Our night of culture!

One of our Christmas presents finally happened last night. We went for a night at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake. The building itself is quite impressive and what a fantastic auditorium to listen to the sounds of ...Brian Regan! I know, our form of culture is a comedian, but let's applaud a clean, fun and talented man! We love him! Only Max missed out, but Ellie believes he got a great consultation prize, cousin Emily to babysit!

FINALLY!!!!

Sunday morning we woke up to our first significant snowfall! Late, 1 o'clock church gave us the morning to play, shovel and clear!

Zane's contribution - throwing snow off the deck...

onto Ellie below!

Tanner shoveling the drive...

while Porter does it the fun way!

Max finally got to wear his new boots & coat and spent 2 hours outside, he loved it!

We even built our cute snowman!

Now you can see how miniature it was! A good time was had by all & we say, bring it, we want more!

the rest of her day...

Her family party was at Provo Beach Resort. We took our Bajio dinner over there and then blew our money on arcade games for an hour. That is Max in the background with a dinosaur game.

The laser room is pretty cool.

The gang at play.

Then we picked up Savannah and went to the BYU Women's basketball game. Our friend Alexis plays and we sat with Steve & Corbin. When asked that morning what was her favorite sport, Ellie replied basketball. (She played in her first game last weekend.)

The girls found Whitney at the game too.

To end her birthday she finally opened presents at 9pm. Mark met us at the game so that was the first time we were all together! Crazy days!

Ellie is 9!

Ellie's morning was a bit quiet with everyone off to school & meetings before she awoke, so it was the kids at school that brought the party to life. They surrounded her and swayed and sang this African chant while dropping rice & beans into her cup and giving her birthday wishes in her ear. It was very cute and Swahili in song is beautiful!

Max & I brought Ellie her favorite empanadas and had lunch in the cafeteria, elementary style! Leah was so cute in this picture!

Phoebe, Ellie, Savannah & Summer eating together.

After school Ellie had Phoebe come over to play. She is showing off her bucky balls that she got from Grammy, the one present she opened this morning.

We had after school snack black bottom cupcakes for her birthday, notice the animal print candles, so cute!

December Traditions

Ellie & I went to see the Nutcracker, not once, but twice. Savannah danced in one and the other was our girl outing with the other Openshaw cousins.

Our neighbor gifts were straight from my childhood this year, a peppermint straw trick learned in Girl Scouts.

Our family nativity night was a fantastic success this year. Phoebe, Ellie & Baden performed their "No L" song.

Max as a little shepherd boy.

Ellie took the lead as Mary.

Jace & Tanner in fantastic threads!

Zane, Bryce & Porter as sheiks, I think?

Mark & I dressed in the finest Israeli attire!

Max was not afraid of Santa at all, especially since he gave out candy canes.

Ellie helping him to see the big guy!

Our night to see the lights was a bit different this year.

First of all it was in Provo at the shops at Riverwoods.

Second, llamas were included!

Third we went on a carriage ride and we missed the Woolfs & the Lewises, but it was still fun!

A few of my favorite shots of the fun!

Our own little piece of heaven for an afternoon! It was worth the walk, right kids?

The gang awaiting their Disneyland departure, sadly we bowed out.

Grammy with Sydney, Ty & Ellie.

Max throwing sand or rocks or shells and making a splash.

And evidence that Porter was pooped on while laying at the beach! You go seagulls!

A quick trip to California!

You can do a lot in 2 days in sunny southern California. We had day one at the San Diego Zoo, with the rest of the world's population!

Great place for Max...

and Libby with her mom.

Grammy was our hostess who always shows us a great time!

And did we say she provides great picnic lunches!

It was unbelievable weather and a lot of fun despite the crowds.

Day 2 we spent hanging out at the Ritz.

This was their gingerbread display with the coolest candy ocean.

Max must have learned from Libby to touch it!

Porter even relaxed at the look out bar ...

OK, so did Summer & Tanner & they decided not to buy the $15 hot chocolate since it was 70 degrees anyway!

Talk about a great view!

And who can count the times that you swim in December at the beach? Gorgeous!