Winter

Finally a winterwonderland.  I would not change our view for anything.

Ella reading to Parker before bedtime.

We caught Santa after family home evening.  Parker gave his best friend Henry some paints for Christmas.  He had an extremely hard time giving them away because he really really wanted them for himself.  Luckily we saw Santa that same day and he could ask for his very own paints.  Phew!

Sunday was a big day for Parker.  At the primary program a few months ago, Parker froze.  He refused to go up front, he refused to sing a single word of any song.  It was really sad because he knew his part and songs.  But he got so scared.  He was so upset, he refused to go to primary after!
This sunday, however, he went right up to the front with Ella to sing their Christmas songs.  He sang every word and smiled the whole time.  Then in primary he went up to give his scripture.  Didnt fight or cry or whine.  He was such a big boy!

Watching Ella and Parker up front singing made my heart swell.  I love having 2 kids and seeing them both up there together I felt so blessed.

Mom would never pay 5 dollars for a 5minute ride on a slow tiger.  But when grandma Alley is with us, the kids get anything they ask for.

We wrote letters to 2 special people.  Brent lives in Cache Valley and as far back as I can even remember him riding his bike around waving and smiling at everyone.  He is a special guy.  And a girl names Safyre that lives in New York.  She lost her family in a fire and was badly burned.  I hope that these letters in the mail will make them smile.

Jr Elite performs

This is Ella's 6th year dancing, 4th year competing.  We could not have asked for a better team.  The move over to Dance Illusion has been more than we hoped for.  Ella's teachers (Lisa and Savannah) are tough.  Especially Savannah.  She pushes and pushes and then pushes some more.  Ella is in great shape, yet she still comes home barely able to move after each class.  Ella has grown so much in just these 3 short months of the season. 

I love watching her dance.  I love watching her mess around at home, practicing, rehearsing, performing and competing.  It's hard for me to watch the team as a whole, because when I see her on stage, my eyes don't leave her. 

This picture is hard to see, but I am looking through the one way window during Contemporary class.  They are imagining the routine in their head as they listen to the music.

 Marking the stage

Ella has great friends on her team.  Mia and Ella have been friends since they were 3, and now they get to dance together.

Parker is just used to all of this.  He may even be starting to like it.

 Her first performance was a success!  Now to get ready for competitions!

Kids in November

Our favorite wintertime activity is going to Riverdale to soak in the hot pools.  Ella brought one of her best friends, Grace.  They didn't soak, but played like wild kids.

Ella has been learning a lot about life skills.  She helps out every time we cook.  She has mastered the Popeye pancakes (German pancakes) and can make mom and dad breakfast from start to finish.

Zoey and Parker having a mid day snack of French fries

 Before church

 

 We made F'zookies for a family home evening treat.  Do they look excited enough?

I really really like my kids.

Turkey Day

We spent Thanksgiving day with the Alley's.  We had great food with no major disasters this time.

 

 

 Playing some games

Ella had a little pie with her whipped cream

Parker is not so sure about his sliver piece of pumpkin pie.

Black Friday shopping with mom and dad is only doable if he gets a churro

The blonde cousins played for days and days

Autumn 2015

Leaves.  Lots and lots of them.  This is the best part about autumn.

Moms birthday

I love my birthday because I really do feel special.  All the friends and family that give a lot of attention :)

Dustin took the day off which is super nice.  We got Ella out of school for lunch with the 4 of us. 

I got a yummy lemon cake which is my favorite, topped with 2 candles.  Parker thought I was 1 year old, so of course on my birthday he said I was now 2.

Then a few days later on Saturday we spent the evening at Riverdale, playing and relaxing!


Dustin hid my present and sent me on a scavenger hunt around the house.  The 3 of them followed me around as I tried to figure out the clues.  Ella had to help me with some.  It made me feel like a kid, which is a good thing when you turn another year older.  He was very thoughtful about it and had me stumped a few times.  It was fun and I want to remember these clues he gave me:

Ready for a little fun and adventure?  To find your present you will need to follow the clues:
I am the scariest place in Ellas room!- behind her bed
We still start off easy, go to dads bed-   the couch
I have goodly parents-   Book of Mormon
If you find me now you can stay asleep at 3:00 am-   Ducky
I am used once a year, but you promise next time-   Wakeboard
Dad likes when you have oreo cookies and me-   Pepsi
I am the safest place in the house-   The safe
I iron your underwear as flat as can be-   Dryer
I am the best way to make chicken-   The grill
I just might be the key to winning this game-   Piano
I must be Ell'as favorite chore-   Vacuum
The deepest coldest place in the house-   Deep freeze
At the old house you waved at me and now you play with me-   Choo choo train
Harry Potters hideaway-   Under the stairs
I just might teach you a lesson, only once a month, hint 7X3-   Church manual
I am a girls best friend-   Truck (diamonds)
Say something nice and you will find me-   Kindness jar
After all these years you just kick me to the curb!-   Little whitey

FFL

The FFL....Alley Family Food League.  When uncle Jeff moved back up to Cache Valley he created the FFL.  The Alley's get together every other month for a cook off, judges and everything.  The first theme was "Game Day" and we all made football day foods then watched the Aggies vs Utah game.  (no pictures)

The second theme was "Asian"  My dad had a friend from work who is from Taiwan come with his family to be the judges.  The food was all excellent.  But what I love the most is that these food nights gets my whole family together, much more often than we used to.  We have a lot of fun.

During the judging the kids need something to do, so they decorated cookies.  Parker also made friends with the little boy that came because he had an ipad.

 

 

 

 I mean, look at this food.  This was only half of it. The Alley's love Asian food.  So this was a really yummy dinner.