Emma's Longboard

For Christmas this year, we got Emma a longboard kit.While we were in California, she worked with Mike and Grandpa to cut out, design, and stain her board. It turned out pretty amazing. She and Mike worked on it for a couple of weeks and she still rides it all the time. Here's what she has to say:

It was the best Christmas present I've ever had. I had been asking for one for a couple years and my mom, dad and grandpa made it possible to make one. I remember when Grandpa was teaching me how to shape it he accidentally left the saw on the same spot so he burnt a mark in it. I decided to keep that mark for memories. When we were done building it we had shipped the wheels and trucks to our house. We were in California at the time it had been warmish with no snow. We got home and it was super snowy and we had to wait a while to put the trucks and wheels on to ride it. I was super disappointed. When I got to ride it I was a little rusty from the last time I rode one so I had to retrain myself. It turned out REALLY cool and I love it so much.

Cutting out the board

Sanding 

First stain color

Second stain color

Adding grip tape

Putting on the trucks

Adding the wheels

All finished!

First try on the new board

New Years 2017

We spent New Years and the days surrounding it at the Oakland temple and at Santa Cruz.

Christmas 2016

Christmas choir concert:

Brandon trying to suck his thumb in secret.

Anya singing in the children's choir taught by the middle school choir teacher.

Our tree getting into the football playoff spirit. It's good! 

Reindeer Anya

Wall hanging I made for my mom for Christmas

 Entertaining themselves on the way to Grandma's house.

 Chipman's corner

Tyler, Emma, Kaitlin, & Anya

Emma, James, Lincoln, Josclyn, & Lexi

I know it's blurry, but I love this fun moment of cousins playing together.

Anya, Emma, Gandma, and Grumpy Kaitlin 

Sisters!

Wearing their new matching sisters necklaces - Lil Sis, Middle Sis, Big Sis

Mike might kill me for putting this in, but I love that he and his mom cook together!

Scooters

Longboard

Brian, Hades, Maddy, & Anya

We thought Grandpa might like a one pound reeces. 

BYU blanket

Brandon was fascinated by James's trumpet. So James was nice enough to play for him one of the days we were there. 

We had a ton of fun going to the drive in with James and Josclyn's family. We saw a double feature and the kids didn't quite make it through the second movie.