Christmas 2008

Sorry these pictures uploaded in reverse order. This is our family seeing the Christmas lights at the Oakland Temple (we drove to California two days after Christmas). They were gorgeous!

Jordan, Bryce, and Matthew enjoying a magical Star Wars action figure moment Christmas morning.

Rachel wasn't quite sure what to think, but quickly caught on to the excitement of her first Cabbage Patch Doll.

Notice the sheer elation in Matthew's eyes-- Santa brought him a GameCube with Zelda Windwaker and Lego Star Wars games!

Elizabeth received a (finally) completed wooden dollhouse from her parents, plus furniture and accessories from Santa. Brent had been working on building the dollhouse off and on since her birthday in February! Sarah modge-podged on cute scrapbook papers that Elizabeth picked out. It's adorable!

Emma finally told Santa she wanted a train for Christmas. This is right up her alley.

The kids anxiously awaiting the moment they are allowed to come downstairs for their first peek Christmas morning!

Christmas Eve nativity play

Inside the stable at the living nativity

A list of some of our favorite family Christmas traditions:

* Putting up the tree and decorations while Manheim Steamroller Christmas music plays in the background

* Seeing the lights on Temple Square

*Christmas parties with family and friends

*Christmas concerts

* Singing with the ward choir

* Ward Christmas parties

* Christmas service projects

* Making plenty of hot wassail

* Making and sharing lots of Christmas goodies. This year, Matthew and Elizabeth each selected a new recipe to try together, and they turned out great! Matthew's was Candy Cane Coffee Cake, and Elizabeth's was Fudge-Topped Shortbread (both from Taste of Home).

* Driving around to see beautiful Christmas lights in the surrounding area, especially the Spanish Fork Festival of Lights and Salem Pond Town. This is especially appealing to Mom and Dad since we can entertain our kids without having to get them out of the car!

* Going to the Living Nativity in Alpine (it's called A Step Back in Time Living Nativity). This is probably the most meaningful Christmas tradition we have. It may be nice for our children to visit Santa each year, but much more important for them to visit a "real" baby Jesus in a stable!

* Acting out the Christmas story from the Bible on Christmas Eve, and watching the church's short film, The Nativity.

Halloween 2008

The yellow "pumpkin" was the only pumpkin that actually grew in our garden, even with two giant pumpkin plants! We were finally forced to pick it green once the garden froze, and it eventually turned yellow.

Sweet little Rachel was our ladybug. I didn't get around to making antennae.

Elizabeth wore her ballet costume from dance.

Emma, forever dressing up, looked natural as Snow White. She also had a red cape.

Matthew wearing his $2 Lego costume. We used leftover Pinewood Derby car spray paint, a Costco diaper box, deli salad tubs (the only cost), and lost of duct tape. Actually, this was really Brent's masterpiece. He has quite the knack for creative projects like this.

Matthew's Baptism (finally)

OK, so I realize I'm slipping further and further behind in my blog posts. But I still thought this would be great to share, especially with those of you who couldn't attend Matthew's baptism. It was the perfect day (other than my being deathly ill with bronchitis and pleurisy). Both sets of grandparents were there-- G&G Aaron came all the way from California-- as well as lots of other family and friends. Thanks to those of you who made the effort to come support Matthew on his special day! Grandpa Wilson gave a talk on baptism, and Grandma Aaron spoke on the Holy Ghost. All the Primary-age cousins sang a special musical number with Matthew-- "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". I first heard this song about 15 years ago (I don't remember where), and it was one of those songs that touched me so deeply that it never completely left me. Then I found it again about 6 years ago, and was delighted when it was selected as one of the songs for the 2008 Primary theme. I knew this was the perfect song to be sung at Matthew's baptism. As a bonus, the kids already knew it from singing it in Primary! It was absolutely amazing to listen to. You had to be there!

Afterwards, we had a brunch at our house with everyone, which was great. Later that afternoon, we went bowling and for dinner at Brick Oven. I am so pleased with Matthew and how his faith and testimony have grown.

Rachel turns 1

Well, actually Rachel is now 14 months, but better late then never. She was too cute on her birthday to not share the photos with everyone. Her cake is supposed to be a beehive, with bumblebee cupcakes.

All the Wilson cousins were able to be there-- amazing!

Rachel was a little timid about "diving in" to the piece of cake we gave her. The damage wasn't too bad, but she still got to get a bath afterwards.

Pinewood Derby

Matthew: I turned 8 years old, and was in the Pinewood Derby. I got a third place trophy with my green Wasp car I made. I've only got three more tracks to fill in before I get my bobcat badge. After that, I can work on my Wolf. I LOVE SCOUTS!

Matthew's 8th Birthday

Matthew is finally eight years old! In his own words: "It was one of the best birthdays ever!"
Matthew received new scriptures for this special birthday from G&G Wilson.
Here is Matthew with his presents from Mom and Dad: Mars Mission Legos and the board game "Settlers of Zarahemla".

Halloween Party

Brent and I went to a couples Halloween Party Friday night. We hadn't dressed up in costumes for years! Brent was "evening vampire" and I was "rockin' polka dot girl". At least that's what the costumes were called on the packages. It was so much fun.