Ward Christmas breakfast...

Our ward Christmas party was a Polar Express themed breakfast.

 We had yummy food.

 And Eliza and Talia sang with the primary.

Then they got to talk with Santa.

It was a fun way to start our December Saturday morning!

Senske lights...

We went and saw all the lights at Senske...in the snow this year!

And we had our picture taken with Santa!

Merry Christmas!

Letters to Santa...

The girl's letters to Santa this year...

 Eliza 8 years old

 Talia 6 years old

 Lydia 2 years old (almost 3!)

Sending their letters off to Santa!

IWI Christmas party...

Company Christmas party at Porter's BBQ.

Great food and good company.

And Darran and I realized how much random Christmas trivia we know!

Happy Birthday Sam!

On December 5th Sam turned 1!

We got to help him celebrate!  Seems like we were just meeting him the day he was born!

Happy Birthday Sam!!!

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma Great...

 Saturday December 3rd we went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Great for awhile.

 Had to get a picture in front of all the stockings!

 Sheila and Chelsea stopped by to say hi for a few minutes.

 We played some games, ate popcorn, and enjoyed visiting together.  Lydia especially was loving to play with Grandma.

Boat parade...

Friday December 2nd we went to the annual Lighted Boat Parade.

 Picture in the car...Karisa was there too just in the back in her car seat!

We love this tradition!  Puts us in the Christmas spirit!

Growing up girls...

 Beginning of December...

and these girls just keep getting bigger!

 Karisa and Lydia LOVE their baths!!!

 Really dad?

 My attempt to get a gymnastics picture...but she wouldn't stay still.

She LOVES going to gymnastics.

 This is a little too familiar...wanting to be like Talia.  Two fingers in the mouth and then covering them up so we'll never know.  Shhhhh...don't tell!

Tree decorating party!

We decorated the tree on November 29th.

 These girls love getting out all the decorations.

 Daddy putting the star on top.  We didn't get a picture of dinner...but it was yummy as always!

 Christmas pajamas! (Missing Talia...wanted nothing to do with the picture and wasn't worth the fight!)  We're ready for Christmas to begin!

Piano Recital...

On Monday, November 28th, Eliza had her first piano recital.  She did an amazing job of memorizing both of her pieces.

 She played Santa Claus is coming to town.

 And then she and I did a duet of Jingle Bells.

She did an outstanding job!  We're so proud of her hard work!

Happy 40th birthday!

 Darran turned 40 on November 27th.  We actually threw a surprise birthday party for him the weekend before and...I didn't take any pictures.  Ooops.  The girls and I got everything ready in the basement and told him we wanted to watch a movie.  Meanwhile, a bunch of our friends snuck around the backyard and came into the basement.  Then when he and I came down we surprised him!  We watched the BYU football game, ate treats, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was fun and we definitely surprised him!

 His real birthday was on a Sunday...we gave him some gifts, skyped with Nana and Papa, had homemade pizza for dinner, and ice cream cake to celebrate.

 Happy Birthday Daddy!

We love you!!!