Once There Was A Snowman

We had a little snowstorm this morning, so Ella and I headed out to the park.  Perfect packing snow.  So we built a snowman.  Ella's first.  We were only sorry that Lexi had to be at school.

(he's a little dirty looking because of the dirt & grass & leaves & things under the snow).

Neon Trees!

So we've been friend with Branden & Emilie Campbell for 7 or 8 years.  We met them in Provo when we were first married.  They rock.  Literally.  Branden is the bass player (the guy on the right, above) in this hot new band called Neon Trees.  We were able to go to their first gig here in NYC last month- and Emilie was able to come, too!  I'm really enjoying their stuff- we bought their EP and it's been downloaded to my running mix.

Their album, Habits, is being released in stores on March 23, 2010.  And they're playing here again at the Mercury Lounge on January 14, 2010.  Come check them out!!  You'll be glad you did when they hit it big in a few months.

Alexis Mae

January 1st- my New Year's baby! My first born. My daughter.

Your favorites:

color:  red 
food:  pizza
vegetable:  peas

drink:  milk
school subject:  drawing
thing to do:  crafts, puzzles
movie:  Shrek (even though you only saw it for the first time 2 days ago)
game:  Operation
book:  the scriptures
restaurant:  Sosa Borella (that's your answer, not mine!)
holiday:  Christmas & your birthday
animal: zebra and giraffe

Tell me about your friends:
Well, I like Lily. And I want to sit with her every day.  And I like my bus mates Amaya and Karen. 

What do you like to do when you’re not in school?
I would like to, um, to do crafts or something creative. Something that's like art.


What do you want to be when you grow up?
A paleontologist.

If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
Uuuummmm, I would go to Horseheads.

What do you love about each person in our family?
Dad…That he's fun.
Mom…That you made me a child of yours.
E…That she plays with me.


You are an independent person.  You have many leadership qualities- you have a strong personality and like to take charge.  If you don't want to do something, you can't be bullied into it.  You stand up for yourself.  When you get to do something by yourself, you take time to think about your little sister and what you can do for her (like when you go to Grandma's for the weekend, you think about saving an ice cream sandwich for her, or drawing her a picture).  You share almost all your toys with her.  You like to read to her.  You can be  a very good helper.  You like to do the dishes.   You love to help prepare dinner, even though you don't always like to eat it.  In fact, you don't like to eat a lot of things.  You set and clear the table and love to fill the ice trays.  You love going to school and riding the school bus every day.  You love to play games.  You love the playground.  You love to do crafts and would do them all day every day if I let you.  You don't like to zip up your sweaters or coats, and you regularly refuse to wear gloves and hats.  One night you even left the house with no socks when it was only 19 degrees outside.  You are learning to read and are the best reader in your class.  You love to go to the library and check out new books.  You love to sing and are a stand-out voice in the ward primary.  You like to read the scriptures and learn about Jesus Christ.  You seem to love life and are a happy little girl.

This year you told us you only wanted to have a family party, so we gathered together for lunch and games at Chuck E Cheese to celebrate your day.  We are so happy you were born!  And we're happy you're a part of our family.  We love you, Alexis Mae.

(all photos by Marcus Bowers)

Holiday Baking

Lexi and Ella helped make chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles.  We gave some to our super, Lexi's bus drivers, and as a favor at our Christmas Eve dinner/party.

The Tree

After our trip to Macy's (in which I forgot to mention that Aunt Allie came along- she has a few more photos so maybe I'll upload them if she gets them to me), we headed over to Rockefeller Center for the obligatory visit to the tree.  It's really quite amazing how huge it is- and that it's real!  Matt met up with us there and we took in the Christmas spirit.  For a city with so many religions and cultures, New York is really very festive at Christmas time.  I love it.

Santa and Such

The week before Christmas, we took a trip down to Macy's after school.  Alexis wanted to see Santa even though she doesn't believe he's real (and we don't tell her otherwise).

 
I had already taken Ella to see the big man earlier in the month when I happened to be in the vicinity of Macy's, but it did not go well.  On the way upstairs in the elevator she was singing "Who laughs this way ho ho ho? Must be santa!" (lyrics she learned from Bob Dylan) and seemed like she was looking forward to seeing him.  But when our time arrived, she was so scared and wouldn't even walk in front of him.  She didn't want to enter the room where he was or anything.  After some major coaxing from me & the elves (who were really really wonderful and kind), she decided to walk past him.  We paused in front of him for a moment so she could get a good look.  He asked her to "give him 5."  She obliged and slapped him on the hand which triggered his "Ho Ho Ho!"  He managed to get her to do that 2 or 3 times.  But she refused to get any closer or take a picture.

Anyway, this time around was a little smidge better, but maybe because her big sister was IN LOVE with Santa.  As soon as we arrived to see him, Lexi ran at him full speed, jumped on his lap and hugged him really tightly.  I was actually shocked at this emotional showing of hers, considering she doesn't believe he's real.  (She's the one ruining it for your kids.  Sorry 'bout that.)  She talked with him while Ella warmed up to him.  And then we tried to take a photo.

Waiting in line

Talking to one of the Elves

Hugging Santa

Notice how Ella won't even look at him.

Snow Fall

A few weeks ago (December 19, 2009) the east coast was plummeted with feet of snow.  It happened overnight on Saturday night into Sunday morning.  (We typically don't get much more than a couple of inches here in Manhattan at any given time, although over the past several years there seems to have been one huge storm.)  Church was NOT canceled, so we trudged through the snow, pioneer style, to get there.  After church, we bundled up in our snow gear and headed over to the park to get some good snow action.  This was Ella's first real experience jumping in and playing around in the snow.  We don't have any sort of sleds (mostly b/c we have no where to store them) so the kids have yet to be initiated into sledding.