Anniversary Safari

So, as we celebrated 9 years of marriage (hurray!), we decided to do something different. We stayed at a luxury lodge in Kruger National Park in South Africa for a couple of nights. The lodge was gorgeous, great food, super service, and they took us on night and morning game drives in an unenclosed vehicle to see the animals. We had some FANTASTIC drives. Our first night we drove for 40 minutes next to four adult lions, close enough to touch them. They are truly impressive. On our last day we saw wild dogs (the rarest predator in the park), a female lion with three cubs, a leopard sitting in a tree, herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, and tons more. Tobias has decided that South Africa is one of his favorite countries in the world. You can see some additional photos at http://tobiasbradfordphotography.shutterfly.com/60. Happy Anniversary!

Dancing girls

One of the things my girls love to do with friends is try on all of Madison's dresses. We bought enough for the next 3 years, so there is something that fits everyone. Sunday they did that for hours and danced to Christmas music; it was beautiful. Margaret and Katherine Taylor are the other girls in the pics--some of our best friends :)

My life in Africa

I thought these two pictures were totally funny. The ever present RAID spray bottle (ants are eating away our wooden floor) and dental floss right along with the salt and pepper: it is mango season :) Enjoy a giggle.

Favorite corners

These are some of my favorite places. I love decorating--especially for Christmas! The red lamp is new and one of my favorite things. I can't compare with Oprah, but I keep it simple. Red, gold, green and silver are our staples at Christmas. I really love candles and the girls love lighting them. We probably do it too often, but that is okay. Happy Holidays!

Madison the model

Mikaela

Can anyone's eyes get any bigger? What a cutie!!!

Christmas Elves

e
December 5th to 6th we have a visitor at our house: St. Nicolas. He fills the kids' shoes with "goodies." Madison thought for sure it would be ALL candy, but they got gum and playdough and elf hats. It was fun to see them so excited and it has been so rewarding talking about Christmas the whole month of December. We also do what is called Advent the four Sundays before Christmas where we read in Luke about Christ's birth. It is nice to have family time and to be able to think about and concentrate on the important side of Christmas. I have to say, I am sad about not seeing family this year, but it SO nice not to have to travel. We watch the Mormom Tabernacle Christmas concerts and read Christmas stories, watch Christmas movies and count down the days to Christmas with a chain. Each day we pick a chain and do a service. I love Christmas. Our house has such a lovely feeling to it. Merry Christmas everyone!

Holiday Hanging out

Thanksgiving was, as already mentioned, a bit slow. One of the things we did was go by some lights for our tree. Just a word of caution to anyone who has not yet decorated--plug lights in BEFORE winding them around the tree. Saves a headache later if they are burnt out. At the store Madison found the camping chair she knew in the pre-existence and so they played with them in the afternoon. Dad needed a rest so they watched a movie--like the blank stares and absolute concentration? I like the flapper girl headband-she is too cute! Madison wanted so badly to be "Mary" when she found the Christmas decorations (outfits for the nativity play we do each year.) The blue thing is part of the costume for Mary, but when I finally found the other part of it (after a few hours of begging on her part) she no longer liked it and decided to be an angel. Their costumes are long and flowing! :)

Home Made

This is a dress I made for Madison (with TONS of help) that is now about right for Mikaela. She is our little imp. I love her face :)

Summer girls

Two of our favorite summer time pictures of the girls while we were in D.C.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Even though
Tobias ended up really sick, we
made it through Thanksgiving :) Our tradition is to have a "pie night" the night before Thanksgiving so that there is room to actually enjoy the pies ;) Tobias was really sick so he didn't even get to enjoy it. Thursday was slow and not typical, but we enjoyed family time. Tobias actually cooked even thought he felt awful. The girls got their turkey legs and we decorated for Christmas. It was great.

Double-Tacking

Oh the pain! Five seconds before this she was giggling...five seconds after, giggling. We had a little "doctor day." Hence the pictures at the bottom of my kids' heads wrapped in bandages.
So....Double-Tacking comes from a movie called Spiderwick Chronicles. My kids love it and we have seen it a thousand times. One night we came home from date night and our girls were still awake at 9:30--already NOT a good sign. Then as I was closing their curtains I found this on the window sill and also the footprint in front of the mirror. I knew instantly what it was, but decided to ask Mikaela, "So, honey, what is this?" She answered very animatedly, "We were Double-Tacking Mom." "OH." I asked her to repeat herself a few times and then understood. In the movie there is a small magical creature named Thimbletack who helps protect the house from Goblins. One of the things they do is put salt on the window sills. SO....she got the name mixed up, but our house is protected very well from goblins as EVERY window sill in the upstairs is covered in salt. I keep finding more windows and more salt. Very protected :)


Should they always play doctor like this? Tempting.

Dishwashing

While doing the last post, I realized that a picture of Madison washing dishes would be funny. She was always naked, so I chose the most modes of the shots...but most she is totally naked and loving life :) So cute.

Random October pics

Per the request of someone, Tobias did dress up--cowboy style! I think he looks HOT in his hat and boots...but also like Garth Brooks :)
We domesticate our children young :) We should call them both Cinderella, but the truth is they don't do anything!! They wash dishes every once in a blue moon because they like water. "Helping" would be a stretch of the term. :)
The girls are practicing karate chops. The best part for them are the sound effects :)
Mikaela caught herself in the butterfly net and dresses herself funny! Actually, she just couldn't get the dress off and thought it was funny! :)