December

The girls went to a fun birthday party for their friend Ella. She turned two and had a little winter party. One of the games was to make someone into a snowman. Katelyn proudly volunteered and I laughed because there was no way she would hold still that long. Well, now I know what to do...wrap her up in toilet paper. She didn't move a muscle and was very serious about this!! So funny!

Grace, Allie, Lillia

Ella (the birthday girl) and Katelyn

Annual Ugly Sweater Party

Chocolate our Elf always doing such funny things!

Allie's giant snowflake

Katelyn "making" a snowflake

Thanksgiving & 29

So I bypassed my Thanksgiving/Birthday post because things were not working. I just realized that today as I started thinking about posting Christmas. First thing is first.

We spent Thanksgiving in Park City with my whole family! It was awesome that we could all be together. The weather was strangely really NICE! It was also my 29th birthday and I received the best gift of being with everyone that day AND having my mom's amazing Thanksgiving dinner. I'm the luckiest! We did black Friday shopping, saw the last Twilight, played games (for the record I had TWO games that I got 4 Yahtzee's!), did some crafts with the kids, opened Amy's Christmas gifts, and books from Nanny and Pa, saw my bestie Lynds and Ty and their adorable Lilly, had a major dance party of course, got The Thanksgiving Song in our heads forever, and went to Monkey Mountain. It was such a wonderful holiday!! Wish we could do that all the time!

She can be so sweet and cute...and sometimes she's not moving!

Christmas books from Nanny and Pa

4 Cutie Kids

My double 4 Yahtzee's!

Happy birthday to me!

Amy and her hats!

Debbi with her beautiful table!

The girls with their Thanksgiving table

The 8 Pie makers!

Dan's snowman craft with the kids

Allie with her "Amy Outfit"

Besties

All the girlies

Allie's puppy from Amy

Katelyn's baby from Amy

Dallin and Lisa at Monkey Mountain

Doug and "his" pecan pie

Making cookies with Nanny

Too cute for words

The girls and their favorite new outfits from Amy minus the furry boots that EVERYONE comments on!

Katelyn's eyes are crazy!! But she loved reading with Pa!

And somehow there are no pictures of Dan. WHAT!? We do however need those videos of the dance party!

When I got home I went out with some of my great friends for Cafe Rio Taco Tuesday! I'm such a blessed girl. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and love!!

Lights!

We went to see Christmas lights in Caldwell last night. We have been blessed to see Temple Square most years so it's hard to top that, but I was impressed by this small community. Their downtown center was ablaze with lights. The kids loved being bundled up, outside in the dark, and with friends. We went over with the Dennison's and Fuhriman's and had us a great time!!

Mattie made those ear warmers for the girls. They are so cute, soft and warm! The girls LOVE them + they can still have their cute hair showing :) Haha!!

Some of the kiddos.

Classic Katelyn face!

Cool shot that Doug took with the tripod...Love the water!!

"Not My Gumdrop Buttons!"

We received a very sweet gift from our friend's "The Ashby's" this year. It was a gingerbread cookie kit. There were cookies, frosting, gumdrops, and peppermints. It was so fun because I didn't have to buy or make anything for it, we just got to enjoy it! The girls had a total blast and were very into it! They were so proud of their creations! :)

Enjoying our Christmas Season

We have been enjoying our Christmas season. It has been simple, sweet, and fun so far. Elf on the Shelf joined our family this year. The girls named her, "Chocolate." She has been hiding in fun places every morning. 

We had a fun visit with Nan and Pa G, dinner and games! 

Doug had a work party, where we talked to Santa, saw a big bear and reindeer, and made fun crafts. Katelyn was so excited about everything. She has NO reservations, is NOT shy, and it up to try anything. She went right up to Santa and just chilled with him for awhile, didn't ask for anything, and was content with the candy cane he gave her. Allie sat with him but was quiet and reserved in her usual way. She asked for a pretend puppy. 

We have loved looking at Christmas lights, listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, delivering freezer jam to friends for gifts, receiving yummy gifts from friends, getting Christmas cards in the mail, having our countdown doors with candy inside, and the pure joy and magic of the season. 

