Picture Time

In the midst of all the Christmas excitement, my family decided to get family pictures done.  It was the last time we would all be together for at least 2 years, since my little brother, Kyle was going into the MTC at the beginning of March.  We also had not taken family pictures in 10 years...no lie.  It was beyond time for a new one. :)  It was kind of quick but did the trick.

This is my family: Jessica, Kyle, Kevin, Kenny, Me, and Kristy

Milton and Kathy

Me and my siblings...

The Whole Clan: 

Families:

Kenny and Becca and their kids, Alec, Caitlyn, and Shay.

Kyle

Kevin

Kristy and Caden

Trev, Me, Morgan, Jake, Abby, Claire

Jessica

We had such a wonderful weekend with my family...more about this coming up. :)

Christmas Care Packages and Rainbow Pancakes

It is mid-January and I am just now getting around to finish my Christmas posts. :)  That's just how it goes I guess. :) 

Every year, (and recently every few months) my super-nice Aunt Vicky and her family sends my kids care packages...you may have seen prior posts, but they usually show up around the big holidays.  My kids TOTALLY look forward to these because they are always so fun!  There is just something about a big brown package showing up on your doorstep, knowing that there are presents and delicious treats inside just waiting to be devoured, that just puts a HUGE smile on your face.  This Christmas however, my Aunt TOTALLY out-did herself.  We were SPOILED ROTTEN.  This year there was not only 1 big box, but 5!!!  That's right...5 huge boxes!  I thought my kids and I were going to pass out with excitement.  I had to call her later and tell her she did not need to do all of that!  I told you, she is super-nice!  Thank you again, Vicky.

Each kid had their own box, and there was a box for the family.  The kids loved every single second of opening these, and afterward, my living room looked like a bomb had gone off!  Those little puffy, packaging peanuts were EVERYWHERE!  But the we loved it!  Here are some of the pics.  I got video of them opening them, but I am still not sure how to put it on here.  Trev will have to help me with that.  I took a lot of pics of the kids opening them as well, but being the super-smart person I am, I forgot to put in a memory card in the camera!  Realized a little too late.  But here are some pics of the things they got, and also of the kids enjoying the spoils.

Tinkerbell PJ's, EasyBake Oven, Hair styling supplies, and candy, of course!

Buzz Lightyear PJ's, How To Train Dragon Viking gear, new hat and gloves, and more candy.

Minnie Mouse Christmas nightgowns (which are still their preferred bedtime attire today), barking puppies, and even more candy.

A Bronco flag for Trev (which is lovingly hanging in our garage right next to the Cougar flag), delicious baking treats equipped with frosting, and my personal favorite, the home-made treats!  Cookies, brownies, chocolate-dipped pretzels, and even chocolate-dipped pink frosted circus animal cookies.  My aunt knows her niece very well!  We love you guys and thanks again for the super-amazing gifts! 

On to Rainbow Pancakes...one Saturday morning Trev took Jake to go do some man-stuff, so it was just us girls at home.  We decided to spice up breakfast a bit by making RAINBOW PANCAKES!  I saw this on my friend, Nikki's blog, and thought my girls would love it.  It is super-easy, just make pancake mix and add food coloring to it.  It was a major hit, and could become a regular dish in our home.  :)

Next post will show the Christmas Parties, and pics of Christmas at our house.  :)

Merry CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope you all had a wondeful holiday season, and best wishes for the New Year!

We are BIG fans of Christmas in our house...but really??? who isn't?

I have so many pics to post from Christmas, that I thought I would break them up into multiple posts.  This beginning post will show what the first half of our December was filled with. :)

Post #1 : Just Getting Started...

Once Thanksgiving is over, I get so excited to decorate my house with holiday decor!  Good-bye Oranges, Yellows, and Browns....HELLO Greens, Red, and White!

One night, while Trev took Jake to a BYU Basketball game with the guys, Morgan and I decided to get going on the decorating.  She loves it just as much as I do.  I put up the other decor, while she focused on decorating the tree.

