To Finish out the Year...

We got this beautiful picture of Christ for Christmas, and Dave made these shelves to go on either side of it.  I think it looks so good!

We had some nice weather, so we went to the Dallas Zoo for the day.  It is fun, and the animals all seem to be out and more active in the winter months.  

We have had a great winter break, and an awesome 2016!  Out with the old and in with the new!  Happy New year... Here is to hoping that 2017 brings us a lot of joy!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day fell on a Sunday this year.  We only had sacrament meeting for church, and got to spend the rest of the day with our family.  Santa was very good to us all this year... we got a lot of things we wanted.  I love watching the girls open their gifts!  They all looked beautiful in their Christmas dresses for church, I had to snap a picture!

For our "traditional" Christmas dinner (we choose a country and eat food from there for dinner...) we chose Japan.  We made our own sushi rolls.  It was SO fun, and everyone ate some!  I think we will have to make sushi rolls more often!

I love Christmas.  It is a time for family and service, and reflecting on our Savior.  I love Him, and am so grateful that He came to earth.  I know that He was born of Mary in a stable all those years ago.  I am grateful to know that, and love to be able to celebrate Him all month long!  Merry Christmas from the Tanner family!

Happy Christmas Eve!

We did our traditional Christmas Eve... had clam chowder, and did our program.  Each girl played a song on the piano, except Chloe... she read us Santa Mouse.  It was a great evening.  Can't wait for Santa to come tonight!!

Family Fun Time (aka... making chocolates!)

I made the fondant a couple of days ago, and then we beat it all together.  The girls and I all took turns with Dave, and it seemed like it took forever.  Then, all of a sudden, it worked!  It got so creamy and delicious!  We divided it and flavored it, and then put it in the fridge to await a chocolate dip!  We were able to dip them all pretty quickly, using our freezer to quickly set up each tray.  I can't wait to eat them all!!  Yum!

Wowza!

Autumn got her braces off today... she looks so pretty, with straight pearly whites! (Now we will have to do phase 2 on Brooke and Autumn... ugh!)

Let the baking begin!

We always make so many treats for Christmas, it sometimes takes SO long to get them done.  This year, we decided to just crank them out.  With the girls being so big now, and being good bakers, we were able to get a lot done in one day!  We still have to make our chocolates, and a few other things, but the majority of the cookies are finito-burrito!

OMGoodness! A Puppy!

Dave and I decided to get the girls a puppy for Christmas!  It is something that all of them have been asking for forever, and so we finally decided to do it.  We looked for a long time online, and saw some cute ones, but by the time we decided on each, they were already adopted.  So, I went to the Plano animal shelter one day during school, and looked at the puppies they had.  I intended on getting a female puppy.  When I actually met some, though, one really caught my heart.  It was a little boy.  Dave came and met me on his lunch break and we decided to get him.  We named him Dante.  He is sooo cute!  When I picked the girls up from school, I took him and surprised them.  They were all excited!  He is perfect... a really good puppy!