Christmas and Yellowstone

Last year I made these just like the rocky mountain chocolate factory sells (caramel, then white chocolate, then toppings like nuts, toffee, chocolate chips) and I had so much fun making these fancy caramel apples I just had to take a picture!
We are so excited to go use our saucer sleds!
Christmas Eve was fun with Grandpa and Grandma Penfold reading the Polar Express, we acted out the nativity and opened the cutest PJ's and then exchanged the siblings gifts.
Here we are in West Yellowstone. We went right before Christmas because the children were out of school for two weeks and we needed to go do some family things with them. We are trying to make memories because that's what they'll remember later, the happy family times! We left Sunday night and got back Christmas Eve in the afternoon. We swam in the very nice indoor pool two times each day (yes our skin was DRY, but it was so much fun), played in the snow, snowmachined, went to the IMAX and saw a Lewis and Clark movie, saw animals at the Bear and Wolf Discovery center, watched movies and played games in the condo. It was super relaxing and we really had a "vacation."

Recital

On December 21, Brittany and Alex had their Christmas recital, this was Alex's first recital since he started piano. He played Little Drummer Boy. Brittany played two songs, Pat a Pan and The First Noel. They both did very well, we were so proud of them!

Male Bonding

Wyatt went to North Dakota with two friends on a hunting trip for almost a week, they had a great time between the three of them, they shot 7 white tail deer, and over 30 pheasants. When they got home, all of the families got together to have a BBQ and to help as the men cut up the meat and ground some into burger and cut steaks from the rest. Wyatt is planning on making his own jerky this year and the few batches he's tried so far have been yummy!

Ward Christmas Party

On Dec 5, 2008 our ward did the Back to Bethlehem program for the annual Christmas party. We are all dressed in clothing from the era, it was a lot of fun, we got to go around to all the little "shops" on the street buying lamb, cheese, ham, fruit, breads, sweets, drinks, small toys, crafts and a dinner of fry bread and taco toppings. We got to 'witness' Joseph and Mary trying to find a room at the inn and sing carols to the newborn babe. What a fun way to start off the Christmas season with our family!

Ultrasound

On Monday, November 24 we took everyone except Parker (thank you Miriam for tending) to the second ultrasound to find out the gender of this little one and...drum roll please...It's a Girl!!!!
The children really enjoyed seeing and hearing the heartbeat, guessing what each little body part was before the Dr told them and being a part of this new addition to the family.

Alex's Baptism

On November 22, 2008 Wyatt was able to baptize Alex. He was so excited and planned the program all by himself so thank you to all who participated at his request. It was a wonderful day. We had delicious brownie sundaes afterwards. Doesn't he look so grown-up in his new suit?

1st Haircut!

Aunt Nicole was so kind and cut Parker's hair for the very first time on November 14. He is 20 months old. He was so good and sat so still, he kept saying "ouch" the whole time but I know it didn't hurt I think he was imitating his little sister Abigail when she gets her hair done. It was so cute and he looks so handsome now.