Back Down the Hill

Headed to our cars--on the awesome shuttle bus!

Tuckered Out

Scout fell asleep about halfway through the tour. Katie hefted her till the very end.

Temple Trip

A couple weeks ago, our family and Katie's family attended the Draper Temple open house. The little kids were sooooo excited for the wonderful, spiritual opportunity . . . to ride the shuttle bus to the temple site. Truly the shuttle was the highlight of the day. Here we are on the way up.

Drummer Boy (video)

Last month was Eliah's first band concert. He's absolutely awesome, as you might expect. Here's a shot from the performance, a relevant picture from the past, and a video.

2 years old

Pizza at Last!

The kids and mommies finally got to sit down and enjoy a slice of the best pizza in town.

Main Street Field Trip

One of the charms of living in an area with small towns is having old-fashioned Main Streets. Ana's preschool visited many businesses along one side of the road: a bank, a drug store, a jewelry store, the UPS store, a bike shop, and--most exciting--a pizza parlor. I got to help chaperone. What a fun morning.

Before & After

Ana was so excited for her doctor's appointment yesterday. She couldn't wait to get her Kindergarten shots, or so she said all day long. We tried to prepare her but she had no memory of getting a shot and was just looking forward to getting the promised prize afterward. When those needles (five of them!) came at her, I seriously thought she was going to jump out the window. It was a pretty dramatic scene.

Awaiting her checkup.
















Leaving the doctor, subdued, with her surprise and several Band-aids.

WOW . . . or is it MOM?

Eliah and his friend Carson played in the street last Friday night and put the snowball makers from Dave & Robynn to good use. The Walter family gifts just keep on giving!

More Love Notes

Daryl with a homemade box & message from Ya.













Me with the sweetest messages from Meili. She made me a scavenger hunt that led me to our favorite scene in Harry Potter book 7. I actually stole the scavenger hunt idea for Eliah from her. I stole everything today.

Love Notes

I totally stole this idea from Melissa. We drew family names out of a bag this morning, and each of us had the day to deliver a heartfelt message to the one we chose.

Ana with a message from Daryl.














Meili with a message from Ana.














Eliah with messages & scavenger hunt papers from mom.

"Once There Was a Snowman"

Last night we got perfect snowman-making snow (nice & wet). So Daryl rallied the kids and together they built this handsome guy. Thank you, Dave & Robynn, for the great snowman accessories. Aren't they perfect?! If you squint, you can just make out his little twiggy arms. Maybe Monday we'll make him a wife, using the snow-woman kit Steve & Debbie got us. (We're set in the snow couple department. Who's gettin' us the snow babies kit?)

A Heart Full of Love

Nothing much photo-worthy lately. We are waiting out the yucky months of winter (Jan & Feb). Just wanted to say I love my little family. Ana stayed home sick with a gravelly voice and a cough but was in the best spirits all day. We baked and frosted cupcakes then worked on her preschool homework card. The rest of the time she tended her babies and stuffed animals. (She is a way better mom than me, that's for sure.) Meili overheard Ana say that T.V. is much better than books, so she sat Ana right down and read to her for an hour out of some of her favorite children's books. Ana WILL be a book lover if Meili has anything to say about it. Thank you, Mei! I am just so proud of Eliah and how hard he has worked the past few months on a really tough goal. He can do ANYTHING! Plus, he makes us all laugh like crazy. And Daryl quietly keeps us all going along with his steady ways. I'm grateful to be a part of his life. Thank you, family!

Inaugural Moment

The kids mark this historic event.

Amazing Ana

Ana had a good day today. She spent two hours at a friend's house, then two more hours at our house with the same friend. They drank chocolate milk, played dress-up, and watched Sleeping Beauty. She was happy all afternoon. (Actually, she's almost always happy but more so today.) Just before dinner, she ran into the kitchen, overcome with enthusiasm. She shouted out: "Here is the Amaaaazing Ana!"

Hot Genes

Ya displaying his awesome DNA.

Saying Goodbye

Ana's Christmas gift to Daryl was a chocolate penguin named Pee-Wee. Sunday night we decided to tear into him. Poor Pee-Wee.

Wise Woman

Here's a Christmas pic that got overlooked. The Sunbeam class in Primary always re-enacts the nativity the Sunday before Christmas. Ana played one of the wise men. Here she is on her way to see the baby Jesus.