Family Fun

Marie and Tessa wearing Valentine's Day PJ's and ALL their hair bows from Grandma Jane.

Little Miss Gracie.

She is just so small and delicate.

The kids work on an art project with James.

Family Home Evening

James: Girls, did you know that President Hinckley died?
Marie: Who killed him?

---

James: We should help everyone.
Marie: Except for Spanish people because we can't understand what they want.

Party Time

Friday was a pretty fun day. While Marie was away at a birthday party, Tessa and Ben had some friends over for their own party. Then, James crashed the scene by coming home early.

---

A pretty profile that looks a lot like her mother's at that age. (And no, she is not wearing makeup.)

Ben tries to make fishy lips.

Daddy immediately tackled Ben.

Marie and Tessa pose in front of a picture that they both helped color.

Tessa squeezes frosting onto a sugar cookie.

Ben didn't want pink frosting on his cookie.

Marie talks to Grace in the "girls" bedroom.

Tessa's Question

A few days ago Tess pointed to a placemat with all the presidents of the United States and asked, "Which one is Mitt Romney?"

Then, referring to the "thee, thou, thine" language found in the scriptures, Tessa asked the following question last night:

"Mom, why do people in the scriptures use glorious words?" She is so sensitive to the Spirit. She also told me that she often hears someone talking to her but that she doesn't know if it is Jesus.

Little Picaso

This is Marie's gallery--up on top of her bed where Ben can't rip down her art. She is now running out of wall space and wants to put some of the furniture in Ben's room. In the mean time, however, she is taping new pictures over older ones.

Pretty in Pink

Allie and Grace pose just after arriving home from church. The three-hour block passed remarkably fast. (Ben and Grace have nasty colds, and I told James I wasn't waking them up to get them to 8:30 AM church. We never got there until well after Sacrament meeting was over.)

A Cute Moment in the Kitchen

What can I say about our sweet, little Grace Renee?

Cozy Winter Morning

Tessa enjoys warm pajamas and a blanket. (Marie, away at school, misses the leisurely mornings.)

Ben thoroughly enjoys his peanutbutter sandwhich.

Goldilocks and goldfish.

Winter Festival

The weather today was beautiful, and there was a multi-cultural fair at the clubhouse.

---

Marie got African face paint.

Tessa wanted to be a butterfly.

Marie, the leopard.

Butterfly and Leopard.

The kids watched a group of Irish dancers. Why don't they move their arms?

Tessa in a jumping castle.

Friday Night at the Bowling Alley

Mommy helps Ben roll the bowling ball.

Marie just before her turn.

James points to the score board.

Tessa couldn't contain her excitment when a couple pins were knocked over.

Waiting for the balls to come back.

Daddy helping Tess get her ball rolling.

" Yea!" (Running to get a second ball)

Ben the Accupuncturist

Ben punctures a clementine with crayons.

Grace's New Earrings

I decided that since Grace doesn't have enough hair for clips, she needed something else to help her look feminine.

Tessa Feeds Grace

Finally a little investment that is starting to pay off!

Smooth Criminal

Ben came into the kitchen wearing this outfit and started dancing. All it needed was the music.

Then and Now

This was then, early 2004: Marie conspires with Tessa, a willing accomplice, to have a little fun in the kitchen. Shortly after this incident, locks appeared on pantry doors.

Fast forward to now, late 2007. Then, Marie seemed motivated by mischief; now, Ben is all about the food. Usually the first one up these days, Ben tried to hit mom and dad for a handout. Feeling that all was secure, we slumbered on...unaware that a box of pumpkin bread mix, lying helpless on the counter, would be his victim.

The scene of the crime.

Sorry Lori, at least Ben got to enjoy your Christmas gift.

Is Grace the last, best hope for mankind? Or is it just a matter of time...

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas tree in the early hours of morning.

Tessa tries out her new electric tooth brush.

Ben couldn't believe his good forune with a "woo woo" set.

Ave Maria!

Ben was a camel in the nativity.

He was also a shepherd.

Tess as a wisewoman.

Marie in front of our friends' Christmas tree.

Mommy and Grace.

Grace Renee.

The kids before the Christmas Eve party.

Happy Grace.

We are finally getting a neighbor on the lot next to us. Ben loves to watch the tractor.

This was our latest project in an attempt to put up more pictures of Jesus and the temple. But as you cannot afford those pictures (and pay tithing), we had to come up with our own. James worked for two solid days to write a program in MATLAB to antique the picture that we took coming home from our Santa Barbara trip. It came out beautifully. [James' clarification: It took me two days to figure out that I couldn't create the effect I wanted with other people's software, so I ended up writing it myself in about about five minutes.]

Ben and James prepare twice-baked potatoes. This is Ben pulling the sword from the stone.

What a handsome guy! I told James for one of my presents this year, I wanted him to go get a real hair cut so that I could look at him without staring at the mistakes I make when I cut his hair.

This is what my dad calls "violence on the screen." Notice the pink eye. Last night I thought I was having a heart attack. After experiencing sharp chest pains, sweating, chills, racing heart, and having nearly passed out, I had James call 911. My vitals were great and my heart, according to paramedics, looked like it belonged to a marathon runner. Ha! They also said that an infected eye affects all parts of the body, and it is not uncommon for conjunctivitus to cause vomiting, fever, and strong heart pains. Scariest thing since my miscarriage last year. We're glad Christmas wasn't spent in the hospital.