A Day in the Life...

We spent Christmas Eve morning cleaning so we could enjoy a brand new mess the next morning.  That afternoon we did our traditional apple cider cheers and read a new nativity book.  This was the best picture I got. This picture is not from Christmas Eve, but it's still very cute.  :) We trekked to Oma and Opa's for traditional lasagna, bread, and cookies.  And of course gifts, laughter, and thanks!  As always we were spoiled... unique and personal things for the girls, homemade gifts, thoughtful and meaningful presents, all with lots of love.  And chocolate- Micah's favorite. Micah and her hoarding of chocolate... Oma gave Taryn these reindeer slippers, which were a hit and ones she absolutely loves. Copper got a 2017 planner, which quickly became a treasure.  She spent an hour filling in important dates in her life for the year to come...  All the girls got elephant bags, personally picked out and brought back from Oma and

Annual baking day at my aunt Penny's.  Above starting left: Penny, my cousin Amber, my (aunt?) Annaliese, my grandma, and my aunt Cindy.  My mom and Taryn and the kids were off eating cookies... We waited in line about 40 minutes in cold evening air at the Lehi Outlets to see Santa.  We finally made it inside his little cottage and the girls gladly took a seat for a few.  Not pictured:  Santa... because 1) it costs $$ to get a picture of him with excited kids, 2) phone pics aren't allowed, and 3) I'm cheap.   I got showered with presents from work friends: gift cards, treats, gift cards, a diffuser (and oils!), lotions, mittens, etc. etc.  I'm so lucky to work with fine guys and gals... and even luckier when a few of them shower my girls with gifts too.  My dear friend Ashley got the girls each a drawing of things they love and a bag of Doritos.  There friendship is officially solid. The girls had their Christmas Sing a few days before school got out.

When I've mentioned to people that Micah want a full size skeleton for her room, I'm frequently asked if it is for anatomy and learning purposes.  Let me clarify.  It is solely because skeletons are related to Halloween, villains, and everything spooky.   And, she doesn't want it just for Halloween season, but all year, up there hanging from the ceiling.  That's how Micah rolls.  She is the person she is and meant to be. It's a long story, but Taryn wanted to put mayo in her hair. I'll clarify we have shampoo, mousse, hairspray, and hats.  We negotiated on a face mask that I was gifted and never used, because, seriously, who cares.  But Taryn liked it. Let me clarify that Copper has pajamas, real ones.  Sometimes she just prefers to make her own.  I'll also clarify that Dakota is not snobbish or always annoyed at life.  She is cautious around folks (unless you've REALLY won her over).  My grandma tried to get her to crack a smile...

This last Sunday I woke up with this small lump in my neck, which was sensitive to touch and noticeable mostly to only me.  By Monday afternoon it was huge, protruding, painful, and a little worrisome. When I say huge, I don't mean like an elephant. Maybe like a big gumball, which I consider huge when it was sticking out of my neck... I called my doctor and my the grace of Heavenly Father I got in to see her in just a few hours.  I say it's the grace of God not because I was dying right then, but because my specific doctor that's known me for twelve years is hard to get into and I rarely get to see her specifically on a same-day call.  So I was relieved.  She looked at it, poked around (ow...), determined it wasn't strep throat, wasn't an ear infection, had nothing to do with my teeth, wasn't accompanied by any other symptoms, etc., so she said she hoped it was some other kind of infection with enormous swelling but that it could be something very serious like a

Dakota's:  "Dear Santa, I have been helping people.  For Christmas I would like a toy train and a stuffed animal." Micah:  "Dear Santa, I do my jobs and love my sisters.  I want a Hulk robot.  Micah."  But then she ran out of room and asked me to add that she also wants a skeleton (full size to hang on her wall, year round) and a black cat stuffed animal. Copper:  "dear santa i have been helping my mom. and i did the dishes.this is what i want i christmas. a beene boo unicorn (with colored spots), a magnifying glass.  I have a question... what did the elf tell you about our class."  On the next page it said, "I love you, from Copper."  [Her class has an elf visiting them daily to check on how well thy are all doing... Cops really wants to make sure she's on the good list.}

Before Thanksgiving, I took Taryn out for some professional shots by my budding photographer sister, who did an amazing job.  Some sneak peaks of our cold morning in Provo.  Man, Provo... such a dull and boring city.  Except it's incredible!  I wouldn't want to live in Provo but talk about character...  it's a cool place.  In about an hour and a half we got amazing pictures in like four locations.  Super beautiful. Taryn was such the model!  Incredible pictures!  I'm excited to get them developed, hung, and given as gifts... This is my pretty amazing and beautiful sister teaching Taryn how to pose.  Those are my amazing boots Taryn is wearing, and my jacket.  Haha.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving the Helferich clan headed to Red Robin for a burger (and Coke) and out tree hunting.  Per tradition, we decorated the tree and ate cookies.  Also per tradition, apparently, an ornament was broken.  No bueno. Wow... look at Stevie... such a boy in a sea of girls...

The day after Thanksgiving we went tree hunting and found ourselves a nice little Christmas tree. After driving to our favorite Lehi farm, excited for the free hot chocolate and warm fire to sit by, we discovered the great farm was made into a subdivision.  Crappy.  So we drove to this lot by the Baptist Church in Lehi, that used to be the town bar.  Haha.  All proceeds go to the church and God, apparently.  Works for us! ** Copper typing now..... we had fun!  micah made a silly face at the Christmas tree lot.  that is a cute picture of copper at the Christmas tree lot kota is getting warm at the Christmas tree lot ** Copper typing over... haha..  We decorated the house and tree and, as tradition holds, got a picture of each of them putting on the star.  We're missing Taryn this whole weekend, who was with her dad for the holidays!