On using my talents

For a couple of years now I've struggled to find age-appropriate and modest church clothes for the girls, especially Mattie and Lauren. I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and make skirts for them. I took them all to the fabric store and let them choose their own material and this is what we came up with. Can you guess who's who?


I love that Mattie and Lauren will still do silly things because their mother asks them to - like twirling around for a picture.


I think they turned out really cute - the girls and the skirts! (Unfortunately our camera isn't working so well lately so we have this smudgy look to all of our pictures.)

Notes from Quinn

Quinn made each of us a card this year for Christmas complete with her sentiments towards each of us. Here they are:

Mattie and Lauren can't find their letters, but they both said similar things. "I love you. I hope you were good this year because if you weren't Santa won't come. I hope your Christmas is jolly."

"Dear Daddy, I want you to have a jolly Christmas. I want more than one gift."

"Mom, I really, really love you. I just hope you have a jolly Christmas. You are the mom I want to have.....I want more than one gift."

"Jonas, Sometimes you make me mad. I still love you."

And my personal favorite:

"Sam, You are mean to me, but you are in my family and when you are in my family I have to love you."

December to Remember

Hi all....Chris here this time. Julie put me in charge of updating our blog tonight. I think she is a little worn out from the holidays...and she really wanted to finish a sewing project she's had on hold since the December whirlwind started. She is upstairs working on it now.

At first I was reluctant to do a Christmas update blog....not that I'm grinch or anything but its the new year now and I'm ready to move on. Julie convinced me that we (I) needed to do an update to document our Christmas season. I didn't have much else going on tonight so I relented and started looking through the pics from the month. As I did, I started to realize the great month we had. It was busy for sure....but busy with fun activities, family, and Christmas spirit. So I'm glad I got this assignment....it made me remember how blessed we are.

Ok, roll the tape....

The month started with a Christmas dance recital by Mattie, Lauren and Quinn. They did great.

Grandpa Steve even came. Its been a while since he last came to a dance recital....judging by the picture below he must have enjoyed it...how could he not with these three?

The week before Christmas, my sister Brooke surprised us with a visit. Our kids were estactic to see their cousins and had a lot of fun throughout the week. It included a trip to HooDoo for some snow and sledding.

Christmas morning finally came. After a few obligatory pictures we tore into the gifts. Santa seemed to do a pretty good job this year.

We love the blanket Annee....it is wonderful. Soft and cozy and very coveted in our house.

So there you have it. Christmas 2009 documented. I'm going to bed.