Christmas at Grandma Adlers!

We made it up to Utah just in time for the Adler Christmas bash! It was good times - but mostly good company! We exchanged all of our gifts, and received fabulous ones, too!
All the cousins! Grandma Adler made all of the girls dresses (and purchased the boys clothes) and has high hopes every year of a fabulous Christmas picture. You can imagine how easy that is!
And no I'm not pregnant (I wish), that lovely camera angle just makes it appear so!
Chris is working on perfecting his camera techniques! Looks awesome!

Thatcher had fun opening his gifts. He then laid down in the middle of the floor, amisdt all the paper, and played with his puzzle.
Jayme and Steve acquired a new puppy which everyone loved. I think Chris is trying to talk them into letting us take it home!

Gretchen's Kindergarten Christmas Program

Gretchen did such a fabulous job at her program! She sang all the words and smiled, too! Last year, she sulked during the whole program, and kept her sleeve in her mouth.


Thanks to the Holt grandparents for coming to support her!

Thatcher was pretty good to sit through it, and dang it! Isn't he cute?

He has decided he doesn't like the flash from the camera and covers his eyes and says, "No More Eyes!"

Snow sledding!

We made it up to Utah through some treacherous driving, and lots of yelling and crying (the kids were crying and yelling some, too) but PHEW! We made it! The kids were so excited to see everyone and now it finally feels like Christmas!!

With some snow clothing donations from Susie (thank you much!) they went out to romp in the snow!
Thatcher is pretty excited about his hat and gloves!
Thanks to Daddy for helping play in the snow!
Thatcher was done sledding after this crash!

Gretchen loves sledding down with cousin Sydney!

More Temple Lights!

We made it to see the beautiful lights at the Salt Lake Temple Square!! It was much, much chiller than in Mesa! But this temple is particularly lovely to me.
The various nativities are sure cute - and a fab reminder of what my focus on Christmas should be!!
I had a fun conversation with Gretchen about this statue. It is amazing how quickly she seems to understand topics that adults can complicate so much. It is so nice to be able to figure out the simplest explanation of things to share with her.

Thatcher was entertained by all the snow, and when we tried to get him to move on, he would yell, "NO!! More NO!" (the second NO referring, of course, to snow) And at dinner he threw about 8 million things on the ground, and then when he did decide to eat a bit, he managed all of his bites with his head resting in his hand!

Santa at the mall!

So we went to the mall after Thanksgiving and ka-boom! There was Santa! Both my kids sat on his lap (which is a first for the 5 year old) as did Emma and Macy. (sorry my camera phone struggles in the dark with movement!)
So suddenly there was snow!! Snow BUBBLES that is!
Thatcher and Emma enjoying free reign of the Santa exhibit.
Gretchen giggling with the snow bubbles!
5 years and finally warmed up to Santa! Who can blame her - isn't it kinda weird thinking of some strange old man fitting down a chimney of all things, coming to your house while your sleeping, who always wants you to sit on his lap? It could easily be kinda creepy. But then I read that book I Believe in Santa Claus and everything is ok.

A Proud Mother . . .

Gretchen's teacher gave her rave reviews of her end of term "testing". Good job, Gretchen! Here are some of her recent masterpieces!


This says, "Santa I want ice skate American Girl if you can Love Gretchen Thatcher"
And this is a picture of them sleeping with Santa downstairs! I'm not sure why it says 'July'!

Temple lights and palm trees!

We visited the Mesa temple to see the lights and the nativity. It was fun, and believe it or not we felt cold! It's funny how you adjust.
This was Gretchen's favorite corner (green is her favorite color!) and she and Thatcher kept pretending to "pick" the berries off of the trees. Thatcher really gets into it, it's hilarious!
It's fun (and a little weird) to see palm trees with Christmas lights!
Of course, they have to teeter on the edge of falling into the water fountain!
Thatcher has learned how to say "star" and I'm quite certain he said Jesus at church last week!

Thatcher was standing next to Grandpa (who came to visit for a couple days) and was copying how he was standing and swaying! It was pretty cute!