Houston Rockets Game

Here in Houston our place is surrounded by sports teams. We have been lucky enough to score a few different tickets to these games over the last three years. Wow! We have been here for three years now.

Anyhow, I had a Relief Society activity this week that I wanted to go to. It just so happened that Philip was also given tickets to the Rockets game for the same night. He and his co-worker who also happens to be in our ward decided to take the girls for a game night.

It worked out perfect because we were able to go to the activity and the girls enjoyed the late night with their dads and each other. Here they are enjoying their cotton candy and the spirit a good game brings.

I handed Philip the camera and insisted he take a few pictures of their night. So he even got one of himself. Apparently the game was great, and went into triple overtime. So the girls were even more excited that they got to stay up later.

Daddy daughter dates are the best. Seriously I love that Phil takes Summer on these special outings. She really looks forward to them and talks about them for some time afterword.

Ringing in the New Year!!

Well, we had a pretty uneventful New Years Eve. The only thing that was of interest or concern rather was Summer enjoying the New Years.

Summer decided to ring in the New Year by chopping off her hair. What a wonderful way to celebrate huh. Yeah right! Actually I am lucky that it was not that bad.

During dinner I looked at Summer as her hair brushed her neck. I noticed a rather fresh cut in her hair and it was much shorter than the last. Immediately I knew she had cut it. I told her to turn her head and that is how we confirmed it. She didn't want to admit it at first, however, after realizing that she would get into far more trouble by lying she confessed. The poor 4 year old probably thought that she made a marvelous change in her play salon. I asked her where the hair was that she cut, and she directed me to her garbage can in her bathroom.

Seriously we are so lucky that it was only this much. Unfortunately I will never ever forget the day that I did the same thing only way worse and to my cousins hair. I was at her house playing, and I suppose we were playing salon or something. Well, I decided it would be glamorous to cut my cousin's ponytail off. I can't quite remember if it was up half way or if it was a full ponytail. All I remember was her mom coming home. I am pretty sure we both got in loads of trouble from that. I felt so bad, and it still haunts me to this day.

Luckily Hair does grow back, but for some unfortunate children who decide to cut their own hair it really stinks. I have seen some pretty bad self haircuts, but I still don't think they top cutting a ponytail off.

Cupcake Fun

Last night we got to babysit some of Summer's little friends. She was so excited for them to come over and asked all day long if they were coming yet. When the time finally arrived she was even more happy.

For Christmas Summer got this cupcake maker from my mom that makes enough frosting and cake batter for one cupcake at a time. It is perfect for them to make a fun treat. She has been hoping for some friends to come make cupcakes with her ever since she got it.

It was quite messy because we made some of the frosting too runny. Then, while frosting Summer's cupcake we put the cupcake on the spinner thing wrong and her cupcake toppled over a few times getting frosting everywhere.

Each took their own turn pouring their packet of batter in the bowl and mixing it while the others cooked theirs in the microwave.

They all had fun, and I am glad that I only had to make three cupcakes and not 24.

Vancouver Love and Belated Christmas!

We were fortunate enough to get away for Christmas and visit with Philip's family in Vancouver, BC. It was so nice there, and I love the area more and more with each visit. It was nice to spend time with family and enjoy the festivities of Christmas together. I can't wait for the next visit.

Summer enjoyed the airplane most of the time, and pretty much colored the whole way there.

These twin little girls are little friends of Summer's. They are her aunt Laurel's nieces. She had so much fun playing with them. Thanks again Candise for watching her.

Of course Summer was so excited to see her cousin Abby. She still says that was the best part about the whole visit was playing with Abby.

Ok, so recently I found out that Kinder eggs are in fact banned from the US. I posted about my mother-in-law getting them taken away once at the border. I never could figure out why until my brother-in-law sent me an article a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately I deleted it after reading, so I can't share it with you.

So, since they were illegal Santa brought this giant one for Summer to open before we crossed the border. They put these out at Christmas and Easter. Below is the picture of the toy capsule inside. It really was huge.

Summer enjoyed some of the chocolate Kinder ball for breakfast. Actually I think that is about all she ate while we were there. She is a true Harvey and has a huge love for chocolate.

It was such a good trip, and we were sad to leave, however it is always nice to be home.

Since we had to pack for a trip we were not able to bring our gifts with us. We left almost everything here. So, Sunday after church we had a belated Christmas and opened up our gifts.

This is a Lego set that Philip gave to Summer. It is so cute because it is a girly one with horses and a house and stuff like that. Philip is so excited about it because he loves Lego and looks forward to spending some time putting it together with her.

This is a little petticoat skirt that I got for her. She was a little confused at first when she opened the mass of chiffon. She looked at me with a confused little face and said "FABRIC!"

She was a little more happy when she unraveled it to find a skirt and not a bunch of fabric.

Summer has been so excited for Christmas this year, and has made it so much fun. I am a little sad it is all over, and that it is almost 2010. I can't believe how fast time goes.

Well, I hope you all had a great Christmas, and that you do have a happy new year.

Songfest with Summer's Preschool Class

Here is Summer with her 3 wonderful teachers. We are so proud of how well she is doing in school. She is always excited to go in the morning. Her teachers are excellent and we are so happy that she thinks so too.

Here is a little clip of some of the songs they sang at Summer's Christmas Songfest.

Summer was not so happy in this picture. She was doing so good until about half way through all the songs, and then she broke down and started crying. The poor thing is just so shy, however, she was so excited about it at the same time. She really did do so good, and I love hearing her sing the songs. I need to get a video of her singing them all by herself.

The kids were all so cute. It was so funny to see the cute actions they had to go with the songs. After the songfest was over the teachers helped the students pass out gifts they made for their parents. We are not to open it until Christmas, so after I open it and return to Houston I will post a picture of Summer's handmade creation.

We are off to Vancouver for Christmas, so I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Fun with Summer

This is a brief update on our Christmas festivities. Summer was so excited to decorate the gingerbread house this year. If you haven't ever bought the ready to make ones at the store, you should try it. I think it is great because it comes with everything and it is still fun and yummy for the kids. Our roof kept slipping off, but eventually after about 4 tries it finally stayed with a slit down the middle. Summer did a great job with the candy.
Usually I like to have a cute tree, with the decorations placed nicely. This year, we were given a pre lit tree from our friends who were so generous in passing on it to us. The lights didn't work, and we didn't want the tree to go to waste. So Phil did a great job tediously pulling all the old lights off so we could string new ones on. By the time we finally got the lights on the tree Summer could not stand waiting any longer to put the ornaments on.
So, we let her have at it. She placed them all in one general location near the bottom center of the tree. We decided to just let her keep it that way this year. She has been taking the ornaments off almost everyday and rearranging them. Maybe she will still be doing that when she has her own tree someday.

Well, I thought that if our tree was going to be fit for kids that we may as well get into it more. So, Summer and I popped popcorn and strung popcorn all around the tree. It was fun, and it kept her entertained for a couple days. I actually like the way popcorn turned out.
She loves Christmas, and looks forward to every moment of festive fun. Oh, and whenever we go to the post office she takes a label and sticks it on her shirt. I must have forgotten it was there and never took it off all day. I guess she is ready to be shipped out for Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all of you incase I don't get another post in before then.

Snow Does Fall in Houston!

Summer asked me this morning if it was close to Christmas because it was snowing outside. She is so excited and loves it. It is beautiful, and we are enjoying every minute of it.