Bowling at the Wilk...

For Talee's event, we went bowling at the Wilkinson Center.  We bowled and had fun. 

We got to eat nachos and french fries.  Our family likes to go bowling. 

Salt Lake City Temple Christmas Lights

Bryana's event was to take us to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights.

We had a great time.  And I felt the Spirit.  And I feel like the Spirit was standing right next to me. 

I want you to feel the Spirit. 

This is why they put lights on the trees. 

 Because it is like the Spirit's light, lighting up for everyone to see. 

We ate dinner at the Lion House. 

The Robinson Christmas Pageant

The Robinson Christmas Pageant is much anticipated and rehearsed.  The lines are memorized by most.  The costuming is unique. 

Here are Soldier Bryana and Aunt Karalena prior to the performance.

Aunt Kaitlyn and Mary of Nazareth joining the picture.

 

Soldier Bryana reads the decree from Ceasar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

Mary and Joseph headed to Bethelem on their faithful donkey.

  Mary brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger....

Because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepards abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them....and they were sore afraid.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God....

There came wisemen from the east to Jerusalem to King Herod, saying "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"

And when they were come into the house...they presented unto him gifts....

Mary and the young child.

You might notice that the role of Mary gets passed around quite a bit.  This is partly because the role is highly coveted by the five older girls in the family and partly out of consideration for the aging donkey.  We enjoyed having a real baby play the part of Baby Jesus and the Young Child this year.  Kimaria did a great job. 

Karalena's Event

Karalena took us to the Bean Science Museum for her event.

She liked her event and was excited to go to the museum. 

Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus were there.  Joseph didn't seem concerned at all about being surrounded by exotic animals.

We decided that if he was going to be brave we could too.

Karalena liked Mary. 

Joseph!  Watch out for those lions...and elephant...and kangaroo...and .....

Talee is learning to play the violin

Her favorite song is "Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessings."

She had a recital with her class from Harmony Academy.

Kimaria enjoyed the recital and added her own performance.

Cute Kimaria

We think our baby Kimaria is cute.  We take lots of pictures of her because she is growing up so fast that it seems like she just won't last as a baby very long.  This is Kaitlyn with Kimaria.

Kimaria is "Away in a Laundry Basket"

Kimaria is sitting up and playing.  She mostly moves by rolling right now, but she is getting very fast.  She tolerates being the favorite baby doll of her four older sisters with a smile.

Kayden's Birthday

This is me on my 12th birthday.  It was really fun.  We played games and played hide and go seek with the presents.   

This is me with my cake.  It is mashed potatoes with gravy (ice cream and caramel sauce), bread (cake), pumpkin soup (pudding) and corn on the cob (cake with candy corn on the top).  It was good.

For my birthday I got a suit to pass the sacrament in.

 I am excited to be a deacon.  

Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place

This year for Christmas, each of the kids are planning an event to give to the family as a gift.  Kaitlyn planned a trip to This is the Place in Salt Lake City.  They have a special Christmas program called Candlelight Christmas.  All the kids had a fun and really enjoyed our evening. 

At This is the Place, there was a live Navity.  I liked to see the people dressed up.  They had shepherds watching over real sheep and goats that we could pet.

We went to the dancing hall in the school house.  We learned a dance called the Virginia Reel.  We each had partners.  Most of the time my partner was Daddy or Kayden.  Some of the dance was swing your partner with the left arm, then the right arm, and then both arms, then do-si-do, and then the couples would divide to make two rows.  The couple on the end would go down between the two rows, and then come back and peel off around to the end of the line and make a bridge.  All the other couples would follow the first couple and go through the bridge to form the next line.  Then it would start all over again. 
 

We also got to see reindeer, make paper chains, learn about a pioneer Christmas, listen to carolers, see a puppet show, do some crafts, and take a train ride around the park.  There was a little elf village with pretend elves inside, making things and playing music. It was a late night but we had a great time. 

 

 The kids made a big fort outside. Then they built horses (and dogs) on the top for them to ride on.

It was really cool and they were able to use their talents,

and they learned a lot and worked together well. 









This is Talee on her horse (Snowflake) and Kaitlyn on my horse (Snowy), because we hadn't made her dog yet.   

 





This is Karalena on her baby horse we made for her. 





Bryana didn't want a horse so we made a bird.  She named it Elizabeth.



 This is me on my horse.  He is awesome.  

 This is a picture of all of us.

 This is me and Kaitlyn making Kaitlyn's dog, Snowball.





This is Kaitlyn and her dog, Snowball.