F.N. @ T.S.

Family Night at Temple Square
was short, sweet, and totally radical.

Sarah the Ewok.

I forgot to pull my hat back down after taking pictures of the kiddos... Still, here we are.

A Christmas Carol

It's just not Christmas for me until we hit A Christmas Carol with the Carters. We see this every year as a family at Hale Theater in Orem. Every year it's awesome. This year was no exception... our favorite Scrooge was back in the saddle and was (as usual) amazing. I just love this story. I used to teach the book back in my teachin' days at Alta High and I admit, I kind of miss poring over every word with high-schoolers who couldn't care less.
Every year, I find myself a little emotional during the play. However, this year, there was one scene that killed me a little more than usual... In Hale's adaptation, following the the scene where the Ghost of Christmas Future takes Scrooge to the Cratchits' to see how they are faring without Tiny Tim, the audience sees the Cratchit family visit Tim's grave. Here, Bob Cratchit sings the song What Child is This? so beautifully. Maybe it's the mother in me, but I sat there, listening to the emotion, grief, and reverence in this man's voice, and cried like a little girl. It was really a beautiful moment for me... sniffing in the dark, holding Blaine's hand, missing my babies who were safe and sound with Scotty and May May (thanks again!), and hearing Blaine sniff his way through the song as well. It's pretty great being a mom... but even better being a mom with a guy like mine.
Cheesy, I know... but hey, I may as well top it off with a little more... God bless us, everyone! :)

Gingerbread 2010

It's that time again... The annual Carter Gingerbread Extravaganza.
This year was pretty awesome.
Even Jack and Jake decorated their very own houses.



Poppy and Jakey handling their construction very carefully.

Some of the crew.

Jack man.

Doug and Jen. I'm loving Doug's face here.
(Jen--this one's for you.)

This is mine and Blaine's. We took our inspiration from The Festival of Trees this year.
(Megan and Scott... remember the surfing Santa?)

Jake's house.

Jake and Jack's together.
(They are the cutest neighbors.)

Sean's playground.
(Complete with basketball hoop and baller.)

Doug and Jen's masterpiece.

Markelle and Brent's.
(Brent decided to show everyone up this year and include the baby Jesus in his scene... Show off. haha.)

Sunday Best... The Christmas Version

Now that there are two Carter kids, I thought it was high time we did Christmas outfits for the holidays. I think I scored with these, as they can wear them past December 25th (Crazy 8--my new favorite store). Anyway, After church we tried to take a few pictures. They actually turned out a little better than I thought they would. There were a few tears shed, an (almost) fall off the ottoman, a crushed sister, and a well-deserved punishment to a big brother. I thought about doing a do-over today, but I'm too lazy.

These ones of Sarah are for Nona.
(Is it just me, or this the cutest dress you've ever seen?)

Jake is actually really, very sweet to Sarah. He wasn't punished for being mean to her. He was being (very) disobedient... something we are trying to work on around here.

Funny kids.
I like these kids.

Wonderland

We woke up the other morning to the perfect snowy scene.
I love these kind of mornings... You know the kind... the-Ralphy-looking-out-his-bedroom-window-on-Christmas-day-before-he-runs-downstairs-and-gets-a-Red-Rider-bb-gun-kind-of-morning.

I'm sure my neighbors think I'm nuts.

Pretty girl in front of the tree.
{I wish she would smile more for the camera.}

Jake the Snake in his jammies.

And, hey-- there are four of us now?
What the what!
Actually, I'm just showing off my mom's stitching talents.