Christmas 2016

We had such an amazing Christmas weekend filled with family, presents and so many memories. Pat (Nick's grandma) was in town from England so we spent most of the weekend with the Strobelts. Christmas eve we spent at the Strobelts house and we had a huge celebration. Pat made her famous British dinner of prime rib, roasted potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and yummy desserts.  After dinner we played the christmas chimes and for 30 minutes it was nonstop chaos/noise. OF course the kids loved banging on their metal pipe as loud as they could. Then we had a talent show where Scarlett and Alice sang Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, Picture a Christmas, and Jingle Bells. Nick bought a truck load of candy so we could play grandpa Dunhills favorite game "competition". You roll dice and the person with the highest number gets to pick their candy first. Simple and a complete hit with the kids. And me, I won and got my Mike and Ikes! It will become a Christmas Eve tradition in our family so we can always remember crazy grandpas Dunhill. Then we had about 5 desserts that were all so amazing but none better than Pat's pavlova. it was a magical night and I loved seeing my children spend time with dear loved ones. 

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, which i love. Going to church and worshipping our Savior on his birthday is a great blessing. We did santa gifts, stocking, and breakfast before church and then opened presents after church. Then we played and played with toys. The girls got legos, american girl dolls, and scooters. Jack got a car track and a new scooter. We went over to Tiffanys house in the evening for more present opening and left over dinner. I loved keeping Christmas day simple and spending it at our new house with just our little family. I was blessed to see Emily (and sit by the Flakes) at church and have my parents come over for a little bit Sunday morning. I was able to see all my family that was in town and not drive over a mile!! We are so, so blessed with ihe constant love and support of family. My children now nothing but love and fills me with so much gratidue. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning

Scarlett's 7th Birthday

Scarlett looked forward to her birthday for months and loved telling me everyday what she wanted. She wanted a barbie, makeup, chapstick, and to have a big party!! She got it all! We had a big bowling party with all her friends, some from church and school. I know she felt special and was kinda sad to have it all over. I loved that she wore a smile and that party hat ALL day! I love watching her grow but also hate knowing that one day she will be old enough to leave. It seems so far away, the day she she will pack her stuff up and be an adult, but with life just going faster and fast it will come quick!! She has a love all things tiny and loves looking for treasure. She saves every pamphlet we get from the store and spends the day just looking at the pictures. I love seeing her creative side in her art and coloring. One of her favorite activities is stapling paper together to make a book and writing a story with pictures. I love reading them and getting glimpse of what goes on in her mind. She is so giving, rule oriented and a wonderful example to Alice and Jack. Best of all I know she feels the spirit and loves to talk about Jesus at FHE. Already I can see the start of a strong testimony and nothings brings me more joy. She is always the person to remind us to read scriptures and say prayers. What a sweet little girl she is!

Her Favorites

color: red

book: her journal

food: cereal and eggs 

game: hide and seek and twister

toy: art supplies, journal, and anything tiny

activity: riding her bike/scooter, coloring and art/crafting!

She laid out coloring pages and crayons on the table to for everyone while people arrived for the party.

Holiday Happenings

We have had a fun packed christmas season and its only the 15th. I am exhausted but thats just part of being mom. The kids make christmas so magical. They love everything and mean everything!! They just sit by the tree and sing songs and smile huge! They get so excited for all the activities even small ones like "night walks" where we see the lights. So many activities but also so many peaceful evenings spent reading by tree. I was running with Emily yesterday and she said "Jill, our little spot of the universe is absolutely amazing". I could not agree more. I am surrounded by so many good friends and family and i am so grateful. This time of year reminds me just how amazingly blessing  I am 

Santa workshop

Alice wants makeup and Scarlett wants a barbie. Only the two worst things in the world

Scarletts signa concert. She practiced at home for weeks and loved her Santa hat. 

Bellagio gardens and fountains

Al smiles on the Santa Train

Alice's preschool program. She loved singing all the songs and holding up the Santa for one song.

 

The best activity we did this winter was decorate wreaths and place them on Wilf and Doris' grave. We sang Families can be Together Forever and Jingle Bells. The girls loved saying "hi" to their very loved great grandparents.