Tonight we attended a live Nativity at a local church in the area. They acted out the Christmas story and sang songs. It was freezing but a wonderful experience that we will all remember. We have more planned in the coming week. We hope your holiday season has been full of joy too!

Santa Pass

So I haven't been blogging because I'm so frustrated with it. It won't post any pictures and let's face it, that is why I blog. It's my scrapbook/journal. BOO!!

But I wanted to share these Santa Passes that we did last year and they were a HUGE hit. We put a couple little things in the girls' stockings but then we filled them with Santa Passes. The great thing is that you can put whatever you want on them. The kids LOVED them! We put things like:
A free treat
20 extra minutes of games
An extra bedtime story
Date with mom
Date with dad
Stay up 15 minutes later

Like I said, they are free and mean a lot more to the kids than the small gifts. If you decide to do it, I hope your kids enjoy them as much as ours did!

11.23

Today I went shopping with my sister Amy and sister in law Lisa. We went from 9 am-3:30 pm and got some great deals! It was just fun to be out with the girls!! Then all the girls topped off the night with some Breaking Dawn 2 action. It was good! Thankful for my sisters & mom time!! I needed it. And I'm sure thankful for a sweet hubs that takes such good care of me and my girls!!

11.22

{Blogger won't let me upload my pictures...BOO! Let's hope I can figure that out soon}
Woke up and taught my sister in law, Lisa my first Turbo Kick. She was so forgiving and understanding when I messed up every few minutes. But we were sweating buckets (AKA liquid awesomeness) and it was so fun to get a good workout in on Turkey Day with her!

My sister flew in from Chicago and when she walked in the door, pure giddiness filled my soul. My. Whole. Family. We are finally all together. Best thing ever. Plus it's my birthday so that is truly the greatest thing I could ever ask for.

We had a dance party on repeat to this awesome sauce song. You seriously need to click on that link and watch it. You'll thank me later. The whole family took part. It was epic.

Our feast soon followed the dance party. We cried and laughed and stuffed ourselves. Such a good feeling in the air.

All day I keep reading texts and facebook messages from everyone wishing me a happy birthday. Y'all sure know how to make a girl feel loved. And that I do. I'm so blessed to have the BEST people in my life. Love you ALL so dearly and deeply.

Thank you.

{P.S. As we went around the table to say what we were thankful for Allie said: Jesus and my bunny! So cute and so real.}

11.21

We drove to Park City tonight. We had spurts of rain and a little snow and wind but we arrived safe and sound to a warm house greeted by our dear family! I'm so thankful for a safe, reliable car. My parents gifted this car to me when I graduated from college. Amazing. Sometimes (oft times) there are just no words to express the gratitude in your heart.

I {heart}my Subee.

11.20

I didn't bother to get my camera out today. I just wanted to enjoy the moments. We started the day off at the gym. I'm grateful for my gym buddies and the wonderful instructors I have found. I look forward to it everyday. I love going to the gym, sweating, smiling and having the best time working out. We did some shopping for our upcoming trip to Park City (whoot whoot!), and came home. We played with rocks, the girls set up a little house and Allie mothered Katelyn while I got lunch ready. I love watching this. Katelyn fake cries and Allie comforts her...it's really funny/sweet! Naps were enjoyed by all and soon after we went to see an old friend! We had some awesome friends when we lived in Logan, the Martin's. They just bought a house down the street from us. How fun is that...I love when things like that happen. So we went to check it out and the kids played dress up and had the time of their lives. I love Kim...she is so fabulous!! Then I went to my strength class at the gym and home to finish laundry and start packing! We can't wait to see my familia!! I really love Thanksgiving. I'm really excited to eat, be lazy, play games, catch up, and play!!

11.19

As today played out I noticed how creativity was all around me. My kids were painting, dancing, drawing, spelling, playing make-believe. Doug was working, building doll beds for the girls. I was doing hair (my first successful french braids for Allie I must say!), finding things for the kids to do, cooking, blogging, sewing, making gifts, exercising. Our minds are truly stunning. When we put our minds to something, anything can happen. I believe it! I'm grateful for it!

Allie told me that she drew a picture of the prophet. Then she ran back to the playroom and came out and said, I wrote his name!! Yes you did sweetheart! Good job my darlin'! Now that's a smart mind.