Up first: We finally got a proper large tank for the hermit crabs. We got it all arranged for them... and they looked lonely. So we got two more. Now we have Happy, Shelly, Lindana, and Spike. These pictures are a bit funky cause they were all taken in very low light so as not to startle the aptly name shy creatures. That's our kind of low-maintenance pet!
Sabrina. Oh, Sabrina. She did look super cute this day, her outfit was quite adorable. Then she
Kate's 3rd grade (with the 4th grade) Christmas program was last week. It was a "Christmas Around the World" program. Her class represented Mexico. She got to pretend to hit a pinata during their song. Alas, I didn't get it videoed cause I was having issues (mostly with Lizzie trying to run up front because she thought it was a real pinata and wanted the goodies). Two of the girls' friends got to come with us. We had 5 kids between 8 and 5 years old! Fortunately they're all awesome kids and we had no problems at all. We couldn't see Kate at all from our seats, though, so I had to sneak up to a closer door for a minute to get some closer pictures.
One day I looked out the front window and there was a cop car parked across the street turning away traffic. After puzzling over it for some time I saw a few Questar Gas vehicles waved through the blockade. Finally, to put my mind at ease, I called the police station to ask what was going on. Turns out there was a gas leak in the area! A couple of families in our ward were evacuated for several hours until it could be taken care of. Thankfully everything ended in a wonderfully boring fashion.
A week ago we went for Family Home Evening on Monday to the Spanish Fork "Festival of Lights". It's a drive-through light show. It was tons of fun! Last year we went also, but I had a hiccup with my memory card and LOST all my pictures. I have never lived down that shock. So I took tons of pictures this time to make up for it, of course. We listened to Christmas carols and watched all the amazing lights and moving figures. We'll certainly go back before it closes, it was wonderful.
Here are some of my favorite pictures closer up:
A friend shared a link that was lots of fun for my girls. Go to PortableNorthPole.tv and make a free personalized video for your own child. This picture is of the girls watching Lizzie's video. Santa says the kids names, opens a book which has pictures of them in it, talks about what they do during the day (You should have seen Kate's jaw drop when he mentioned her being in 3rd grade), etc. Even through Kate and Lizzie both really know the "truth" about the game we call Santa, they like to continue playing along. They loved these.
For some friends and neighbors (I know I am not going to hit everyone, and if we don't get you this year, that doesn't mean we don't love you!) I'm making simmering potpourri mixes. It's a bag with cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, whole cloves, then I hung slices of fresh ginger root, oranges, and lemons. They were so pretty in my front window. Now that I have taken them down I really miss them! The bags are all sitting filled and open by my chair right now, though, and it smells amazing. Can't wait to simmer up our own pot of potpourri!
See this pretty panda bear ornament? One of my brothers brought these back from China a year or so ago and it's really lovely. Sabrina was looking at this ornament the other day and said "Mom, is this a Chinese polar bear?" Why yes, I believe it is. Pandas will forever be Chinese polar bears to me now :)
>>Big Sigh<< So we're looking at houses. We put in another offer. Four words: short sale, long shot. But we'd love to get this house. It is gorgeous! It's barely outside of Springville in Mapleton. Like I said: long shot, but a girl can dream, right? Oh, I'm dreaming big!
