The New Year Begins-2009

The Pollan Family Christmas...Utah Style

This was a first white Christmas for many of these Texans and I believe they thoroughly enjoyed their time....snowblowing, snow ball fights, sledding, snow fort building, (you know it's a big fort when you use the snoblower to build the walls up), lights on temple square, target shooting in the bitter cold, walking the dog on chucker ridge...We were so happy to see them come and can't wait for our next trip to Dallas. I still hear from my Ali that Nanna Laura and Pappa aren't here anymore. A fun holiday was had by all!!! Below are some photos from our adventures!

Temple Square trip...it was gorgeous!!

Ali got a hold of Nana's eye liner stick and decided to make herself into a kitty....like at Halloween. Meow. Below is Ali in her new Tutu....she is such a girl! I love it.

Carter got a bee bee gun from Dad for Christmas....Byron is trying to encourage him to go hunting with him. Carter doesn't like to hunt because you just walk all over and don't do anything. Watch out neighborhood, bee bee guns are trouble. The boys all took a target practice trip to chucker ridge and they had lots of fun shooting at cans of diet coke...they all did quite well and brought home the cans as proof.

The Forts!!! My boys don't build snowmen, they build forts...All kids, old and young had fun constructing two huge forts in the front yard....Yes, you really could fit a whole family in either one of these. They were enormous.

Sledding at the golf course! So, if you can't get up from the snow it is best if you don't sit down on it....we learned that not only is Papa Pollan a horrible skiier, he also should steer away from the sled hill....extracting himself from the ground prooved to be difficult yet again....not to mention he nearly lost his britches in the process...cold buns!!!

The Bucking Bronco (aka Jason) was no match for our Tyler...he held on for dear life as he was spun, twirled, twisted and bucked through the living room. In the end the bronco was tamed and all went to bed exhausted. Way to go cowboy Tyler!!!

The String Party of Epic Proportions!!!
Usually our string parties are in one bedroom but not this one....it filled three bedrooms, a bathroom and the hallway. Nana and Hollie made it a good one as it was Joseph's first one. As if the kids needed more presents after Christmas but we sure all did enjoy twisting and climbing through the web to find our gifts. If you have never done a string party, you really need to!! It is an old victrian tradition.

Temple Square Nativity
I had not been to temple square for oh ten years or so and they have redone everything and their new nativity was absolutely gorgeous!!! It really brings in the true meaning of Christmas to see such a beautiful creche standing in the reflection of the temple. It was the highlight of my Christmas to go through the temple and then walk around temple square...the chocolate cakes for dessert were a yummy way to top off the evening!!! (thanks Hollie and Jozsef)

This is the banner our primary presidency made to decorate our primary room with. I thought it turned out so cute I am posting it.....It is as big as a chalkboard and was a fun project to work on.

As the New Year has already begun I guess I will wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year...that isn't until the 25th. I just received my Horticulture magazine in the mail and can't wait to read about how to get ready for spring....we have had a few warm days here and I can feel the hope of warmer days to come. This year will be filled with many adventures and I look foward with anticipation for many of them. It really is an adventure just making it through a week around here and as it is Friday, I believe we shall be celebrating!!! Hurray for the weekend!

It is great fun reading my friends blogs and stealing ideas from them of things to do with my kids. So, thanks for the great ideas...keep them coming!