Christmas Bonus

Technically, we had a white Christmas in Charlotte this year. It didn't actually start snowing until the evening (when it was already dark), so it wasn't quite the same as waking up to snow, but we'll take it. Apparently, it hasn't snowed on Christmas Day here since 1947, so it was definitely something to get excited about.

Courtney was pretty excited about the icicles everywhere.

Jordan and Jason in the backyard having a rather intense snowball fight

Courtney and Jordan with their snowman
(Poor Alyssa was inside sick with a stomach bug, but she played in the remnants a little the next day.)

Christmas Fun

Here are a few of the highlights of our December...

Decorating the Tree

Our tradition is that the kids get a new ornament every year. The big reveal comes the nite we decorate the tree. Jordan and Courtney both got electric guitars (black and pink to match their own), and Alyssa got a tennis racket.

Christmas Eve

The past couple of years, we've saved our gingerbread houses for Christmas Eve. The kids like it because it gives them something fun to look forward to on a day that otherwise passes pretty slowly. Mom likes it because the houses aren't taking up a kitchen counter for quite as long.

Christmas Day

Long story short, it was a good day.

Courtney with her Ikea ladybug.

Alyssa checking out her stocking.

Jordan looking fierce with his new airsoft gun...

...and happily posing with his new phone.

Jason got the new drill he wanted.

Relaxing with their new electronics

Courtney and her new doll Elizabeth posing with their matching outfits

Merry Christmas!

Fall Soccer

Both girls played soccer this Fall.

Courtney (in the orange jersey) was on team Dolphin.

And Alyssa (in green) was on team Spirit.

The sideline fan club. Melanie & Ben (and Max) were great about coming to lots of games during the season. And you can see Jason in the background with his flag playing line judge. (They never have enough refs.)

Courtney is content to let that season be enough for now, but Alyssa is already signed up to play again in the Spring. =)

A Brand New Cousin

My sister's first baby!

Little Cohen arrived Monday night.

Cohen is the first cousin who lives right here in Charlotte, and we were so excited to get to visit him in the hospital.

We all took several turns holding him...

I have a feeling my kids will give this little guy whatever he wants.

This picture copyrighted by Jordan Mattingley Photography
(ie: Jordan wants credit for taking this great shot of Cohen)

Welcome to the family, Cohen!

Talent Show Fun

Thought I'd go back and post pictures from our ward talent show in September. The Mattingleys were well represented...

Our little author Courtney read one of her short stories - The Adventures of Bill the Amazing Flying Gorilla.

Jordan on his guitar playing "21 Guns" by Green Day.
(And thanks to Bro. Reynolds for the cool fog effects.)

Jason (on the far right) with the rest of the Bishopric performing their very impressive sychronized swimming routine. Talk about hidden talents...

And Alyssa and I had fun in the audience taking pictures and video. =)

Happy Halloween!

This year we had...

a sailor girl...

and Alice in Wonderland...

...and a teenager who's too old to trick or treat.

Our ward had a hot dog dinner and trunk-or-treat on Saturday. Lucikly, I happened to talk to the right person that nite and learned that a nearby neighborhood was doing their trick-or-treating that nite (instead of on Sunday). So when the trunk-or-treat ended, we grabbed some friends and headed off for more candy.

We were happy the neighborhood was home to the Carlsons (a family in our ward famous for their Halloween and Christmas displays). Trust me, this picture doesn't do it justice. It's spectactular. We parked at their house and walked around from there.

Alyssa and Courtney with their trick-or-treating buddies. They weren't expecting to get to trick-or-treat this year, so this adventure was definitely an added Halloween bonus.

Happy Halloween!

Squished Witches and More

Living close to family is great. Living close to family who like to throw fun holiday parties is even better...

Uncle Ben apparently has connections to a real Count, and every year, the Count secretly arrives and leaves a box of ingredients (things like ghost blood and frog eyes) on the porch, so we can make squished witches.

Here's Uncle Craig adding one of the ingredients to the bowl.

Once all of the ingredients have been added, everyone in the room has to take a turn stirring. As you stir, you must say your name backwards, or the witches will not turn out properly. Here's Uncle Ben helping Courtney take her turn.

Aunt Melanie taking her turn (and then another turn for soon-to-arrive baby Cohen)

Once the ingredients have been stirred, the witches are squished into balls and rolled in powdered ghosts.

The witches are not around very long.

Then it's time to carve pumpkins...

Joanna and Craig's masterpiece

Alyssa with her creation

Courtney and Ben's pumpkin

Jordan is definitely creative

Then we finished things off with Melanie's awesome monster cakes.
Thanks Melanie and Ben!