Busy days with Auntie Carolyn

We've had a lot of fun with Carolyn.

Yesterday, we decorated the porch and put the village up. After, we went to the zoo and visited the baby elephant. She was her usual darling self, rolling around in the hay and munching on snow.

The baby giraffe did the splits to munch on some hay at its feet.

And 2 female monkeys fought over a baby struggling to just be free.

Then we went to the Gateway to see the Christmas Tree (BEAUTIFUL!) and Temple Square to see how the LDS temple's grounds were light up -- trees of every color, v. pretty. The only thing I didn't like, the nativity area was pitch black except for camera flashes. I would have liked to see the life sized nativity and doubt we'll have time to go back.

Thanksgiving 2009

The turkey day crew: Alex, Ryan, Carolyn, Mark, Andrew, Kathryn, and Seany.

Alex, Ryan, Carolyn, Andrew, and Seany.

The sisters.

Fun with presents from Auntie!

Carolyn also brought them a murder mystery game, v. fun.

Prison!

On the way to the airport to pick up Carolyn:

Mommy said, "Look guys, there's the prison and the prisoners in the yard. I bet they're not having the best Thanksgiving ever."

Seany eagerly answered, "I want to go to prison! I want to go!"

Ryan hands waving frantically in the air, "ME TOO! ME TOO!"

Xmas pictures cast your ballots

#1

#2 -- my personal favorite

#3

#4

#5

Andrew and Ryan built a house and even made a door....

Smarty pants

Andrew had a sore face (too much licking chapped skin). "Andrew, before you go to bed, we need to put that stuff on your face."

Andrew responded, "And what stuff (pause) would that be?"

"The stuff we put on your face for chapped skin."

"And what would this stuff we put on faces for chapped skin be called?"

Yeah, he's been listening to me speak.

Shocking

The lady that watches the 3 youngest chicklets: "I don't think I've ever met a more polite boy than Sean. I've never heard so many pleases and thank yous and excuse mes."

Naughty Seany. The Seananator. He's so got her fooled.

Sweet boy

Andrew: "Mom, today I want us to not get in any trouble so you can be a happy mom. Won't that be great?"

......Smile.......

Daddy and his babies

Ryan, Mark, and Seany.

The $3 costumes

Andrew and Alex

Ryan and Seany.

Just before we tricked-or-treated

We tried catch a snap of our costumed gang. Andrew aka Wolverine, Seany the Dragon, and Ryan the Tiger in the back. Alex the GI Joe guy Snake Eyes up front.