"The Wonderous Gift of Christmas"

On December 11, John, Abbey and I got to take a quick trip to Salt Lake. We went to the incredible Christmas concert at the Conference Center. This year Natalie Cole was the featured artist that performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

All of John's siblings (minus our Katie in New York) were there. We rode Trax down to California Pizza Kitchen where we ate before the concert. We all had a great time.

It's Beginnig to Look a lot Like Christmas

The annual Christmas recital was wonderful!

The girls love dance and love performing. Carter, John, Grandma Andersen, and Joelle came to watch.

Abbey moved up to another team this year. She is on X-cell. She also is in ballet, modern, and hip hop.

She is a graceful, beautiful dancer.

This is Gracie's first year on a team. She is on X-press. She is loving it. She is a totally different dancer than she was last year. She draws the audiences eyes with her big smile. She is also in ballet and hip hop.

Hilary was a beautiful angel. Of course these were not the wings she really wore but had to have the effect for the picture. She loves dance!

No Carter doesn't take dance nor do I think he ever will but....he has got rythm and cool moves. He did not want to be left out of the picture taking. So instead of a graceful pose, you get to see him flex his muscles!

Thankful!

We have so much to be thankful for! I think I am most thankful for the small simple moments that take place everyday. This Thanksgiving we went to the Andersen's. Katie and Eric came from New York. It was a beautiful day. After our fabulous meal we got to play football. Even the little ones participated this year.

The football players

Cousins and friends....Annie and Hilary

They had so much fun together. We miss not seeing Annie!

Gracie and John.

Gracie is our speeding runner...no one can catch her!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, John and I went to the BYU vs. Utah game.

After the sun went down it was cold. Thank goodness BYU won in overtime!!!

Flash game

The Utah Flash has been coming up to Burley for a preseason game with the Idaho Stampede for the last few years. It is always fun and a good game.

This is the CRAZY and somewhat annoying mascot for the Stampede. He loved harassing our section because most of us were sporting Utah Flas appearal. Carter was so freaked out by him. He was in a total panic every time he came by.

Abbey getting attacked by the wolf.

My Flash crew...Carter (muscles), Abbey, and Gracie

After the game, the players come out for pictures and autographs. Here are some of the kids waiting in line with their pieces of paper.

Gracie, Abbey, and Carter with Lee Cummard. He played for BYU!!!

The kids with Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen. He is a NBA player that is the assistant coach for the Flash this year. When he asked Carter how he like the game, Carter answered..."it was boring!".

Sonatina Festival

Abbey and Gracie played in the Sonatina Festival. They have been working on their sonatinas for about six weeks.  Both of them made the finals. The judges pick the top two in thier division to play in a finals recital later in the day. They  got to play on the big auditorium stage at CSI on a grand piano. They both did great and ended up each placing runner-up.

Gracie playing

Abbey

Finalist from level one to fifteen

Abber and Gracie...proud piansts

the CREW!!!

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"

Ok...you're right...we are not that scandelous....but we still had a GREAT TIME!!!

Most of the days, I was on my own. At night we went to dinners and shows and had a great time.

We stayed in the Belligio. This is in the Fall Garden with the talking trees.

Outside the Belligio, waiting for the water show.

Even though it is crazy to leave and organize kids and carpools, I enjoyed the break with my wonderful husband and best friend. Thanks Norma and Lyndsy for all your help.:)

So You Think You Can Dance!!!

Abbey. Gracie, and I got to go to the So You Think You Can Dance Tour. We were so excited!!! We went with Megan and Livvie and met my aunt Melodee and cousins Ashlee and Caitlin for dinner before the show.

We also saw friends at the show. This is Sage Eckert who dances with Abbey. They were texting (on thier mom's phones)  each other non-stop. We also randomly sat across the isle from our friends the Driscoll's.

The excited threesome with SYTYCD stuff

The Stage!!!

In our seats

Opening Number...off to a fantastic start!

Janine (the winner) and Philip

Thanks for a wonderful time girls!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a few days of Halloween fun. Carter had his first Halloween party at preschool. He was Captain Jack Sparrow the pirate. He was worried about wearing his hat with the dreadlocks. He thought people might laugh at him. He wanted me to draw I mustashe and beard on him just like the picture. When I picked him up and he had a great time. One of the first  things he said was, "mom, they didn't even laugh at me".

Argh!!! I'm Carter the pirate!

We had a cousin Halloween party at Grandma Andersen's. The cousin LOVE getting together under ANY circumstances. We are glad Grandma makes opportunities for us to be together. We ate, played games, and went trunk-or-treating.

Snow Princess (Lydia) and Snow White (Hilary)

They both loved they had dark wigs on.

17 of 22 grandchildren (and Aunt Joelle) ready to get more candy!

The pirate likes his picture taken...too cute!

One of our mummies!

On Halloween, the kids got invited to a party at the Bates house. The had so much fun. They had super fun halloween treats.The best part was the Spooky Room! We then went to our ward's dinner and party. We went through a spook alley there. This one was not so fun....the scarey boys were more than my monsters could bare. The weather was perfect.

My four monsters

Argh!!

The enchanting Snow White

The beautiful, red headed...Arial

Not a princess anymore...it is the Zombie Chick

The family!

one more of the pirate...but it is Vampire Pirate this time