2015 Family Highlights Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80g2ytnRvo0

Adding Up

I loved a story shared in Relief Society today about a man who went on a 3 year mission with his wife. When they returned they found half the trees in a row of trees they had planted in their yard had grown considerably in their time away. The other half hadn't grown very much at all, and although the trees were the same kind and planted at the same time they looked very different. After exploring further they found the trees that had grown were getting twice as much daily sunlight as the ones that had not grown. In sharing the story, the man related the sunlight to the daily things we do, such as daily scripture study and prayer, that add up over time to make a big difference in our spiritual and even physical growth.

I enjoyed and related to that story. I feel as Robert and I are working on our own growth and working as parents each day, that we are making the daily drops in the pitcher that over time add up to a large amount. 

 Some of this weeks small, simple things included a Sunday night neighborhood walk to see all the lights. We have some artistic neighbors! Cool projectors, what a great idea, no hanging lights!

  The boys decided to be Brenna's horses and take the princess in her "carriage" on a parade. :)

 Leaf clean up! 

Fresh hair cuts for Ellie and I feel so good. We love Diane Steele, our friend in the ward who cuts our hair at her home salon. 

She schedules 2 1/2 hours for Ellie and I because we have so much hair between the two of us....mostly Ellie's thick, beautiful mane. Refreshing!

 Jingledash continues to find new hiding spots around the house. 

 He even decided to work out!

(Ellie's doing. :)

Ellie turned this in for choir sample this week. 

She has enjoyed being part of choir again this year. 

 We named this caterpillar a few names including, Professor Alfred.

 Wednesday night was truly wonderful. 

We tried out a restaurant we've wanted to try since last Christmas that is our new favorite Italian, Visconti's, with our fabulous friends and neighbors, Roy and Tamra Braatz.

 We went out before attending the concert

David Benoit Christmas Tribute 

to Charlie Brown with Special Guest Jane Monheit

Our boys performed in the

children's choir with David Benoit, and it was truly wonderful! 

 He is an incredible Grammy award winning jazz pianist!

Linus and Lucy was one of our favorites from the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOg17QnLGVs

Check it out!

The base guitarist, drummer, and jazz soloist were phenomenal as well. We were completely caught up in the music. Loved it.

David Benoit shared as part of his show that this night was 50 years to the day since the first Charlie Brown episode aired on television!

Ryan, Ryan Braatz, David Benoit and John Braatz

David Benoit asked the kids questions during the rehearsal and Ryan made him laugh by asking if he was wearing socks. David said he wears socks every day. :)

 Ryan loved this experience, and we are grateful he was able to do it!

His choir director loved his voice and wants to take him on as a private voice student...we'll see how that pans out. Exciting!

 Brenna has been in a funky sleep phase where she has been waking up because she doesn't like to be "lone." Sterling hasn't been getting enough sleep sharing a room with his brothers who stay up later than he should, so we moved Sterling's bed in to share with Brenna for a while! Still adjusting, but it's been fun for them.

It's tricky to get everyone what they need with all the different ages in the house.

 We made a play area on the loft to accommodate the bed in B's room.

 

Friday night the kids decided to do a magic show for us as they were practicing some Christmas songs to sing for their grandparents. Fun, fun!

 

 

Man oh man! I truly have never enjoyed a better breakfast than I did for Ashley's birthday.

Ready for this?

Mango stuffed french toast, paradise waffles with macadamia nuts, spicy omelet with ovcado....

yeah.

We got five dishes we all wanted to try and shared them.

We are so going back to

Four Sister's Cafe! 

 Ellie is still enjoying styling her hair different ways. 

She's busy, busy with finals and a choir concert next week!

Ryan joined Ian for a scout hike and spent three hours doing his first Boy Scout Fundraiser Saturday.

Can't believe he'll be 12 so soon!

Hoping all the little things we're doing are adding up to make a big difference as well grow a little in new ways each day.

Christmas Time is Here!

Christmas time is here!

We are loving all the festivities of the season and hope you are too.

We are loving daily 

Christmas Countdowns 

from Grandma Gayle, thank you!

I gave Rob an early Christmas gift, 

12 Dates of Christmas!

We have dates planned throughout the month. :) 

Super excited to be doing something I've wanted to do for years,

be done with shopping in November so we can really sit back and enjoy the Christmas season spending quality time together. 

Ryan's thought bubble...'Why not put all my favorite sets together to make one master set?'

Brilliant! :)

Gingerbread Village

for Family Night

 Our Elf on a Shelf, Jingledash, has been watching the kids from precarious places all over the house this week. 

Trevor writes down where he finds him each day for his handwriting and grammar practice. 

It's wonderful to have older kids to hide him for me this year so I won't forget!

Ryan started running on the treadmill everyday since it is cold outside.

He loves to run!

 Loving our neighborhood colors!

 Teacher Karin came this week and the kids worked harder than ever on their samples for her. 

Trevor and Sterling made their own ancient history lapbooks to turn in.

Karin brought a fun lesson and activity, the kids made up their own laws and carved them onto scratch paper after learning about Hammurabi's Code. 

 We started our family tradition of the white stocking. Throughout the month we all give gifts to Jesus and write them down and put them in a white stocking. Christmas morning we empty His stocking first and share what we have done throughout the month. 

Trevor has been leaving sweet notes like this one for everyone. 

 Sterling had to sleep with ALL his stuffed animals.

 Another gorgeous sunset at the park!

 I intentionally thought I would just play with the kids and not take any pictures...and then there was this glorious sunset! 

 Rob is reenacting a mission picture eating a Torta at Chandos Tacos on our date. ;)

We did the last of the Christmas shopping at the mall for Rob and I after tacos. 
Love holding this guy's hand.

 Brenna did great at Preschool this week! 

She has been going through a separation anxiety phase, but we talked about it and practiced as home and she gratefully did much better this week. 

 Ellie bought herself a NuMe curling iron and straightener and curled her hair by herself for the first time. Gorgeous girl!

 Friday night was our Ward Christmas Party put on by professionals who are in our ward.

Incredible decorations!

 Our boys sang, "The Little Drummer Boy" along with the Fife and Braatz boys in the program.

They dressed like Shepherds and it was a beautiful song.

 Santa's Lap!

 Brenna wants a real horsie....good luck working that one out Santa.

Ryan made a life vest out of bubble wrap. 

Saturday night we enjoyed the 

GRANITE BAY NATIVITY EXHIBIT.

Inspiring to see creative, artistic 

Nativity sets from all around the world!

Merry Christmas.