Catching Up: Part Dos

Getting ready for Christmas came a little later than in past years because of our trip to St. George. The kids were pretty anxious when we finally did dig out the Christmas boxes and put up the tree.

This year I got my way again with an open, untrimmed, candlestick style fir (aka, the Charlie Brown variety), despite Noble's protestations. (He wanted a big fat one this year.) I can't help it. I just love a natural-looking tree. (Plus, they last longer when they are un-trimmed.)

It's a beaut!

Here's Abner meeting Santa at the ward Christmas party!

And........more basketball. It seems like this is all we have been doing for the past couple of months. Jess has been playing point guard for the Lady Miners. They are much younger than just about every Sophomore team they have played in preseason action (Bingham's system fills the Sophomore roster with freshmen while every other team they've played plays all their sophomores on the Sophomore team - no matter if those girls also play JV and Varsity.) Consequently, our girls have had a tough time in the preseason. They won their first game the Friday before Christmas, and you would have thought they had just won the world championship. They were SO excited. Jessie is learning a lot about basketball, team dynamics, demanding coaches...but mostly she's learning a lot about herself.

Jess isn't the only one playing basketball. Tillman has been having a good season so far. His team has been wracking up the wins. Grace's team scored their first win the Saturday before Christmas. Grace was beside herself with excitement. Apparently we need to remember to take some pictures at those Jr. Jazz games too. Somehow I don't have any yet. (note to self)

We  got our first really good snow storm and the kids were all over that.

The little brothers suited up and ready to go.

DSCN5849 from Angie Melton on Vimeo.

 A blurry Tillman launching off the backyard sledding hill jump.

Noble and his buddies (along with a very eager Sully) spent an entire day building this GIANT snow cave in our front yard. (It was way bigger than it looks in this picture.)

After which, Noble served dinner to the little boys inside. Noble had great plans to sleep in it, but that didn't work out before the weather warmed and the snow cave collapsed. Another time, Noble.