lights

Sunday evening we drove to Salt Lake City. Sam wanted to take pictures of the temple for his photojournalism assignment.  We arrived just as the Christmas fireside was starting so it was too crowded to park.  I dropped Sam off and he went in to Temple Square to take pictures.

We circled around, picked up Sam and then the rest of the kids wanted a turn. So Grandma Martha agreed to take the whole group while I drove around  the city again. I didn't know there was an ice skating rink by the Marriott.  Caitlin loves to ice skate...we'll have to do that sometime.

Monday I brought home a Christmas tree. We spent the evening cleaning and decorating the house.

We got a surprise visit from some friends from the ward.  They knew our townhouse has no coat closet so we had a big pile of coats in our stairwell.  They came to our rescue with a drill and coat hooks. We love the new system.

We're grateful for friends.

our day

My favorite thing about my birthday is sharing it with William.

Grandma Martha bought us lunch from Kohinoor Cuisine of India. It just opened up down the street.  It was wonderful...but made me a bit melancholy...missing Victor's in Shunyi and remembering  lunches and dinners there with friends...because the butter chicken was every bit as good.

William liked it too.  He has good taste.

After lunch William was ready

for a bath with the toy submarine that Rob sent him.

For weeks we haven't driven passed Chuck E. Cheese without someone reminding Will that we'd be going there for his birthday.

And that someone was usually Grant.

Sophie was happy about being three months old.

I tried to get the boys' picture with Chuck E.  but he wouldn't pause long enough.  I'm not sure why they pay him.

When we got home Grandad came by gifts.  Grant was helping.  Grant spent the day coming to terms with birthday envy.  I didn't get a Batman race car either.

The boys had spent the morning digging around and playing with the toys in the closet where I've made a vain attempt to hide gifts. But I decided to wrap them anyway.  This firetruck was from Grandma Martha.

 Grandma Martha also

 bought us a cake to share.

I'm grateful for William.

thanksgiving

Monday morning was clean air and bright blue sky and shining flecks of silvery snow blowing about, as Grant and William kicked and karate'd through the drifts.

The big kids got off to school happily, and seemed relaxed after our long weekend.  We were all grateful to spend Thanksgiving day with Aunt Judy and Uncle Jeremy. We hadn't seen the cousins for a while.

Grandma Martha came with us.

Sophie's first Thanksgiving and first taste of  mashed potatoes.

I spent a lot of time trying to apply to this and that, and trying to get life organized over the weekend.  The kids were fairly patient, and agreed to take on some cleaning projects to keep busy.  Friday would have felt like cabin fever, had it not been so cold in the house.  Waiting for the furnace repairman was another less than exciting priority.

So Saturday we made plans and it felt great to get out together. First we went to the dollar theatre.  Sam and Grandma Martha went to Inception and the rest of us saw Despicable Me.  I missed most of the movie because I had wandering William to watch.  I thought, if this movie can't keep him still, its no wonder we can't sit through sacrament meeting.

After the movie we did some shopping for more winter gear. Preparing so many for the cold months is kind of a daunting and expensive task. 

Next was dinner at the Pizza Pie Cafe.  Kyle and Olivia both had coupons for two- kids- eat- free that they earned through reading programs at school.

Pizza Pie Cafe is sure to be one of our new favorites. The kids love to be let loose to the buffet tables of pizzas, pastas, and salads. 

Ben's an eat-desert-first guy,  so he went straight to the Oreo pizza.  I'm not always in to sweet pizza, but I was impressed by the variety, so I had to try a few. I loved the raspberry and couldn't stop eating what was supposed to be just a "sampling."  I thought the cookie dough pizza was particularly picturesque.

Good for Olivia for eating her peas.

Sophie had formula.

After Saturday's fun, I felt a kind of renewed hope in big families. The others seemed equally buoyant, so I suggested that no one say "I hate my life" for at least a week.

Sunday snow fell again. Mary gave the scripture in Primary. She chose Psalms 92:1...It is good to give thanks to the Lord.  I was proud of her for her enthusiasm about practicing it all week. She read it beautifully Sunday morning.

happy, hallows, holy

Friday, November 19, we started off the weekend with pizza night.  Back to Pier 49 Pizza.  Sam wanted to try the Fisherman's Wharf.

Shrimp, crab, tomatoes and green onions, Alfredo sauce, all together an amazing concept.  I wished that the shrimp and crab had been more fresh and flavorful. I imagined how wonderful it would taste to have the juices from the seafood actually seep out and flavor the cheese and sauce. I wished that the tomatoes and particularly the green onions had a stronger presense. They could have cut them thicker.  It's like they had a great idea but then backed away from what could have been a beautiful thing.  I'm getting a little carried away now.

I love this incredible cheese. What tenacity.

 Sam and I both agreed that Pier 49 Pizza's pepperoni is particularly savory. Grant seems to like it too.

Saturday morning the big kids walked to the movie theatre nearby to see the new Harry Potter.

I sent them with my camera and the assignment to document the experience.

Sam's been talking about this one.  I'm always up for Matt Damon.

Expecto Petrolum.

Sunday was cozy.  Kyle made his first batch of chocolate chip cookies.

I couldn't keep the others back from their snow worship.

I was grateful for a happy weekend.