The Big Game

Ali decided that we needed to have a powder puff football game at Grandma's house. (We recently watched her favorite babysitter, Ariel, play). So, we decided it would be good to do it while the turkey was cooking. She figured out the teams. Her team, which included herself, her Dad and Grandma was the BYU team (obviously). The other team which was Grandpa and Mom was the Utah team. She was a little disappointed that we wouldn't have anyone to be the audience but we talked her into letting Mojo (the dog) cover that. Here she is demonstrating her touchdown victory pose. Here is Ali trying to tackle Grandpa on the run. And here he is tackling/tickling her. Ali made John hold the ball while she ran to kick it. She was disappointed when he didn't yank it away and made him re-do the whole thing just like Charlie Brown. It was so funny! She even fell on her back (in slow motion and very carefully) while screaming AAARGH!! like Charlie does. I couldn't stop laughing and begged her to do it again so I could get video. But, because we were all laughing she declined. Ali quickly lost interested in the game and spent most of the time playing on the playground with Grandpa.

"Happy Turkey Day!"

This year we spent Thanksgiving down at Dad and Bonnie's house. Though they live less than an hour away, we opted to spend the whole weekend down there. It was great for us to get away for a while for a mini vacation. The only problem is that now Ali is asking when she can do it again without us. "Just me and Grandma and Grandpa." Ali had a lot of fun cooking with Grandma. Grandma lets her do so many more things than Mom does. Here she is making the pumpkin pie. Grandma let her pour in the condensed milk all by herself. Here is Ali helping make the homemade noodles for the turkey noodle soup. I think she ate more noodles raw than she did cooked. On Saturday we got to go with Grandma and Grandpa to pick out their tree and then help decorate it. Ali's favorite part was being allowed to use the stepladder. She thought it was funny that she was bigger than me (Mom). This is a close up I took to put in her yearly Christmas ornament. I just thought I'd share it.

Ali's first talk

A couple of weeks ago Ali gave her first talk in Primary. I was a little worried that John was going to have to be the one to give it. She didn't want anyone to hear her practice- even me. The Saturday before her talk we were babysitting a 3 month old and she wouldn't practice her talk unless I had the baby turned away so he wasn't looking at her (he was sleeping but she was insistent). We also had her practice in the Primary room before all of the kids came in. When it sounded like someone was turning the doorknob to come into the room she would immediately freeze and stop talking. Here she is practicing with John. Since she can read, we simply typed out her talk and she read it. It was about being thankful so she held up some pictures of things we should be thankful for. (Food, family, the world etc.) She decided to hold the picture up for the JR Primary to see (they sit on the side that could see her holding it) and then she would give it to John to show the SR Primary. He kept forgetting during rehearsal and she had to keep reminding him how to do it the right way. It was really funny until I realized where she gets that from... So, when the time came to give her talk, she stepped right up to the microphone and started reading her talk. It was perfect! I couldn't believe this was the same child! We were just so proud. It was a moment we'd waited for for so long and weren't disappointed. Later that day I got an e-mail from the Primary President that I'd thought I'd share. (Mostly for posterity's sake since after I copy and paste it here I'm deleting it.) "Sunday was sooo awesome, when she gave her talk so sweetly and fervently. Everyone in the room hushed as she captured their undivided attention…. I remember thinking, too bad for anyone sitting in another room of the church as they were missing the most spiritual and uplifting moments of the day. I felt like if all we had for Primary that day was her talk and the song, that would have been enough."

Happy Halloween

I was chastised a few weeks ago by a friend at church for not updating our blog often enough. Of course she is right so I am trying to make amends by posting some semi-recent pictures. Ali was a knight for Halloween this year. This is Ali with Sami (the little girl I babysit) at the ward trunk or treat party. Here she is at the Halloween party at school. She is on the pumkin walk. There was no limit as to how many times you could win so she spent the majority of her time doing this. And again... ...and again. She did pause for snacks though. Here is Ali's whole class. Teacher Vicki was grapes and Ali thought that was the funniest thing ever! She still giggles about it when she remembers. On Halloween we went to some friend's house for dinner and trick or treating. This is Ali's friend Eli. They were both thrilled when they found out that they were both going to be knights. Eli was certain Ali was going to be something girly. (By the way, this was a complete coincidence.)