Did We Have Fun?

On our way to my parents last night to celebrate my pops 73rd birthday, Hannah asked if we had any fun last year? Hmm little missy, lets just see if we had any fun last year.

January: Potty training Nathan and Abigail. Did I just include this in our fun? Well, it was fun for those 3 days and the little party we threw for them was pretty fun too.

And a really fun day in the snow with dad.

February: My best birthday ever was last year. We spent a few days up in Park City snowed inn. Funnest time ever!

March: Island Park, ID 'nuff said.

April: Easter is always fun around here. And last year we got real life chicks for Easter. What could be more fun than that?

May: You kiddos went fishing for the first time and all caught a fish.

June: Nathan had his first friend birthday party and we had a blast!

July: Was full of nothing but fun. Parades, parties, fireworks. Fun!

August: Was the Eyre Family Reunion in glorious Wallsburg, UT. Hannah also learned to ride a bike.

September: Camping and School Starts

October: Halloween Parties and Cornbelly's

November: Hannah turns 6

December: Christmas, Temple Square, Reindeer, Abby's birthday,  School Parties, Piano Recital, Dance Recital, the Nutcracker, and New Year's Eve Fun with the Nielson's.



Yes, I think we had lots of fun in 2011. Now, I wonder if we could possibly have any more fun in 2012.

Lombardo/Kelley Christmas Concerto

We put on a concert for Hannah and Grace because these two gals are talented and they need to share those talents often. They've each been taking lessons in piano & violin for over a year now. We had it all planned out. Invitations were extended, refreshments made, program designed by non other than the talented Aaron Lombardo.

Lombardo/Kelley

Christmas Concerto 2011

December 18, 2011

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.”

Doctrine and Covenants | Section 25:12

Concert Program

Abigail Jane Lombardo:  Performing Solo Ballet

Nathan Daniel Lombardo:  Singing Solo

Keynote Performers

Gracie Nichole Kelley:  Playing Violin

This is Gracie’s debut appearance at Noraa Concert Hall.  Gracie has been seen performing at prestigious concert halls such as Yellek School of Performing Arts and Eyre Heritage Classics Concert Hall.  She is accomplished in the violin, running, laughing and generally playing about.  Noraa Concert Hall is honored to have her name added to its list of honored guests.

Hannah Camille Lombardo:  Playing the Piano

Hannah is an experienced pianist whose accomplishments go all the way back to 2010.  She has been taught by some of Utah’s leading pianists, including the Bishop’s wife.  She has been associated personally by three of Santa’s fairies and hopes to bring the same magic to the stage.  Her experience and range of expertise spans the piano, Barbie doll playing, laughing and drama.

As a side note, Hannah and Gracie have been childhood friends and companions whose intrigues and entertainments have led their minds to span the globe several times over.  We are honored to have their examples and accomplishments as part of our lives.

 Isn't he a peach!?! Can you decipher the meaning behind "Noraa Hall" and "Yellek School of Performing Arts"?  It's code. 

On with the performances.

Christmas Eve and Day

Is there anything more fun, more magical than Christmas with kids? I think not! Aaron and I were both as giddy as two little school kids, we could hardly stand it! The plans were made, the day filled with family time, food, games, one present to open, a Christmas movie, Magical sleeping cocoa to help the kids fall fast asleep. We invited mom and dad and Aunt Suzie over for our dinner and games. Too bad I didn't take any pictures of our charades game.....the kids were hilarious! But I was too busy enjoying them to take any pictures. When our guests left, we carried on the tradition of opening one gift. Nate and Abby opened Christmas Jammie's and Hannah opened "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

When the festivities of Christmas Eve were over, and the children were dreaming of sugar plums; Santa unloaded and was in bed by 11:00pm. And thank goodness because we were woken at 3:30 by Nathan who had a bit of an accident. Once we changed him and got him back to sleep, the unfortunate problem was that we were WIDE awake! What to do. What to do. The only thing that made sense. Get up the kids! Santa had come. Every effort was made to wake them to the sounds of Santa's bells. Someone may have jingled some bells right by their door and their might have been a couple of "ho ho ho's" too. This went on for almost an hour. That magic sleeping hot chocolate they drank right before bed really worked. Even Nathan was out even though he was awake not long before. We couldn't believe it and we were laughing our heads off. But we were determined. I mean, who wakes up their kids on Christmas? Something is wrong with us. We prevailed and everyone was awake just after 4:30am.

