Generosity

Right before Christmas I told the kids we needed to clean out the toy room a bit and make a pile of things we could donate.  Kaden, my hoarder, immediately started stressing.  I explained to all of them how its good to give to others, how we have PLENTY of toys, yada yada yada.  Then I sent them upstairs with a box.  They were up there for quite awhile and I could hear debates on what they could get rid of.  So I was thinking that my little lesson had sunk in......and then they came down with their box of toys to donate

Yeah - we might have to work on this one.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year - it was quiet, relaxed, and low key.  We had Christmas here at our house with Matt's parents and sister.

Candy Trains 

 Putting out our reindeer food

 We always have to include a bag of goodies for Santa to take back to Mrs. Clause :)

The sleigh left tracks in our front yard when Santa took off! 

This is what the rest of the day looked like - relaxing, playing with new toys, and watching some new movies. It was great.

A few days after Christmas we got to have Mason over!  It was so good to see him!  We sure miss he and Jodi since they moved to Utah.

One of the biggest highlights of Christmas this year were the videos that Santa sent to us!  We emailed our lists to him this year and he actually sent each of us a personalized video!  The kids have all watched theirs at least 800 times.  Super cute.

Giveaway

Love this website and they are doing a giveaway.  There are thousands of entries, but it can't hurt to give it a shot, right?


http://tinyurl.com/6joxqun

Thanksgiving

Some highlights of Thanksgiving:

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We got together with our friends Max and Marin one afternoon - watched movies, made Thanksgiving crafts, and had dinner.  It was great!  We love our "cousins" (as Bailey calls them)

Darling and delicious craft made by Jen!

Thanksgiving weekend was great - we got to go to Thatcher for a jam packed weekend.  We did family pictures and a session at the temple.  Kim and Matt were both crazy busy working on big projects due for school.  Matt and I celebrated our anniversary and took advantage of free babysitting for a night out! :) Nick and Monique gave their homecoming talks in church and we had a big dinner afterwards.  And, of course, lots of laughing, playing, and just having a blast at Nana's!

All the grandkids in their Christmas outfits from Nana

My cousin Becky and her husband Dan did our family pictures.  I think they turned out great.  They did a fabulous job and it was a pretty painless process (much better than I was expecting)!

(Logan, Shayla, Lane, Nick, Dad, Mom, Monique, Me, Matt, Kim & HL)

This is the first time we have had our whole family together at the temple - my parents, all six kids, and spouses.  What an awesome experience.

3 Months old

I just can't get enough of my sweet boy!  I am thankful for him every single day.  I might be just a bit biased - but I think he is the cutest thing ever!  Just love him

My two little red-heads 

Missionaries!

My brother, Nick, came home in November from his mission in Edmonton, Canada.  The kids loved making signs to hold up at the airport.

 

My sister, Monique, also came home in November from her mission in the St. George Visitor's Center.  But my parents drove and picked her up - so I don't have any pictures.

It was so good to see both of them again and to have our whole family together for Thanksgiving!