he would be terrified on the first or second rung on the ladder. We were wrong...
Reading the directions for the hooks is always a good thing...Co decided to stay away from rewiring the extention cords this year...
Pants & underware most of the time. Last night Talan disappeared in his room. We were thinking of how quiet it had become...He came down wearing Braeden's baseball shoes & helmet & that's about it...less than commando, saying "Catch this..." He was really talking about the ball... he was throwing...
We have been looking forward to Halloween night for the last month. Tonight it finally came. We dressed in our costumes and headed to the church for traditional trunk or treating. Braeden, Lexee & Talan treated for about 20 minutes and then boredom struck. They wanted to hand out candy. So Lexee & Talan handed out candy, while Braeden rode his rip stick up and down the parking lot.
