Merry Christmas 07'

Christmas seems like an event that lasts about the whole month of December. But, we look forward to it all year and are sad when it leaves. This year some highlights were doing the nativity @ the Rasmussen's and attempting it during Kelly's traditional "reverent" Christmas program. (A thing of the past now that there are 7 grandkids)--Christmas trees, Blakely had her very own, Christmas morning--and Abby's favorite part being the gum and cheetos in her stocking. And of course, the usual gatherings w/ family while we make new memories and see emotions rise w/ special gifts. (grandma's restored rocking chair)

Quick trip to Vegas

Happy birthday dear, I want to take you to Las Vegas for your birthday. It will be great, and by the way, BYU just happens to be playing in the Vegas bowl game, so can we go? We headed down after the scariest storm of the year, driving on pins and needles seeing wrecks everywhere. Dec 20-22nd was a fun trip. We stayed at the Golden Nugget and it had a great pool. It had an aquarium w/ sharks-fish right in the pool w/ a waterslide going through the middle of the aquarium. We figured out some suits and had a great time there. After the very miraculous blocked field goal, we headed to the Cheese Cake Factory in Caesers Palace w/ Bry's siblings. Vegas is cold in December.

Blakely's preschool program

Blakely has a darling preschool class and they did an outstanding job on their Christmas program this year. They sand their hearts our and did chimes and actions! She loves that kind of stuff! Here we try and get a cute pic of grandma and grandpa Sheppard w/ all their grandkids.

Santa

It was nice this year when both of our kids were not afraid of Santa. The Sheppard/Lawrence party always has a fun Santa and Blakely asked for a Polly Pocket and Abby a frog. At the Rasmussen's it was fun to see uncle Andrew all dressed in red. The girls caught on after awhile, but the answers stayed the same.

1st of December activities

We reserved a condo @ the Marriott in Park City the first week of December. It was a lot of fun. We had intended on snowmobiling, but there was not enough to hit the trails. Instead we had a great time swimming at the pool, playing on main street, and visiting the creches in Midway. Our kids even made an article for Meridian magazine. Grandma Lou Lou took the kids to the heber creeper and the burger keen w/the trains.

A Wedding, A baby, Thanksgiving dinner, and an announcement

On November 17th, Karri and Aram had Marshall, cousin Deborah and Chad got married and we had a great memory dancing the night away at Cactus and Tropicals... and I had to show this impressive pic of all my male relations on the Sheppard side, most of which I don't see enough. Then a few days later we enjoyed a great feast at Ellen and Brandon Rasmussen's home where it really was a beautiful dinner. Blakely worked hard to prepare mashed potatoes and veggies w/ mom and dad in the kitchen... and we proclaimed that we were thankful to be expecting baby number 3... which will be due June 25th.

Baby Marshall Joseph Sloan

Marshall Joseph Sloan arrived on November 17th... and we were so happy to see him. He is our cousin, son of Aram and Karri (Sheppard) Sloan. He now makes it 4 boys and that means the girls are out-numbered! Congrats guys!!!

November activities

Our good friends the Ryans invited us to Westgate @ the Canyons and we had fun swimming and girls of course had to enjoy the huge bath. Dylan's birthday party was lots of fun as we went to about 5 different playgrounds scattered around Daybreak, where they now live. And, of course mom got the girls all dressed up to go get their pics taken, and then couldn't get an appointment anywhere last minute... so, we resorted to the yard. Pretty cute girls!

Happy Halloween

Halloween was fun, uncle Dan and aunt Bex came tricker-treating w/ us and both grandma Mary and Lou Lou came by to say hi... Blakely was a silly clown and decided she wanted to wear the costume I wore when I was her age... that my mom made for us girls.

"Old Misses Witch"

The Rasmussen family has many great traditions which usually revolve around holidays. Around Halloween they have the pumpkin carving, halloween singing, home-made rootbeer and sloppy joes... and famous favorites that my husband loves to jam out to "old misses which" and "whose behind this false face". It's a lot of fun and we appreciate their efforts to always involve us and carry on great traditions.

October 07... Fall stuff

Blakely's soccer team chowing down on oranges... some of those games got might cold. Who would have thought that a few friends from high school could have so many kids? Erin Call Ruy hosted our annual halloween party. We are getting big. We might have to do it at a church gym in the future. Blakely scoping out a pumpkin at Grandma and Grandpa's pumpkin patch. Gardiner village--witches are so fun. Here were went w/ Emma and Dylan (cousins)... Say cheese... The girls looking awfully cute on our front porch.