table setting

I love linnens, and dishes, as well as an elegant table setting. So... I have to include them on my blog - right? The first two shots are from the Christmas party tonight, and the last two are from Thanksgiving at my mom's house. So fun... for me at least!

Baker Christmas Party

It was the annual Baker Christmas party, and we were the hosts this year. I have many more photos. Too many to add, so I am going to try to figure out how to do a slide show, and edit this post more later. It was a fun night, with great food, great family, and great white elephants! Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread houses

We were back at it again. We did gingerbread houses yet again. It was fun, and fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Baker Village

Wayne Manor

Risa's rest stop

Sophie's Chalet

Conrad's Castle

Hot chocolate bliss!

After a fun time playing in the snow... the girls came in for a warm snack! They had hot chocolate made with milk instead of water... thanks dad! Their favorite part was stirring the cocoa with a candy cane. It gave the whole thing a nice minty flavor! What cute girls!

A old, and a new tradition...

My Grandpa Terburg was born and raised in The Netherlands. He came to the United States in his late teens, where he met my grandmother, and settled in Florida. He used to tell my dad what Sinter Klaas day was like in The Netherlands when he was a child. My dad told us the same story every year at Christmastime. I wanted him to share this with my children too. So, we invited my dad over on Dec 5th to share the story. The 5th day of Dec, is Sinter Klaas day in The Netherlands. We thought we would try setting out wooden shoes, and see if he would visit us here as well.

This was a special year. I was only able to find 3 pair of wooden shoes, so my dad brought his dad's, and Conrad got to use them. Guess what? Sinter Klaas did come!

This is a shot of my dad sitting with Conrad after sharing the story. The man in the photo is Grandpa Terburg. It was a special night, one I am sure the kids will remember for a long time, and if not, we got it all on tape! Thanks dad!

Of course Conrad had to try on the shoes...

And so did Soph.

The Manger show

In Farmington, for the past 30 years, the neighborhood I grew up in has put on a manger show in a barn on main street. You go and watch the program, while sitting hay. They have real animals, and a real baby most years. We went with our fabulous neighbors, the Butchers. It was great fun.

You know me, I had to pester the wise men into letting us get a photo with them. Thank you wise men. You are very wise.

The kids had fun with the Animals.

They told me a goat tried to buck Conrad, but I didn't see it. After the manger show, we went to Dairy Queen. It was a fun night!

Temple square - A family tradition

After dinner at the Gateway, we jumped on the tracks, and rode to Temple Square to see the lights. We arrived early, so we spent some time in the Visitor's Center before the lights were turned on.



We walked the pathway to the Christus. It was a lovely walk. We did not make it to Temple Square last year, because we were busy with the move, and it was too cold when we were available, so this is the first year the kids actually understood what was going on. There was such a nice spirit in the visitors center, and I think we all felt it.

We also watched the manger scene. I have loved that ever since I was a child, and hope my kids will feel the same way.

Can't beat a photo in front of the Temple!

Talking to Santa

So, I was in Seagull the other day, looking for Christmas books, and low and behold... the real Santa was there. I called Wayne right away, and told him to bring the kiddos. He did, and the kids each told him what they wanted for Christmas, and that they had been good this year. I think the kids were a little overwhelmed. We then got a hand autographed copy of, "Twas the night before Christmas." I think we will love that book for many years to come. Look at Conrad pulling his beard! Yep, he's the real deal!

Decorating the tree

Decorating the tree is always a fun night. We do it the weekend following Thanksgiving. As a tradition my mom started for me, we each get a new ornament of our very own every year. We write out name, and the year on it. I took all mine with me when I got married. I started doing this for Wayne when we got married, and he has quite the collection now. We all have a great time getting out old ornaments from previous years, and looking at them. Each ornament brings back a memory, and reminds us of Christmases past. I have ornaments from the 70's that I still hang on my tree. They are great, and very nostalgic. Thanks mom, for making Christmas fun for us when we were little, and for teaching me how to do it for my own family.

Girlie Day

Sophie had early out all week, so she wanted to have a movie day with her friends. We called them all over, and they watched Tinkerbell's new movie. There was a lot of giggling and fun.

I think we ended up with 12 girls total, but they didn't want me to take any more pictures after these. I was blocking the movie. Gosh mom!

Pizza face

No matter what I make for dinner, the kids tell me they don't like it, so I have decided to let them help me make dinner a few times a week. I figure if they get to make it, they will be more likely to eat it. I was right!

Wayne's latest project

My awesome husband and son made me shelves for the cold storage room, so I can get organized! They worked hard.

Here is the finished product. It makes me happy to look at it!

nothing sewn

This is my latest project. I am going to make drapes for the family room. Wayne surprised me with a fabulous new sewing machine a few weeks ago, so now I get to make drapes for this room! I will update with a photo as soon as they are finished. I am hoping this week.

I don't know what the deal is with the lighting. Maybe I didn't have my flash on, but here are some curtains I made without any sewing. It is all just fabric that has been tucked, and I love it.

I also did these without any sewing. They were the easiest ever!

The first snow of the season

We randomly got dumped on, on October 11, and the kids were EXCITED! It was so nice to have our yard in, and be able to let them play, instead of worrying about them ending up in a mud hole! They had a great time, and are looking forward to much more snow!

Sophie's first day of 1st grade

Cute little Sophie was way excited, and picked her outfit. This is a photo of her walking to class for the first time.

She saw cute Kenna.

She saw cute Addy.

Minks

So... I know I have been promising this to you for a long time now dad... here goes. On Sept 21, vandals let the mink loose from the mink farm right down the street from us. They announced this at church in sacrament, my friend Holly and I thought we had better check it out. We left church, and came home to find one in her back yard. It was not a fighter, and we caught it easily by putting a bucket over it. They we went to my house, but didn't find anything. We went back to church and when it was over, I went back to my house, and there was one sitting on my porch. I yelled for the kids to get away, and called the neighbor. Mike, Wendy, and I chased the thing all over two yards for about 10 minutes, before we were finally able to catch it. It was fast and feisty! I wish you could have seen us all running in our church clothes. I am sure it was a sight! After I told her what was going on, my mom called the news, and they came out and interviewed us. Of course the clip they used was of me acting like a freak, when I had a normal conversation with them before, but what do you expect? Here it is: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4320526

My mom told my dad about it, and he came out to see the action. I thought he just wanted to watch, but was surprised when he opened his trunk, and low and behold... there was a mink catching kit. It consisted of gloves, a grabber stick, and 2 cages. I knew he wanted to get in on the action. My dad's the best!

I think he caught about 3 or 4.

Wayne caught about six when he was out helping the neighbors.

The mink were mad when they were caught. They screech, and give off a terrible odor.

Most of the action was in the feild to the west of us, and right east of the mink farm. Mink farmerts were there helping round them up, and many were holding 4 at a time. I saw blood, and many mad minks. It was the most exciting Sunday I can remember.

Magic Pajama pants

So... Conrad is sick, and he got up last night to go potty. He was really out of it, and missed the potty. Wayne changed his pajama bottoms. This morning when he got up, he said, "Mommy, those pajama pants are magic! They changed to these ones in the night!" I asked him if he remembered, changing, and he didn't. He is a funny kid. I hope he feels better soon.

Trick-or-treating fun!

Pumpkin Carving fun!