Isabelle's Book "I Love"

Here's a little story Izzy made.  That girl is a real hoot and a holler.

What would we do w/o her wackiness.  My favorite is the facial expressions.

(she hears him coming near)

(translation: "Tada!")

 The Moral of the story is:

If someone gets mad at you, build them a tower and then they will love you and marry you.

In closing, I submit this awesome picture:

"A snake is chasing you!"

St. George Temple

This past Monday we celebrated MLK, jr. day in St. George.  April went through the temple for the first time.  It was so exciting and special.  The past year has been so good for her and she has come so far.  We couldn't be prouder.  I got to be her escort, which is something I will never forget.  I also got to wear Grandma Conder's temple dress, which made the occasion that much more special.  Addie, April, and I all went through the St. George temple for the first time.  The only thing missing from the day was our sweet Kc.  We missed him.

L to R: Dad, Geneva Bringhurst (Blake and Brooklyn's grandma), mom, April, Aileen, Addie, and Jayna

April's friend Donny "Donzo Gonzales"came to the temple also.  He has been a really great friend to April and the family.

Jayna and I's token weird friend photos

After the temple we headed on down to the ol' Chuck-A-Rama.  The choice is yours at Chuck-A-Rama--and we chose right. Nothing like a full belly to help you fall asleep on the drive home.  Lucky for me Addster wasn't tired at all and she let me sleep in the back while she drove a couple hours.

Addendum:

Here are photos taken in the "photo booth" at our MSA Christmas black tie party back in December.

L to R:  Moroni Schwab, Jayna, Chris, Bradley, me, and Paul Tripp

Chris and Paul could have cropped everyone else out of this one and sent it as their roommate x-mas card.
Maybe next year.

Nothing says friend like a back-to-back photo.

American Girl: the dollhouse years

 This year Shaun and Addie decided to surprise the girls for Christmas and make them an American Girl doll dollhouse.  They had locked the girls out of the basement while it was being built, but a little girl followed Shaun quietly downstairs once and from thence on was in on the secret.  Luckily the girls didn't understand when she tried to spoil the surprise by trying to tell them.

Phase 1: Construction + a baby ballerina.

 Phase 2:  Painting and tons of beautiful detail.

Phase 3: Testing the furniture out.

Wha-la!  Finished!

Is that amazing or what?!!!

Shaun and Addie should go into the doll making business.

When the dolls aren't home they go camping, ride bikes, or visit the stuffed animals on the center shelf.

Christmas morning.

Isabelle's advent calendar.

 After all that hard supervising and testing Sophie is wiped out literally by the swim noodle.

christmas coats

Grandpa and grandma got new coats for Christmas!  (fist pump)

(photo taken by Kt)