Natalie & the Girls

We had the pleasure of having Natalie and her two girls (Jane & Olive) come stay with us for a few days earlier in the month. We had a lot of fun having them here. The kids loved getting to play with cousins and I loved having someone to talk to since Travis was working/doing homework from 5 am until 9 pm on most days. He finished his last final and paper on Monday so we are officially done with his first semester! Yea! I have my husband back for a couple of weeks!

While Natalie and the girls were here we took them to a Christmas parade (it was sunny and fairly warm . . . felt more like an early Fall parade). Then after the parade they had all kinds of activities and things to buy in the park. The kids rode on a train and got to ride ponies. Wisdom talked about seeing ponies for the next week and kept asking to go back. I tried to explain to him that the ponies went home and they weren't at the park anymore but he didn't get it and just kept asking. Poor Wisdom wants a pony for Christmas!

Jane riding "Belle"

Kindly on her pony

Passion looking like a pro

Friends -- they walked round like this most days

Sweet little Olive

We also went to a park to feed the ducks.

Wisdom shouting, "Look! Ducks mom!" I love how he's pointing!

Then we had a birthday party for Charlie (our dog). He turned 3! I had actually forgotten about his birthday this year. Passion remembered! Below Kindly and Jane are showing Charlie the pictures they drew for him

Charlie's new toy

Then on the last night they were here we went to the Mesa temple to see the lights. The Mesa temple is on the front of the Ensign magazine this month, by the way. I have never been to Salt Lake to see the lights but I thought the lights at the Mesa temple were amazing! Then as you walked around they had different depictions of the events leading up to the Savior's birth, the last scene being the nativity. This scene below is Mary riding on the donkey. It was really neat to see all the lights and the kids loved it.

Of course my pictures don't do it justice but take my word for it, it was cool!

The whole group!

A big THANK YOU to Natalie, Jane, & Olive for braving late night flights to come see us. We had so much fun. Please come again soon!