Happy New Year everyone!

Ashley bringing in the new year.

Good bye 2009, Hello 2010!

Merry Christmas!

We went down to Utah to spend time with my family for Christmas. We got there Christmas Eve. After eating traditional seafood, the kids were ready to open one present.

They were excited for Santa to come!

That afternoon we took a ride around Brigham Young University campus and stopped by the duck pond to feed the ducks. The kids loved it!

We had a good drive home, with dry roads and beautiful scenery.

A very talented woman in our ward, Ronda Schroeder, sketched the beautiful pictures below. She is the one who painted many of the Christmas scenes on the store front windows down town this year.

Then she gave this sketch to Ryan and I, celebrating our marriage, for a Christmas present. I framed them both and I think they are beautiful gifts.

(She does have a website where she sells her work, if anyone is interested. It is HandsOfTheAlmighty.com)

We are heading down to Utah to spend Christmas with my family this year. We told the kids that they could open their presents before we left. They were SO excited!!

(Please excuse Ashley's wild hair, she just woke up from her nap)

Merry Christmas kiddos, we love you!

We had quite a busy day on Ashley's birthday!

The kids liked waking up to the party decorations all over and an inflatable house to play in.

Emily made Ashley breakfast (sliced bananas with Trix, and a cup of water).

That afternoon, Jacob's class performed a Gingerbread-man play.

He was one of the reindeer (he made his own costume).

After we got home, Jared helped me make the cake. He loves this part (maybe a little too much)!

We made cupcakes for the kids (Emily assembled the flowers) and chocolate cake for the adults.

It was time for the party! We invited family over to celebrate.

She was excited!

Ashley blew out her candles one at a time,

and enjoyed some ice cream with her cupcake.

Big sister helped her unwrap her presents.

She got the pony that she always rides when we go into a particular store.
She's happy!

Jared had been watching a movie and fell asleep. Akira did too!

Last night we attended the Elementary School Christmas program. They performed at the Hyart Theater, and it was packed! Performing were just the Kindergartners - 3rd graders. The lower seats and even the balcony seats were full!

Toward the beginning, Emily performed with the 3rd grade girls. They played a Christmas song by hitting musical tubes on the ground.

It was fun watching Jacob sing songs with his 1st grade class (he still gets a little shy while in front of people). He knew all the words though!
Good job Jacob!


Emily played a dancing doll in the Christmas play.

She said and performed her part great! We were excited to see her in her first play.
Good job Emily!



We took pictures of the kids after their program, in the foyer.

It was the best school program I've been to--we were impressed and happy that our kids got to participate!

I went to an Ornament Exchange Party the other night with some friends. We were suppose to make an ornament for everyone that came, then exchange them.

This is what I made.

Jacob with Santa at our ward Christmas Party. He asked for anything that was Star-wars.

Emily asked Santa for a brown puppy. I told her it's not realistic to ask for that, and she's not getting one (I said it nicely though). She said she'd ask for it anyway. Okay...

Jared asked for Cranky the Crane (from Thomas the Train).

Ashley did good just to sit on Santa's lap! She was happier when she got her bag of candy.