KaMaili and Whitney: 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Morning

Santa was really good to us this year...

more pictures to come...

Baby Jesus and a donkey

I should be proud as these are the roles Kambrya and Whitney landed in the annual Christmas nativity.

Doesn't he just make the cutest ass...I mean donkey... you've ever seen?

What about this manger scene? ADORABLE!

Is that angel harking or harping? I'm thinkin' Martha might be overwhelmed with her angelic duties!?!

And behind the scenes, making it all happen is Aunt Martha and...Kambrya? I thought she was baby Jesus...WOW, she really is amazing!

We knew it might be a dissapointment when compared with our light drive-thru in prescott, but we thought we would give it a try for the sake of the kids...and well...yes we were dissapointed, but we did make some good memories piling everyone in the back of Justin's truck and making a scene (admission was $15 per car...gotta save somehow). While the pictures of the lights weren't great, we did get these cute pics of this little adventure:

Temple Lights

We went with the youth in our ward to see the temple lights. And like always, they are beautiful and we had a great time.

I'll take any excuse to drink a hot chocolate...it's one of my favorite things about the winter!

Christmas Party

I decided to host a family Christmas party at my house complete with a meal, which I had never before made, and games, which we had never before played. My family, and the elders, make great guinea pigs!

We played ....

and played....

and played some more...

We completed the night with our gingerbread competition

(sorry the winner is not published...I didn't snap a picture before they left)

I copied a post on of Noelle's blog and decided to make some cookie blossoms for my YW lesson on Faith. They turned out great and it was so fun to color the dough. My girls didn't even know they were cookies! This little trick is definately a keeper...and now all I need are more cute cookie cutters!

Annual Light Parade

Typically, this is where I would tell you all about how fun it was to decorate our golf carts all day and just barely get them done in time to line up for the parade...but not this year. We took a sabbatical and decided to just watch this year. It was so relaxing!

And watching Hana beat the crowds of kids out to the middle of the road to collect candy for the kids was priceless.

Prescott

Our Christmas getaway this year took us just a few hours north of the valley to Prescott, AZ. By all accounts on the internet this little town had much to offer in the way of Christmas festivities and fun and...THEY WERE RIGHT!

We stopped in for a visit to Santa Claus at the Old Firehouse.

We visited the worlds largest gingerbread village (and stole ideas for our own little gingerbread competition:)

Kambrya helped drive through one of the Best light display drive thrus I have seen. Which, to be honest, isn't very many. But still, this was pretty cool!

We also went down to the courthouse lighting, where thousands of people filled the streets around the courthouse to watch the 5 minute program and the lights being turned on. For Kambrya, this definately won the WOW factor.

While we were there, Kambrya couldn't help but make friends with the strangers standing right behind us. By the end of the program, this cute little lady wanted to take her home!

I love this pic of me and the girls...
if it wasn't so darn blurry

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Gratitude

There are so many things I am grateful for TODAY... so to just name a few...I am grateful for:

1. Whitney's willingness to get up with Kambrya so I can get a few more minutes of sleep.
2. Kambrya's smile when I see her in the morning:)
3. A spare set of keys when I have *temporarily lost my set.
4. A sister who takes wonderful care of Kambrya when I can't be with her.
5. The girls at work and Jason who make me laugh constantly so the day goes by much faster.
6. A Mom who is willing (wink wink) to help me clean and decorate my house.
7. 1pm church so I have time to plan/review my YW lessons.
8. prayer - which strengthens and comforts me because I constantly need it.

Turkey Sweatshop

Turkey Day has always been a big deal in our family...because ...well... the turkeys! Smoking 5 turkeys in the days before thanksgiving is quite the undertaking, but we manage every year because of something I lovingly refer to as the turkey sweatshop:) After 20 years, I'd like to think that I have served my time. It's now time to train up a new generation to take over the operations!

I love that they still think it's fun! Oh the innocence!

Beautiful Day

It has been a really mild winter this year which has made for some great outdoor activities.

I captured this on a beautiful Sunday morning we decided to walk to church from mom's house.

Kambrya is a little ham and must know when a camera is around because she always has the cutest little poses.

Did you know?

If you cook a pie in the microwave for 15 minutes, when the box says to cook it for 3 minutes, that this is what your pie will look like when it's done?

and this is what your house will look?

and this is what your Sunday family dinner will be like?

Thanks to me, we know that now!

Light the Night

We were asked by some friends to join them at a walk to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We were happy to do it...as I am all about supporting people who find a cause and are passionate about making a difference. Okay, and it didn't hurt that weather was PERFECT for a twilight walk around tempe town lake!