Christmas 2009

We had fun just with our family this year reading the Christmas Story and playing games on Christmas Eve.

Enjoying our traditional Christmas Eve candlelight dinner.

Up bright and early Christmas morning

(o.k. maybe not so bright, but definitely early).

Having fun opening our gifts, especially the ones we picked out for each other.

Brad making pancakes with boysenberry syrup for Christmas morning breakfast.

December 2009

Brad turned 43 years young in December.

Brad had a fun time celebrating his birthday with friends and family, and dragging it out for about four days.

Breck's Christmas band concert. He plays first chair Saxophone in the 8th grade band.

Aubrey's Christmas band concert. Aubrey plays third chair flute in the high school marching and concert bands.

Thanksgiving 2009

Brad and Blake carving the Thanksgiving turkey. We had the privilege of spending Thanksgiving in Grand Rapids Michigan this year with Brad's brother Blake and his family. The highlight of course was indulging way too much on Josie's fabulous cooking, especially her

celestial kingdom pies!

Everyone enjoying their Thanksgiving feast at both the kids table and adults table.

The after affects of cooking Thanksgiving dinner and hitting the early morning sales on

black Friday.

Merinda making a ginger bread train with her cousins Emily and Sam.

Brittney earning a little extra-credit for her U.S. AP-History class by visiting the Gerald R. Ford Memorial located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Halloween 2009

Merinda and Kylie trick-or-treating as witches.

Our good friends Mark and Bridgette reliving the 60's.

Merinda with her best friends Lauren and Kylie.

All the kids had fun dressing up and helping out for the ward "trunk or treat" especially since most of them are too old now to go trick-or-treating .

Merinda's Baptism

Merinda was baptized on October 11, 2009. We had fun spending the weekend with Grandpa Manwaring, Grandma Heelis, Uncle Blake and his family.

Merinda ready to get baptized in the baptismal dress she borrowed from her friend Nikara Charles.

Grandma Heelis and Merinda in the special Baptism dress that Grandma gave her.

Merinda learning to ride like a professional jockey the opening weekend at Keenland.

On the weekend of Merinda's Baptism, we all had fun drinking hot chocolate and eating breakfast at Keenland race track, while watching the horses warm-up.