Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past year has been a great year for us.  Even though we bought our house right before Christmas last year, we didn't get really settled until after New Year's.  We moved into an amazing ward.  It feels like we have been here forever! (in a good way)  We got a new family member, Alex.  Jason's sister Kelsey got married this summer to Alex.  We are going to be adding another family member in a few days, Kathy.  Jason's brother Dallin is getting married Christmas Eve. I know, what a day to pick, huh?  The nerve of some people to get married around holidays (as me and Jason will be celebrating our 8th anniversary on the 26th of December ;P ) Jason finished school (yay!!!!!!!!!!). FINALLY!!!!!   I am excited to actually have him home more.  Nothing else too major has happened, but I'm not complaining because that means nothing majorly bad has happened =)  

I'm looking forward to what the next year will bring us.  Hopefully more of the same =)

As this is the time of year we tend to reflect on our Savior more, I have to add my bit.  I am so grateful for the sacrifice He made for me.  Without it, I would have no chance of being able to spend forever with my family.  And heaven just wouldn't be heaven without them.  The most incredible thing to me is that Jesus knew what was required and volunteered to do it.  It was just a trial He happened to go through.  He knew it would happen, He knew He could stop it if he wanted, but it was more important than the needs or wants of one man.  He did it for everyone.  I can't imagine the love He has for us to be able to do that.  I would do it for my kids, but some random person in France I wouldn't be able to.  I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven.  He guides and directs us so that we may become better people.  There are so many times I look back on things that have happened and realize that they weren't just happenstance.  I have seen His guiding hand in my life so many times.  I am proud of the person I have become under His direction.  I am not perfect, far from it, but I am striving to be better.  Without our Savior, Jesus Christ, there would be no way we would be able to start anew and have the chance to ultimately reach perfection (I won't be there in this life, that's for sure!)  I am grateful that Mary and Joseph were the kind of people who were living their lives in such a way that they were able to bring the Son of God into this world and raise him.  I hope I can be a fraction of the mother that Mary was.  In all the hustle and bustle of the upcoming week, please remember the reason for the season and take a moment to give thanks for the ultimate present.

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas, a happy new year, and all that jazz!

Gingerbread houses

The past few years I've tried to make gingerbread houses with the kids. They are by far, not masterpieces and definitely not suitable for any gingerbread families to inhabit.  But we have fun.  since I am cheap, I won't spend $10 on a kit that makes 1 house and 5 pieces of candy.  So we use graham crackers frosting, and lots of candy.  One day I will actually back some gingerbread and use that....maybe...but until then.....we're happy with what we've got.

Of course, this is what really happens when you build the houses...you have to buy twice as much candy because you eat half of it.  Ian was no exception. He was inheaven with 5 different candy choices in front of him.  Can we say sugar rush?!

But eventually he got the drift and started decorating. I built the house and let him decorate.  It kept falling down so I just left it and let him put candy on it =)  He was happy with it and that's all that matters

I helped Brenna a bit with hers, but it was mostly her.  She was getting frustrated that it kept falling down, but eventually we got it so it stayed up....for a few minutes.

She loved putting the candy on and was actually pretty good about not eating it all. 

She was super proud of her cute little house.  She did a good job.  Then, I moved the plate so it wasn't by the edge of teh table ( I was going to let the dog in and I didn't want Sasha to eat it) and........

I guess it wasn't built quite up to earthquake code......

This is defintely going to be another tradition for us.  One day I'll invest in the cookie cutter shaped in the houses so it's easier to do, but that can wait until the kids are a little older and not as obsessed with just eating the candy.....

Christmas Village and Santa

It's become our tradition every year to go to Christmas Village in downtown Ogden and see the lights and the little box/houses they have decorated.  This is the only time of year I will willingly go around 25th in Ogden at night....but that's because there are a ton of other people so I dont' have to worry too much about the :wrong" kind of people.

As we got there, it was right at the time Santa was starting so the line wasn't very long so we hopped in line.  Ususally the line is a mile long so we skip it.  I was excited to let the kids see him here this year.  Especially since when you go to the mall they rip you a new one for taking a picture with your camera and not spending $20 for a picture there.....

It was freezing!  So we bundled the kids in their snow gear to troop around.  They loved seeing the different houses and themes.  There were some that we have seen a few years in a row, like the grinch in jail, the snowmen in the ice cream shop (one is melted), Hansen and Gretel, and the elves fixing Santa's sleigh by putting an engine on it.

This is one of my favorites =)

The kids love this one....the snowman in the middle is melted =)

He never lets me take a picture without pulling a face.

I know, it's blurry....but trying to take a picture of an almost 3 year old....at night....not a good combination =)

Completely mesmerized =)

The reason for the season =)

Once we were frozen through (at least my hand were because of taking pictures because I can't use gloves with a touch screen) We went home and loaded up on hot chocolate with marshmallows =)

The kids had a lot of fun walking around looking at all the lights and everything.  I love that we have our own little family traditions =)