Love,
Afton and Sam
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Dear Daddy,
Love,
Afton and Sam
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Christmas Lights
This week was much better than last week. No one threw up.
I took a basic photography class with a friend before Thanksgiving. Since then, I've been practicing taking pictures in "manual" mode. Here are a few random shots:
It's fun to practice. For me, at least.
Wednesday night Dan and I went on a dinner date. It was fun. Dan is the best. Saturday Gretchen watched our kids while we went to the temple. It was really nice. Later that day we took them dinner and then we headed over to Prestonwood Forest to look at their lights. It's a big neighborhood where each street has a different theme and people really get into it. It was so busy. Everyone else had the same idea we did.
I thought this house was cool.
The winner for this year was a house who set their lights to music. We tuned our radio to a certain station. They had choreographed lights for 2 songs. I got some of one on video. I didn't have the best angle...
But it was pretty awesome. I'm guessing this song is from some musical version of "A Christmas Carol." I'd never heard it before. And I didn't really think about it before, but I noticed now that their neighbor's house is for sale... I wonder if this crazy light show has anything to do with it.
I took a basic photography class with a friend before Thanksgiving. Since then, I've been practicing taking pictures in "manual" mode. Here are a few random shots:
Wednesday night Dan and I went on a dinner date. It was fun. Dan is the best. Saturday Gretchen watched our kids while we went to the temple. It was really nice. Later that day we took them dinner and then we headed over to Prestonwood Forest to look at their lights. It's a big neighborhood where each street has a different theme and people really get into it. It was so busy. Everyone else had the same idea we did.
I thought this house was cool.
The winner for this year was a house who set their lights to music. We tuned our radio to a certain station. They had choreographed lights for 2 songs. I got some of one on video. I didn't have the best angle...
But it was pretty awesome. I'm guessing this song is from some musical version of "A Christmas Carol." I'd never heard it before. And I didn't really think about it before, but I noticed now that their neighbor's house is for sale... I wonder if this crazy light show has anything to do with it.
If the video doesn't work, try copying this link:
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
What we've been up to:
Last Friday, the stake adjacent to ours hosted its annual Nativity Viewing/Christmas Program. They have a huge room set up with hundreds of different nativities. At the same time, they have musical performances. While we were there, the local high school orchestra was playing Christmas music. It was really nice. I love this event. We went two years ago and I fell in love with a few mosaics. They were there again this year so I took some pictures.
I just love those. I want to do something like that some day.
The next day our neighborhood had its Winter Festival. No winter festival is complete without camel rides:
(I know, I didn't get the camel. It was just the two of us at that point, so I had to take our picture.)
Train rides:
A petting zoo: (Sam loved chasing around that baby pig. I made him stop after a minute or two.)
After Afton woke up from her nap, she and Dan joined us for the hayride:
The kids also made sand necklaces (which broke open and spilled sand everywhere) and reindeer candycanes.
Santa was there but the line was too long.
Sunday I got pretty sick after church and spent a lot of time in the bathroom.
Monday afternoon/night Dan got what I had and spent all night and the next day (his birthday) feeling sick and barfing.
Here's the happy shot before he blew out his candles.
Wasn't he the picture of good health? Poor guy. (Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.)
Friday Dan and I dropped the kids off at Kirk and Gretchen's to head over to Dan's work's Christmas party. Right before we got to the guy's house, Kirk called to say that Sam threw up all over the place. So we turned around, picked up the kids, and spent the rest of Friday night holding Sam and a bucket. He slept on our bedroom floor and every time he stirred at all, I freaked out and flew out of bed to make sure he wasn't going to barf all over. He threw up about six times that night. I caught all but one. I've discovered a hidden talent.
Saturday morning was our church Breakfast with Santa.
Success. That's as close as Sam got.
Last Friday, the stake adjacent to ours hosted its annual Nativity Viewing/Christmas Program. They have a huge room set up with hundreds of different nativities. At the same time, they have musical performances. While we were there, the local high school orchestra was playing Christmas music. It was really nice. I love this event. We went two years ago and I fell in love with a few mosaics. They were there again this year so I took some pictures.
