Miri-ism #23

Miri: Mom, what are you doing?
Andrea: I'm getting my hymn book.
Miri: Why is it a him book? Why can't it be a girl book?

Just dancing

I know I included the Hendricks reunion in a previous post, but this merits its own little bit of real estate in the blog-o-verse.

We had a Just Dance battle of epic proportions while at the cabin. Uncle Kent turned out to be the men's leader, and quite an upstart. I retained my title of Dancing Queen.

When Aunt Cathy, Nathan and Cameron showed up for lunch, we had to introduce them to Just Dance via "Call Me Maybe."

Seth and Uncle Jim groove to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Jim ended up being the winner of this song.

I'm not sure how we were able to persuade Uncle Jim and Grandpa Dennis to play, but the evidence shows we did.

Uncle Jason is a groover.

Although a picture's worth a thousand words, a video's worth a million.

Miriam's first talk

On Miriam's very first Sunday in Primary (she's one of the two Sunbeams in my class), they asked her to prepare a talk for the next week. I thought it was interesting that the Primary presidency would ask a brand new Sunbeam who has never witnessed a Primary talk to give one, but luckily her mom knew what to do and helped her.

Miriam, despite her young age and inexperience, did a good job giving her talk. She wasn't scared to stand in front of all the older Primary kids and talk into the microphone. I held up pictures while she repeated the words I whispered in her ear. This is what she said:

"I have four great-grandparents who passed away before I was born, so I don't remember them, but I know that I will see them again someday. I can see them again someday because ...

"... Jesus atoned for my sins ...

"... because I can be baptized ...

"... and because I can go to the temple.

"Someday I will see my great-grandparents and get to live with Heavenly Father again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Christmasness

Prepare yourself for a flood of festive photos. (In other words, Andrea attempts to catch up the blog in one post covering two weeks' time.)

CHRISTMAS EVE

As per Grover family tradition, we took the girls to the Museum of Idaho's free Christmas exhibit on Christmas Eve morning. We were the first ones in and basically had the place to ourselves. All the more fun for ...

... smashing noses on glass. 

Analee and Miriam look at some of the Christmas decorations under glass.

... whacking Daddy on the head.

This is what Seth gets to saving Winnie's legs by letting her ride on his shoulders.

... practicing bird conservation.

Analee finds a nest for the owl puppets in the Children's Discovery Room.

Rebekah checks in on the bald eagle puppet in its nest. A good portion of the time she spent in the Children's Discovery Room was dedicated to finding the baby eagles.

... getting attacked by squirrels.

At first the squirrel was content talking to Winnie, but then it got a little hungry.

...fixing dinner for everyone in a log cabin.

Miriam plays house all the time, so it was no surprise when she started cooking for all her woodland friends.

As per Hendricks tradition, we met with family for food, fun and a nativity reenactment.

Miriam begged and begged to be Mary in the nativity. Bekah has done it for several years, so we thought it was Miri's turn. She was so excited that as she entered the stage (the back of the gym), she kept saying, "I'm Mary! I'm Mary!" When she finally quieted down so we could hear the narration, she pointed to herself and mouthed the words: "I'm Mary." 

Gwendolen getting help from Aunt Rachel to be the Christmas star.

Rebekah as a sheep and Analee as an angel. Kaylie and Madelyn were also angels.

As per Scott tradition, we had dinner together, read Luke 2, sang "Silent Night in German, and the girls opened Christmas Eve pajamas.

I don't remember why, but Miriam felt the need to roll her eyes at Seth while he buttoned up her new Hello Kitty jammies.

Grandma Scott wasn't sure which jammies would fit which girl. Bekah and Ana ended up switching, and Andrea hemmed up Ana's pajama pants.

Andrea gets Winnie dressed in her Christmas Eve jammies. She loves to examine the feet (which look like kitten heads) and meow at them.

Miriam helped Grandpa Wirkus open his presents.

Rebekah used the bubble wrap from Grandpa's present to give the kids a ride.

CHRISTMAS DAY

We did our own thing that morning (opening presents and stockings, eating fancy shmancy cereal), then headed over to my parents' and Seth's parents' houses for more unwrappings, foodstuffs and goings on.

Miriam unwrapping Barbie accessories at Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Susan's house. 

 Rebekah and the crystal growing kit she got from Aunt Melissa and Uncle Kent.

Aunt Jessica helping Winnie open her music player from Grandma and Grandpa Scott.

 Analee shows off the doll Rebekah made her for Christmas.

Rebekah unwraps her present from Grandma and Grandpa Scott: a book of science experiments. She got a camera from Mom and Dad for Christmas, and she proceeded to videotape everything for the rest of the day.

Two days after Christmas, Seth stayed at home with the younger two so I could take Rebekah and Analee with me to Salt Lake for my

COUSIN'S WEDDING

The night before the wedding, I took the girls to Temple Square to see the lights.

Part of the group waiting for Camille and Nick to come out. My cousins watched the girls while we attended the sealing.

Analee at the wedding luncheon.

Rebekah needed a quiet corner to read her Kindle. Ellie and Ana needed a quiet corner to play on the tablet.

Between the luncheon and reception, we had some time to kill. We went to Scheel's (a sporting goods store) in Sandy and paid $1/each to ride the Ferris Wheel they have in the store. Ana loves a good ride, but Bekah is squeamish when it comes to heights, so she sat the ride out with Grandma Scott and Grandpa Wirkus. They are the little people in the middle of this shot.

Ana didn't mind being up high.

A Ferris Wheel. In a sporting goods store.

After the reception and some time in the swimming pool, we went back to Uncle Ross and Aunt Susan's house to sleep. Sunday morning we had to high-tail it out of there because Rebekah and I were the musical number in sacrament meeting in our ward. Then we had one night in our own beds before we went to the

HENDRICKS REUNION

Grandma and Grandpa Hendricks had arranged for all their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids (as their schedules permitted) to stay in one of three cabins in Island Park for the week following Christmas.

Unfortunately, Grandma Hendricks fell down some stairs on the first evening up north, so she and Grandpa spent the reunion at the hospital and at home while the rest of us played in the snow, ate incredible food and visited together.

A slew of great-grandkids eating dinner. There are three booster seats attached to the chairs against the wall.

Photobombed by Uncle Jim.

Relatives eating and visiting downstairs.

Our girls had a blast riding snowmobiles, sledding, watching movies, playing games and having a big family sleepover.

To see more holiday photos, start here.