Nutcracker!

This year, my girls were involved in the Mountain West Ballet production of the Nutcracker.  Emma was in the Merliton Corps, and Camri was a Sugar Plum Page. One of the best parts of this whole production is that moms and dads get to volunteer to help.  It is a non-profit organization, so volunteer help is key.  We are asked to give 10 hours of service, so when each parent pitches in, there is enough help.
The first night the girls performed, we all went to see them.  And by “we all”, I mean Joe and I, Dakota, Colin, Grandma and Grandpa Pulsipher, and Grandma and Grandpa Heugly.  PLUS, their cousins were in the same cast (Sammie was a soldier and Alex was also a Sugar Plum Page), so Jake and Liz were there too.  It was a huge party! 
It was a beautiful production and I love, love, love seeing my girls perform.  They performed at Mt. Jordan Middle School on a Saturday night, a Saturday afternoon, and a Monday night.  This was their Saturday night performance…cute girls!!



The next Saturday was a matinee…I helped with ticket sales.  It was so fun to see all the cute families, many with little girls all dressed up, coming to see the Nutcracker.  What a fun tradition! 
Monday night was the best, because I got to help in the Green Room.  Because the costumes are rented, they only wear them for their number, then change out of them.  The only way to get pictures in their costumes was to help them get dressed….so I did.  They all wear a tan leotard and tights underneath, so changing in and out of costumes is very modest.  I was also lucky because the night I was helping Camri’s group in the Green Room, Liz was helping Sammie’s group, so we got to hang out back stage.  When Emma was on Good Things Utah, I got some great costume shots of her, now I got to see Sammie, Alex, and Camri all dressed up too!
Cute Sammie and her rosy cheeks.

Alex and Camri, best buds.  Their whole silly group…Mother Gigogne without her bon-bons:Heading to the stage…I was sneaking some backstage shots while they danced…don’t worry, I didn’t use a flash…

Backstage we had time to play and hang out until the performance ended.  Time for more pictures!!

Organized chaos.

I’m so proud of my girls!  All the rehearsals, the driving in the snow, the hours of make-up application and removal, the music, the dancing….all worth it. 

Ugly Sweater Extravaganza

Ethan and Amy had their annual Christmas party this year…with a twist.  An ugly Christmas sweater contest. 
Wow, there were some doozies. 
Here were our contributions, the kids helped me come up with the designs, and we used lots of hot glue:
Annie’s…notice the Batman symbol on the bottom.  That’s how I got her to wear it. 
Beau’s…complete with his requisite bow tie. 
Camri’s…full of jingle bells, so we could hear her all night…
Colin’s….a very manly sweater vest….he had footballs and “Y”s for antlers.  Go Cougars!
Emma’s…I was actually proud of this one for my Nutcracker girl…
Koko’s…a working mailbox with a letter to Santa and everything!
Joe’s….paying homage to his Dad…
Mine….same one from the Relief Society party with a little more bling added…
Don’t we look smashing?
Ethan’s family looked awesome…nice sweater buddy. 
Cute family….Peach actually made the final round when we voted for the ugliest sweater.  Yeah, he’s wearing a BYU sweatshirt.  Very funny, Utah fans. 
Justin’s cute family…we missed Lauren, though.  Mike, we can see you standing on your toes….
Jake and Liz really got into it.  They had plastic animals, flashing lights, and singing snowmen.  Perfectly lovely. 
Bridger looks like a Norman Rockwell model…Andrew just looks cool. 
Grandma and Grandpa look so stylish (for 1982)…
My kids love chips so much, that’s what they got for Christmas from Justin.  I think they may have eaten healthy food at the party too, but I’m not sure. 
Grandpa approves Joe’s sweater. 
Cute kids eating their yummy dinner…
Hi Joe!
Time to vote!!  The top six contestants:
The top three:
And the winner is:
He got a commemorative bear and gift cards.  You deserve it for wearing your Christmas tree to the party, Jake!
Meanwhile, Annie played with her best friend, Dallas:
Time for the White Elephant gifts!! We saw One Direction, Justin Bieber, adult underwear, head lamps, and more.  Quite the loot…
I just want to kiss this baby…
Watch out ladies, these guys got Axe body spray in the gift game.  There is no stopping them now…








We sang to Kaeli and McKenna and Mark and Autumn for their birthdays.  It was such a fun party, like always. Ethan and Amy know how to do it right!  The food was so yummy and they had prepared some gluten-free stuff for Emma.  So nice!
NOW it feels like Christmas! 

Dresses and bow ties

This year, I made Christmas jammies for my kids.  I wanted to make dresses, too, but I am human and there was no more time.  While we were out shopping one day, Joe and I discovered a wonderful store called Crazy 8.  How have we never been here before?  Way cute stuff, way good prices. 
So, we got some dresses for the girls and sweaters for the boys…except for Dakota who has outgrown cute stores like this.  Sigh.  Thank goodness for Target. 
We had our little photo shoot right before church…
Beau got what he’s always wanted: bow ties.  He wants to look like James Bond when he goes to church.  Not to mention, Beau thinks the ties are named after him. 





My six favorite presents in the whole world.  Lookin’ sharp, kids! 
Let’s get these parties started!