Grandpa's first calf, born 2/20 about 6:15 AM

Baby Calf

Quilt

I have finished this quilt after about 6 months, that I have set aside for Courtney. Each grandchild has a quilt made for them, it takes me about a year apiece. They will get these when they marry( a good incentive to chose someone Grandma likes!) This is a basket pattern with satin baskets, and satin scalloped edges. It is set with different pattern white on white materials. I love quilts and I love the grandchildren.

1/2 Marathon....and 5K

For some it was a half marathon, for others it was just a 5K.

Mark successfully completed his very first race ever--a half marathon no less! We're so proud of him!! He ran the St. George Painter's Half Marathon on January 17th and did a great job. He ran the whole way except through the water stops, when he walked.


I got a pretty bad cold that lasted about two weeks toward the end of my training, which kind of put me out of the running (ha, get it?) for the 1/2. I ended up running the 5K that day, and then went and met up with Mark and ran the last mile and half with him. It was fun! Some other friends of ours ran the 1/2 that day too, but since I ran the shortest distance, I didn't feel worthy to be in the group photo, so I took it!

Christmas Day

On Christmas this year we got about a foot of new snow, so it was beautiful! I just wanted to share a couple of cute pictures from this year. Sophie was so excited for Christmas this year. We were quizzed on lots of Santa questions, which was pretty entertaining to see how her mind was working to put it all together.

Carson was thrilled to finally get some 'boy toys'! He spent all day playing with his new race track and cars.

I think girls just come with that nurturing thing...these pictures of Bella just melt my heart they're so sweet!


I made tutu's for the girls, and I can honestly say this is the only time I've seen them wearing them! I thought they were cute....

And this last picture of my sweet husband, totally shocked and excited at the gift that his In-laws gave him--Garmin Forerunner!

Now I see the wisdom in my parents making us shower and get ready for the day before we came down for Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Nativity

We always get together with the Harris side of the family on Christmas Eve and have dinner at our place and a program of some sort. This year we decided to do the Nativity (which hasn't been done since I've been part of the family). It was cute to see our kids dressed up--Sophie and Bella were angels (of course), and Carson was a little lamb. He was a huge ham that night in front of the camera, it was hilarious!






It's impossible to get all three kids smiling and looking at the camera at the same time.

Gingerbread Tradition

I realize this is a little late, but it was still blog-worthy, so here you go...

When you're a kid you don't realize all the time and energy that goes into some of the famiy traditions. Sophie LOVES to help me cook, so I thought she would be old enough to start one of my favorite family traditions--gingerbread houses! I had NO idea what I was getting into, and I still can't believe that my mom would make enough gingerbread dough for each one of us to make our own gingerbread house. WOW! It ended up being a two night activity, and despite the mess and time it took, it was by-far the best Christmas activity that we did together this year. It will be repeated next year, and the next, and the next. Definately worth it!

We spent the first night mixing up the dough, rolling it out and cutting all our shapes.


You'll see me using a ruler to get my house perfect.....HA! What a waste of time that was! By the time I moved it to the cookie sheet and baked it, I was more than an inch and half off on my wall heighths, my roof didn't fit, etc. So after it was all cooked I took a serrated knife to it and did some remodeling. Next year I think I'll just cook up sheets of gingerbread and then do the cutting.


Sophie had a great time rolling out dough and cutting shapes too.


Night number two consisted of decorating and constructing!


Mark helped Sophie decorate too and we all had a great time! They made a Mom, Dad, Sophie, Bella, and Carson gingerbread for the front yard, along with trees, snowman, etc. Mark mastermind a 'dog house' that ended up looking like a coffin for the front yard as well! (He said it was because I tried to 'fix' it!) Here's a picture of some of the best!


And the finished product was just too cute!

Our Ballerina

Sophie has been taking a little dance class in our neighborhood the last couple of months and had her first recital in January. (These pictures were taken in December, just so you don't think I still have my tree up!! ) I know this will come as a shock, but she was the cutest one there! She wasn't nervous and did a great job on stage! It was fun to see her perform!