Homemade Bread

At school Alaina had a "Quest". She had to choose different activities to better herself. Some of the quests were to run one mile, then run one mile again and beat her first time. Sleep on the floor for 7 nights. Make dinner for the family one night. Babysit for someone voluntarily and without pay. Jump rope for 1 minute, then jump rope another minute and beat the number of rotations. She also had to learn how to make bread. She was a natural. I showed her how to mix the dough and knead it. She kneaded it really smooth. When she was rolling it out, she came up with the idea to make it into a wreath. 

Great job Alaina!

Christmas PJs

We have a new tradition in recent years. Grandma Cook started giving the kids Christmas PJs on Thanksgiving night. It is great to wear Christmas all month long. 

Showing off and loving her new pjs

All Dressed Up

A great night out with my hubby for his work Christmas Party.

It was fun to dress up fancy for the night. 

Thanksgiving Fun

After our Thanksgiving Feast, the kids were lucky enough to decorate gingerbread houses. I love the concentration they are all giving to their work. They spent a lot of time on these houses until they were just perfect.

When the houses were all decorated, all bets were off and they started to dig into the candy. 

Shinob Kibe

Hike to the top of Shinob Kibe:

 All the reviews we read for this hike said it was very family friendly. It was only 3/4 mile to the top, but about 1/4 of the way up, we thought we were on the wrong trail. It was extremely steep. There were a few tears and my heart was pounding watching the little kids try to traverse it. But after that point, it was a cinch. It took much longer than the 8 minute record of reaching the top, but what can you expect with a crew of varying ages? The little guy was carried most of the way up and back.

At the top of Shinob Kibe is a mailbox with paper in it to sign when you reach the top. There is also a notebook with the history of the peak. It was very informative. 

The hike down was much faster and easier. Even the child who was scared for her life on the way up practically ran down. We would recommend this hike to anyone. 

Not a Baby Anymore

Xander has had long hair for awhile. I have not wanted to cut it because it has been so cute.

Longest his Hair was

    

after a quick haircut by mom
(that was terrible by the way)

I finally broke down and got him a good haircut. What do you think?

Goofy face--playing the Wii with his sis

I think he looks older and much more like his older brothers than ever before.

Where I'm From Part 2

Where I'm From

Grant

I am from the pages I read, from box scores and Nike.

I am from wrestling and roughhousing, kids trampling through the house.

I am from the bent fence in the back, and the BYU lawn gnome.

I am from praying each morning, and dark-ish hair, from Grandmas and Grandpas, The Greenman’s, Nielson’s, and Kristina Belina

I am from lax laughing, and silly stories.

From Larry and Skedule and The Mudball Maniacs, The Squirrely Squinters and tree house trap doors.

I am from praying with my family before school, and 6 hour Sundays.

I’m from Provo and Brigham Young, The State of the Solo star, clean sin city, and Antimony.

From Potatoes that are baked, mashed, lathered in ranch and gravy, and chocolate chip cookies kept in Tupperware dishes with the heel of the bread.

From getting hit by a car while on my bike, moving from state to state, tripping and falling on my nose, and having same-week birthdays

I am from the top drawer, my closet (my cache), and under my bed, where I hide my candy from my siblings and keep my work from the past, so I can revisit old times.