Happy Birthday Alli!

Alli is TWELVE! She thought this day would never come! She got to get her ears pierced, play in a YW Basketball Game, have a party with nine of her closest friends, AND get a room make-over! We surprised her with the room re-do. Her birthday was on Saturday, so Friday when she came home from school I met her at the door. (I really wanted to surprise her so I had to quickly hatch a plan and all I could think of was...) I started getting after her for leaving for school with her room in such a mess! I listed off a few things I had found and told her to head on up there right now and take care of it. I followed her up the stairs and she got to the door of her room and just stood there with her mouth open, eyes huge! WE GOT HER! She had no idea (for once) and was thrilled with how cute her room was. Thanks to our awesome Aunt Kanani and Uncle Adam for helping us out with the vinyl! Hooray for vinyl--it really made the room! What a happy birthday! We love you Alli!

Love is in the Air!

You can always count on Alli to do something thoughtful. She is our tenderhearted girl. Jeff took me out for Valentines last night--we like to celebrate Valentine's Day either at home or on a different day then the rest of the world. (I know it's weird but we try to avoid the crowd, etc.) So last night was our only free night between now and Valentine's...Jeff came home with a dozen red roses and we went to Carrabas for some tastey dinner. When we came home what to our wondering eyes did appear, but hearts everywhere in our room and bathroom! Alli had enlisted Lindsay and they had "Heart Attacked" us! So cute!

Christmas Morning!

Don't you love the anticipation, mixed with sleep, in their eyes?


My favorite thing to see is the first reaction to their gifts! This was a great year!








We had a fun relaxing morning at home then headed to Grandma and Grandpa B's for a fabulous Christmas Brunch and more Christmas fun. Then off the Grandma and Grandpa C's for an awesome Christmas Dinner and still more Christmas fun. What a great way to celebrate Christmas--with the ones we love!

Disneyland was Electric!

I just ran across this in our picture file. What a fun time we had together at Disneyland!

Here Comes the Bride!

It's amazing what I find on my camera! I had no idea these pictures were taken, but it looks like Lindsay had her "Bridals" taken recently! She is wearing the wedding dress that Grandma Clarke made for Lauren's 5th birthday. (Grandma made Alli a wedding dress earlier that same year and Lauren was pretty jealous! She wanted one, too, when her birthday came around! Grandma is awesome!) Lindsay had been asking for a veil for her "bride dress," so I think we made one for her that day, and Alli got busy with the photo documentation! I'm so glad she did! These are pretty cute!

Christmas Eve Snowflakes

Alli and her friend Cora had so much fun after the snow on Christmas Eve, when they realized how big the snowflakes were! It was really neat that they could see each individual snow flake! Beautiful!

Dinner in Zarahemla

Every year at Christmas our family has "Dinner at Bethlehem." We dress up in our sheets to look the part and light our candles and eat kebabs, cheese, olives, grapes, pitas, baklava, etc. It's a fun tradition that helps us pause and remember the real meaning of Christmas. This year we thought it would be fun to invite our Goodman cousins and have a Zarahemla Christmas Eve Dinner. It was amazing! It was light outside, even though it was night! We were so excited that Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy was fulfilled! "And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness..." Helaman 14:3


Our Goodman cousins are always good sports! Thanks for playing along, guys!


Our menu consisted of tamales, quesadillas, chips and salsa, fresh fruit, and "fizzy water." (We figured that Zarahemla was sort of near Mexico--right?)


Aunt Kanani and Jake--washing up at the local "well."


Alli really got into the costuming--nice headdress!


Brian, Tyler, and Calvin eating yummy Zarahemla food.


Lauren looking very Nephite-ish


Lindsay and Jenny--cutest little Nephites!