New Year 2011

Pictures from New Years Eve. This was the first time that the whole Udall clan was in the same place for New Year's Eve that I can remember. Good times were had.  

Playing Wii Dance Party.

 Cute babies to snuggle with. 

 

One of the greatest discoveries we made a couple of years ago is watching the ball drop in Time Square live in NY. Which means it is only 10:00 here. Perfect. We all feel like we celebrated with the masses, but we go to bed at a much more reasonable hour. Nice.

We still crash the next day.  After playing Dance Party, I didn't even stay awake until midnight myself. I was pooped!

Jimmer and the gang

 Chillin' with Jimmer Fredette.

Back in September we had the chance to go visit the BYU Basketball team's practice one afternoon.  It was fun to watch their fast-paced scrimmage.  Except for the part when Jimmer (BYU's pre-season All-American) got injured and needed to go get his hand x-rayed. But before he did, he stopped to take a picture with the Smart kids. Michael and I were so impressed. He was obviously in pain, but he stopped to talk and take a picture with some generic kids from Utah County.  He didn't even comment on them smelling strange (I had to dig the BYU t-shirts out of the bottom of the dirty laundry before we left.)

It has been a lot of fun to watch Jimmer have a great senior season. We've been to a few of the games at the Marriott Center. For years we've taken the kids to the home game during Christmas break because we can sit close to the court in the student section (while the students are home.)  We still got pretty good seats, but this year that game was way more packed than usual. And Jimmer didn't disappoint.  When the cougars were down 17-6, J took over the game, scoring the next 14 points and taking the lead for good on a fast-break dunk. The crowd went crazy - (no one knew he could dunk) - the atmosphere was electric. They ended up winning by 25 or so. :)  It was fun to be there. Our family even made it on the Jumbotron screen a couple of times, thanks to the pom-pom's Emma brought. (The cheerleaders were home for Christmas break as well.) Good times.

 And let's not forget the supporting cast: Brandon Davies

 Freshman, Kyle Collinsworth

Noah Hartsock 

Charles Abuo

And the other part of the backcourt duo - Sr Jackson Emery. Super nice guy as well.

 Thanks for all your hard work, b-ball team. And thanks for being so nice to the Smart kids. Go cougars!

Temple Square 2010

Every year we try to take the kids up to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. Because it's such a busy season, we usually end up going the week after Christmas - which I actually kind of like. All the busy stuff is done and we can just enjoy being there, with far fewer people. :)

This year we parked by the Grand America hotel down Main Street and took the Trax train. This was so awesome (thanks again Jen for the suggestion.) We easily found a free parking spot on the street and since the Trax stop was within the Free Zone we rode to Temple Square for free too. It was so slick and of course, the kids thought it was very exotic.

 A gorgeous, not-super freezing night, right before the next round of snow-storms.

A great night. We even ran into Emma's favorite teacher (2nd grade) who seemed happy to see her again too. (We're at a different school now.)

 

Drinking hot chocolate and heading back to the trax stop. A new facet to add to the tradition.

Christmas 2010

 Christmas Eve program at Grandma and Poppy's house in Salt Lake.

 Nativity minus one wiseman (Norah) who was feeling camera shy. I love that the other wiseman(woman) is dressed in a princess Ariel costume.

 New Christmas PJ's.

Back at home hanging up stockings and putting out cookies and milk for Santa. David was VERY insistent that we not forget this.

 Christmas morning! Traditional (?) stair picture.

 The loot from Santa. Camera for Catherine (she was VERY excited), tea set for Emma and her doll, microscope for Spencer (probably the best ever child reaction to a present from Santa. We had been telling him for weeks Santa was not going to bring him an electron microscope. Turns out he was equally thrilled with a kid microscope.) David got an army guy set.

New webkinz.

 A globe! We are all kind of geography nerds around here.

New bathrobes, BYU gear, hiking poles.

 Emergency gear as well: buckets of wheat and a new 0degree bag fro Michael.

 Smart family Christmas breakfast. "Pizza Flitza" (scones)

Yay for a happy Christmas 2010!