love, the bankheads

day

Christmas morning was so fun with just our little family. Ellie was so excited that Santa ate his cookies and milk and the reindeer ate their apples and carrots. I'm a little burned out from blogging so much so lets just get to the pictures.


My mom and dad came over about 9:00 for breakfast.


My dad got Justin some needed wrenches and Cody loved them as well.


This pictures shows quite a few of our presents. The "barbie with a pink dress", slinkie, leapfrog learning game for the TV, camelbak for me, big legos, and balloons.


For special gifts the wrapping is just as important as what's inside. This was from my mom to Ellie.


At lunch we went back out to Mapleton and spent the rest of the day there. The kids got spoiled but the rule was that the toys they got from grandma stay there which is fine by me...I don't think they would even fit in our house anyway!


Cody would not take a nap...so tired but trying to comprehend the wonder of...


a basketball hoop!

What a fun Christmas! One of the funnest things we got was a panini maker which we have used for more than a couple panini parties with friends and family since.

eve

Christmas Eve started out at my moms with her side of the family.


Second cousins playing "Duck Duck Goose"


The requisite nativity; Ellie played the angel from the 1920's.


Notice the bottom right hand corner of this pic.

Then we headed out to Mapleton for a second fabulous dinner and to get the kids warmed up for the "spoiling of the grandkids" by Grandma Jannie.




Code's favorite gift of the night from Brit.

And I got a sewing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Ash!

playing around

Some things I decided this week:

I LOVE my kids
I want more babies right now

a felty christmas

This year I guess you could say I like felt.

Exhibit A:



My "cody" tree. This was one of those projects that's fun for the first hour and torture for the next 20. Originally I had thought I would just have a simple easy tree but then I get silly ideas like cutting out animals from felt and simple goes out the window. I do like how it turned out but the horses make me think of this cartoon everytime I look at them and it freaks me out a little. Oh and the wood ornaments are my favorite thing ever. My mom and dad made them in 1978. But when I was six or so they let me paint them...and ruin them. My dad tried to fix them for me but the paint wouldn't sand so he made me all new ornaments. What a sweet daddy.

Felt Exhibit B - E:

Definatley NOT made my me but check out our cousin Kara's extreme stocking inspired by mine.

Felt Exhibit F:

My awesome steal of a deal felt lamp from Anthro. I got this for 50% off just because I said, "Umm, this is a little dirty, do you have any others?" Crazy huh? Every time I go there from now on I'm going straight for the dirty things.

Now a few more felt free pics. I had a lot of fun decorating this year. This is the first home we've lived in where I feel like our home fits our personality.

cute tags to download

Just came across this so I thought I'd share it. Click here for the PDF.

snow!

Molly and Ethan, they are pretty scrumptious kids too.

straws for baby jesus

Grandma Jannie: "Ellie, go get straw for the baby Jesus!"
Ellie: "Ok!" (most likely thinking, "Grandma is so wierd, but whatever floats her boat.")

Ellie returns from the kitchen with green straws for the baby:

mom, pick your favorite

My MIL had this great idea to do a nativity photo shoot for her Christmas cards. We were going to set it up in the barn but it was so cold and snowy we stayed inside. I wasn't sure they would turn out but I think they look fantastic! Thanks, grannie jannie!

nothing like a good book

in the buff. Though it doesn't look like the duck is having such a good time.

i love to ride my bicycle.

We just got back from a weekend in St. George with cousins and siblings. We biked ourselves silly and I have the scrapes and bruises to prove it. I don't think there are many families that have this many 20-30 something kids that can all have fun biking together. Justin and I also did a road ride around snow canyon and some of St. George that was really fun and did some riding on our own, switching babysitting duties.


On the way to Gooseberry.




Matt and Jess at the end of the trail.


John and Kara


Justin and I. Missing are Brett and Brittany.


Climbing with John and Kara above St. George. It was so warm and fun to be climbing again. We had to make a body brigade along the edge to keep our kids from rolling down the scree slope. That was a fun game.


Justin workin it.


My hands still hurt. Thanks for taking us guys!
I had to add this. Ellie saw this and said, "Look at your chubby legs!"


Out of everything we did, this was my favorite.

body worlds

Ellie got her cast off on the 3rd up at Primary Children's. Afterwards we decided to make it a fun day and went to the Body Worlds exhibit in downtown. It was pretty amazing but the part I wanted to record was a couple of Ellie's responses:

Dad: "What do you notice about these people that is a little bit different?"
Ellie: whispering, "They're not wearing any clothes."

Mom: "How do you know if they are a boy or a girl?"
Ellie: "I just look at their eyes."

Kids are so cute and innocent.

my hubby is going CRAZY!

For seven years, I have exercised and Justin hasn't. Two months ago, something clicked and he decided to get in shape and now he exercises like a maniac and I feel like a lazy bum compared to him. Last Friday night, he and a friend rode around Utah Lake (90 miles), at night - night as in he got home at 4:00 am. They said they were cold and tired. Ummm, ya think?

i thought of it first!

Well, I didn't get my tree decorated today, but I did make a new blog banner! After I made it I googled the term "blogmas" and it looks like everybody is using it. So for the record, I thought of that word alls bys myself.

the feast

First off, doesn't this make your mouth water? My contribution to the feast was cranberry relish. Recipe: chop fresh cranberries, oranges and apples. Add sugar. It's soooo good.


The day started with my dad coming over early to watch the kids - and here are the photos he took at breakfast. Justin and I ran the Orem Turkey Trot and loved it. This run is one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions.

Now, come inside and see what our feast was like...


Welcome! This is my mom and dad's new home that I love with all my heart. My mom and I made the door swag from weeds on the side of the road.


Only four little kids this year...someone needs to have a baby.


Decor from nature...decorate for the season, not the holiday. My unsolicited tip for the day.


Cuties Grace and Lauren.




Sarah and Ellie


My cousin Emily put together a little service project for some single mothers in rehab, so this is some of the group writing words of encouragement to them. Following this, pie and a movie. Perfect.