Polar Express to Temple Square Lights

During the Christmas Season we like to go see the lights at Temple Square. This year we decided to do things a little differently and avoid the downtown traffic. We parked at one of the Trax stations farther south and road the "train" down to downtown with some of our friends. Once there we enjoyed the lights and nativity scenes in the mild cold. Halfway through we took a break and drank some hot cocoa before riding the elevator to the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to get a bird's eye view of the lights. When we were done we road the Trax train back to where we had parked the car. So in a way we had our own Polar Express train ride complete with hot cocoa and friends.

I can't tell if they are checking out the nativity or the water fountain more. The children sure had a fascination with the water that night.

Playing in the water.

Trying to take pictures of all 10 kids was an interesting challenge.

Benjamin, Bekah (behind Breckynn), Breckynn, & Cambrie

Aspyn, Cyndi, Sammy, & Asiah

Not pictured, but present: Mylee, Kelly, Alyson, Alyssa, Tony, Michael, Charlynn & Tim (who met us downtown where he works)

Car Accident for Christmas

On the way home from picking up a last Christmas present, Michael collided with another car two turns away from our house. The gal in front of him hit the brakes for no apparent reason and put herself into a spin. The road was so slick that Michael could not stop even though he was a ways away and collided with her. The result, the front passenger side of our car is pretty much demolished, but Michael is okay.

The upside is that no one was hurt and that it happend about 15 yards before the irrigation ditch which was a major blessing. We also have comprehensive insurance which we aren't sure of the details yet. And it looks like we may be getting a new car for Christmas, which is okay since the other one is mostly paid off. Good times!

Cute Earmuff Headbands

A friend of mine asked if I could make her some of these cute Earmuff Headbands. A great way to keep warm in the winter! No more messing up your hair to stay warm when you go outside, and you have a cute hair accessory. I am now making them for anyone who wants them in a color of their choice. The details are below.

Price: $10 per headband

Color: You choose and you can even choose one color for the flower and another for the headband.

Size: Thick (pictured above) & Thin (as pictured above, except about 1 to 2 inches more narrow)

Shipping: $6 for 1 to 3 headbands, $12 for 4 to 10 headbands

Time frame: 3 to 5 days after payment is received.

Payment: Check or Money Order, email me at sweetsapphiredragon@yahoo.com for my address.

I really enjoy making these headbands and they turned out so cute that once I finish my current orders I am going to make myself some more. I also make scarves and beanies for anyone who is interested in those items, also custom colors and styles.

Hiking with Grandma

Grandma took the grandkids on a nature hike on the hill behind her house. The kids had quite the adventure!

Playing Girly Games

Aunt Mary had fun playing the finger nail game with her niece and nephew. Bekah felt very pretty with her "long" fingernails after the game was over. Unfortunately for Benjamin, we now have blackmail pictures of him wearing pink and purple fingernails, but since them seem to double as tiger claws we'll let him get away with it.

Shooting

The field in front of my parents' house is good for lots of things. Another thing that it was used for over the Thanksgiving holiday was a shooting range. Dad took David, Denise, Mary, Gary, Michael, Benjamin, and Bekah out in the field to shoot empty milk jugs and clay pigeons. Benjamin and Bekah had fun standing in the back of the truck and watching all of the big people do the shooting. Benjamin even got in on the action by pulling the string to fling the clay pigeons for the marksmen.

Faster, Daddy, Faster

Our kiddos are just like their Daddy when it comes to thrills, faster is better, which is good because then Michael will have someone to ride roller coasters when they get bigger. Needless to say, they loved riding the four wheeler with their Dad around the field in front of my parents' house.

Grandpa and the "Grand-puppy"

My sister, Kristina, has wanted a dog for a very long time. Just before school started this year she finally acquired one. Even though my dad won't admit it, I think he loves the dog as much as my sister does. So here is Grandpa with his "Grand-puppy," Panda.

Repelling out by the Lake

David, Denise, and Michael went repelling out by the lake while Kristina helped supervise and Gary played photographer.

The Michael "dot" descending.

David part way down. Can you see the green dot?

Now who's the alpha male?

Or are they just a couple of monkeys?

Hiking up

Hiking

Reading the "writing on the wall." Apparently you are no longer allowed to add your signature to the ones already on the wall, Michael asked.

Smelling the trees. Kristina claims they smell like strawberries.

David said they smelled like trees.

Picking on little sister. I guess you never "grow out" of some things.

According to Facebook, David is declaring that he is the alpha male.

I told him Benjamin would probably argue the point with him.

Denise getting a different perspective from David's shoulders.

old Native American ruins

The stairs they climbed to the top of the monument.

In this picture, you can see Gary's favorite pohtography subject, his wife.

Posing for the camera . . . . on the edge of the cliff.

Michael taking pictures.

Mary, Gary, David, Denise (David's girlfriend), Michael, and Kristina went hiking at a local monument and Gary took all of these awesome pictures.