Thanksgiving

Mike and Heather came down for Thanksgiving dinner (well, the day after Thanksgiving since Ryan was working a 24 hour shift on Thanksgiving). It's nice to have them only an hour away - and willing to be the ones to come see us since we've got a lot more baggage!

Heather (or Heaber, as Cash calls her) even brought a cute craft to do with Cash. Fun fun.


I even had flowers that my mom sent for my birthday that still survived to make a lovely little centerpiece!
It really was a pretty boquet my mom sent, and it was so fun of Julie to send a box of birthday decorations. I realized that Cash is the one that loves a party, so I should celebrate for his sake, and then turned up the box of decoration.

Stake Christmas Fireside

I know this is a busy time of year so only mention this if someone has a slow Sunday night and doesn't want to spend it recuperating at home (which I can't imagine)! Every year our stake does a great Christmas fireside with about 10 musical numbers and a speaker after the first five. Our Stake Music Leader has delightfully eclectic taste so we always have an interesting blend. (On the years when she does Callypso Noel we have a base guitar along with the usual percussion instruments.) Steve has been accompanying for several years, but this year there is a challenging finale where the choir is accompanied by a duet that will be played by Steve and Nate. Jon was roped into playing bongo drums for "Mary Did you Know?", and last night Nate was assigned the claves for the same number. The fireside is December 14 at 7:00 p.m. if anyone is interested. It will be held in our ward building, the "Lighthouse Church" (because there's a lighthouse on top); address 3900 S. 4000 West.
Merry Christmas!

Four Day Utah Weekend

It's been a long time since we used to have sleepovers on Hartford Ave. and I'd wake up in the morning squished between Sarah and Amy (who was undoubtedly sucking her thumb in my face), but one thing hasn't changed, we always have a great time together.

After driving through the night and arriving in Utah at 5:30 am on Saturday morning, I wasn't much fun by Saturday night, but everyone did their best to include me in the fun.

Wedding bells and Christmas bells!

Please save Monday evening, December 8, for a Young Family Holiday Bridal Shower for Emily Young and Abbie Young at the Hunsakers, 7 p.m. Supper will be served.

Grammy comes to town

The kids and I all had so much fun when Grammy (so named by Cash) came to town! It takes me all of about 2 seconds to mentally check out of a few of my usual responsibilities and to let my mommy start taking care of me as soon as she gets here. :)

We didn't get many great pictures with her here - we were so busy trying to get some good ones of the babies while she was here (it's really a two-person job) that we didn't get enough with her in them. Plus we were on the go most of the time running errands that I'm too scared to go on by myself and fitting in appointments and such while I knew there would be an extra set of hands around. We had a great time. Too bad that even though we live in Miami, it sure isn't much of a vacation coming to visit us! In fact, I was pretty sure she would be glad to go back home and relax. And appreciate just walking out to her car and driving off any time she went anywhere. Not trekking across the parking garage in the rain to load up three kids, the car seats, the stroller, the bags....







(I know she hates this last picture of everyone at night all ready for bed, but do you know how many times I have tried to get a picture of me with the twins both sitting and looking happy?!?!?! It has NEVER yet happened, so you better appreciate this moment!)

The Ottley's Adventure

We just returned from our first cruise ever to the Mexican Rivera!!! We went with 2 other families and had the best time! Got home two days before the Halloween Choir program at school. We've been busy catching up and playing, as yesterday was Halloween!!!!

Mrs. E's Candies

My mom was the Mrs. E's Candy lady for Halloween. She spent a lot of time putting her valence together and found out the day before Halloween that it was accidently thrown away by the janitor! Being the amazing woman that she is, she made another just in time for the big day. What a creative costume! From what I have heard everyone loved it.

The Amazing Race Champions

Marc and I were in an Amazing Race competition with 12 couples last night and our team won first place! It was so exhausting and Marc can't walk today, but it was worth it because we had our moment of glory. I just found out that the gnome trophy will be passed on to next year's champions so we will have to try and defend our title.

Halloween Bash

This was the first annual Stott Family Halloween Party. The Ures and Millers joined us along with Linda and Katie. Beth had recieved her fairy skirt and wings before the party and kept asking Grandma to fix the wings so they were real! We had the same problem with the magic wand. What a disappointment not to have it work properly! Oh well! Everyone quickly rallied, that is, until Katie arrived in her Ariel costume! Bethany wanted to be Ariel. Easy going Katie simply traded her, and all was well. Rebekah Rose came as a strawberry and Joshua left his tiger at home, so everyone thought it would be funny to let him be Superman. (I think this is probably Mimi's costume. Do you want it back, under the circumstances?)
Dinner included Parmesan Chicken with delicious Pesto Pumpkin Pasta, made with basil from the garden. Dessert was Ghosts in a Graveyard.
The children enjoyed Halloween Bingo and Halloween Memory, followed by a Fish Pond, while James, Nate and Will carved pumpkins, then it was lights out for some Halloween songs and finger plays in the light of the glowing Jack-0-lanterns. We appreciate everyone who traveled to attend and were so glad to have the Nielsens here. Happy Halloween!

April 9, 2009

Click the picture and read the cake!