Okay so I am NOT Natalie...

I cannot blog everyday. I cannot take pictures of every activity... and I can't pull off wearing a scarf with a sweater. I've accepted it, now I will move on. This week has been CRAZY FUN!



It started last Friday night when I took the girls to the Nutcracker. They wanted to dress up in their fancy dresses, so they did, and we went somewhere fancy for dinner (Pei Wei, the lighting there makes it seem fancy and they didn't know the difference.) Then we headed to the show. We spent the first half trying to see around the tall people in front of us. For the second half we found some seats in the rear where no one was in front of us and we enjoyed the show. One thing I find amusing about ballet (and don't get me wrong I do understand the work that goes into it) but they take like twenty bows. They take a bow immediately after their dance, they take a bow in the finale, and then they close the curtain, open it again and take yet another bow. They are bowing until my hands hurt from clapping, and I am only clapping because they keep bowing and it would be awkward if they were bowing and no one was clapping. Other than that we had a fun time. We ended the night at Starbucks for hot chocolate. Britta thinks we should have girls nights out more often. I agree.

Saturday was recital day. First there was the huge storm in the morning that we got to drive in to Alpine (the venue of Britta's singing recital) which was super fun. Then we got to hang out in Alpine, for two hours while she had her dress rehearsal, then we got to sit for another two hours to watch her perform. It was quite an ordeal. The recital however was very well done. She seemed a little like she was going to fall asleep however, and I forgot my memory card so the video clip is super short, and Kendyll was sitting on my lap while I was taping so it is super shaky. So just close your eyes and listen to her beautiful voice.


By the time Britta's recital was over we had had it with the children so we dropped them off at home and Shawn and I went on our own to Emma's recital. This really is the way to do it. It was so fun to sit and relax and watch Emma dance. She is growing up so fast. She loves her dance class and works really hard to be "clean and sharp" I think she is doing pretty well, especially this is really her first year.



Emma and her BFF Kaela

So after the recitals, sub for santa week began. I was in charge of four sub for santas for our ward this year so the first part of our week flew by as I was finishing the details for them. On Tuesday some friend's from South Africa came to visit. Eric and Jaque Moorcroft. Eric and Shawn were mission companions in Africa. They flew in and that night we decided to go to Temple Square. Now remember these folks are from mild temperatured South Africa. As I began to put the snow suits on the kids, Jaque's eyes were filled with terror. She asked if the kids really needed to be wearing that much clothing. I said yes. And then proceeded to provide her with just as much clothing. Despite the coats, gloves, and scarves, they still froze their rears off. It was pretty funny. Temple Square as always was so gorgeous. I love visiting there each year.

The Kids...
A shot of the whole gang...
And the beautiful temple lights...

Wednesday Night was our night out with the Craney's and the Tueller's. Eric and Jaque also joined us. We went to dinner and then to the theater to watch Glenn Beck's Christmas show. Which I enjoyed. He is very dramatic and quite the crier. But shares such a great message and has such sincerity.

Thursday was the Red Leaf party up at Snowbird and that was nice, and then Friday was the annual Dana Christmas party which never disappoints. Mom and Dad had all of the kids sleep over on Friday so it was fun to hang out after the party with Courtney and Troy and then come home to an empty house. Thanks Mom and Dad for taking the kids, they had such a great time. And Of course I did not bring my camera and take pictures at these events because as I reiterated before I am not Natalie.