E and daddy enjoyed putting together this 700 piece puzzle of the Taj Mahal (it took a few weeks).


Getting a family picture while needing 16 eyes to look at the camera is quite an achievement; one we took a while to get close to. This was good enough for us. We look forward to having one more face in next year's picture.


For New Year's Eve we had a big roasted turkey dinner with all the fixins. Almost all the kids stayed up until midnight. We all enjoyed watching the fireworks from our living room window.

Christmas pajamas are the one gift each child looks forward to opening on Christmas Eve.

This year's big gifts were bicycles thanks to the grandparents.

Ali was one of a few friends from daddy's school who joined us for our annual Christmas cookie decorating party. See some of the results below.

H (far right) and K (front row third from left) sang a song at church and H even got to recite a verse he memorized.
Kathy joined us for our Christmas Eve feast before daddy went to class.

Each of the four older kids memorized a Christmas poem and had a chance to recite them at a friends house with other homeschoolers.
C got to put the angel on top of the tree. The youngest child that understands what is going on gets to top off the tree each year. And special thanks for the tree go to Club 56 at RHCC.

Another Christmas tradition (we have lots) is St Lucius day, which Emily learned about in her American Girls books. We get up very early on Dec 13 and have hot chocolate and sweet rolls which she brings in wearing candles on her head.

It wouldn't be Christmas at the Dillards without our homemade wrapping paper. We take potatoes and cut shapes in them. Then we put some paint out, make sure no one is in good clothes, and let the kids go at it (except for the napping babies). This is the finished product.

K and C love to play in the cupboards. One evening they took everything out and opened shop.

When E went to get a little cut off (clearly not much) they straightened her hair! Don't worry the next time she washed it the curls returned.

We waited a few months to get C's hair cut. Here is a before and after!

This pumpkin shaped cake was delicious and perfect for fall.

Can't have Thanksgiving without a few pilgrims.

We also can't have a holiday without our kids putting on a show. This year's was quite an original.

The kids played organized soccer for the first time this past fall and enjoyed it.

We celebrated Fall Surprise, a family tradition, on the first day of fall with the Christensens. The apartment felt cozy with fall decorations and the stew and cake (see picture above) were delicious.


Ours is a High School Musical household for better or for worse. E,H,R, & H memorized most of the songs from HSM2 and put on show for all of us.


While the kids played soccer K enjoyed herself running all about.

On September 6, 2007 K turned one year old. Note the lack of a shirt due to messy cake eating, but, of course, she had to leave on her jewelry!

And on Sept 19 H turned 7. His big gift was two hamsters and cage. Luke and Leia are still doing well as of Jan 2008. H had a Jesus birthday party with a fish cake.