Birthdays!

This spring Yippy-Skippy had a birthday.  She turned ten with a grin.

Summer brought a birthday to this not-so-little one.

She was baptized...

and a lot of family was able to come share with her.

Oh the places we'll go...

Christmas #2

My Favorite Thing.

After all the Gingerbread houses,

And the recitals,

The dressing up,

Presents,

Cocoa Testing,

And snowman hugging, 

My favorite part of the holiday this year was working on this quilt project with my Grandma.

 Many women from different families have had a part in making this quilt.  My Grandma was instrumental in getting it finally completed.   Thank You!  I love You!

Christmas #1

GrandMary made an Advent wreath for the girls for December.  There was one gift for each girl for twenty-five days.  Opening a present each day was great incintive to get dressed and ready for school quickly.  Quite fun.

The girls are getting so big, we tested their ability at larger decorating tasks.

After a few antics...

... they did a great job!

Thanksgiving

The Participants:

 Topper's Great Grandma and Grandpa

 Dad's parents, Gram and Gramps

One of  Topper's brothers, Uncle Soldier/College Man

Another of Topper's brothers: Uncle Computer Genius 

The Food!:

Big Red, testing out our (now abandoned) roll recipe, Again.  Some recipes just aren't good.  It took about seven years to figure this out.  I always thought it was just operator error!  What a slow learner.

Yippy-Skippy's fall trifle was DELICIOUS!  Pumpkin and gingersnaps.  A definite repeat for next year.

The Entertainment:

 This was one of the best parts!  The girls made up their own program of about eight songs and played different duets and solo's.  They even had an original piece they all participated in.  Great job girls!

Here there is a Football game on - No, maybe it was the parade-, a board game, and a game of Apples to Apples with players rotating in and out while we fixed the food.   It was nice just being together.

 -This one speaks for itself.-

Great Grandpa put his glasses on the mutt.  Love it!

In looking back at this years pictures to post on the blog, I realize that I haven't taken very good pictures.  In fact they are down right awful.  I am beginning to realize (I know, slow learner) that the point and shoot cheapy that I insisted in keeping cause it could fit into the diaper bag is no longer satisfactory.  In fact I hate it.  This is why I'm not breaking out the camera for every little thing.  Or even big things, like a picture of all the cousins together, or a picture of Auntie and her kids, or say, the whole gang together,.. you get the idea.  The Christmas pictures (next post?) are even worse!  So... Maybe it's time to let the Hubby, who has been begging for years, go ahead and buy me a good camera.  It's time.

Catching Up

Big Red Turned 11!

  She loves to read, play the Clarinet, get up early for some "peace and quiet time," 

and play with her Sisters.

After the requisite Hunters Education course (taken with our Ward Young Men), the Big Girls got to go hunting with Dad.  They all had a great time.  Dad harvested two does (Yum) and the girls got to experience the biology of it all first hand.  With polar opposite reactions.  

Paternal caution about taking his Princesses out on opening day, Dad made SURE they had enough orange on.  What do you think, is it enough?   Mom was satisfied.

Luna Lovegood, Pocahontas, Anne Shirley, and Sacajawea 

Home made rally t-shirt for Sister's Cross Country.  Very fun!