Abby's Eighth Birthday Party

 For Abby's birthday this year, we let her have a sleepover.  Good Heavens, I don't remember why we agreed!  Just kidding, it was really a fun time for her.  She had her 4 best friends come over: Megan, Isabelle, Emmaline, and Grace.  The had lots of fun dressing up and playing Wii and anything else they could think of to do!!

 Thomas, Abby and Molly at the party.

 The girls playing Wipeout on the Wii.  It was hilarious!!

I still can't believe that she is 8!  They are growing up right before my eyes!!

January 2012

 Abby got her ears pierced.

 The moon looked like a bowl.

 the clouds looked so much like mountains, that I did a double take and almost thought I was back in Utah!

 I fixed Molly's hair for church one day (she usually likes to leave it down) and I loved the results!  Of course it didn't even stay up through Sacrament Meeting and it fell because her hair is sooooo straight!

 Thomas earned his bear badge and is now a Webelo!!  Go Thomas!!

New Year's Eve

 We had our neighbors and good friends come over on New Year's Eve to enjoy fireworks with us.  Here are all of the kids in the back of the van watching the show!  And here are two of the better shots of the fireworks.

Christmas 2011

Here is a small portion of our Christmas pictures from this past year.

The tree.

Thomas wearing his tie that Grandma Christensen made for him.

 The girls in their custom dresses from Grandma Christensen.  She even let them pick out their own fabrics.

 I bought these dresses on a great sale at Kohl's with the intention of using them for family pictures this year, but this is as far as we ever got.  We did finally take a family picture at Abby's baptism in Feb.

 Christmas morning with Santa gifts, Thomas got a glow in the dark hexbug set.

 Abby got her American Girl knockoff that she wanted.

 This was Molly's first year that she actually made a list and remembered what she wanted.  One of the things on her list was Christmas Barbies.  I found this set at Target for like 25 dollars.  She was so excited to get just what she asked for!

 Toby also got just what he asked for!  A 9" band saw!!  Woohoo!!

 I was so happy to get more pieces of my Willow Tree nativity.  And instead of the 100 dollar creche, Toby made me a beautiful, thoughtful, one of a kind creche!!  I love it!!

 All of the kids playing with their new stuff!  Including Toby in the background!

 Aunt Mitzi sent some cool stuff that she got in Laos.  The girls each got a beaded purse and some money from her trip.  Thomas got a shirt and some money!  They think it is sooo cool!  Thanks Aunt Mitzi!

Spelling Bee

Thomas was in the top 20 spellers in the 4th and 5th grades at his school this year. 

He got to participate in the spelling bee and he came in 10th place.  So, I guess he is the 10th best speller in our school!  And that was with very minimal studying since he found his study list the morning of the spelling bee and only studied that day!  Way to go Thomas!!

Christmas Ballet Recitals 2011

 Here are some pictures of the girls Christmas Recitals this past year.  They did pretty much the same dances as the year before, only with a much bigger class.

 If you remember last year, Molly was the only child in her class, but this year there were about 15.  She ended up quitting in February because she did not enjoy the larger class.  So this will probably be her last recital (unless she decides to try again another time).

Thomas' 10th Birthday

For Thomas' 10th Birthday we had his friends over for pizza and cake and then we went bowling.  That is what he has chosen to do for his last 3 birthdays, so the pictures may look recycled from last year, but I promise they are new!

Abby got him the book Catching Fire from the Hunger Games series and Molly gave him a hexbug case to store all of his hexbugs.

Toby and I got him this K'nex ferris wheel set and the Harry Potter Lego Wii game.

Here he is with his friends from school Kevin and Roman.

And his friend Isaac from church.  They all had a great time and I can't believe my baby boy is 10 already!!!