Picture a Christmas

So many beautiful things happened this weekend, I'm determined even a work filled Monday that started out with finding Audrey's detached extension lying in a pool of milk beside her bed--milk that should have been in her belly--will not ruin the warmth in my heart.

Just one example: Came home last night from singing at a fireside performance to this sweet sight. They've been having little sleepovers lately, and even when I have to hush their conspiratorial giggles long after bedtime, I can't help smiling through my stern mom voice.  

Audrey was a shepherd in a little Christmas production at church.

"Picture a stable in Judea.

Picture a sacred, silent night.

And can you hear The angels near

And see the star so bright?

Picture the kind and gentle Joseph.

Picture the mother, Mary, fair.

And can you see So rev'rently

The shepherds kneeling there?

Picture the little baby Jesus.

Think of his life and words so dear.

Sing praise to him; Remember him,

As you picture Christmas this year."

Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, (c) 1983 IRI

We visited the beautiful Temple Square Christmas lights display and saw this gorgeous tree inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  We focused on serving and helping others this season, and it lent a beautiful spirit to the holiday.  So much beauty around us in so many ways, and so much to be thankful for this Christmas.

Autumn Gold

Playtime after church on a gorgeous autumn day

My tooth is wiggly!

First Day of Kindergarten!

The art critic in me swooned when I saw Audrey's elegant-lined mermaid from a painting birthday party. They'd told her to paint what she loves, and the first thing she painted was me all in red and yellow and purple, and then she painted a mermaid.

Star of the Week at kindergarten

                                                                After school treat at the Sip N Spot!

School Picture Day

Blue Pancake Day, aka the BYU Homecoming Parade!

Hiking Y Mountain to help light it for Homecoming!!

Surveying the vistas!

Audrey lost her first tooth!  Tooth Fairy brought her a princess dress for her baby doll.

It had been wiggly for a couple of weeks,and when it finally came out she said, "That tooth was in my mouth for like a million years!" 

Tooth Fairy runs on a fairly unorthodox schedule around our house, but when she finally comes, she sure brings the smiles.  

Fun at the Harvest Festivals

This turkey leg was almost as big as her head!
Smiling so wide to see her eat this difficult food with ease.

Feeling proud after: "Mom, this rope bridge is really hard but I'm not giving up!"

                      The "Miracle Happy Dress" by Audrey
"This is Audrey. Audrey loves miracles.  She has a miracle dress.  On her dress is a picture of her cliff diving and riding in a boat made out of a trash can.  She's one of the best jumpers in the world.  She has some training.  Her dress also has smiley faces because they make her happy, and potion curls to help kids who are sick get better."

Trick or Treating on Halloween
 at Daddy's Work

  

In the same dress big sister wore many years ago at her uncle's wedding.

 Thank you so much for the package with the pretty tutu, hair flower and running bib, Valerie!  Val lives in Washington state and runs in honor Audrey with the IRUN4Michael program, where kids with big medical challenges provide motivation and runners dedicate their miles to a child.  She is a total sweetheart who has overcome huge hurdles in her own life, and we hope to meet her in person some day.

 She loved her surprise date with me to watch the high school's production of The Little Mermaid and have pizza lunch, now ready for parent teacher conference dressed in gold from head to toe and all around and in her heart.

 Fun on Thanksgiving Day at Grandma's House!

Summer Breeze Makes me Feel Fine

When "normal" is miraculous. Watching Audrey eat donuts and other holiday foods with ease is so exciting, never gets old for me!

Went to Oregon to hug grandpa and grandmas!

 Multnomah Falls, Tillamook Cheese Factory ice cream and fun in the sand!

 Audrey and Giddy were big helpers when the giant tree in our front yard split overnight in a June windstorm.

 

In July our family camped at Yellowstone for the first time! We swam in the warm water of the Firehole River, played with cousins, cooked over a fire, took turns being a bit grumpy and working it out, saw some of the most amazing geothermal wonders on earth and slurped up as much knowledge about them as we could.

Favorite Audrey quotes of the week included:

"Look Mommy, a castle! It's the most beautiful castle I've ever seen! I didn't even know they made castles that beautiful!" She was looking at the LDS Church Mill in Kaysville, which produces massive amounts of dry food for relief aid throughout the world. At first I smiled in amusement, but then I thought about it and swallowed back a lump as I realized she was right.

"I'm borrrred. Can we go back to our campsite?" As we drove the long road on the way from the campsite to see things. Then, an hour later, "YAAAAAY!! Yellowstone is AHHMAAAZING! It's so beautiful! I hope we come back here every year!" Ten minutes later, she was fast asleep.

As we drove out of the park, she spontaneously started calling out, "Goodbye, Yellowstone!! Thank you!! Hope to see you again soon!!"

First visit to Yellowstone since the 80s, and it's still blinding me with science!!
It puts the gorge in gorgeous.

Team Audrey for the win!