Vacation Jubilation

Christmas break was amazing. Two weeks visiting family and friends in Utah and Denver has left us with grateful hearts for such wonderful moments with our loved ones, and, very depressed youngsters who long for more time with their cousins and grandparents. I guess vacations wouldn't be so meaningful if they were the constant in our lives, however, I must admit it's both sad and difficult to return to ones everyday routine. I was pondering this, with thoughts of sadness, on our drive home and then something happened. As I looked around the car at my sweetheart and our dear children my heart filled with gratitude. As sad as it is to leave fun moments behind, if I am with the 5.5 individuals that surrounded me in that van, I am happy and I am home.

New Years never tasted so good thanks to Kathryn, Rachel and Mom Ballard!

Our final day was spent tubing at Brian Head!

It was awesome!

Aunt Julia made us these travel bags for our trip home.

We were SO excited!

Christmas 2010

Many activities and parties take place for all during this holiday season. Our family has kept busy playing, baking, attending various events, and enjoying the frigid temperatures of Kansas, (although I must say the lack of snow is shocking).

Some of our favorite moments of the past weeks are posted below. It's amazing how quickly the year goes by. We are so very grateful for all of our many blessings, most of all for our Savior, His birth, life, and perfect example. May you and your families have a wonderful Christmas season and a very happy 2011!

The kiddos get a new ornament each Christmas.

Between each of them we now have 21 Hallmark ornaments,

plus the awesome ones they make.

Together it makes for a very pretty tree.

A church here in Manhattan does an annual, "Bethlehem Revisited".

It was an amazing production.

They began with a bus ride into the foothills and over a few acres of land

recreated the entire Bible story, beginning with prophets foretelling of His birth

and ending with His resurrection.

They did a great job. It was a wonderful night.

Many crafts, including gingerbread houses...

snowmen on a stick...

reindeer cupcakes...

and Mom Ballard's yummy hot fudge.

Our awesome neighbors have

supplied us with more goodies than our bodies need.

We had to think of something amazing.

Christmas Morning!!

Mantle '10

Merry Christmas Everyone!! What do you think of our mantle this year?! :)

Another Omaha Outing

We had the opportunity to go back to Omaha this past weekend. It was such a wonderful outing too. The day got started with a blast from the past. A young lady that I was an EFY counselor to over 10 years ago lives in Omaha and offered to watch our kiddos for the morning so that Steven and I could attend the LDS temple together this visit. It was so wonderful to see her and meet her cute family. Steven took the kids to lunch afterwards so that Missy and I could sit and chat for awhile. It was a reunion that came to far out, and yet, I'm so grateful it came.

Once we left their home we headed for, where else, the zoo! It was only 34 degrees, however, the individuals that created Omaha's zoo were brilliant in their planning and development. Not only do they have some of the coolest animals around, but, they have multiple indoor habitats that only require a short walk between one another in order to arrive quickly (and unfrozen) to your next destination. We stayed until almost closing and still didn't make it through all of the indoor exhibits that are available to see. It was a great day for all!

Thanksgiving 2010

As with all Thanksgivings we have much to be grateful for this year. In addition to our many blessings, Steven gets regular holiday time off and we have family within a short traveling distance. It's so wonderful.

We headed to Kansas City on Wednesday evening and didn't have to return until Sunday night. Four days with their cousins was a dream for the Ballard kiddos. We ate, played tons of games, ate some more, played at parks, ran tons outside with our "adopted" dog, then came back and ate even more. We also had the chance to drive through an amazing park with more Christmas lights and exhibits then I've seen in my entire life time. It was truly beautiful and the kids went crazy for it. On Saturday we dropped by the theatre and watched Disney's "Tangled", which was adorable and is now my favorite Disney show. It was a long weekend filled with family, food, and fun. What more could you ask for!

Marlatt Sock Hop '10

This was a fundraiser the elementary school did last Friday evening. It was a lot of fun too. The gym was decked out in 50's style and they had music, dancing, and hula hoop contests for two hours straight. Throughout the rest of the school you could find games and lots of food and treats. I should add that the Ballard children won almost every game of limbo. Alright, so they have a slight advantage in lacking height. It was a fun night that ended with sweaty kids asking for their beds. That's when you know you've been to a quality activity.