Snow Day!

We were so lucky to have a big snow day on a Saturday! Then snow can be fun instead of a pain-- playtime instead of problems with errands and walking to school. Evelyn tagged along with the big kids to play too! She made a few snow angels, and the big kids pulled her along in the sled. 

 

Luke's doing a great job shoveling! 

 

 Snow angels and snowballs!

 

 Extra lucky for us was that our wonderful neighbors were home for the day and playing outside too. 

 In other news, Violet pulled out tooth #7! She's now the tooth queen of her kindergarten class. She can start singing "All I Want for Christmas is my FOUR Front Teeth!". She loves to pull her teeth out!

 

 Cora, Violet, and I went to a local studio's production of The Nutcracker. The girls really liked it! I might have to spring for a fancy production next year! It was a little late for Violet, but it was good to try out. The live orchestra was really fun too. 

We trekked to Lindon to try out a Christmas Train a family does there. The kids loved the train ride, seeing Santa, and the nativity pictures on the ride back. It was fun! I think we will go back again next year.  

 Another cute exclamation mark pony by Evelyn.  

 I've been hunting for new stockings for a couple of years now, I only bought 5 when I got our last ones years ago! I was excited to find something cute online. I guess I need to take some lessons from Santa (checking it twice)-- one of these things is not like the other! Oh well. 

 The kids love opening ornaments from GG every Christmas. She gets them for all her grandkids and great-grandkids when she travels. 

 Luke's cute picture of Grandma and Grandpa. 

I guess we should have taken more pictures! We've also visited the Festival of Trees, drove the Thanksgiving Point lights, and visited the live nativity in Draper as part of our Christmas activities advent so far. And more adventures to come-- Christmas season is full and fun! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Thanksgiving morning Kevin got to play football with some guys in the ward. The rest of us relaxed and got ready. Then we were off to Grand America for a special Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to Kissie and Pata! The kids loved getting dressed up and were excited for the fancy dinner. Cora and Violet remembered it from last year, so they were especially excited to see the buffet offerings on the kids and adult tables. Being able to pick out whatever you want to eat if half the fun! It was all delicious, and we had such a fun time. It's always fun to see all the beautiful Christmas decorations, and the ice sculptures and live band by the food. 

 This was the first time we've taken advantage of the free pictures they offer there. I don't know why we haven't done it sooner! They gave us a nice copy and emailed the pictures to us too. 

We even got a big one of all of us together after dinner. 

The antsy kids had fun playing in the hallway while Pata kindly waited for the check inside.

 After dinner it was off to Kissie and Pata's house for games, crafts, and snacks (much later!). It was a wonderful Thanksgiving, and so fun to be able to spend it with family! 

We decorated our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. The kids were so anxious to do it and loved helping! 

 The night we headed down to Temple Square to see the first night of the Christmas lights. Kissie got us permission to see the lights turn on from one of the top floors of their tall building. It was fun to have a great view and see all the lights turn on for the first time this year. 

 

November Round-up

Family dinner at our house! 

 Cute cousins doing crafts!

 Evelyn was fascinated to see the snow falling!

 Still too short to reach the candy basket! Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to climb the shelves yet!

I found an awesome deal on Disney on Ice tickets, $12.50 apiece with no fees! Amazing! The 7:00 start time was kind of a killer, there was a lot of whining on the walk back to the car, but it was a fun show.

 The kids had two days off for parent teacher conferences. We took a trip to Thanksgiving Point. This time we spent the whole time in the Tinkering exhibit-- so much fun! The kids had a blast trying out all the hands on exhibits, and especially loved this wind tunnel. Even Evelyn could take some supplies to build a creation to fly! 

 

We also went downtown to have lunch with Kissie and Pata at the Church Office Building. It was fun to see all the Christmas decorations up! 

  

We also spent quite a bit of time at the Family Search center in the JSMB. They have a bunch of activities there for kids. Here's Evelyn trying out the car and feeding a stuffed rabbit. 

 

 One afternoon, we spent an hour in Stansbury with friends. It was quite the quick trip inbetween kindergarten drop-off and pick-up. It was fun to see friends and take advantage of the park on such a beautiful day. I love this picture I caught of Luke and Evelyn on the slide!

 

Violet pulled out tooth #5 on 11/13. Three more wiggly teeth are on their way out too! She hates to have them dangling, and once there is a little wiggle, so tenaciously works at them until they are out, so I'm sure it won't be long before she has more gaps in her smile.  

 

Grandma sent coupons for free slurpies for Halloween. Yum! 

 This pony on top reminds me of Daisy Head Maisie. Sticks straight up! 

 Play-doh time, and even Evelyn got to join in this time!

 Morning cuddles with Dad before work.

 Cute Cora the turkey.

 

Terrah Anderson

November 22, 2013

B Kevin Anderson is hereby awarded stealth master status. The task? Changing the battery in the smoke alarm in Evelyn's room with an extension ladder without waking her up. Better now at 10:00pm than at 2:00am!

Terrah Anderson

November 16, 2013 near Herriman, UT · Edited

Three coughing kids + snowy day + Kevin at a football game = extra gratitude for a Netflix free trial period.

Artwork update

Kevin and I have 6 cousins out of missions now-- pretty cool! I love having great examples for my kids! We spent one evening writing letters to them all and sending a little Christmas gift (money-- it's so nice to go out to lunch on a pinched missionary budget!). The kids' pictures were adorable. 

Cora's picture of her praying for Elder Thomas, and Luke's ever-progressing stick figures. 

 "How do you like your mission? What is the words that you speak?" 

 

 "I hope all the people listen to you." "Do you talk different? You make the world shine."

 

Asking a fish if he wants a Book of Mormon. And a cute turkey and hand drawing (Violet got too tied to write this one).

 

 And, more contributions from Evelyn and Luke.  It was a great activity for the kids, we'll have to make it a more regular occurrence!

 

Luke is getting really good at drawing!  

 

 During Africa week at school, Violet's class talked about how kids in Africa often have to be innovative with making toys. So as a class activity, they all made a toy from recycled materials. This was the doll she made. And a picture she made during inside recess at school. 

 

 I love her mermaid drawing too! 

 We did a turkey fingerprint craft for November family dinner at our house. 

 Luke's adorable handprint turkey from preschool. Cora's thankful tree from school.