snowflake temple

On Sunday afternoon we decided to take a drive to Snowflake to see the temple.  We didn't know where exactly the temple was in Snowflake but figured we could find it.  After driving through town and not seeing anything, we were about to call for an address, when I looked over my shoulder and saw it in the distance on the hill...it was stunning.

The view was beautiful...this picture really doesn't do it justice.

So, as we are driving up the temple we take a turn and bang there is this HUGE house built right underneath the temple.  Now seriously, WHY would someone build this monstrous home that, I feel, takes away from the beauty of this temple?  I won't delve into my anger...but, I was REALLY bothered by this.  I just don't understand some people.

snow fun

When Owen informed me a couple weeks before Christmas that he was closing the shop for the WHOLE week in between Christmas and New Years I was ecstatic and quickly rented a cabin to get us out of town, so he couldn't find excuses to go into work.  We left for Show low the day after Christmas.  When we arrived we found a perfect cabin, with the perfect amount of snow on the ground with the perfect sledding hills on the golf course right behind the cabin...it was...perfect!!!

 

The kids...and us, had a blast in the snow.  They couldn't get enough of sledding.  Dax didn't particularly like being all bundled up but as soon as we were heading down the hills he would stop crying and would be laughing by the end.

Taryn and Drake loved going over the jump.

another christmas come and gone

And it was another fabulous day, even though it felt a little empty without Avery and Alyssa.   But, we did enjoy having Tim, Jill, Quinn...

and my mom and dad over.  We opened presents, ate a yummy breakfast (Thanks Tim!!), played games, ate, played with new toys, and ate some more.

Dax loved his stocking...he was so cute digging in it.  He was pretty much in awe the whole day, enjoying all the ribbons and wrapping paper.  Which was good since he only got 1 present...ahh to be the fourth.

Drake loves his pirate stuff,

Owen loves his Carter's ice cream shirt...if you haven't heard this story you just haven't spent enough time with Owen (I am pretty sure everyone has heard it 3 times, since I have heard it well over 100).  

Hadyn loves her princess microphone, this was her gift from Santa that was hidden in the dryer.  For some reason she came out with it before we had even opened stockings!!!  What kid is looking in the dryer Christmas morning???  Needless to say Taryn and Drake quickly searched for their Santa gifts too...so much for the darn cute poems Santa wrote.

And Taryn loves her furreal kitty.  She wanted another real cat but since once was enough for me...this was the next best thing.  She seems pretty content.

 

Time seems to pass all too quickly and we once again didn't send out Christmas cards this year.  But we are grateful for all of our wonderful friends and family.  We are so blessed and are constantly reminded of that everyday!  We hope you all had a wonderful christmas too, and wish you the best for the coming new year!!

One for love!!!!

an arizona christmas eve

Most people have a nice dinner and program on Christmas eve, open christmas pjs, put cookies and milk out for santa, sing carols, and enjoy family time.  We do all those things on Christmas eve too...but our favorite tradition is swimming.  My parents heat up the hot tub and we all jump in, just one of the perks of living in Arizona!!

 

Then there are some crazy people who think it is fun to jump in the freezing cold pool...I think I got my big toe in before I stopped...

After dinner everyone was zonked...another reason why swimming is a fabulous christmas tradition, it wears everyone out.

After bringing everyone home, opening christmas jammies, putting out milk and cookies then reputting everyone to bed, Owen and I, for the first time in I don't know how many years, watched a movie and went to bed before midnight...yes, I had NO wrapping to do.   Thank you wrapping club, my favorite NEW Christmas tradition!  

How can you not LOVE christmas??

how many...

lollipops can you fit in your mouth at once?

wilson family christmas party

We hosted the annual Wilson family christmas party again this year and it was another fabulous night.  After filling our bellies with LOTS of yummy food we had our own little nativity scene...one of the cutest I've seen...  

We read passages from the scriptures and sang christmas songs as the children acted out the story of Jesus' birth.

In typical Hadyn fashion, Hadyn would strip while we sang (Tara, I just don't get what you taught in dance class...my poor innocent child).  And yes, Hadyn is wearing a sundress in the middle of winter...

 

Of course, no Wilson Christmas party would be complete without a visit from Santa...some keen children this year thought it was interesting that Grandpa and Santa wore the same glasses...hmmm???

Santa's little helpers

Even all the big kids got to tell Santa all their desires...well, maybe only their desire for some chocolate...

It may be a little choatic having 50+ people in your home.  But, I do look forward to this fun tradition and can't wait until next year!!!

itty bitty dance christmas show

Hadyn's first dance show was Saturday morning and she was a star.  The girls started the show singing Jingle Bells and then while they were getting in their lines Taryn played some Christmas songs on the piano...

They danced to "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas"

Hadyn and Emma

Hadyn and Miss Tara

Check out the video of the whole dance...the best part is where Hadyn does the same move for the first 30 seconds.

the reason

There are many reason why I am VERY behind on blogging.  But, the biggest reason would be...tutus.  

My friend Tara teaches two itty bitty dance classes, and she was preparing the girls for a christmas show.  So, we had the grand idea of making the girls all tutus for their dance.  17 tutus.  Then we decided if we were already making 17 why not make some more.  My kids school was having a holiday craft fair, and we could all use a little extra christmas cash, so we reserved a spot in the fair and ordered all the supplies.  We did all this at the end of October.  Two weeks before the dance show and craft fair we hadn't even started on the tutus...nothing like working under pressure.

After many long, late nights and the help of some devoted friends we completed 44 tutus and countless hair clips...

Tara and I at the craft fair...

Was it worth all the hard work???  

Well, Owen told me the next time I want to make a little extra cash to ask him and he will just give it to me...so much for supporting the entrepreneural wife...well that and maybe because we only sold 1 tutu dress and a few flower clips.  

But, we had many good laughs during the late night hours...and now have a plethra of tutus for EVERY occasion.  

SO if you are in need of a gift for ANY girl in your life check out our blog Polka Dot Pear Boutique. (www.polkadotpearboutique.blogspot.com)

dancing queen

Hadyn is in a dance class that my friend Miss Tara teaches in her home.  I knew she would love it...especially when she listens : )  Hadyn is my little performer, so this right up her alley...

They are getting ready for their Christmas show...

She has learned all kinds of things...though I am starting to question some of the moves she has started doing at home...like strip dancing...maybe I need to sit through one of these classes...