Our Week BEFORE Christmas...

"What Christmas Means To Me"

Our BIG event we've been working on was our Higher Ground Christmas Recital, put on by our Summit Company Dancers. It turned out great! I will post more pictures on the HG website sometime this week.

This is Kaylee and Caroline

Me and one of my dearest friends, Lilli Hiatt. (dang camera!)

My mom worked the sound booth and Holli came in JUST in time! She was studying abroad in England. So happy to have her home for the holidays!!!

Then the next morning, dress rehearsal for the Christian Dance Company. My mom and I helped put the little girls number together. Gracie was so much younger then all of them, but we still gave her a small part...she did good, but mostly, she was just excited to be a part of it!

First Row: Paige Sorensen, Gracie Glover, Ariana Moreno

Second Row: Emma Thompson, Zoie White, Jessica Ray

Back Row: Hattie White, Caitlin Crandell, Ashlyn Thompson

Sunday, we celebrated Holli's 21st b-day!

Dad made enchiladas...yummy!

Isn't she lovely?

We played Cranium...this is brock acting out "Chick Magnet"

We've been running around like crazy trying to get all of our Christmas shopping done! Things crept up on me too fast this year! Tricia and Chase got in town on Saturday evening!!! Tonight we had our HALE family Christmas party.

After dinner, we started off with our gag gift exchange.

AWESOME!!!

For our "normal" family gift exchange, we decided to do homemade gifts/acts of service.

I'm so frustrated that this picture turned out blurry because it really was cool. Ethan ( and I) made Skyler a blanket. One side has flames and the other is blue with the words ROCK STAR on it. Ryal made a similar blanket for Mason, and they both strung necklaces for them that say "W.W.J.D?" Interpretation: "What would Jesus Do?"

My mom gave Ryal a "promise to take him to the library", and then she bought him this book. He LOVES to read!

This shirt doesn't look homemade, but Kylie made it...does that count?

Kaylee made Tricia a bag with a Fluer de Leis on the back and pictures on the front.

Tricia's classic pose!

Some people LOVED their gifts...

PINKALICIOUS!

Some people ate their gifts...

Some people wore their gifts...

Afterward, Skyler played Christmas songs on his guitar and we sang along...

Then my dad carried on the tradition of reading us an inspirational story before we left...

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

In-class Christmas Recitals

Gracie had her in-class ballet recital with Ms. Whitney Monday morning. It is a 3-5 yr. old Ballet/Jazz combo. She has so many friends in there...so much fun!

The girls danced to "Where are you Christmas?"

Ms Whitney is so good with these girls!

Yummy treats!!!

Amberly, Reese, & Gracie-all in the same ward!

Later that evening, Kaylee had her in-class ballet recital with Nadja. I can't say enough about how lucky we are to have Nadja...she is absolutely amazing!!! Tricia's favorite dance teacher she ever had!

Then Gracie had another in-class recital this morning for her ballet/tap combo class for ages 18 mth.-3yrs.

Ms. Whitney handmade all of the wands for these classes!

They did a tap dance to Jingle Bells.

Our Higher Ground Christmas Recital, (put on by Summit Company Dancers), will be this Friday at 7pm at Stapley Jr. High School.

All lyrical students and Company students will be performing!!!

Fun with the Fam!

Starting with Thanksgiving...

The kids were up early helping me make rolls while dad was off playing soccer, Thanksgiving Day tradition. It took Scott a long time to come home because he thought he broke his ankle, he was in the ER!

We rented a moon jump, of course, and the kids had a blast running in and out, watching the parade and then jumping outside.

Our family from CA came to visit...

Skyler and Brock, always rough and tumble!

The usual Ping Pong tournaments...

Kaylee & Hayley made videos on Hayley's computer all weekend

Me & my grandma

This was Ruby's favorite thing to do, and she always did it on demand! Crack up!!!

Ruby & Lilly Dodd

The day after Thanksgiving, we hit Amazing Jakes!

Coincidence

Scott squeezed himself in there for the whole ride!

They rode the enitre ride this way...so cute!

Saturday was Kaylee's B-day, after she had a solo with Calli and her hair done by Julie, we headed to Scottsdale Fashion Square!

The girls locked themselves in the dressing rooms with the most hideous clothes they could find and took pictures of themselves!

Then to the MAC store we went...

Makeover time!

Even Gracie got in on it!

An hour later...

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

Then we saw that Libby Lu was having a HUGE SALE, and Gracie got the works for half price! AWESOME BIRTHDAY!!!

When she was all finished, she had her nails done, her hair done, her make-up done, a tiara, a b-day sash, a new puppy, (with cothes and carrying case), a blinged out bracelet, tattoos, and an awesome goody bag full of jewelry and other treats!

And a new outfit too!

Then at home, the B-day festivities began...

It was the cake Kaylee had always dreamed about for her 13th B-day!

Nancy gave her JUICY earrings!

New Boots!

Tre & Teej gave her an awesome ring! And between Grandma Ann & Grandma Ferrin, she made out with $100!

Gracie LOVED the present opening

part of her b-day!

She really wanted Princess barbies, so it was cute to see her reaction to every one!

"For Me?"

This one talks...

Gracie's favorite princess is Ariel. I found her the cutest little outfit on Etsy. But we decided to see how it looked on Noah instead...

Not bad!

On Sunday, Scott blessed Ruby, (Martin & Nancy's daughter), in our ward. Scott gives the most beautiful blessings by the way.

Gotta love the family photos!

That night after my mom hosted dinner at her house, we went to the temple...

(Gracie picked a "great food" at my moms house and wouldn't let it go)

The boys were practicing their gang signs in the parking lot

Ryal's was pretty scary!

Best part of the night...we walked by this display and it was playing a narration in Spanish, Ethan asked if it was "Nacho Libre", pretty awesome!

The temple lights really were beautiful, just like every year!

Fun Thanksgiving Break! Don't know that it was "restful", but lots of fun! We missed you, Tricia, Chase & Holli! Can't wait 'til Christmas!