Ella's Baptism

 Ella with her "Baptism Blanket".  Do you think it has brought her the comfort it is supposed to symbolize?
 Grandad!  Both her grandpas were there as witnesses.  Grandma Nan gave a talk!  So special.

We feel very grateful that Ella is now a member of our Church and has covenanted to follow the commandments and to follow our Savior's teachings. 

This and Last Year's Christmas Parties

Last year at CAF's Christmas Party at the club.  Very prego.

This year's Christmas Party...Colton will be 11 months on Christmas!  What a joy and blessing we've had having him here this year.  Thank you for coming to our family Colton!

Merry Christmas everyone!

More soccer pictures by other moms

I am grateful for these beautiful pictures that Dina and Alison sent me recently.  Some people are so talented! 

 

I am getting stressed looking at these.  Go Anna Go! 

Happy 8th Birthday Ella

Ella started out her birthday with some wonderful presents from family.  Her dad and her picked out something special for her birthday on that trip to Santa Cruz we wrote about earlier!  See below.

 Train Ride to San Jose Birthday Party!

 San Jose Train Station with Greta, Ella, Mia, Taylor and Kiley, all 2nd graders

 We had cake and hot chocolate and bagels in the park before we went downtown to see "Christmas in the Park" and go on the merry-go-round.

All of the different schools in San Jose contributed and decorated a Christmas tree.  It was beautiful.

Presents from Grandma Nan, including the cat!  Finally, Ella has a pet of her own.  Well, the truth is, we all kind of freaked out bringing the hissing and clawing cat home in the car, so this will be Ella's cat when Grandma and Grandpa have time to transport him to our house.  Too scary for us!!!

Happy Birthday Ella!  Such a fun, sweet, smart, lovely, muscial, talented sweetie of a girl.  I can't believe we've been able to have her in our home for 8 years, and that she is willing and looking forward to being baptized.  It is an honor to know her, let alone have her as my daughter.  We love you so much!  We hope you had an awesome birthday and look forward to your baptism in 2 weeks too.  XOXOXOXO

More Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Frasers

We had so much fun at the Frasers' club.  It is gorgeous there in Almaden Valley.  Golden hills, roaming wildlife, the kids love the caves, and the food is amazing.  The men loved the filets and I loved the salads and trimmings.  Just to die for.  Thank you Craig for letting us come for another splendid Thanksgiving meal with the family.  I didn't get a group shot, so we'll have to settle for the kids on the floor with Colton playing after eating, and Olivia and Claire making a fort under the table.

Livvy's Preschool Thanksgiving Meal with her preschool friends that we tried to duplicate with her Thomander cousins on Thanksgiving Day below.

Next day...!!!

Anna played in a Soccer Turkey Tournament.

We even got to go on a romantic date.  Here are our baby-sitters, Rachel and Teejay.  The kids built a candy-house with them and we're ecstatic about all of the attention from them for a couple of hours!

And one last Thanksgiving Parade to end a wonderful weekend to celebrate Teejay and Rachel's wedding and being with family.  How grateful we are for all the fun times and wonderful relationships we share with them.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!