More Christmas Festivities.

The Christmas festivities continued for the rest of December.  Our ward had an amazing nativity pageant with all the primary children.  Brielle was an angel and Braden was a donkey.  It was so well put together, both Scott and I agreed that it was one of the best we have seen...except for the fact that our one boy whose name you already know became the one kid that couldn't hold still and behaved so badly in the middle of the presentation that Scott and I wanted to make a hole in the ground and bury our heads for the rest of our lives.  (that was a run-on sentence but who cares about grammar rules right?) 

Scott was SO upset that he leaned toward me and said, "he is being such a naughty ass!!!!!!" 

Now, I almost NEVER hear my husband say potty words but in this case it was literal.  

Aside from our little ass not holding still and trying to poke other children, the Nativity Pageant was wonderful! 

Such a good reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. 

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The Christmas season wouldn't be the same without our gingerbread house tradition.  

I love it that for half an hour we are all working together to assemble our gingerbread house.  

The kids love it and they LOVE it when Scott spends time with them.  

Brooke is a daddy lover.  When Scott is home she just can't get enough of her dad.  

She is one lucky girl to have such a wonderful daddy. 

It takes deep concentration...

...and there was definitely a lot of frosting and candy eating.  

Our final product! 

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I love that so many of our friends come to Utah to see 

their families for the holidays and I get to see them too!

We got to see Holly and Preston who were surprising her family for Christmas...and if we see Holly, we also get to see Breckin, which I love.  

We spent a few hours catching up and sometimes talking to 'old' friends is just what I need.  

Friends who know me and I know them and it's easy.  

Moving has been great and I can't complain too much, people have been great, but sometimes it is frankly exhausting making new friends. Sometimes, I just wish I could gather all of my favorite friends in one place and make it mandatory that no one can move... 

I'm so glad it all worked out for us to see Holly and Breckin. 

Thanks for making the effort to come see us, it means a lot! :)  

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The day before Christmas Eve, the Friels had us over for dinner and reenact the Nativity with the children.  

Can I say how much I am enjoying Jana and her family? 

They are so wonderful and we have loved being able to do things together.  

The older kids all got a chance to be Mary and Joseph, so they reenacted it twice.  

Which they LOVED because they all got a different part.  

I LOVE having these traditions with my children because it takes away all of the attention from presents and Santa and all of the other 'worldly' traditions and it focuses it on our Savior.  

It helps us reflect on the event of his birth and his example to us.  

Our little angel Macie. 

Parker was a wise man. 

Macie and Parker as Mary and Joseph.  

I love this picture. 

The second time around, Brielle was the angel.  

Brooke wanted to sit on that chair and kept pulling Brielle to get down...

...and she got her way. 

We have loved being close to Penny too! She is so wonderful and such a great influence and example to all of us!

The whole gang, minus Scott who worked like a slave all of the holiday season. 

But I do count my blessings and our Christmas miracle was him getting Christmas day off!!! 

A true Christmas miracle! 

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Our neighborhood lit these luminaries on Christmas Eve to remind us of the light that is spread through Christ.  I LOVED this! It was especially beautiful with all the snow. 

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A few days after Christmas, I got to see another one of my dear friends.  Ashley and her husband Othello were in town for her little brother's wedding.  I have known the Andersons for years now and her little brother Brady was 12 years old when I met them! 12!!! and now he is a married man! Another reminder that I am getting old!!!!!! But I LOVED being there and seeing this wonderful family who treat me like I am part of their family! I'm so lucky to know them and I always have a hoot when I'm with Ash.  

Vanessa Maria

 

I'm in love! Can you tell? 

On December 18th, we welcomed our sweet little niece Vanessa Maria into our family! 

My sister Nya, had to have a c-section but she did so well and that little bundle of joy made Nya and her husband Rob first time parents.  She is beautiful and the love we feel for her was immediate.  I couldn't keep my hands off of her and I am amazed at how quickly one can fall in love with such an innocent angel.  

It might be just that, that babies are sent from heaven and they are so angelic.  

We are so happy for Nya and Rob.  

She was born perfect in every way and we are so grateful that all went well during the delivery and now we can all just love her! 

Around Here│'Tis the Season

We have been enjoying this Christmas season.  Christmas will be a week from tomorrow and I can't say I'm quite ready...even though it feels like I've been going non-stop since December started.  I say this every year, but I LOVE making this season magical for the kids.  They love everything and they make all of the effort of making this season special so worth it.  

I realize that Scott and I are creating memories in their little lives and it weighs on me that they are special and memorable.  It weighs on me, not in a burdensome sort of way, but in we-have-a-huge-responsibility sort of way...to make their childhood good and wonderful.  

Both Scott and I enjoy this part of parenthood. 

