The Williams Family

Every year, the Church holds a gingerbread event. Many different creations are made out of gingerbread. We were impressed and had a great time.

The Van De Graaffs joined us.

This looks familiar!

We took a trip to Scheel's to ride the Ferris Wheel.

Santa came a few days early and gave the girls a present because he didn't think there would be room in our van on our way back from Utah. The girls were excited!

Last semester, after finals, Steve and I had a boxing match set up. This semester we set up a time to go to Stella's as a group and for me to do the "Stellanator" challenge (click to see their site).

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

If you’re into food challenges, then try tackling ours! To beat THE STELLANATOR you have 45 minutes to eat:

6 BURGER PATTIES
6 FRIED EGGS
6 PIECES OF CHEESE
12 PIECES OF BACON
LETTUCE
TOMATO
FRIED ONIONS
PICKLES
JALAPENOS
PEANUT BUTTER
A BUN
and AN ORDER OF FRIES

This is what was left on my plate when I barfed. Close but no cigar.

A couple hours later after my barf session with the toilet.

UTAH: we made it! I-80 had been closed through Wyoming for the whole week before we left. It opened up right before we left so it was perfect timing. We were very happy about it.

We spent the first week at Grandma and Papa Martinson's house. We had a great time.

Grandam Martinson did several things to make it fun for the kids. Below, she is seen as the instructor of the Polar Express. "ALL ABOARD!"

Brinley loved the new blow-up!

Making gingerbread houses!

To the Williams! We went on Christmas day in the afternoon.

We went shooting the day after Christmas. Trevor is trying to help me look like Chris Farley.

Aubrey teaching Trevor and I how to shoot her bow.

Ashlyn has been creative and been making so many different things. Dennis has been into guns a lot (along with Uncles David and Mike). Here are her gun creations.

Gun with a holster.

Our girls LOVE Pepper!

Ashlyn also made sewing machines (see the extension cords).

Jenny and I had a quick getaway to Joe Bandito's, one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. After, we went to Cold Stone with a gift card that Sabina gave me for Christmas.

Dave and Alyssa Mathis came over. It was great to visit with them and see their little Derek growing up!

Brinley loves helping Nana in the kitchen.

Dennis' birthday was on Wednesday. We had a great time.

Ashlyn made a mask for her face to keep her from getting other people sick (she was pretending).

Brinley was helping Nana make pumpkin chocolate cookies. Nana put in some Nutmeg. While her back was turned, Brinley took the liberty to turn on the mixer. We all had a good laugh.

Grandpa's accidental foot long pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.

Ashlyn created restaurant cups for her, Brinley, and Claire.

I had to share this in case any of my dental family members happen to look at our blog. This is my wax up for a gold MOD inlay on #30. My only gold other than crowns so far.

Sprued, ready to be invested and cast into gold. It fit great and I'm sure it will be in the patients mouth for years and years.

Jenny had the girls make turkeys with their hands and write something they are thankful for on each feather (finger).

This was Thanksgiving morning. The girls had so much together. My favorite times are when all three of the girls are laughing together.

Making gingerbread houses! Jenny was smart and saved our leftover Halloween candy (basically non-chocolate candy) for decorating.

One night while kneeling down with the girls for prayers, I noticed Ashlyn acting a little differently during her prayer. I wasn't sure what was going on. When I got up to turn out the lights, the girls just started laughing, and then I noticed what they had done. Silly girls. Sure love 'em.

Ashlyn had an idea to make a TV out of a cardboard box. I helped her and she had very specific instructions for me about where to cut and tape. She then made a book of several pages. In order to "change the channel" you turn the page. She is so creative.

Jenny's mom gave us "A Christ-centered Christmas". It is a book that talks about different characters in the nativity. It spends a chapter talking about each one and then focuses on one attribute and challenges readers to develop that attribute. Here we learned about Joseph.

We love brownies!

Fun sisters! The little one on the right has had quite a snotty nose the last few days (seems like weeks).

Good times in the tub!

Jenny's mom sent us a gift card to Chic-Fil-A so we treated ourselves on Friday night. It was busy but fun!

Ashlyn being naughty...

Claire has enjoyed this lately.

Jenny organized a tea party with some neighbor girls Brinley and Penny. The girls had a blast.

Ashlyn's turkey.

The day before Thanksgiving we decided to put our tree up and decorate our house. We told the girls that we could all sleep by the tree. We watched Christmas movies and slept by the tree. Brinley and I ended up in our own beds but Jenny and Ashlyn stuck it out. Ashlyn just loved the idea and had a great time.

This girls is good at puzzles!

Dancing to Christmas songs!

On Monday it snowed so we took advantage!

The girls loved the snowman! Jenny said that all the neighbor kids loved our snowman as well! The snow didn't stick around for long so I'm glad we used it while we could!

Ashlyn has loved being in Mindy's "Let's Play Music" class. Mindy is passionate and does such a great job getting children to enjoy learning principles of music.