Emma the Hairstylist

Emma likes to style hair. Here are some of her instructions to me today in her barber chair:

Hold still.
It won’t hurt.
I’m brushing.
I need to get the tanglies out.
[When I started to giggle because of the cuteness of it:] It’s not funny!
[When she was all done:] You look like a buffalo! [And she giggles.]

Our Week (12/19 - 12/25)

William got this hot chocolate bomb from his Primary teacher. He was pretty excited about it:

We spent a lot of time at parks over the winter break. It's been surprisingly warm, so we've been enjoying some outdoor time:

We came across this cool house while making some Christmas deliveries:

Christmas Eve soccer game with friends:

Rudolph cupcakes:

He lost his first tooth on Christmas Eve (and then lost it down the drain):

Christmas morning:

Christmases Past

I've been trying to figure out what our family Christmas traditions are, so I've been reflecting back on past Christmases over the last decade. (Before that, we were living in Mesa, and we floated to the different grandparents' houses for Christmas.)

• 2012 - Christmas in Palmyra with the Bakers
• 2013 - Christmas in Palmyra with the Bakers
• 2014 - Christmas in Mesa (just graduated from law school and moved back to condo temporarily): saw the temple lights in short sleeves on Christmas Eve and went to dinner at Waffle House
• 2015 - Sarah Baker stayed with us, visited Houston: Galleria Mall with giant tree (several stories tall), Hermann Park, etc.
• 2016 - Howells visited, went to SATX (Riverwalk Lights, Market Square, etc.)
• 2017 - dinner with Farleys, Hill Country Christmas (Fredericksburg, LBJ, New Braunfels, SATX)
• 2018 - Dallas with Grandma and Grandpa Ellsworth (on their mission), spent 6 hr in the ER with Emma because she was only 2 months old and had a fever
• 2019 - service, soccer with friends, dinner with Farleys
• 2020 - pizza party, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for breakfast, brawts for dinner
• 2021 - soccer with friends, pizza party, charcuterie, SATX trip (Riverwalk, Witte, aquarium, laser tag, Buc-ee's)

It's hard to identify traditions, because most years are different. We do like to travel though; we take a trip most years. When we stay home, we keep it simple so that I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen. 

Our Week (12/12 - 12/18)

 Heidi and her school friend Jillian:

Mother-son date at McDonald's. He's imitating Olaf from Olaf Presents, who was imitating Flynn Ryder's smolder:

Liz and friends at an escape room for Ellie's birthday:

Heidi and her partner Tyce with their school project:

Emma being silly:

All dressed up like Fancy Nancy:

Learning how to tie a tie:

Our Week (11/29 - 12/11)

Emily's birthday: 

Heidi went to the movies with Rose as one of her birthday presents:

At Heidi and Attalyn's last-ever Primary activity:

At the nativity open house that our building puts on for the community:

At Liz's winter piano recital (her friend EJ stayed with us for the weekend):

Watch Owen in his virtual winter concert (the first song, back row on the far left):

Arizona Trip

Cousins' Christmas party (snowball fight, cookie decorating, Gingerbread village demolition, white elephant, and The Grinch):

Thanksgiving pie competition:

Tuesday BBQ:

Sunday dinner:

Girls' night (escape room and ice cream):

Scott went to lunch with a friend from his mission:

S'mores:

Lunch at the Pizza Mart:

Kleinman Park:

Thanksgiving dinner:

Holiday baking mishaps:

Turkey trot:

Serrano's with the Millers:

Miller family pictures:

Aunt Allison and the girls started a gift-wrapping company for the white elephant gifts:

Shopping for white elephant gifts at Goodwill:

There's a funny story behind this picture, but I'm too lazy to type it out, lol:

Grandpa taught Heidi how to rope:

Hiking Hieroglyphic Trail with Aunt Kristi:

Heidi and Emmaline:

Dinner at Manuel's (Owen fell asleep):

Checking out the Giving Machines in Gilbert:

Prickly pear ice cream at Topo...

...And liquid nitrogen ice cream at Creamistry:

At Greenfield Park with LeiLani  (Mom and Lani talked for too long, apparently):

Playing dress-up with Grandma:

Mesa Temple Visitors' Center:

Mesa Temple Open House:

Slumber party in Grandma and Grandpa's basement: