Krogs Critter and Choobie Land

Dallas made Madeline this awesome chocolate cake with double frosting and oreo topping. He also made her a chocolate cheesecake. (We call that "true love" at our house.) These are the only pictures we have at the moment because Dionne can't figure out how to put pictures from the desktop on this blogger-dealie. Raleigh helped Madeline blow out the candles because Madeline was suffering from stage fright. Raleigh couldn't get them out, though, so Madeline helped her.

Raleigh made this crown for Grandma La Rue back in July for her birthday, but she didn't get to give it to her until November on Madeline's birthday. She was so nice to wear it! Raleigh didn't waste any time "sharing" Madeline's new birthday dress-up, either!

Don't Forget Dessert!

How could we blog our trip to the Mayan without mentioning Madeline's free birthday dessert? It was GOOD. How do I know that? Because I ate it for her.

Escaping the Jaws of Death

We ate at the Mayan for Madeline's birthday and had a blast. The food and entertainment are both overrated, but to the girls, it was "an adventure." Even though Raleigh said she "[didn't] like the idea of having a restaurant look like a jungle," it was a great atmosphere for kids and a good little fake-cultural-experience for them. We enjoyed the diving show, cheesy as it was, and we even got splashed a little (COOL!) We knew the girls enjoyed it when Madeline's Sunbeam class asked us about it, and Raleigh wrote about it in Kindergarten the next day.

Mom & Dad through the Lens of Madeline's Camera

Actually, it's our camera- not Madeline's.

How would you pose if you were standing next to a giant horse?

Madeline would do this . . .

And Raleigh would do this . . .

More at the Mall

Kensington keeps Dionne warm while waiting for Santa's arrival.

Dallas and Kensington wait in line to see Santa.

Santa Rides Again!!

We do this every year . . . Santa flies to Provo in the KSL 5 helicopter. We sip a little hot chocolate, listen to music, freeze our buns off, and wait for the big event. This year we got smart and showed up an hour late instead of an hour early and got there right on time. Only this year he didn't shake every single kid's hand. Raleigh and Madeline arrived incognito as you can see by the first picture. We skipped the Kiddie Kandids shot and took our own pictures of Raleigh and Madeline's debut with the Big Guy. He had a real beard, so we think it was the real Santa. Raleigh asked him for Polly Pockets and Chap Stick. Not bad. Madeline asked him for the same thing, plus some "spawkly lip stick." Not bad, either.

Thank You, Kevin

She sure was fussy before you held her!

Oh, Happy Day!! (Dad, don't read this . . .)

Rikki and Kevin are our new favorite couple! They came over to our house after they got officially engaged. Don't they just radiate?! That's Kevin's grandmother's ring. Rikki wears it now, exactly 60 years later. He will wear his grandfather's ring. They will be married in April! Cheers!!

Willard "Pops In"

The first time Willard came over to play with Raleigh, she was so excited to tell Dallas when he got home. "Willard popped in today, Daddy!" Popped in? We don't know where that came from, but he has popped in a few other times, and we always enjoy the entertainment when he comes over. He's a good kid and a good friend to the girls.