26 Awesome years!

December 26th I celebrated 26 great years.
Sarah made me some cupcakes, but before we got a picture Jaden and Melissa had so helpfully placed candles in and tested the frosting on "you're."

Lighting...get set...blow...

My audience!

Yummy!

Going through the pictures I noticed it looked like we did a lot of drinking!

Rachel mixed up daiquiris in my favorite birthday present a blender/food processor from my sisters. Because we didn't use liquor we found the recipe too sweet, so we had to readjust with fresh strawberries.

The party's started.

Jaden looked the real boozer, bottoms up!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Rachel gets to play 'Santa' tossing the gifts out.

Dad shows his new road sign!

Rachel and I got Sarah a new bowl for her Kitchen aid.

Christmas Eve

We had a huge family Christmas celebration on December 19th, before the wedding while everyone was here. The house was jam-packed, people everywhere, half of them under three feet tall! But I wouldn't trade it for anything, even though it is crazy and really hard for everyone with kids, I love it when we are all together. But I must say that we did have a really calm Christmas. Jon Kristi and kids came for a Christmas Eve dinner. We also reenacted the nativity story.

Elise being the oldest has been Mary for years so she declined in hopes of being a King, till Grandpa's authentic Shepherd's staff was brought out, then she petitioned to be a shepherd. Melissa was happy to be an angle until one of the items she wanted but was needed for another outfit was taken away. She was easily made happy when she was given the trump to herald the birth of the King, my childhood cabbagepatch doll - Joshua (appropriate I guess).
Ian, Rachel and Aunt Louise were the wise men and Dad the narrator. Sarah joined Melissa as an angle and Jaden was made into Joseph.

We start by "traveling" to Bethlehem.

Angels herald the birth.

Shepherds come to see the baby.

A star shines for the Wise men...

Who come to adore Him.

December Wedding!

Tim and Rosa were married December 20, 2008 in the Snowflake Arizona Temple. It was a wonderful day and I am so happy for them both. Amanda and I went to Snowflake with them on the 19th for a photo shoot. It was loads of fun, Amanda and I were both snapping away and Rosa was shivering. It worked out well to have both of us there, and Tim and Rosa will have loads of pictures. Don't they look so happy?

After the sealing and luncheon we gathered outside the Pinedale chapel for pictures.

1st Both sides...

2nd All Crookstons...

3rd Crookston adults

Nine siblings!

It has been awhile since we have had a picture all together let alone so many. Everyone was pretty much fed up with me by the time we finished but now we will have these pictures for ever.

Enrichment Hike

On Saturday we had an enrichment hike and it was so much fun. We hiked in Pima Canyon, which I had never hike before. It was a about six miles, three slow and steadily up in the Santa Catalina Mountains, and three down.

We took a lot of picture breaks, which was great for me.

It is Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

My Favorite time of year!!!

Christmas Tree Hunting!

It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without tromping through a cold forest looking for that ever elusive perfect Christmas tree. This year he was even further from perfect having the cutest little crook in his otherwise straight trunk. There was a gaping bare spot toward the top where you would think branches should have been (at least larger ones), but over all I would take the hours spent searching the woods over to find a "Charlie Brown Christmas tree" than take the best farm grown, machine chopped, designer trimmed tree that Home Depot or Walmart can ship in.

He's a winner!

This year we (Dan, Amanda and I) had to get three trees, yes...

1 ............... 2 .............. 3

First, for Dan and Amanda, second, for Dad and Aunt Louise, and the third, for Amanda's Mom and Dad. It took awhile, we went up past Springerville were we found some snow, then the snow found us. It started coming down right when we were leaving, but we had already played till our hands were frozen! We even made a snowman, which was fitting, because Kai called all snow 'snowman' (or ice cream, and I'm sure he liked the flavor because he ate enough of it!)

I am Thankful for Surprises!

So Rachel didn't tell me she was coming down from Utah for Thanksgiving, it was all a big surprise! Well I didn't have a clue until the day we were both driving home. I was talking to her twice and the line cut out and for once it wasn't my phone, she just said that her phone was acting weird, I took it for what she said it was. I talked to her again when I was almost home, and could hear she was at a gas station, I thought "that's strange" but the thought didn't linger long, and I didn't think anymore about it. Then I got home and I went to find a room to put my stuff in. I figured the two upper rooms for Rosa and her parents, that left the two downstairs rooms for Tim and I. I didn't really care which I got, but Tim made just a little tiny bit too big of a deal out of me taking the one with two beds, were as he would usually not care and say 'whatever.' He even told me that Elise might want to spend the night and want to sleep in my room. At the time I thought it was weird that he should think of that, but whatever. THEN dad was talking about the people still on their way and said Rachel, that I even let go without much thought, thinking he just mixed up our names. THEN Aunt Louise got out some options for dinner and I tried to put them away when I picked my, but she stopped me, saying how much Rachel likes pizza. That was about the time the possibility dawned on me. All the pieces came together. (I am slow I will admit it.) I thought about calling her up and demanding to know where she was. But right about this time she walked in the door. I was so excited! Rachel I just want you to know that you made my Thanksgiving holiday! I am so THANKFUL for you!

Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
I love Thanksgiving! Family all around a big table loaded with good food! We are so obviously blessed so what better time to think about all we have to be thankful for than together!

I am thankful for the little things that make you smile, like seeing the snow fall in huge white fluffy flakes. I love these pictures! The kids all gathered round watching the snow come down.

I am thankful for the fun we have together! Melissa and Kai entertained themselves with a piano bench forever. Melissa would stand on it, then turn around, climb down, spin and say "tada!" Kai on the other hand would launch off the bench and strike a pose for me in the air. Both were quite proud of themselves and did it over and over again.

I was snapping pictures of the jumpers when someone came into my view, adjusting the focus I found Calvin down beside me wanting to help with the camera. I am thankful for the service others offer.

I am thankful for mothers and all they do for us, I am thankful for songs and smiles.

I am thankful for warmth and happiness!

I am thankful for little wonders, like finding bubbles coming from under water, or how to hit and make the biggest splash!

I am thankful for friends!

I am thankful for YOU!