We put up our ridiculously small tree and although it is a miniature one the kids didn't care.  The only thing that mattered to them was that we were together and that we got to do this together.  

Both Scott and I decided that we are getting a real one and a much taller one next year!:) 

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Brooke continues to be very much involved in mischief around the house...because life is just not as exciting without mischief.  

She is one irresistible mischievous 16-month old. 

Her new thing is screaming to get her way...and she doesn't stop until she gets what she wants...this particular night, she wanted that huge spoon, because eating with a big spoon is much better than eating with a little one! 

Waiting patiently for some chocolate chip cookies...

Brookie, where is your head? 

Do I need to explain the photos above? 

That innocent little face can fool anyone...

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Our ward had the most amazing Christmas (adult only) Dinner. It was so enjoyable to be there with no kids and the food was awesome! We got to sit by our friends Kyle and Heidi.  We've been lucky to become good friends with the Clarkes.  They are awesome and fun to around! 

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We got to hang out with them again (with no kids) at the Department of Medicine Holiday Ball. 

We enjoyed their company and getting to know some of Scott's colleagues.  

I always enjoy getting to know the people Scott spends time with at work.  

The live band was awesome and Scott and I broke out a few moves on the dance floor.  

I always enjoy being able to dance with my husband.  

I forget how much I love to dance and how much fun it is! 

We had such a fun night and I'm glad I had an excuse to dress up and enjoy a night out with just my Scottie. 

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Our next door neighbor Zoe and her mom are Jewish.  They are both wonderful and Zoe is such a amazing teenager! She babysits our kids often and I'm so glad to have someone I trust so readily available when we need her.  Our three children love her and she is just like a big sister to them.  

We invited her for family night to come to talk to us about Hanukkah.  

It is important for Scott and I that our kids know and respect other religions.  I love it when they can get educated and their little worlds can be broaden a little bit.  We took this opportunity and Zoe brought her manorah and explained to us what it meant and how Hanukkah came about.     

It was a good reminder for me that so many people in this world find the light and love of God in their lives in different ways...and what we have in common is our faith for the same God.  

It was the third day of Hanukkah, so she could only light three candles.  The middle one doesn't count as it is the one that represents a leader and it 'gives light' to the eight.  

I am glad that we were able to learn a little bit more about Hanukkah.   

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We made a little treat for our neighbors and Braden was my little helper.  

It kept this kindergartner busy on a cold afternoon.  

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Heidi and I decided to host a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party.  

I was first introduced to this concept last year in Virginia, when some friends hosted this little party.  

I thought it was so much fun and convinced Heidi to plan it with me.  

There wasn't much convincing to do...Heidi was as excited as I was! 

I made peanut butter blossoms.  

I had never made them before...although I enjoy sweets (in moderation), I'm not a big baker but when I do bake I do enjoy it. 

They turned out just how I had envisioned them and they tasted perfectly.  

Heidi made this amazing avocado cranberry salsa and I put together a veggie platter and everyone got to sample the cookies everyone brought.  

This was the beginning of what the cookie table looked like.  Many more came and they were all amazing! At the end of the party everyone got to take home a few of each in a large plate.  

We had a great turn out and had so much fun socializing with everyone.  

I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of our whole group.  There are so many fun ladies in our ward. 

Gretchen and Brookie.  

Heidi and I made a good team and we are already planning to host our next year's Christmas party.

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A few months ago, I requested tickets for the Temple Square Christmas Concert.  I totally forgot about it and got the tickets in the mail the next month without even realizing that I had won the lottery.  I didn't realize this until I was talking to my friend Stephanie and she explained to me how lucky I was to have gotten these tickets...and then she proceeded to tell me who Alfie Boe is.  When she told me it was Jean Valjean from the 25th Anniversary London production of Les Miserables, I was simply ecstatic.  I LOVE him and I didn't even know his name!  

Alfie Boe is simply out of this world!!! His performance was amazing and flawless.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra were incredible and Tom Brokaw's voice narrating was the cherry on top.  I've always been a huge fan of Tom.  He is a true journalist, one of the few left.  He related the most amazing story, which you can read HERE. 

I couldn't contain the tears, when the 'candy bomber' himself was there! 

We loved every second of the concert minus the couple in front of us who couldn't stop touching each other! PDA at its worst! Both Scott and I were so disgusted and ready to tell them to go get a room! 

...peoplesometimesdon'thaveaclue!

That Conference Center is a massive structure! 

After the performance, there were dozens of sister missionaries holding their language signs and waiting to talk to people.  I love that our Church makes sure that each language is represented there and available.  I think I would have LOVED to be a temple square missionary.  

Scott and I had a wonderful time and I'm glad that we were lucky enough to experience the wonderful Christmas music through such amazing talented people. 

We are definitely enjoying this Christmas season!