dressed up for church

 

carter family christmas party 2012

it's not christmas until we have the carter family party and the acting out of the nativity.

clara was a very reluctant angel this year.

amelia was a very excited shepherd.

 

isaac played a most believable wiseman

and jared was a very sweet sheep

the whole gang dressed up

amelia's birthday #7

on december 21st, we celebrated amelia's 7th birthday!  she had made a list of all the things she wanted to do.  waking up still sick was not on her list, but that is what occured.  but we tried to make the best of it.

can't believe this was us 6 years ago (on amelia's 1st birthday).  my kids are getting too big, too fast!

first up was kneaders french toast and hot chocolate for breakfast with mom and dad.

then after a little shopping for new snow boots and a new coat, we were back at home and amelia took a long nap (like 5 hours long).  i woke her up to open some presents and have cake and ice cream.

with her new leappad explorer

presents from grandma and grandpa carter

 

 

getting ready to blow out the candles. 

amelia and clara try on their new outfits

i love my amelia.  she is such a kind and caring little girl.  she is full of love and has great artistic abilities!

kids christmas sing 2012

isaac singing...

jared singing

amelia singing

motab christmas concert with tom brokaw and alphie boe

saturday night, nathan and i went with another couple to the christmas concert at temple square.  it was quite an enjoyable concert and we had fun on our date.

although it was quite cold outside, the views of the temple from the conference center were amazing.

really wish this picture was more clear.... bummer!

grandma carter's work christmas party

saturday morning we went to grandma carter's work christmas party at hollywood connection.  the kids always have a great time.  this year, santa clause was there and the kids all got to let him know what they wanted for christmas.

amelia kept forgetting what she wanted for christmas and i had to keep reminding her.

 

isaac thought he was a little too cool for sitting on santa's lap.

jared was pretty sure he was too old to sit on santa's lap, but i made him anyway.

clara refused to sit on santa's lap or to even look at him.

all of us except dad.

then while the older kids watched a magic show, nathan and i took clara on a couple of rides.  she wasn't sure about them at first but warmed up quickly.

and proof that nathan was with us (and I got half a smile!!!)

before going to watch "wreck it ralph" (which was a really cute show) all of the kids and nathan jumped on one final ride.

it was a fun morning!

just a short train ride from here

this past saturday, the utah transit authority was offering free rides (with a canned food donation) on their front-runner south line.  so we met up with pa at the american fork station and rode the train to provo.  we had planned to get off the train in provo and walk over to the mall, but the line to get back on the train was really long.  the weather was quite cold so we just decided to stay on the train and ride back to af.

the train was over-full so most of our group stood the whole time.  no one looks too thrilled in this picture, but everyone did seem to enjoy the ride.

clara and i on the train.  nathan was with us, but i don't have a picture to prove it.