Braces for Sadie

Today was a BIG day for Sadie...
she got her BRACES on!

We started out the day with a before picture
to remember her cute teeth the way they were.

When we arrived at the orthodontist
she was super excited.

One of the hygienists took us back to get her all set up
with x-rays, pictures and preping her teeth.

She had to put a mouth stretcher in to keep her teeth dry.

Sadie HATED it and HATES that I took this picture
while Dr. Trapnell put her brackets in place.:-)

It was a BIG choice deciding on which color bands to put on.
FINAL DECISION...
ORANGE on top
and PINK on the bottom.
I think it was a good choice!

We had the funniest conversation at lunch after wards.
She said
"I'm going to have to learn to eat all over again".
I said "I'm sorry, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it quickly".
She said
"that's ok it's kind of fun.
I haven't had to do this since I was a baby"

I love it! just look at this grin.
What a cutie! Love 'em bugs...can't wait to see how they turn out.

Redrock

We visited St. George recently as a family (thanks to an offer by Monte Magleby) and had a fun weekend playing...we golfed, swam, watched movies, the girl's had pedicures and we all enjoyed the warmer weather together.

One afternoon we spent a couple of hours CLIMBING around the rocks and exploring the caves at Pioneer Park.
I loved the beautiful REDROCK at sunset.

The Opening Act

Zach and his friend Ben performed as the OPENING ACT for Ty Turley -Trejo's annual concert "Night of Piano Love" Saturday.
Ty, a BYU music student, heard about them through his brother Bjorn, who is a friend of ours. Ty came out last week to "audition" them and after hearing a couple of their songs asked them to perform at his concert at the Tahitian Noni Auditorium Saturday night.

These two boys have been writing original songs together the past several months and really are quite gifted. They have about 10 songs completed and are working on a couple more.
Ben is a talented pianist and musician and Zach loves to write lyrics , melodies and sing so together they are quite a team!

LULLABY ROAD

FOR THAT GIRL

The reaction to their performance was FANTASTIC. All who heard them were very kind and complimentary after the concert. They were invited by one man to come to his recording studio and one girl even told them she wanted them to sing at her wedding:)

Snow Day

Thanks to the Magleby's we enjoyed a couple of days
at Sundance after Christmas.

A highlight of the trip was sledding outside the cabin.
The kids were crazy zipping down the hill and off the jumps...practically clearing the street below a few times.

Here's the little line of kids hiking back up the hill.

Hans making sure the run was smooth and fast!The action shots...
After a day in the snow
the parents deserved a night out at the Foundry Grill

Christmas Eve Traditions

Our Christmas Eve is full of traditions.
First off the kids always get new P.J.'s when they wake up in the morning.
This year we did robes instead.
The search for "The Pickle" is a favorite for the kids. Abe hides the pickle ornament somewhere on the tree and the kids search for it. Whoever finds it gets to open the special Pickle present. This year it was a decided tie as the ornament fell to the ground when Zach moved a bell on the tree and the three oldest all saw it at the same time. Sadie picked it up and claimed victory while Zach protested that he had won. Then we make yummy CREPES for breakfast.
Lucy loves to help Dad get out all the ingredients and blend them up.

Then in the afternoon we head up to my mom's house for our
Christmas dinner. My brother, Rolf reads a Christmas story to Lucy, Elsa and Liesel.Then we play Christmas carols on the bells and have a talent show where each child chooses a talent to show off.
This year we had a dance, a drawing, a recitation of "The Night Before Christmas", a homemade gun made from PVC pipe and a typing demonstration...some interesting choices:)Acting out the NATIVITY gets more chaotic each year as we add new little actors.

This year we had no baby so the role of baby Jesus had to be played by a doll.
Sadie was Mary as she has been since birth and Olle was Joseph as usual. Leif and McKay carried the roles of Shepard and wisemen and the little girls were angels.
Zach carried three roles, Shepard, wiseman and Donkey.At the end of the evening we head to our nephew Finn's spot at the cemetary and sing Christmas Carols and light luminaries.
Then we head home for hot chocolate and sweet dreams!

Tis' The Season

I love CHRISTMAS!  

I love the music, the smells the feeling of excitement and the memories.  

I've enjoyed re-discovering my love for photography lately 

& spent a morning last week capturing some of my

  Favorite Christmas Things 

I love the way the mantel looks 

with the stockings hanging from it 

and the way my kids tell everyone who comes over

 which one is theirs.

I love the wreaths on all the doors.  

I don't know why...it is just something I love.I love our tradition of 

"THE PICKLE"

We hide the pickle ornament on the tree & on Christmas Eve 

the kids search for it.  

Whoever finds it get to open a special "Pickle gift" a day early.

I love the RED and GREEN.  

The cranberries and lights on trees and on the houses 

and ribbons and wrapped gifts...

I love that at the center of all the celebration

 is the memory of 

a little baby boy who changed everything!

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