Trains And Snuggles

Aunt Kathy and Uncle Alan gave us an awesome old Lionel train set for Christmas years ago.  It has been a fun tradition to get it out at Christmas time and play with it.  The kids enjoy it every year.  This year they sent us some more tracks and another car.  The kids had a blast configuring new layouts for the tracks.  There is something about working with wires and electricity that makes it super cool.  Thanks so much Uncle Alan and Aunt Kathy!

Another thing I love about winter time is all the snuggling that goes on around the house.  Every where I look someone is cuddled up trying to keep warm with someone else.  Josh has been in the Lay-Z-Boy with Richard a lot lately.  You're never too old to love your Daddy. 

Alger Thanksgiving

We started the morning with some usual silliness.

Then moved on to food preparation.  Susanna helped me make the squash casserole and Richard made a turkey.

Here is a picture with almost every one who came, minus Leilani who kindly took the picture for me and Gavin and Cadie's family, who came a little later.

I love to see all the cousins playing together. They don't get to see each other nearly enough.  We are all spread out over town and one family in Idaho so with all the busy schedules it is hard to get together very often.

Daniel with the next generation of cousins, the great grandkids!

Kristine and Aric joined us via Skype.

I love the smirk on Granda's face.  He is such a tease.  

Grandma and Natalie

I love this little family!

Work it, Gav! and his pretty wife smiling in the background.

Tim LOVES the babies!  He and Freddy fell asleep in the bouncy house while everyone was eating and talking.  So cute!

Peter pushing around his Great-Great-Grandpa Afton's cart. Every grandkid has had time pushing this cart around. 

These guys spent a long time clearing away the leaves under the pomegranate bushes/trees, they are huge!  It made a cool hide out. 

Someone got me

Another fun thing about Grandma and Grandpa Alger's is the tire swings!

Richard and his sweet Mama

Nate

Tim is still our tree climber, if there is a tree he will climb it.

Grandpa and the little girls under the pomegranate bushes.

My big girl, Sara

We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family members.  I love the family I married into as my own.  

Adios To The Hyundai

Josh had his first major car accident.  Luckily, he wasn't hurt and no one else was involved.  He was going 25 mph down a very washboard like dirt road and fishtailed.  He tried to regain control but slid into the irrigation ditch, his foot was then bounced off of the brake and on to the gas sending him down the ditch a ways before he realized what happened and came to a stop.  He had a little whiplash but the car didn't fare as well.  We figured it was God's gentle way of saying it was time to replace our falling apart car before someone really got hurt.

The skid marks

The black marks on the left side of the ditch show where he landed in the ditch and then how far down the ditch he ended up.

It makes a fun story to tell his kids, but scary to tell his parents.  We now are the proud owners of a 2010 Prius and LOVE it!

Phoenix Temple Cultural Celebration

I, Richard, is writing this up since I was there with the kids.

We all love participating in the cultural celebration. I think it left a lasting impression, especially on all those who participated. 

Sara must have missed the duck lips memo.

David Watkins and his Daughter Brianna

I think Justin is pretending to be getting drunk off of milk or punch, Everyone had a great time together. 

Brandon, Nate and Emma

The girls skirts were beautiful

The whole Copper Canyon ward.

They all were trying to sit on each other's laps and then they all fell like Domino's 

Josh

Andrew

Makaila and Tim

Our ward brought frozen yogurt and cheese. Sara loved it

Nathan Alger, Nathan Tanner and some photo bombers.

Sara and Lilli

This is those from our ward that we could get to come over for a picture in front of the temple facade. The facade was incredible, Steph's cousin, Wendy helped make it. It had lights and at the end it sparkled during the finale. 

Mariah and Ira

Brandon, Emma and Andrew

Mariah and Meghann

Here is a video of the whole Celebration. We will remember it forever.