The Runnin' Utes

Kimberly wrote: This is for December. Did you not get the November I sent? I sent it last week before we left, along with this one.

Myrna wrote: I didn't get it. that is why I made up something from what I knew. Go ahead 

and send it and I will add it and ship it out. Love, Mom

Kimberly wrote: Ok, Dec. is part of this email, and I resent November. Sorry. Shawn says go to bed, he says he didn't, but he was thinking it, or wishing it for himself. He hopes you are feeling better. Sorina was happy to get home and play with her toys and we don't think she will ever go to sleep tonight. Within 5 minutes of walking in the door she had changed into her Dora princess dress and slippers. She slept too much today and argued with the
kids every time they wanted to watch something beside Dora The Explorer. 

Please check this for errors and spelling. I was typing with Sorina on my lap. :-)

November has come and gone so quickly. He we sit on the 27th and head straight into the Christmas Season.

We had mild weather month. The boys were still off track at the beginning of the month, so since the weather was nice Dane hung our Christmas lights. It almost killed him not to be able to turn them on until after Thanksgiving. Dane also helped Grandpa Wilson with his Christmas lights and he helped Grandma put up the tree. He could hardly wait to get all are decorations out and put up. (He must be a bit like his mother-she likes the Christmas stuff out right after Thanksgiving, too.)

Toren turned 7 on the 3rd. We had a little birthday party for him at home. And we went swimming as a family with a few extra friends. He still has most of his birthday money. He bought some Magnetix and spend a few dollars at the dollar store. He cannot figure out what he would like to spend the rest of it on. And Santa is little dumbfounded this year, as well. We found out he is too young for Jr. Jazz this year, so the next sport for him will be soccer again in the spring.

Sorina is still wearing the Dora Princess dress (which is really a nightgown) and Snow White slippers. Occasionally, and with great effort, we are able to wrest it from her body and wash it. Mom will take her many places in the Dora Princess dress and slippers, but she draws the line at going to church. Mom already gets strange looks at stores and many people stop to tell Sorina how cute she looks which Sorina soaks up and preens quite nicely for her audience. Sorina plays great all by herself in her room. She has started to have friends over and we've found out how bossy she is. Everyone who plays with Sorina must want to be a princess, or so she tells them.

Parent/Teacher conferences went well. Dane graduated from speech class and his team fifth grade teachers just think he is the greatest. Everybody loves Dane. He's only a little ornery at home. Brigitta still has most of her teachers in her back pocket. They all like her as well. Toren is doing well, too, his teacher has a lot of boys this year and she loves them. Toren's teacher uses the light system. Everyone starts out on green andthen yellow for small infractions and red can be a note home or a phone call. Mom asks Toren everyday if his color has changed from green. He's had few yellows and a red. He's always quick to explain. Last week, he got in the van, and in a rush told mom that he didn't hit that kid that and that Cecillio looks just like him (meaning Toren) from behind and the kids that tattled were wrong and his teacher wouldn't listen. Mom, who volunteers in class, know that Cecillio is a bit shorter than Toren and has black hair. Hmm. :-) Isn't there a song about being "framed"? Toren is our first child to "test the rules a bit" at school.

Brigitta had her Young Women in Excellence dinner a couple of weeks ago. It was fun to learn what they were working on and see some of their projects. They had a weakest link theme in which they decided that they could never vote anyone the weakest link. They (the girls) all needed each other and would help one another. School is keeping Brigitta pretty busy. She is also doing Science Power up that the University of Utah Medical School again this year. She did find time to go to Harry Potter this month and she thinks it's the best movie yet!

We had a very nice time in Nephi this year for Thanksgiving. The weather was gorgeous. The boys were able to shoot their arrows and bb guns. We seemed a bit small, just 23 of us. Somehow, though, we seemed to take up all the room at the tables. I don't know how we do it with everyone there.

We spend some time getting yard work done and doing little Christmas shopping this past holiday weekend. On Saturday we had our first snow and it was beautiful. We attended the 2nd annual Nativity Showcase (nativities from around the world are displayed) at the Kaysville Tabernacle with Grandma Nonie. It was snowing beautifully as we left, so we stopped to watch the little Kaysville Light Parade and then drove through the Christmas lights in the Layton Park. The snow just made it so fun.

We are preparing to head to Disneyland this week with Kimberly's family, with about 22 of us. Her parent's gifts this year include a hotel stay and 2 day tickets to Disneyland. We did this about eight years ago over Christmas and had a lot of fun, and there were only 2 grandkids then, now there are 10. We decided it would be nicer to go when it was a lot less crowded. The week after Thanksgiving is suppose to be fairly quiet.

We wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season. We love you very much and feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family.

Shawn, Kimberly, Brigitta, Dane, Toren and Sorina