Gwenism #14

While grocery shopping.

Gwen: Mom, what is that?
Andrea: It's a pork butt roast.
Gwen: (Snickers.)
Andrea: (Thinks, "Oh, boy ... here it comes.")
Gwen: Butt roast? BUTTON ROAST! (Laughs uproariously.)

Christmas party

Our ward has great Christmas parties. There's always delicious food, lots of friends in attendance and fun activities. Last year, Seth and I sang, "Baby It's Cold Outside." This year, we were asked to sing it again. So we switched up the parts, and Seth was the one trying to escape my clutches.

My line: "I'll take your hat; your hair looks swell." His hair DOES look pretty swell. 

Rocking the jingle bell earrings Rebekah made me for my birthday. Seth rocking the guitar as he always does.

Then we switched strings. Seth put down the guitar, and I picked up the ukulele.

Seth announcing that I just barely learned to play. My look of nervous anticipation.

He's a crooner, that one. And I nearly got all the chords in.

A cute post-gig photo.

Then the ASL group signed and sang, "Once There Was a Snowman."

Including Rebekah (with her festive hair), Analee, Grandma Susan, Miriam and Andrea.

Followed by the Primary singing, "The Nativity Song."

And then Santa came to town.

Analee, Miriam and Rebekah all sat on his lap and talked with him. Winnie sat on my knee and deigned to even look at the man. But she gladly accepted the bag of goodies he gave her.

To see more pictures, start here.

Christmas card & newsletter

(click to view larger)

Miri-ism #35

While watching the final scene in Aladdin where Jasmine and Aladdin fly away on the magic carpet:

Miri: "Where are your kids! You need to have kids! Kids! KIDS!"

Tree hunting

We took the family back up to the wilderness in search of the perfect Christmas tree. That is to say, Seth hauled us up the mountain on the four-wheeler, then found, cut and hauled the tree back down the mountain while I kept an eye on four little girls. He's good like that.

And for the first time, I took a camera with me. Usually I'm hauling a baby around in a wrap, pouch, sling or backpack and don't want to carry the extra weight. This time I determined that Winnie is old enough to walk, so I brought the camera. And then I hauled her most of the way back down because her legs were tired.

Miriam climbing up the hill. I love her mouse mittens.

I think this picture is so beautiful of Winnie, despite her tear and snotty nose. Why is she crying? Because I dared to look at a couple of trees instead of staying right by her side.

 Analee trudging through the snow.

Grandma Scott helping grandkids up the hill (Bennet, Shelby and Miriam) while Aunt McKall watches.

Rebekah (and her festive green hair) enjoying snacks back at the truck.

Gwenism #13

While sitting at the dinner table.

Gwen: Mom, how did we buy our house?
Andrea: The people who lived here before wanted to sell the house. Daddy and I came and looked at it. We wanted to buy it, so we got the money from the bank.
Gwen: But how did the house fit on the paying thing?