Side Note:  When Trev and I got married, my parents gave us a Christmas tree for our first Christmas together.  It has been with us, merrily lighting our home for the last 8 years.  However, time has taken it's toll, and I have been wanting to get a new, PRE-LIT, tree for about 3 years.  In the years' past, I haven't ever wanted to spend the money to get a new one.  This year was no different, but when I tried to set the old thing up, and I couldn't even get it to stand on it's own, I decided, enough is enough!  I want a new tree for my Christmas present! :) 

We were lucky to find a beautiful one, on sale, the day after Thanksgiving.  I saw it standing there, and knew that was the one.  It was 7.5 feet tall, Pre-Lit, and had built in Pinecones and Cranberries on the branches!  Plus it was on sale right??!! 

Merry Christmas to me...then an even more magical thing happened...the very next day, they dropped the prices another 20%!!!  So I took in my receipt, got a price adjustment, and VOILE, a gorgeous new Christmas tree that I will cherish for a long time, and only paid HALF what I was planning!  It truly was a Christmas MIRACLE! :) 

The only problem was, apparently my girls (Abby and Claire) loved the cranberries just as much as I did...enough so, that they thought it would be a great idea to PICK them OFF, and bring me a handful!!  I almost cried, then after 2 days of trying to keep them away from the new tree, I finally decided to just let them do their thing, and turn the tree to the other side next year when they know better.  Luckily, about a day later, they got bored picking cranberries...tender mercy! :)

With all that said, here are the pics of our decorating...

This HAS to be the BEST time of the YEAR!

Merry Christmas to All!

This Time Last Year

So I figured before Christmas hits this year, and a slug of new cute pics, I should post the ones from last year. :)  I'm just a little behind. :)

These are of the kids at their Christmas programs.  Our sweet niece, Saylor came with us to Morgan's Christmas Sing.  We love how sweet she is!

 

 Saylor and Claire

 Abby, Trev, and Jake

 Morgan and her little friend and Kindergarten classmate, Ireland.

 Awww....

 Jake at his Preschool Christmas Program...this is the most serious pic I could get of him. :)

Trev and Jake decorating the tree.

 Presents!

 One of our traditions...We always let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve...it's always jammies. :)

Another little tradition...decorating sugar cookies.

Christmas morning!

Do you not love this hair??! :)

Morgan got a pre-cut Princess Tiana blanket.  We worked on it together...I cut the fabric and Morgan tied.  She really enjoys crafting!  Must come from Trev's side of the family.  All his sisters and mom are incredibly crafty.  They quilt, paint, knit, scrapbook, you name it, they can do it fabulously!  I have luckily picked up some of the magic over the years, but I think that Morgan may have been born with it.  She did a great job, and seemed to really love it. 



It was a year ago, but looking back over these pics just reminds me of how much fun it was.  I just love this time of year!  

A little service at Christmas time...

For the last few months, Trev and I have been trying to think of, and find ways we can help our kids learn the value of serving others.  Especially at Christmas time. 

My Morgan has always been the type of kid that is very considerate and caring of others.  She has an innate desire to serve others.  This is a trait in her that I want to encourage and help her develop; however, I have to admit sometimes it can get to be a little much.  Every time a kid in school, church, the neighborhood, etc., falls and gets hurt she comes in and wants to bake them a batch of cookies or brownies and make get well cards.  I find myself asking her questions about the "severity" of the injury or incident. :) 

So when my mom had surgery on her kidney stones a few weeks ago, I thought, "OK!  Finally a real "need-based" situation she can help with."  I decided to take Morgan up to my mom's house the Saturday after the surgery and give her a chance to serve with me by helping my sweet mom.  I deep cleaned my mom's house, and Morgan and my cute little sister, Jessica, got out the Christmas decorations out and decorated the house for Christmas.  I got to chat with my mom, which doesn't happen too often, clean, and watch Morgan spending time with her aunt, and doing something she is naturally good at...serving.  

    What a great day!  I am grateful to have a loving family.