Christmas Cookie Party

Mason had been asking me to have a party for Christmas and this is what we came up with... lots of fun for everyone! Mom's got to chat and laugh and kids loaded up on sugar and played great! We are lucky to have so many friends right next to us to play with! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Brooke, Dane. Ella, Gwen


Jane, Braden


Brook, Dane, Ella




Claire


Ella


Mason, Aliyah


Jane, Braden, Mason


Mason, Alyiah, Rachel, Kate, Cole


Claire, Lia, Mason

Christmas Outfits

This is my all time favorite dress for Ella! Can't even get over how much I love it!





He gets more handsome everyday



She is getting too big too fast! loved watching her walk in this skirt!


My beautiful kids!

A cRaZY week of holiday ChEeR

MONDAY: Such a busy week full of fun holiday festivities! Today began the neighbor gifts treats and visit to see Santa... I was on a mission this year to learn to make caramel. It became my quest... got the new thermometer and borrowed a pan and I was on a mission. First batch way to hard, second batch (Shepard's candy) a little soft but edible, third batch we are good to go! YEAH!!! I also did, as always, peppermint fudge! of which both batches turned out YUMMY and I ate too much.
The visit to see Santa was a great one this year.. Ryan came with us, no lines and all smiles! Perfect.. On the wish lists this year are; Mason- video games, anything but clothes (except jerseys don't count, he wants those) Ella- Make-up(are we going on 13?), and dollies, and Claire- well we were just happy she didn't cry during the picture!

TUESDAY: Litza's and Lights! Our annual tradition of going downtown and going to Litza's Pizza and Temple Square to see the lights! It was a great night... wonderful weather and happy children! As always, the lights are beautiful! They even had my red pine tree all lit up, it seems like that only happens every other year or so. Mason was excited and happy all night, Ella was lovey and in love with all the colors, and Claire was in amazement of all the beauty to look at. She was so fun to watch! Everything excited her! I love this tradition and look forward to it each Holiday season!!!













WEDNESDAY: We went down to the Conference Center with Ryan's family to see The Savior of the World. It was wonderful! We had seen it once before a few years ago and I was excited to go see it again! Beautiful singing and full of the spirit of Christ. Its about the people and events that led up to the birth of the Savior and then His Resurrection! It really help put me in a more "right" state of mind for this holiday season. It was nice to get away from all the lists, and rush, and shopping that has seemed to consume me! I love getting a taste of of what people might have been thinking, feeling, learning etc... back in the times of Christ birth, I couldn't help but wonder where and what I would have done and believed. I would hope that I would've believed that He was the Savior of the world as much as I do now! It is my center, my way of life and my anchor! Another special thing about that night was that Mason was able to come with us! A little over his head, but I loved watching the seed be planted in his heart!
THURSDAY: Ella had her preschool Christmas sing! She did wonderful! She loves to sing and was darling up there on stage! She really has a way of melting my heart! The entire program was heart warming and wonderful. Grandma, Mason, Me, Claire, Dad, Grandpa and Nana came to watch her! I think my favorite was the Angel song that shot out the lights the louder and better they sang it! Love these memories! She is getting too big!



FRIDAY: CRASH!!!

Happy Holidays!

May your holiday season be full of happiness, smiles, snow, hot chocolate, holiday treats, Christmas lights, and most of all... The spirit of Christ! Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Movies

I Love Christmas movies... It seems like we always have one playing this time of year! So I thought I would put down my top 5 or 6!
-Christmas Vacation
-Christmas Story
-The Santa Clause
-Polar Express
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Home Alone
PS... I also love to watch all the Christmas cartoons that come on (What am I 5?:) Such as... Mickeys Christmas Carol, Prep and Landing (My new fav this year), Charlie Brown Christmas, and Frosty!!! I think I get just as excited as my kids do!!

Gingerbread houses

Every year Steph (Nana) takes my kids and does Gingerbread houses with them and play all day! They had a great time this year and made wonderful houses that they are enjoying all season long! Thanks Nana!

Girls Christmas Lunch

Every Christmas season for as long as I can remember my grandma would take my mom, and aunt and I out to lunch for Christmas! I looked forward to it every year, I would get all dressed up and my grandma would usually wrap up really pretty bath oils or salts or even bubble bath for each of us! We would go to places like, The Heather or the Tiffin room. It was really fancy and fun! So I am so grateful that my mom has carried on this tradition since her mom passed so many years ago. But now she is the one who wraps up smell goods, candles, and lotions for us. The group has gotten much larger now that all my brothers are married and we now have more granddaughters than grandsons. I love going each year! This year we went to my FaVOrItE restaurant, Cheesecake Factory! My girls were great at lunch and I had a really good time . Unfortunately my 2 other nieces stayed home with their daddies for nap time, but maybe next year they will come! Thanks mom for doing this for us each year! I love love love doing it! And hope my girls end up looking forward to it as much as I did and do!