Jack's Last Basketball Game

JACK'S LAST BASKETBALL GAME
It's been a fun first season of basketball for Jack.  I think he was ready for it to be done though :).  He played hard and seemed to have a little fun once in a while too :).  I loved watching him skip around.  He was actually really good at defense and stopped the other team on SEVERAL occasions from scoring.  So that was pretty awesome.  I don't think he really ever WANTED the ball.  He was a little shy with it.  But it really was fun to watch!  I loved his effort.  And seriously, look how adorable he is!  I keep wondering if he will choose to do this again.  I hope we didn't start him too soon.  12-15-18

Erika 3rd Grade Christmas Concert

ERIKA'S 3rd GRADE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Nate was scheduled to work an overtime shift on Thursday afternoon so we knew he was not going to make it to the parent performance of Erika's program.  So we snuck in on the school one in the morning!  Ended up being the perfect idea!  I got to sit by Emily, we could see the kids really well, because the rest of the school was sitting on the floor.  Molly was still in a decent mood, or at least still in her easily persuaded with candy mood, so she was reasonable.  The only bad thing was I forgot my camera.  But that was okay because I was still planning on coming back to the afternoon performance.  Erika looked so cute up there on the back row!  I can't believe how much that girl has grown and changed even just in the last year or so.  She was so serious through the whole thing- barely cracked a smile :)- she takes those things very seriously that's for sure.  But it was so fun to watch her.  She got to play a kazoo in one song as a special part, and then also was chosen to play the bells in another song!  She did so well!  We were so proud!  I did end up catching most of the parent program- Molly had been grumpy so I put her in bed and just waited for Charity and Kelly to get home so I could go by myself, with my camera.  I did catch most of it.  It was a lot of fun to see- I LOVED the last song, brought tears to my eyes!  12-13-18

Grandma and Simon Photo Shoot

MOM AND SIMON PICTURES
My mom asked me to take some picture of them for their Christmas card and I was super flattered until she mentioned that she didn't want them to look "too professional" well, she came to the right place I guess- because I'm definitely not a professional.  She had no idea where she wanted to take them, so I took them down to the creek to see if there was anything down there.  We did find a nice spot, and took a few pictures there.  Then I remembered my portrait lens!  So I ran back up the stairs, got my camera bag and ran back down to them, being very careful on the steps because I did have my camera in my hand, but of course, on the second to last step- I totally cartoon slipped, with my foot out from under me, landed on my butt/back/elbos/wrist, and totally biffed it!  It was so lame!  And kind of embarrassing.  Luckily I saved my camera.  So we just carried on and took a few more pictures.  We came inside and looked at them on my laptop and I thought they turned out really good!  I was pretty proud of them.  WE ordered some cards for her and that was that.  12-10-18

Putting up Christmas

PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS
We had our traditional FHE of putting up the tree!  My pencil tree had come earlier that day so I put it up before everyone got home as well as all the nativities.  But once everyone was home, we drove over to Harmons and bought our real tree :).  It was a fun night, putting all the decorations on it.  I love talking about all our memories and hearing everyone talk about past Christmases.  So we put the real tree in the family room and it's SO NICE to not have it crammed into the living room.  And it's fun to have Christmas throughout the house this year.  Molly seemed to get into things and it seemed like she remembered last year a little bit!  So that was fun.  I had Nate be our camera guy :).  Good times.  Christmas can start now!  12-3-18

"First Christmas" ornaments from Grandma Hatch

Molly's animal mobile one from last year!

I'm pretty sure Charity was having a rough night, that night.  Not in the best mood, but look how well she fakes it for the camera!  poor girl.

Nate's always the camera man for this, so it's the one time of the year we see mom :).  I do exist!

Poor Brad was really sick that day!  Stayed home from school and everything!  Poor kid!  I feel bad that we didn't get to wait til he was feeling good.  But look at him!  Such a trooper.  The pictures of him sleeping on the couch in the middle of all the mess didn't make the cut apparently.

Noah's year to put on the angel!  I wonder if Nate will be able to lift him up the next time he does it??

And the holiday specs!  The Cutlers gave us some new ones this year!  So fun!  

This is Luke trying to put the angel on my tall tree :).  Hilarious!