Holiday Happening Thus Far

Our melting snowman!

The FIRST of many Christmas treats to be

made this coming week.

This BEAUTIFUL advent showed up in the mail a few weeks before December.

For a few years now Steven has wanted a calendar

like the one he remembers as a child.

With no machine or sewing skills I unfortunately could do little to help.

Mom Ballard did an amazing job AND made his wish come true.

It has been the HIGHLIGHT of every evening this month!

The 2011 Ballard CHRISTMAS Tree!

Thanks to Costco's Frasier Fur's for $29.99, and,

the Ballard children's 24 yearly Hallmark ornaments.....

it's one BEAUTIFUL tree.

Don't worry, we have decided to invest in higher quality lighting for next year.

Our "service" manger.

We did this with the kiddos a few years ago using a real manger and hay.

This route however has been just as effective AND much cleaner!

I work with an AMAZING group of girls at church.

They put together trees and gifts for a local shelter that houses families.

The girls did an incredible job. I feel blessed to work with them!

We're not quite sure what to think of the Santa that snuck up behind us at

WAL-MART, but..........O.K.

We DISCOVERED Krispy Kreme's! Oh no!

These are the kiddo's pirate faces.

I'm not sure why they chose pirate faces,

but Kadyn's would probably have to be my favorite.

The younger girls and I have enjoyed many festive turns on the mall carousel

this Christmas SEASON!

We have also ENJOYED the Nestle Toll House cart right next to it!

Shhhhhh....don't tell.

I had the good fortune of being placed on the Christmas Party committee for our ward.

We decided to RECREATE Bethlehem.

By order of Caesar Augustus all families were called to be "taxed".

You could dress for the time period so OF COURSE the girls were Bethlehem animals and Thatcher their shepherd.

We had various stores kids could visit and "buy" needed goods with

a provided knapsack of pennies.

Bethlehem had a cafe and bakery, along with a candle and pottery making shop.

It even had a candy and toy store with dradles and chocolate coins.

It was GREAT fun!

The photo above is me and a good friend trying to shut the closet doors once everything was put away.

I'm A Big Girl Look What I Can Do!

Azure Ballard is now six months old. She discovers new things each day - like her voice, her fingers, and her ability to pick up anything within an arms reach. She smiles continually, melts our hearts hourly, and still retains the bright blue eyes that match her name.

"What? Too many?"

"Dad's reading in Alma, I prefer Pride And Prejudice"

"Sissy is SO funny"

Thanksgiving 2011

Last week we experienced our first and last Thanksgiving in the St. Louis area and I must say, for moving year for year and not knowing anyone, we keep making out like bandits! Last year we lived just a few hours from Steven's sister Wendy and her family. We visited often and made many wonderful memories. Fast forward one year and we still live a few hours from Wendy, plus, a few hours from Steven's sister Tamara and her family. You can't often move 400 miles and have the good fortune of placing yourself smack dab in the middle of cousins galore. This year Tamara's family was able to come from Indiana since Steven was on call and couldn't leave the area. We therefore enjoyed three full days of family, food, and fun. Our kiddos were ecstatic to finally experience a "sleepover", we were overjoyed to finally share City Museum and our favorite park, and Ballard grandchildren 27 and 28 (of 29) were finally able to meet and smile at each other. It was a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend, and once again we are left in complete awe with the many gifts our Heavenly Father gives to His children.

Time Truly Flies

Our Ryley has entered the double digits and turned the "big ten" on 11/11/11. She celebrated with an early release from school, lunch with Mom (plus little ones), and ice skating with friends and siblings. Later we enjoyed cake and ice cream, presents, and a movie night with a few of her closest friends. Steven and I are in complete awe with how time flies and even more so with the amazing young lady that Ryley has blossomed into. For this we take no credit and can only chalk it up to her own inherent gifts and talents. She is kind to all around her, smart as a whip, and her younger siblings couldn't ask for a better "oldest" sister. She loves animals, has her Dad's ear for the piano, and is counting down the days until she can finally have a dog. We love that she loves to read, is obsessed with Pokemon and Pet Shops, and still chooses to watch Scooby Doo over anything else. She is a great blessing to our family and one we will be forever grateful for. Happy Birthday Ryley!

Halloween '11

Halloween ran a little different for the kiddos this time around. Our church hosts a trunk or treat and in years past it has taken place on Halloween Eve. With the excitement of attending that function our kiddos have done very little door to door trick or treating. This year changed however when the activity got scheduled for the week prior, and thus, the Ballard children's first experience with attempting Halloween the "old fashioned way" came a few weeks ago. We began the evening with our traditional pizza, donuts, and hot chocolate followed by a "marathon" of candy excitement. For being their first time running around a neighborhood in the dark (with Mom and Dad's supervision of course) we could not have asked for a more lively and safe situation. The majority of homes were all lit up and a good portion of the neighbors had gone above and beyond to decorate in the spirit of Halloween. It was a fantastic evening with Haley Juliana Ballard winning the prize for "fastest door to door runner 2011". We closed our evening with Steven and I inheriting all candies containing nuts, coconut, or toffee. Hey, once in awhile having picking eaters can actually benefit Dad and Mom!

This year we had two ballerinas, one dog, one cat, and a very serious Luke Skywalker.