Temple Square

This year, we were able to visit Temple Square while we vacationed in Idaho and Utah for Thanksgiving. It was chilly, but it was made much more bearable since it wasn't packed with people yet.

I would highly advise anyone to take a tour of the Conference Center. It's absolutely amazing. Here we are being told about the 12 paintings depicting scenes from the Book of Mormon. I remember seeing these pictures in my Book of Mormon all the time when I was little. This room holds the original works. Also, the Hall of the Prophets is so neat. The feelings I experienced when were able to see the busts made of each of our prophets was indescribable.

Here I'm trying to wrangle Benjamin from escaping into the road. He got so excited each time the Metro would pass by.

Thank You Mamoo & Dadoo Train!!

This was Benjamin's absolute favorite present for Christmas. He has worn the batteries out a couple of times already. I've never seen one of my kids be so addicted to a toy so quickly. I've also never seen Taylor addicted to one of their toys so quickly either.

Yay I Have a Camera!!!

So I finally have a good small camera! Yes, this camera is for both of us, but I am usually the one that ends up taking pictures. I have so longed for a camera that takes both pictures and video. Now, thanks to Mom getting us one for Christmas, I can now post videos on our blog. Needless to say, I'm VERY excited!!!

A Sloppy Goodnight Kiss

Each night, it has become a tradition for Katie to give the kids a goodnight kiss. It's totally disgusting, but Hailey and Benjamin especially love it. I can tell when the kids haven't brushed their teeth too because Katie doesn't attack them as much.

Jordan Learned Something New Today...

...braces attract magnets!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree . . . How Rubbery Are Your Branches

Every Christmas, a tire company on Cheyenne puts up this fabulous Christmas tree display. It's really a pile of tires wrapped in Christmas lights. It cracked me up the first time I saw it, and it still cracks me up every year.

Visiting with Santa Claus

Benjamin was not happy in the least bit to visit with Santa Claus this year.
I had to pry him off of my body just to sit down.

I ended up giving up and visiting with Santa by myself. I told him I wanted a big, fat diamond ring, but I wasn't sure I was good enough this year to deserve one.

Grandma, Magan, Ashley, & Rachel

Hailey seemed very nervous to talk to Santa Claus....fidgeting with her ear the entire time.

Bowling in Idaho

I love bowling up in Idaho. We can go basically anytime we want to. There are no casinos to hike through, so you end up stinking like smoke. Much more fun to not stink I believe.

Noah won this sweet hat from arcade tickets. It reminds me of the Dick Tracy movie.

Jordan has a flying move when he bowls.

Taylor & Jared

Hailey & Rachel

Benjamin had a much different attitude towards bowling this year. He even learned to pick the ball up, carry it without dropping (with a few exceptions), and push it down the lane all by himself. He would even stand there the ENTIRE time, waiting for the ball to hit the pins.

Thanksgiving Time!!!

Thanksgiving is a big event for us up in Idaho. It usually consists of Nicole cooking a huge dinner (she's a great cook) and hanging out talking and playing games. Hailey & Ben playing outside in the snow. There wasn't too much this year, but enough to throw snowballs at each other.

Ben trying to sneak a poke at the frosting.

This is the first time I had an involvement in cooking a turkey. I have a newfound respect for how much my grandma and mom did every Thanksgiving.

Our Backyard

We have decided to finally start working on our backyard. Since it's pretty big, it's been taking us a while to get around to it. One weekend we had a few large piles of fill dirt and rocks delivered to our home.

Benjamin found these piles as yet ANOTHER useful way of terrorizing me. One day I looked out back and saw him about waist-high to the top of the brick wall, throwing rocks over. Not that throwing rocks and possibly hitting passing cars were bad enough. I could just imagine him thinking it would be fun to try to climb over.

After I calmed down a bit, I decided I needed to get a shovel out and start digging the back slope of this pile about a foot lower. The following pictures are the result. I found it sort of amusing when I thought of cars driving by, seeing a little two year-old peeking his big head over the wall.