The BEST of the Best

The BEST of the Best photographer who is, indeed, our dear friend Danielle Kissee. She's fantastic. She has been taking pictures of our little family from the beginning and she's done it again! Those fantastic pictures you see to your left and below are products of her amazing-ness. For any who are interested in getting your picture taken or just want to look at some pretty cool pictures, check out her BLOG or her WEBSITE!

Water.org

For those of you who have been with us for over a year, you will probably remember that last year we made a promise to ourselves that we would donate some of our Christmas gift money to a charity of our choosing. Well we picked it. If you haven't surmised as much, it's water.org! This charity works to provide clean water and sanitation to growing countries and create global awareness of the water supply crisis. Water is such a basic necessity that most of us take for granted since it's so easily accessible. Craig and I had actually chosen this specific crisis last year when we made the promise so we're really excited to be able to give something, even if it be a little something. We have so many comforts it seems selfish not to give even a little something when we are blessed with so much. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Oh Christmas Tree

...oh Christmas tree! Since we're doing Christmas just the three of us this year, Craig and I decided to get a Christmas tree! We're so excited to be spending the holiday at home and start our own traditions. We've been making our lists and checking them twice. There are already some presents under the tree, most of them for Lucas and Craig, so our tree looks a little more complete! Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

This year my parents invited us home for Thanksgiving, so we graciously accepted. We had LOTS of fun hanging out with the family. My Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Brian joined us and, later, we were joined by some friends of ours for pie and games. It was nice to have us all together again.

I suppose this year I am thankful for Craig and Lucas. I'm always grateful for them but this year in particular as I feel Craig is working hard on his education and for Lucas because he and I have been communicating so well lately. I hope everyone else enjoyed their Thanksgiving!

Lucas McGuhlegher: Boy Prodigy

The Thanksgiving Table. It's official, okay?

Two turkeys? Why yes, please

Two MORE turkeys!

FAMbly

Thanksgiving people...

...with Thanksgiving FACES

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 1

It took them seven movies, but they did it. They finally made a Harry Potter movie that a.) is filled with the feel the writer of the novel intended, b.) stayed appropriately fair to the original novel, and c.) has the best acting I've seen throughout the whole of the seven movies. I believe it definitely made a difference seeing it in IMAX. Even though I have read the book more than once, I was still caught off guard. I felt like I was one of the characters myself which I had been unsuccessful in accomplishing in the previous movies. I definitely admonish even the slightest Harry Potter fan (Books or Movies) to see this movie in the theater. They all have finally stepped up their skills. You will not be disappointed.

THIS

...is what we found one afternoon after a certain someone's nap...

he's a boy of many talents...

Birthday Visit

My brother didn't visit BECAUSE of his birthday...he had a wedding to attend...BUT we celebrated it...all weekend. He and his wife Rikki made the long trip from Arizona to go to a friend's wedding and since the friend's wedding was on his birthday, we made it a weekend long celebration. On Saturday we treated him to a big breakfast filled with waffles fruit and hash browns and went to see Harry Potter in IMAX. Then we had individual pizzas and a smorgasbord of Jones' sodas finished off with some homemade berry pie. It was fun having Paul and Rikki around as we don't get to see them that often. Well, here's to you, Paulsen James Healey.

Paul's a fan of Phineas and Ferb...if you can't tell

umm...yeah...this is DEFINITELY how he makes waffles

The Cousin Gang

Leah, Rikki and Lucas keeping it cool

Probably THE best pie I've ever made

Big Boy is 24 now!

Happy Birthday, Paul!

HAIR

Most of it's gone! I decided to be daring. I've wanted this for a long time so I went for it. Yes, I realize I'm cutting it at the beginning of the winter, but I just couldn't handle my hair anymore. So I called up my good friend Nicole Sanford (you SOOOO rock) and she did me a solid and cut my hair off (thank you SOOOOOO much)! So here is what happens when one grows weary of one's hair.

PRE-highlites

POST-highlites

Am I sure about this?

...i don't know...uhhh...

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

(by the way...can you find what isn't right in the pictures?)

ANOTHER Happy List

It's that time of the year, folks! Time to make a list of what makes me happy. There may be a few repeats on there but i'm trying to think of new things. Enjoy!

1. All things Lucas

2. Disneyland...especially with friends

3. Comfort foods especially Thanksgiving foods

4. Waking up to snow and knowing I don't have to go out that day

5. My husband's future career

6. Listening to classical music...especially in the fall when it goes with the like music

7. Going to the Temple

8. Dancing...especially with Lucas

9. When Lucas asks for more vegetables (see no. 1)

10. Watching powerful movies

11. Listening to influential people share my beliefs and utilize their celebrity

12. Thunderstorms at night

13. Finding really good deals on baby clothes

14. Sweater weather

15. Law and Order Marathons on TNT

16. Sam Waterston yelling in a courtroom (see above)

17. Having incredibly talented and ambitious friends

18. Working towards something

19. Baking/Cooking

20. Dancing Grandmas

21. Serving others

22. Clean sheets

23. Murder She Wrote

24. Playing air piano

25. My supportive and understanding husband

I found it was difficult to come up with twenty five things that made me happy, but as I started to think of the small things, I realized a lot made me happy. Try and think of twenty five things that make you happy, you'd be surprised on what you can come up with.

Ginger Beer!

Hello everyone, this is Craig. I know I don't usually post, but Angie got me something that has me really excited:) She was out grocery shopping today and she came across a particular drink that most people know that I love, Ginger Beer! Normally, I'm happy with just about any Ginger Beer, but it has become increasingly hard to find a good one. Lately, some companies are just making what seems to be less-sweet Ginger Ale and passing it off as a poor imitation of it's gingerier older brother. My wife outdid herself this time by purchasing an Australian Ginger Beer that is brewed by a company called "Bundaberg". As we all know, Australians generally do their drinks right, and this was no exception. The drink even included the instructions to "invert bottle before opening" in order to mix up its real ginger bits, before you pull off it's grenade-like cap and spill it's cool, bubbly contents onto the awaiting taste buds . The flavor was smooth and rich with the extra kick of ginger expected of a real ginger beer, but not overwhelming, something often wrong with most other companies recent attempts at ginger beer. Above all else it pleases me to say, that this drink pleased me. Well done Bundaberg, well done.

Notice it's cap...they mean business with this flavor explosion

The one I have has a Kangaroo on it...you know, because it's from Australia.

When you Wish Upon a Star...

...THIS is what you get. Disneyland! That's right we went! Tuesday and Wednesday of this last week Enos, Lindsay, Craig and I braved Anaheim and arrived at Disneyland! Our parents were good sports and agreed to watch the chidders whilst we whisked ourselves away to a couple of days in the Happiest Place on Earth. We had some good laughs and deliciously expensive food. So here's to Walt Disney and his fantastic dream. Cheers!

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Couple of Besties

Splash Mountain!

Jedi Training Camp

Enos is REALLY excited about Dumbo

First time on the ride!

Me and Bert!

And finally, Gene Wilder here to remind us that

"we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams"

Chocolate

Chocolate covered bacon that is...yes, I decided to break down and try it. It actually wasn't bad. It wasn't the BEST dessert in the world, but I definitely understand the appeal with the salty and the chocolate. Don't knock it till you try it.

Animal Farm

Indeed an animal farm. Jenni, Asher, Lucas and myself went to Thanksgiving Point's Farm Country!

Pre-trip pictures!

Asher decided to look at mommy at the last second...Lucas just doesn't care...

The babies with the baby cow!

Best friends for life.

Hey watcha got there?

Lucas got to touch the "Weesies" nose...hence the happy face...