Lunar Eclipse 12/10/11

There was a HUGE moon that was almost full when we were on our way to Temple Square. I woke up the next morning, early, to pick up my Bountiful Basket and saw a cool moon. It was going through a lunar eclipse. I ran and got Kristen up to see it, since they've been studying the moon and then picked up my basket. When I got home, I woke everyone else up to see it and we saw it just before it went completely dark. Not the best pictures, but it was really cool.

Temple Square

Mid-jump

Jarren took this one of the Church Office Building with all the Temple Square lights in front of it.

Jarren being silly--it looks like he has a temple crown. :)

The Nativity

Buddy the Elf and Santa

We met my family downtown and walked around Temple Square. I love all the lights, although it sometimes almost stresses me out to think of how long it takes to put them all up (and take them all back down again). I remember going there for a HS choir thing in October and they were putting the lights up. Anyway....it was beautiful, cold, and a lot of fun. Kendall had basketball and wasn't able to come with us.

Ho Ho Ho---Santa and a Firetruck!

Sitting on Santa's and Mrs. Claus's laps. They were so good and only asked for one thing!

The lights around the City Building were lit when Santa came.

The firetruck.

Our city has an annual Santa arrival on the Monday after Thanksgiving. I've never taken the kids before, because, from past experience from the Easter egg hunt, things are packed and totally crazy! Jenna brought home a paper about it from school and was sooooo heartbroken when I told her we wouldn't be going. So...change of plans. I took the kids. It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated it being. It was actually a lot of fun. Santa arrived on a firetruck, with Mrs. Claus by his side. Then they went into the City Building and a line formed to wait to visit them. They also had craft kits for the kids (a few different ornaments to make), sugar cookies to decorate, hot chocolate and hot scones, hay wagon rides, and marshmallow roasting. And it was ALL free!! Santa gave each child a bag with an orange and a candy cane in it. Even Kendall had fun. :) I think we might try it again next year....

Stage

Jarren sometimes gets things in his mind and it's hard to deter him. He decided that he wanted to build a stage. I'm not sure what he wants to do with it, but he wants one. One Saturday, a few weeks ago, he set to work (with a little of Jon's help) and made himself a stage. I'm sure they'll have fun with it.

San Diego

Lots of horseback riders along Border Field State Beach.

I love Jon's face here!! I cut myself off in this self-portrait.

Self Portrait at the beach.

Some little islands out in the ocean, Mexican side.

Mexico

Mexico

Jon and I  had a good time in San Diego! It was much cooler than I was expecting--a storm was moving in. We stayed downtown, a block from the harbor. On Friday night, after dinner, we walked along the harbor and looked at the big ships. On Saturday, we went to La Jolla Cove and Beach. There was a beach (Children's Pool) with harbor seals. We had lunch there and then went south. We hit Coronado and went to Border Field State Beach. We could see the Mexican border--border patrol, fence, towers, etc. I LOVE the beach!!! There are some Factory Outlet stores in San Ysidiro, so we went there, but it was soooo crazy/busy!! It was the last USA exit!! When we got back on the freeway, we drove right along the checkpoint and then came to a sign that said "WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA." Does that mean we were in Mexico?! We drove back north for dinner and then relaxed, since we had to get up at 4:30 am to make our flight. It was a fast, quick, FUN weekend!!!

R.I.P. Jasper

Kristen's pet hamster of 5.5 months passed away. She is absolutely devastated!!! And I feel like a monster because I refused to track down a small animal vet and pay the $40 to have him looked at. These critters live up to 2 years. This little guy was soooo active. He was always running and climbing. He would climb the walls of the cage and run all over the place. He also drank a TON!!! About 2-3 weeks ago, he started losing his fur. I made her clean the cage more often. Last night, he was barely breathing. She just sat and held him and cried and then put him in his cage, where he died. From what we were reading about, it sounds like it was probably either diabetes (which is hereditary) or skin cancer. His skin was all crusty and he had a big sore-like thing on his belly. But who knows? It could have been some other kind of disease and I feel bad that I didn't get him in because maybe he'd still be alive.

These pictures were taken over Fall Break--a month ago. By yesterday, his back, stomach, and legs had big patches of no fur. Ah---I feel sooo bad!!!

Lesson: Don't let your kids get a pet---it's too heartbreaking. I'm STILL dreading the day our dog dies. That will the the worst day ever!!

First *Sticky* Snow

The first snow storm that actually accumulated was on November 4-5. It started snowing that night and we woke up to a bit of the white stuff. Of course, the kids had to go out and play in it for a few minutes....