First few days of December & Part 1 of my Nativity Collection

 Ethan & Brienna playing "A Daughter of the King" while Tiffany listened.

 Putting up the Christmas tree.  We put Callum in charge this year.

 Zane put up the outside lights for us.  

 The kids say our tree shrinks each year--we can't even come close to putting on all the ornaments that we have (ones the kids have made over the years & others that have been given to us).  But we love our little tree!

 It's almost up!

 Ethan had the honor of putting the angel on the top this year.  We decided it would be his last year to put it on.

 Pretty!

Monday I pulled all my nativities out & put them on the table.  Then the fun part comes when I decide where to put them all.  (I clear off a few shelves of books/scrapbooks to make room). 

 My newest one--Laurie (& family) gave this to me over Thanksgiving.  So beautiful!  It's a snow-globe that lights up & snows when you push a button on the side.  The star also lights up.  And then you can wind it up and it plays "O Holy Night" (my favorite Christmas song if I had to pick only 1 song).  And...I love it even more because Curtis & Laurie found it at a yard sale--for only $3!!!!!!!!!!

Collection to be continued... 

BTW==you are more than welcome to try and count the nativities if you want.  Zane claims there are 92, but Callum came up with 87??  So I have about 90 :)

Family Pictures at Pamela's

 Brienna is such a beautiful young woman!!

 Can't believe she's a senior!

 Pictures of Ethan & Tiffany

 Cute couple :)

 Awwww---young love :)

 Ben was "glued" to Tiffany for most of the weekend.  

 Family picture--Ben didn't want to cooperate, so this is the only one that turned out!

 Stewart (& almost "Stewart") girls

 Emmalee & Brienna

 The only picture of Ben smiling.

 Ethan holding Ben so we could get a picture of the boys.

 adorable!

We are super excited for Ethan & Tiffany.  They will be getting married on April 12th in the Idaho Falls Temple.  (This is between semesters at college so it works for the both of them).

Thanksgiving at Aunt Pamela's & Ethan's Engagement

 We all went to Pamela's house for Thanksgiving (our family & Mom & Dad Carter).  And Ethan brought his fianace Tiffany over to meet our family.  Yes--he got engaged the day before Thanksgiving!!!  

Here is a picture of Ethan proposing:  (not great lighting, but love Tiffany's reaction)

Ethan carefully opened a new deck of cards & wrote this on the Queen of Hearts.  Then they played "Slap Jack".  Fun!

Tiffany is a sweetheart & fits right in with our family!  We were a bit concerned since she is an only child (from Florida) & we are a loud, crazy bunch!  But as you can see in the pictures... 

 She fit right in!  And Ben has a new sister!!  (dog pile on Ethan--everyone except Brienna)

 Ben & Emmalee doing a Loony-Toons puzzle.

 it's a round one that Janna Lee & I used to do when we were kids.

 All of Aunt Pamela's ducks piled onto Ethan & Tiffany

 Emmalee being the best potato peeler ever!  She loves to peel potatoes (and carrots). 

 Perparing Thanksgiving dinner (Mom & Dad Carter, Pamela & Rusty)

 Brienna had to take this picture==It was easier for Rusty to climb on the island/bar than to stand by me at the sink.  I actually forgot to take pictures of us eating our Thanksgiving dinner!  oops :)

The day after Thanksgiving, we get all of Pamela's Christmas decorations out & decorate her house.

 Putting the tree up--and then Ethan (& Tiffany) put the outside Christmas lights up.  Callum put most of the lights up inside the house & on the porch.

 This is a great picture--of my 7 kids.  I will definitely claim Tiffany as mine.  It's nice to gain another daughter! 

Fall Sports Awards & Misc. Pictures from November 2013

November is the beginning of our busy season--we had Fall sports awards.

The football team (Zane is 3rd from the left)

Zane lettered (actually he lettered last year, so he received his pin.  & all the boys lettered because we only have a varsity team)

Brienna was recognized as being an awesome volleyball manager.

Josey Grover & Brienna

Josey, Brienna, Amber Christensen, Lindsay Farr & Jenine Killian

The volleyball team.

 Brienna's certificate--& she also has a poster-sized picture of her.  It is awesome. I need to take a picture of it, or get a copy of the print.

So excited that Zane received most improved player!  He had an awesome year & lead the team in sacks.

Miscellaneous pictures that Ben took with the iPod

Mommy laying in bed with Ben

Ben playing with the cat, Parry.