For the next couple hours, a bomb went off in our house of wrapping paper and boxes.

It was so fun to watch their expressions when they opened the gift they had asked for. Hannah wanted a Rapunzel Barbie....she got 7 princess barbies. Nathan wanted a rocket, and a monster truck. Abigail was thankful and happy with every gift she opened and expressed heart felt gratitude for everything she got. We think her favorite gifts were the movie "Bambi", and a Tree House from Grandma & Grandpa.

Aaron gave me such a fun surprise for Christmas. He gave me lots of things to keep me warm like, a blanket, slippers, and warm gloves. My last gift was on the tree and it was a ring that I saw in a store that I really liked. So fun! However, on the back of the ring package was a phone number to which he called promptly. The ring lead me to a large basket where my new iPhone was. Um.......I was a little excited and totally surprised!

I'm so excited for this little gift! I really hope I can figure it all out. I wish I could say I spoiled him as much as he spoiled me this year.
We enjoyed our morning playing with our new toys and eating our traditional egg-ala-golden-rod breakfast. We had plenty of time to get ready for church service, but must say the kids were a little grouchy. They were tired, not that I blame them. I loved having Christmas on Sunday this year. Made our Sunday service all the more meaningful. Aaron and I participated in the ward choir, which was fun and the kids sang a song with the primary as well. I was touched deeply by the music and the messages shared. I was mindful of the greatest gift of all; the gift of our Savior's life and the promise we all can have to live with Him again someday.

We came home to open more gifts and call Grandma Lombardo via iPad. The kids loved their gifts from her as well. She always finds such meaningful gifts. This year it was books that had her voice recorded, reading the story. They love them.

We are blessed with so very much. I'm grateful for all I have and for this time of year to show our children just how blessed we really are and how important it is to always be grateful and share what we have with others. Hannah willingly donated some of her lightly used toys to a family that didn't have much at all. And Nathan wrapped some great toys of his to give to his buddies for Christmas. I was proud of them and they were excited to give. It was wonderful to see. It was a Merry Merry Christmas.

Temple Square

Down Town Salt Lake is beautiful always, but down town Temple Square at Christmas time is down right magical! Spending all day and into the night down there was loads of fun. Our little Gracie Lou brought us out so we could listen to her perform on her violin in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Boy oh boy! those are some very talented little kids and Gracie is right there among them.

The kids were enamoured at this HUGE Christmas tree.

We had some time to kill before it got dark enough for the lights to come on at Temple Square, so we did some improvising. I heard about a free scavenger hunt at the Grand America hotel, so we were on it. Of course we had to ride the Trax to get there and I'm pretty sure that was the kids most favorite thing ever!
I tell ya what, this was no easy peasy scavenger hunt. It was serious stuff....so I forgot to take pictures. But it just so happened to end at the sweetest "no pun intended" candy shop, where we were given a delicious shortbread cookie. Mmmmm! The candy shop just happened to be next to the coolest toy store ever! The kids liked it better than the cookie.

It was magical in there. Really.
We also enjoyed more Trax rides, tours on Temple Square, eating at the Lion House, and seeing the ginormous statue of the Savior. (A must see when in Salt Lake)!

We so love this tradition each year. Through the cold and all, it's worth every bit!

All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go

I can hardly stand that this little beauty of mine is growing up! Sometimes I get a picture of her that shows both childhood and maturity-hood. Oh goodness....slow down! Hannah is the epitome of goodness. She wants so much to always choose the right, to do good, to be kind. Does she miss the mark sometimes? You bet, but she is quick to say I'm sorry and so very quick to forgive as well. She is getting the true meaning of Christmas and it warms my heart more than anything right now. There isn't a prayer she offers that she doesn't thank Heavenly Father for Jesus. For His birth and for His life. She's mindful of Him always.

And this little beauty had a dance performance yesterday. Oh goodness, the cuteness of all those little girls is almost more than I can handle.