December Photos

2 angels in the Bullough Christmas pagent

Chrismas morning

So Last Month

I know I just posted about the New Year and all, but let's back it up a little to the month of December. T'was a busy month, as Decembers usually are. Highlights include a couple family parties (bet you didn't see that one coming) a couple work parties (no mechanical bull this year), the lights at Temple Square and baking cookies with the girls.

Rather than exchange gifts with our close friends we had a sharing night, hosted by Camille and Tim. We gathered at their home to eat soup, drink a little vino and then we got into the sharing portion of the evening. Poetry, Christmas songs with, ummm, made up lyrics and even one with the real lyrics were among the "shares" of the evening. Have you heard "Long Way Around The Sea" by Low? Because it's beautiful and Aaron, Tim and Brittany really did it justice. William made wooden nickels because that's his thing. He always says, "Don't take any wooden nickels." And now he's made some and they're personalized for our kids and everything. Even for the 2 who aren't born! (I'm talking about our friends' kids folks. The McDonough family is complete.) So now it's time to take wooden nickels, I guess. Anyway, it was a beautful evening and I hope it becomes a tradition.

2009

So I woke up this morning to the following thoughts:

1. Wow, my feet really hurt from dancing last night and I haven't even stood up yet.
2. It's 2009 and I'm so happy and lucky to have great family and friends.
3. Inauguration day is only 19 days away!! How will we celebrate?

It's lovely to wake up to such optimism. Even the feet hurting part. Happy New Year, everyone!

Already There

Exhibit A

I really should be updating this blog, but instead I am checking all of your blogs to see if you've updated. I have a lot to catch up on, it being the holidays and all, but I'm out of energy today so I give you this by Jason:

A Lesson Learned (See Exhibit A): It snowed earlier this week and I had told the girls that we’d play in the snow as I shoveled the driveway. I’d found Millie’s snow pants but I couldn’t find some to fit Laney and, knowing that everything comes in two these days to satisfy them both, I decided that I needed a creative solution to the problem. Grabbing the plastic wrap I proceeded to wrap the pieces and fasten them to Laney’s legs and lower torso with tape. It was a success and I laughed my ass off at how much of a redneck I was. We had fun in the snow and Laney kept dry despite her spastic snow angels. Well, Jenny comes home and I’m telling her what I did and “how silly is that” and I’m doing something as she goes downstairs. Within minutes she brought up a bag with mittens and gloves and snow pants. Lesson: know when to get creative and when to use what’s already there.

B

You know how some kids get attached to their blankets and protest when you wash them because they like the, ummm, funky smell they tend to get after after they've been dragged around for a few days? Well, Laney is kind of the opposite of that. Yes, she's attached to her blanket (Ye-ow B) and yes, she protests when I wash it, but only because I can't wash it fast enough. She wants that fresh from the the dryer smell all the time. I guess I shouldn't complain about her cleanliness fetish, but it is kind of annoying. She has 2 yellow bs and 2 pink ones. Lately only the yellow ones will do (Ye-oww b, Ye-oww b) and I can't wash them often enough. So I've been tricking her... Sometimes I just put one in the dryer and then let her see me get it out and that is enough to appease her. Next I'll be telling you I rubbed it with a dryer sheet for a minute to make it smell fresher. Hmmm, not a bad idea!

This morning

Millie got in bed with me and said the following:

Mom, I can't wait for my new teeth to grow bigger so then I can call them my Champion Chompers.

(!)

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a great weekend with family and friends. We divided our T-day between the Bullough/Fawcetts and the McDonoughs. I won a game of Apples to Apples because I'm amazing. Rematch at Christmas? Well sure! If you can stand the humiliation. Sarah, Brandon and Elliot were in town so we were able to spend a bit of time with them. Oh, and I ate my weight in pie, of course.

Grandpa Frank with a lap full of Zay and Millie

Laney and Elliot. It's hard to see, but I think E's hair is messed up from Laney putting clementine wedges on his head.

Elliot wasn' t sure he wanted to spend time at our house until he saw our vacuum.

b, and Elliot

Sarah and her Grandpa's cowboy boots. If we were, say, having an awesome shoe contest she would totally win.