MELT MY HEART.

My baby sister wandered into the bathroom and climbed onto the toilet to watch me brush my teeth. After quickly losing interest, she clamored down to examine the bathroom scale. Andrew, who was sitting on the edge of the tub, brushing his own teeth, showed her how to step on and read the numbers.

My heart melted into a puddle on the floor when her weight was announced:

"Twenty-nine pounds."

holy cuteness.

Holly Jolley Christmas Party

The family Christmas party was a success. A few things made it especially memorable.

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1.) Santa himself joined the festivities,and it was mandatory that everyone sit on his lap...even Grandma.

2.) Our view from Grandma's window.

3.) I got to hang with these little squirts.

4.) And Andrew's shepherd costume consisted of a red, plaid bathrobe and a BYU hat. 

P.S. The little shepherd's headdress without a tie is hilarious.  

LITTLE TURKEYS

Our second Thanksgiving  celebration began with a family turkey bowl game at the high school stadium. This was Aurora's first year as a participant, and she sacked our quarterback! Not bad, eh?

We enjoyed our feast back at Grandma's house, before Utah's incredibly warm weather beckoned me outside. 

Colorful Becca and I herded the little ones outside for a snowball fight...with what little snow was left.

Utah still looked appropriately autumn-ish, while the Idaho we left behind looked like it was ready for Christmas. 

 My baby sisters. 
Aurora, look at me. 
Aria, scoot over so your face is in the sunlight. 
Belle, smile pretty, please. 
Aurora, hold still. 
Aria, stop talking for just a second. please. 
Say cheese!
Aurora, look at the camera!
Belle, will you please open your eyes?
Okay, ready?1...2...3!!!


That's basically how it went down. 

We all played with our beautiful, little cousins until the last of the snow had been scraped for Grandma's back lawn. 

I mean really. Aren't they the sweetest?

Little turkey...

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY--Nieces

I took some pictures of my nieces at Brad and Erin's wedding that I am particularly proud of.

But I have to say that it helps when your nieces look like models to begin with.

Lovely blue-eyed Nicole

Whitney with her flawless, graceful features.

That picture had such a classic, vintage look to it that I played around on the computer to give it burnt edges and an old photo quality. Just for fun.

I'm just IN LOVE with this shot.

Rachel, take our picture!

Here's another niece. She's the sweetest thing since...who knows what. When I expressed to Andrew my desire to EAT her, Andrew just told me I was weird.

Her back was to me when I wanted a picture. When I called out:

Adelle! Look at me!

This is what I got--that precious gal calmly holding her pose for a good 5-10 seconds. Andrew and I almost died at her cuteness.

A LETTER

Dear Jeff, Andrea, Braxton, Adelle, and Emmett,

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Thank you for coming to visit us in Rexburg. It was a joy to play with such beautiful, well-behaved kiddos, eat chocolate covered pomegranates, and enjoy such happy company. We want you to come back as soon as possible. Will tomorrow work? Our leaves need to be "raked" again.

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Lots of Love,
Andrew and Rachel



P.S. Thanks for letting me steal pics from your blog...

Jeff, Brax, and Andrew playin' in the leaves.



Adelle, Emmett, and I watching on

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FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--10/15/10

Well, friends, it's a new week. Let me share the focal points of the last seven days from both ends of the spectrum.



WORST:
We drove to Main Street to feed my ardent shaved ice addiction...only to find a devastatingly depressing sign posted in the window.

I immediately made Andrew drive me to Wal-Mart, where a frantic search for snow cone making machines ensued. I was eventually informed however, that the item won't be in stock until after winter.

And what a long, dark, miserable winter it will be...

BEST:

On the other hand, Andrew's sister was joined in matrimony this week. I love how weddings bring family from other states that you are rarely blessed to see. There are never enough excuses for gathering to enjoy the familial associations that make life so sweet. Especially in the temple.

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY- Hula

My cousin Aimee, recently e-mailed me a scanned image of our Grandma Jennie. My mom's mom. Look at the placement of that arm! So graceful...so perfect. She was a beautiful dancer, who taught the art to her children.

My mom is also a beautiful dancer. It's been years since I've seen her do it, but I've never since found a hula dancer whose movements were as refined and balletic in my eyes.

Mom tried to teach me from a young age as well. But I never could get the hang of the hip thing...




Thank you. This has been the first in a weekly installment of...

AWKWARD.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
Highly recommend. Will brighten any gloomy day. Enjoy just a taste:




Next time, let's give him a Father's Day Present that won't give him such a big head.



He said, “Wanna go to prom? She said, “I guess.”

One more reason to never fear the dentist.

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The Squatters.

In their face.

Authentic all the way down to the rock holding the door shut.

Sexy.

Creepy.

The Offering.

Let's face it. There's nothing more awkward than an exorcism.

The Klingers

PHOTOGRAPHY ATTEMPT

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Here's a peek at the engagements I took last month.


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Brad is bringing along these three gorgeous kids into the marriage. Check out Nicole's beautiful blue eyes!

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One of many of Alex's silly face expressions during this shoot. If I asked everyone for a smile, he would scowl, close his eyes, or glare at me. If I asked everyone for a serious face, he would be the only one with a bright, happy smile. =) .

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Sweet little Whitney...

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These were just a few of the pictures. Check out some of the best ones right HERE.

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BIG SISTER

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While in Utah, we met up with my baby sisters, who were visiting from Arizona. This is Aria...one of the twins.
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This is Belle. They are identical except for one thing...
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...Belle doesn't have any hair. Apparently, the girls found a pair of scissors and decided to give her a new do.

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But on the bright side, I have no problems telling them apart anymore.

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They are in their little pioneer dresses because we were at Pioneer Village at the This Is The Place Monument.

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I also saw my sister Aurora. She is six going on sixteen, and quite the little entrepreneur.

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I ended up paying a dollar for this original piece of artwork. It is of a Sunday school teacher saying "Jesus is Our God" while her students either play with "betend" guns or pretend to be dead. And God himself looks on from his throne in heaven. Pretty deep for a six-year-old.

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Mostly, I just want to know what Sunday school class she's been attending.

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It also looks like she's been busy sprouting into a pole bean these last couple months. I can't get over those lanky limbs!
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They were all at Pioneer Village to support my dad in artwork selling efforts of his own.

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He's actually pretty good. You can see more of his artwork HERE.
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Anyway, that's all for me.

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Coolest Big Sister Ever,

Rachel

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