The next day our neighborhood had its Winter Festival. No winter festival is complete without camel rides:
Train rides:
A petting zoo: (Sam loved chasing around that baby pig. I made him stop after a minute or two.)
Sunday I got pretty sick after church and spent a lot of time in the bathroom.
Monday afternoon/night Dan got what I had and spent all night and the next day (his birthday) feeling sick and barfing.
Here's the happy shot before he blew out his candles.
Friday Dan and I dropped the kids off at Kirk and Gretchen's to head over to Dan's work's Christmas party. Right before we got to the guy's house, Kirk called to say that Sam threw up all over the place. So we turned around, picked up the kids, and spent the rest of Friday night holding Sam and a bucket. He slept on our bedroom floor and every time he stirred at all, I freaked out and flew out of bed to make sure he wasn't going to barf all over. He threw up about six times that night. I caught all but one. I've discovered a hidden talent.
Saturday morning was our church Breakfast with Santa.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Birthday boy
Last night was Dan's last night of his 20s. How do you think he spent it?
A) On a fun date with me.
B) Buying a motorcycle.
C) Violently throwing up.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you guessed A, that's how I wish we spent the evening.
If you guessed B, that's how Dan wishes he spent the evening.
If you guessed C, you are correct. Even this morning (his 30th birthday) he's been sick. If you've got a minute, leave Dan some birthday love to tell him how great the 30s are. I'm sure he needs it!
Thanks, Dan, for being such a wonderful husband, father, and best friend! I love you so much and can't imagine life without you. I hope your day gets better. (So far, it can't really get much worse.)
A) On a fun date with me.
B) Buying a motorcycle.
C) Violently throwing up.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
If you guessed A, that's how I wish we spent the evening.
If you guessed B, that's how Dan wishes he spent the evening.
If you guessed C, you are correct. Even this morning (his 30th birthday) he's been sick. If you've got a minute, leave Dan some birthday love to tell him how great the 30s are. I'm sure he needs it!
Thanks, Dan, for being such a wonderful husband, father, and best friend! I love you so much and can't imagine life without you. I hope your day gets better. (So far, it can't really get much worse.)
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Thanksgiving festivities
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Since my family won't be together for Christmas this year, my parents thought it would be nice to get everyone together over Thanksgiving. So my parents, my brother's family, and my sister's family all came down to Houston to see me and Kirk.
My parents came on Tuesday. We went, as did every other Houstonian, to the grocery store to stock up on Thanksgiving necessities.
Wednesday was a trip to the park, a few trips to the airport, dessert baking, and secret santa shopping.
Thursday we cooked and baked and ate way too much delicious food. It was our first time hosting Thanksgiving in 7 years of marriage. Sam slept through most of the meal. After dinner we opened our secret santa gifts and played Celebrity.
Friday morning we held our first ever Cheney Family Turkey Trot. Seven of us ran a 2.9 (approximately) mile loop around our neighborhood. Craig won. Here he is with his trophy - the coveted Golden Squirrel.
As a sidenote, it's really fun to buy ordinary objects and spraypaint them gold. It really adds a little extra pizazz.
Later we went downtown to Discovery Green to ice skate, but the rink was closed due to warm weather. So the kids played in the splash pad. After naps we got together for dinner and played Celebrity again.
Saturday we went to Kemah Boardwalk which is really fun. The little kids loved the smaller rides and the adults all rode the Boardwalk Bullet - a fast wooden rollercoaster.
Saturday night, Gretchen coaxed Charlotte into taking some of her first steps.
(You gotta love Gretchen's face.)
Then we attempted a family picture. Thanks, Kirk.
The house has been pretty quiet this week. Come back soon, everyone!
My parents came on Tuesday. We went, as did every other Houstonian, to the grocery store to stock up on Thanksgiving necessities.
Wednesday was a trip to the park, a few trips to the airport, dessert baking, and secret santa shopping.
Later we went downtown to Discovery Green to ice skate, but the rink was closed due to warm weather. So the kids played in the splash pad. After naps we got together for dinner and played Celebrity again.
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