Haircut for Adam!

We said good bye to the baby wispy hair in the drummer boy pics below.  A few days ago I buzzed Adam's head.  It was a little traumatic for me, but now I totally love the new big kid look.  He is walking all over now, no more crawling to get from place to place. His birthday is tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll have more to post soon.

Science Fair

Ashlyn did a great Science Fair Project.  It was called "The Diaper Challenge."  I wonder what influenced that choice???  5th grade is very project oriented.  It feels like it's been one thing after another all year.  This is the kind of thing that absolutely requires parental involvement (i.e. Mom).  I will add that Dad helped out with the graph, and it turned out way better than I would have ever made it.  I think she had a lot of fun doing it and putting the board together.  I thought I'd post a quick picture of the board she made.  We are proud of her school efforts.

We May Have a Future Drummer in the House

Since we got home from our Christmas trip to California, we have been playing a lot of Rockband. One day when I was on the treadmill downstairs with the kids, Adam picked up the drumsticks on his own and started banging on the drums.  It was so funny because no one showed him what to do, he just went over and did it.  I had to run and get the camera to capture the moment.  Now it's been a couple weeks, and he has become slightly obsessed with the drumsticks.

Megan's Baptism

Megan had her baptism today.  She was so excited she could hardly stand it.  We are so grateful to all those who came to support her on this special day.  What a great way to start off the new year!  I hope Megan was able to slow down for a moment to feel the spirit that was there.  We appreciate Nonnie for having a wonderful dinner at her house afterwards.  Megan had told Poppie that she really wanted a chocolate fountain for her baptism day, and Poppie came through for her and found one!  It was really great, and we kept it a secret right up until we were setting it up and she realized what it was.  

Megan, you are a special girl.  You are so full of life and personality.  I love how you were blessed to use your energy for good and to help others.  We love you, and we know you made a great step towards fulfilling your potential as one of God's most precious daughters.  

It's Great to Be Eight!!

Grandma Westmoreland was ready with a party for Megan right when we arrived to her house in California on Dec. 26th.  All the California Westmore- lands were there to celebrate, and Nonnie and Poppie and Auntie Lorie came over too!  Megan was all smiles, just loving the attention.  No, she was not at all tired of opening gifts! Turning eight was her best birthday yet, I think!

Christmas Jammies and More

I loved the Christmas jammies for this year. I have sewn them every year since 2001 (I think), but this year I decided to buy them. Maybe sewing jammies for 4 kids just isn't reasonable. With all the good deals out there this year, I was able to buy these cute jammies for possibly what it would have cost me to make them. So, I will re-think the sewing Christmas jammies every year tradition again next year, and we'll see what happens.
Christmas morning was all about the Rockband. There were other gifts, but they all paled next to this one. We played for over an hour before we had to get packed up and ready to start the first leg of our drive to California. Merry Christmas to us!Carly with her 'big' gift: a fancy cash register with a million little pieces that I know I will be picking up over and over in the days to come.
Adam is just too cute. I can't believe he'll be one year old in just a month. He got a musical table which is great entertainment!
Who doesn't love a Hannah Montana Barbie that plays the same 10 seconds of the same song whenever you press a button on her stomach? Yes, Carly got one too. Gotta love it.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is Grandpa Steve's birthday.  So it is extra special, and we always celebrate with the Henderson's.  Megan's birthday is the day after Christmas, so we have lots of celebrating to do around Christmas.  Here's the two of them about to blow out candles. 

The girls decided that they wanted to provide entertainment for our Christmas Eve at Grandpa Steve's birthday party.  So, they did a dance that they worked on for a few days (all day, every day, and with MANY song and choreography changes).  

All the cousins sang a few Christmas songs accompanied by Ashlyn, and Ashlyn also performed her best Christmas songs on the piano.  She is getting very good, by the way.

Christmas Village

A couple of days before Christmas, we met our friends the Stepans for dinner, and then we went to see the Christmas Village in downtown Ogden.  It was pretty cool, although we almost froze to death.   Good times.

Gingerbread House

We've been a bit sporadic with this tradition, but I came through this year and we got a ginger- bread house made with the girls.  We just did a kit, and it was quick and easy; turned out cute, too!

Preschool Program

Carly's preschool had a Christmas program on Dec. 17, and I just had to put up some of the pictures because she looked so super cute.  She got to visit with Santa after all the kids sang a bunch of songs.  In the pics, she is next to cousin Wyatt.  Aunt Lisa couldn't believe how cute Carly was in her red skirt and blazer.  That's just 'cause she only has boys--no cute little girls to dress up.