Calvin's Baptism and Ice Show

Today was a long time coming! Calvin had a hard time deciding if he wanted to be baptized. Once he finally decided and was excited about setting a date, we had to push it back for Grandma's radiation treatments, and then we had another date set, which was cancelled when Andy had to go to Israel for work. So, months after turning eight, Calvin was really excited for his big day.

Nicky sitting reverently in the chairs we'd set up. He thought it was so great, that he forced Autumn and his bear to sit with him.

I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the house. We kept it simple but had fresh flowers and a gold eight and pictures of Calvin set up. 

Our family before the service started:

Andy and Calvin, ready for their big day!

One of my favorite things about today was that for her brother, Autumn asked if she could sing a solo. Calvin also wanted his cousins to sing, so we did a group song, with Autumn doing a solo at the beginning and end. It turned out so great. Autumn was so loud and brave, and I wish I had a recording of her doing her amazing solo. Here they are practicing before the baptism started:

Grandma and I gave talks, and the service was short and sweet. Calvin wanted to keep it small, so he handpicked his favorite people. We were so grateful they would spend the day with us.

After the service, all but a few of them came over for refreshments. It was a beautiful day, so the kids played in the backyard, we had delicious treats, and the grownups enjoyed chatting.

It was the perfect day.

And then we had part 2.

Almost a year ago, tickets went on sale for Disney's Frozen on Ice. I thought it would be fun, so I bought tickets, thinking I would give them to the kids for Christmas. I forgot. I would have forgotten about the whole thing completely if I hadn't put it into my calendar.  So after a long morning, we drove to Salt Lake and settled in for the show.

Before it even started, the kids had talked their dad into popcorn, pretzels and cotton candy. At halftime, they got snow cones, ice cream, and another pretzel. Basically all they wanted to do was eat and buy things.

Calvin was bored before it started. About ten minutes in, he was asking to go home.

The problem with the show was that it was the movie rehashed on ice. It would've been fun if they'd used the characters to do a spinoff or something, but it was the exact same story line. Not to mention the 30 minute long intermission in the middle so people could buy more stuff. 

Autumn was the only one who liked it. She was happy and loved it, so that makes it worth it. She's looking adorable in her Olaf hat.

The beginning was promising when a bunch of random Disney characters danced and sang.

And then Frozen live went on and on. It felt longer than the movie.

Then the reprisal. 

Then we made the long drive home. That was our first (and hopefully last) experience with Disney on Ice, but it was mostly fun to spend time together.

Autumn made me this when we got home. It's her own concoction of fresh squeezed orange juice and carrot chunks. It was sweet of her, but it reminded me of what my gallstones looked like. 

It was a fun, family filled day. I'm proud of Calvin. I love the kiddos, and I'm so grateful to be their mama. Days like today are too few and far between.

Christmas Eve

Today was a day full of Home Alone, games, and eager anticipation.

Working on Christmas puzzles while waiting for dinner:

The traditional Christmas Eve nachos:

This guy enjoying his guacamole:

Calvin wanted to play the candy bar game--where you have to roll doubles, pull on the socks, scarf, and hat before trying to unwrap the chocolate with knives--so we did it Christmas Eve style:

The game didn't go very well. The kids were fighting and sad that it was taking so long, so we just threw in the towel and let them rip the thing open:

After a bath, they were excited to open their new Christmas books and p.j.s.

Awaiting the big reveal:

Opening the presents:

And ta-da! New pajamas:

 (I love these pjs so much. They say "Bedtime Bandit: Sneaky cute." Somehow appropriate for this mischievous little munchkin.)

Fresh family fuzziness:

Our friends gave us magic reindeer food, so right before bed, we all went onto the grass and sprinkled the food all over the front lawn to attract Santa's reindeer:

Autumn helped me put clean sheets on all of the beds, so that we could have fresh beds with our fresh pajamas:

 The kids laid out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer:

Then they went to bed surprisingly well. Right before Andy and I went to sleep, we noticed that Santa had made an appearance:

Counting Down

We're all on break from work and school, just hanging out and waiting for the big day. 

Eating noodles:

Making arm extenders with empty wrapping paper rolls:

Hiding with oven mitts (and watching One Magic Christmas in the background):

Throwing nativity parties with loads of celebrities in attendance:

And after the kids were nestled all snug in their beds, Dad and Mom stayed up late to wrap presents:

 

 It's been a very good day.

Santa's Reindeer and Christmas Lights

Every year Thanksgiving Point helps take care of some of Santa's reindeer while they rest up for their big night. Tonight we went to see them. Calvin and Autumn decided that they were Dasher and Prancer.

 

Kids petting the reindeer:

We went inside for a minute to warm up, and a nice stranger snapped a picture of us all.

After the reindeer, we piled into the truck, and I drove while Andy and the kids sat in the bed of the truck and enjoyed the lights and music. It was FREEZING, but it was a lot of fun, and it helped get us a bit more into the Christmas spirit.

We grabbed dinner at Texas Roadhouse, where we ran into Santa, then headed home for hot chocolate. Such a great night!

Family Fun

Lately I've been trying to play more board/card/learning games with the kids. Tonight before bed they each picked one. Autumn picked the monkeys:

And Calvin picked Monopoly Jr.:

The kids were so funny to me tonight because Autumn was really into her game, but she lost horribly. She couldn't have cared less about Monopoly, and she killed us all. Calvin had to be coaxed back to the monkey game every two minutes and he won by a landslide. But he was super invested in Monopoly and Autumn wasted him (At least he beat me. By the end I was stealing money from the bank to pay my debts). I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere, but mostly we just had fun.

Another thing that cracked me up tonight was that Autumn found these "slippers" and wore them from the time she got out of the bathtub to the time she climbed in bed. They are hand puppets. 

She was sure it was sheer genius that she was using them as slippers because she literally told me every two minutes: "Mom, these are my slippers. They are very soft, and I will wear them to bed. Not puppets. Slippers." She intended to sleep in them, but I guess at the last minute she didn't like how her blanket kept catching on them.

As she slipped them off, she said, "that's okay, tomorrow I'll use them as roller skates." Which means she'll slide on the kitchen floor in them. I guess it's good that they're getting some creative use.