Loot pictures!

 Taylor's gifts were great this year!  He always strives to give me a great gift, so this year I was really sneaky and got him an ipad!  He has mentioned wanting one many times, but I always said we didn't need more electronic devices. 

 Taylor, of course, really spoiled me!  He got me tickets for Time Out for Women in Layton and then Kim and Kody went and bought me tons of clothes and a purse from him.  I got clothes and books and new serving bowls from Mom.  She also gave me new plates early so I could use them for Thanksgiving and Christmas parties.

 Spencer scored awesome toys and clothes! 

 Serena wearing a new outfit from Grandma Hoppie and posing with her toys.

 Carter, man he looks grown up!  Everyone knows him well and he got lots of sports related fun.

Aleeya was given great games and crafts and clothes!

Christmas 2012-in Logan

 Serena and Carter by the MOUNTAIN of presents.  It literally took two hours to open all of the gifts.

Kody was the official photographer, so I need to get the pictures from Mom's camera.

Christmas 2012-at home

 Serena opening her Santa gift-Tinkerbell roller skates!

 Carter thrilled with his Santa gift-Pokeman cards!

 Spencer had fun opening presents, with lots of assistance from his sisters!

Aleeya LOVES her Barbie and the Popstar DVD and she also got the Barbie Doll.

Dearden Christmas Party

 At the annual Dearden Extended Family Christmas Party, the children received a visit from Santa.  Grandma Dear, with the help of elves (this year Camille), gets each of the children really nice presents.  Carter got a hot wheels racer ramp.

 Serena got a magnetic dress-up doll.

 Aleeya got a little peoples car.

Spencer got a little people helicopter.

Carter's Christmas Piano Recital

 Carter played "Up On the House Top" and we played the duet "Dance of the Reed Flutes" by Tchaikovsky.

Brooke Barker his piano teacher.

Layton Jr. Jazz

Beginning a game with a jump ball. 12/15/12

Drills during practice. 10/13/12

 12/01/12

 12/01/12

12/01/12

Our traditional Polar Express

Taylor joined us this year as we made the Front Runner into the Polar Express.  We had Hot Chocolate and cookies, read the Polar Express Book and sang a few songs.

 The highlight is meeting Santa and getting our bells to show we "believe."

Ward Christmas Party

Our ward had a fabulous Christmas party: dinner, live band entertainment, crafts and games for the children, family pictures, and Santa. In the family picture above, Carter is pretending to be Scrooge.

Spencer loved having Taylor lift him up to touch the basketball net.

Serena and Aleeya visiting with Santa.

 The Primary children sang a song.

 

National Math Test

NDPA participated in a National Math test and Carter received Honorable Mention.  The artwork on the certificate provided by him.

Temple Square Lights

We went on the perfect night to see the lights at Temple Square.  The weather was nice for November.

 Carter has taught Aleeya the best way to pose for a picture-with the Ute symbol.

 Such love!

 Handsome husband and father!

Spencer and the stroller didn't make any shots, I need to work on that!

Thanksgiving

 We got new glasses so we could have a fancy table setting for Thanksgiving.  Carter filled them with different amounts of water and made an instrument.

As a surprise, Serena set the table for me.  I was so impressed that she knew how to put it together correctly.

Layton Lights Before Christmas!

 We have made it a traditon to go to the Layton Lighting Ceremony.  We enjoy school choirs singing at the High School and then walk over to the park.  I noticed the tent set up and figured that was were Santa was located, so we headed down that way for the count down.  After the count down and the lights went on, we were the first in line for Santa! Awesome! 

Over the course of the holiday season we drove through the lights seven times.