Yay for SNOW!

Bryan brought out the FUN with his four wheeler and a sled!

Karissa and her friend, Sharisse.

Bryan pulling around the fun.

Kelsi and her snow bunny, Oreo.

Yay Oreo!
Yummy snow!

Jacob and Sam having snow wars.

WHEEEE!
(Sam, Jacob)

Sam with his friend, Max

Just Skating Around...

Sam LOVES his new skateboard, and he's been trying it out around the house, skating around everywhere!

Sam, Mindy

I KNEW I WAS ON THE GOOD LIST!

All of the kids were very excited to see what Santa had brought this year, but Sam was especially excited and even AMAZED at what Santa had brought him. As he surveyed the gifts, he was simply beside himself as he exclaimed: “I KNEW I WAS ON THE GOOD LIST!”

Sam got a 'Lego Star Wars Wii Game', a skateboard,
and a Moose Webkinz.

Karissa got a new I-pod nano!

Jacob got a very nice camera just like he asked for.

Kelsi got some very cute clothes to dress Oreo in.

And even Oreo got some treats from Santa.

We're sure glad ALL of our kids were on the good list! We love each one of our children and are very grateful to have them in our lives!

Christmas Traditions

(Bryan, Sam, Karissa)

(Mindy, Kelsi)

Four very SWEET looking gingerbread houses.

This year we started a new tradition of making gingerbread houses as a family, and it was a HIT! Every person in our family loved it and had a great time!

Another tradition we keep continuing...yet saying we won't again...is opening one present early on Christmas Eve...the kids won out again this year and each got to open a present the night before Christmas...very EXCITING.

Bryan and Sam having fun with Sam's early present...light sabers!

My favorite new tradition we started this year was our FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE PROGRAM. Each member of our family prepared something to share that reminded us of the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. Sam drew a picture of baby Jesus in the manger and told us all about it. Jacob played "Away in the Manger" on the piano. Kelsi shared a Christmas message from the Friend Church Magazine. Karissa played a Christmas song "True Light" from the Friend Church Magazine. I (Mindy) shared a Christmas thought about Christmas Blessings and Bryan read the Christmas Story to us from Luke Chapter 2. It was great to remember and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Temple Square

We enjoyed spending the evening with our Taylor cousins at the Clark Planetarium, Temple square and the Primary Children's Hospital. Instead of getting presents for the Taylor cousins this year, we all donated toys to the Primary Children's Hospital.

Freezing...at temple square.
(Karissa, Jacob, Kelsi, Sam)

And today the weather is brought to you by...Sam and Jacob.

"Greetings from Mars"
(Brianne, Sam, Tiffany, Jacob)

In the Dome theater...ready for a seasonal movie.
(Karissa, Mariah, Kelsi)

How old is Santa?

Here's the question of the day from Sam: "Mom, how old is Santa? And what happens after he dies...Do we still get presents?"

Santa and Sam

Chicken Nuggets for Christmas Singing

I got to see Kelsi, Jacob, and Sam at the Christmas sing at school, they all did great...it was Kelsi's last year, she's growing up too fast for me...and she made me promise not to take pictures.

And Sam gets braver every year...except this year Sam was trying to talk to me instead of singing---he was trying to communicate to me that he wanted dino chicken nuggets afterward for singing so good. Kind of funny since he was talking instead of singing :)

I think Jacob was the most excited about singing today...
he had fun and did great.

We are all very excited for Christmas!
Jacob took some initiative and hung up outside Christmas lights on our bushes--looks great! And it's the first year we've had outside lights in a very long time.
This week I got to help out at school with Jacob's class Christmas party...fun times.

Taylor Family Christmas party

We hosted the Taylor Family Christmas party at our house this year. We were so glad to be together---good food and fun times!

Gavin and Sam LOVE playing together.

(Karrie, Toby, Grandma Taylor, Bruce, Bryan, Jacob)

Great time playing games!
(Karissa, Mariah, Kelsi, Nick)

PLAY IT AGAIN!

Karissa performed in her first band concert
and they sounded GREAT!!
We're very proud of her.

Snow!

Jacob loved building this snowman!

Jacob and Sam have been having a blast
playing in the snow together.

The boys have LOVED going on four-wheeler rides
with Bryan in the snow.

Party Time!

Karissa managed to spread out her birthday fun all week long!
We had birthday cake with grandparents one night and then her birthday party with friends another night. Fun times!
Then at the end of the week, we had a great time at our Blake family Christmas party. Karissa and Jacob played the piano at the party, and Kelsi performed her first piece on the violin with me. She's only been taking for a couple weeks and is doing great.
Good company...good food....good times!

Cousins at the Blake Christmas Party
(Blake, Jacob, Luke, Jessica, Hayley, Kelsi, Karissa, Sam, Melanie, Alyssa, Makayla, Kaitlyn)

Singing the traditional 'Must Be Santa'

Mindy and Kelsi playing a violin 'duet'--Up on the Housetop

Karissa's birthday cake.

Karissa requested a layered, Strawberry/Lemon Cake...Yummy!
(Sam, Grandpa Blake, Karissa)

Friends at Karissa's 13th Birthday Party.
(Karissa, Chelsea, Mariah, Sharisse, Aubrey, Clarissa, Kelsi)
For her birthday party, we had some great fun with girls,
playing lots of games,
and then watching the movie, "Confessions of a Shopaholic".

Happy Birthday Karissa!

Karissa

We now have a TEENAGER in our family!?! Karissa turned 13 years old yesterday. For her birthday dinner she chose chicken pillows and Doritos--2 of her favorite things. She got a new shirt, a bag, a webkinz and a cel phone--primarily for emergency use and because it's just fun to say you have a cel phone :) I got a new cel phone, which is the real reason why Karissa was able to get one for her birthday. YES-- I've finally moved a few more small steps with technology :) It was a great day, and Karissa's really looking forward to her party this Friday.

Kelsi enjoyed the SNOW with Oreo. It was so COLD out there...they didn't last long, but they had FUN! Jacob helped out by shoveling the drive way...he's great help to have around!

Sam has been very entertained with LEGOS lately...legos may just be my new best friend! He's been making all sorts of fun creations.

Bryan and I had THREE DATES this week :) WOW! We went to the temple, which was wonderful, then to a Monk Finale party--lots of fun, and then out to a movie on Saturday. We saw "Blind Side"--VERY GOOD MOVIE!

Oreo and Kelsi playing in the snow.

Jacob working hard.

Polar Express Day!

Polar Express Day is a FAVORITE tradition in our family...usually held the first weekend in December. It's packed full of good food and fun...we always get new pajamas, play fun games, and watch a movie together and those that want to can sleep out in the family room. This year Grandma and Grandpa Blake joined us, adding to the fun and a GREAT game of Monopoly. The movie, Nutty Professor, left much to be desired...so next year we'll be sure our pick of movie is better. But it was all great fun...a favorite night for our family.

Bryan fixing yummy French Toast...and the BEST hot chocolate!

Our festive dinner...Sam with "reindeer" ears, provided by Kelsi.
(Jacob, Karissa, Kelsi, Sam)

One of our games...
each person picked a game for our family to play.
Sam picked this fun balloon game.
(Kelsi, Bryan is behind the balloon, Sam, Jacob)

Our new pj's!
(Kelsi, Karissa, Grandma Blake, Jacob, Sam, Grandpa Blake)

This year Oreo got a surprise...a Santa outfit.
(Mindy, Oreo)

(Kelsi, Oreo)

DANCING!
(Jacob, Oreo, Kelsi, new horse, Sam)

(Oreo, Jacob)