Family Photos

This time of year I always think we should get a new family photo taken, but no one else really feels the same way, and so for the past four years we have not had a family photo.  The biggest problem with this is the fact that we have had another child added to our family since the last family picture.  Although no one really wanted to participate, everyone did their job and they turned out pretty good considering the fact that we have five kids.

Here are a few of them.

The Kids

The Boys

Tyson, Justin, and Emily

The Kids

Ryan and Abigail

Emily

Abigail

Ryan

Justin

Justin

Ryan

Abigail and Emily

The Girls

Emily

The whole Family

The Boys

Tyson

Tyson

It's Begining To Feel A Lot Like Christmas

This past week was spent setting up and helping with our Stake Nativity event.  It was a lot of work and took a lot of people to put it together, but it was fabulous.  The Nativities were arranged wonderfully, the music was good, and we had a wonderful turnout from the community.  I know the first two days we had around 400 nonmembers come and see it.  I am not sure what the final count was after Saturday.  I helped with the Children's room.  Families could come in and get their picture taken dressed up in nativity clothing. We also had Luke 2 playing, and hands on nativities to play with and books to read. Emily had the opportunity to play the piano for the Children Choir.  She did a great job.  A lot of people commented on how well she played.  I was very proud of her, I am always amazed at how well she does under pressure, I never performed well under pressure.  They figured there were close to 400 people there during the two concerts.  Emily plays a song again tonight for the sing a long that we are having before the First Presidency Devotional.

Here are a few pictures from the event.  I actually got them from my friends blog because I didn't ever remember to take my camera up there.

View looking toward the stage where an artist in one of the wards painted a beautiful picture to be displayed

The live nativity outside as you come in

Here is our families nativity picture.  I scanned it in and could not figure out how to crop it right.

This was a great event to get everyone thinking about the true meaning of Christmas.  I am so thankful for my Savior and for His birth.

Ryan Turns 5

Ryan turned five on November 30 (Tuesday).  I knew I was not going to be home all day that day so we celebrated his birthday on Monday.  He was so excited to have breakfast in bed.  He wanted everyone to get up on his bed.  I told him that would not be a good idea because he has a platform bed, so he decided he would sleep on his floor.  He borrowed our neighbors tent and slept in it.  He loved seeing his breakfast, but didn't eat any of it because he was too excited to open his presents.  He got a leapster explorer, and a fish tank.  He chose to go to Rosa's for dinner and we had cake and ice cream at our house that night.  I don't have pictures yet because Emily took the pictures with her camera and we can't find her cable so I will add them later.  Ryan was so good all day that day.  He shared with Abigail the whole day and acted so much older because he was so proud to be five now.