Before things get REALLY crazy!! An update!

,Like most families, December is super crazy for us! This year is no exception!! In fact, this year is even crazier than usual.
We started out December getting all moved in and set up for Christmas.. We are all so excited for the holiday! We have done lots of fun little Christmas crafts, and are goingto bake treats the next few days!!
Shortly after we got moved in, my Mother-in-law, Brother-in-law and his family came for a visit. What a wonderful time!! (I am one of those weird-os who love their in-laws!) It was so nice to get to visit and relax! They have the sweetest little boys who are just months apart from my boys. It was wonderful!! 
Next we will be celebrating our Christmas on the 21st of December because on the 22nd, we head to Idaho for Christmas. I am exited for Christmaswith family, however, I am less excited for a quick turn around trip.  I will post more about the festivities afterward!! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

Well friends, it is here..Christmas!! We had a fantastic time this season learning of Christ's birth and ministry. I was wondering if any of it had sunk in to Cierra. Well, that question got answered last night while the Missionaries were here for supper. It was nice to know that all of our efforts to teach her the true meaning and reason for Christmas were in vain!!
Woody and I were up late last night, getting stockings ready and the last few gifts set out! I think I was at least as excited as the kids were and had a terrible time getting anything that resembled sleep last night. When the kids woke up..(With only a little bit of momys assistance!) They came down to their loaded stockings. However, before they were allowed to do anything with THEIR presents, we made them write (Blayke drew) what they were going to give Christ for his birthday this year. Then we tore in. I wont go into every detail, but there were a few funny moments. Blayke asked with every one of his gifts, "Can I open this?!" and then, upon opening it, "OOOOOHHHH NICE!" When Cierra got her Barbie and The Diamond Castle movie, (the ONE thing she REALLY wanted!) She said, "Santa is a good man afterall!" BAHAHA! I wonder what she would have thought had Santa forgot the movie!

Friends, it was so wonderful to start a lot of new, fun traditions with my family this year. It was fun getting the kids gifts that we knew they wanted. But teaching them of our Savior, of his life and eventual sacrifice for us was just so amazing. I learned as much as I taught. We are so blessed. I would like to bear my testimony that I know our Savior lives. That he was born to Mary in a manger, and that he is, without a doubt, our Redeemer. I am thankful for this knowledge, and am so blessed to have my wonderful kids to teach all about it... I hope all of your hearts are full this Christmas day!! We love and miss those that we couldn't see this season.

A little bit of fun

The kids with their friends Jack and Shelby. We think this

girl is supposed to be a "Who" from The Grinch

Where Konnor spent all of HIS time..

If you don't have a wrap, and have or are

expeciting a baby...GET ONE!

Honestly, they are 40 dollars, and they are the

best 40 I have ever spent!!!

Cierra with Santa..Not shy AT ALL!


Blayke with Santa...I was worried he would be shy
but he wasn't!!

Our always CUTE little town hosted a "Wake Up Santa" party today. The kids got to sing to "wake Santa up", they got to do some little crafty things, and they got their picture taken with Santa. It was a cute, fun, simple way to make memories. The kids' friends Jack and Shelby were there, and boy oh boy, Jack and Blayke...They are only about 4 months apart, and are 'personality twins'. Seriously, I have NEVER met a boy more like Blayke than Jack is!! They are so dang cute together, and I am glad Blayke finally had a boy around his age that is his friend! (Which, NANCY, is why you CAN'T move!) Shelby is a couple of years younger than Cierra, but they seem to get along pretty well.

Tonight we are going to rent the Grinch, and make Root Beer floats, (I KNOW! Ice cream when it is cold out?! But, seriously, I am CRAVING them!) Tomorrow for our FHE, we are going to make cinnamon rolls, and eat them ooey, gooey and fresh from the oven while hopefully listening to The First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It should be an awesome weekend....Especially since Woody is home! (He got fired last night, but lets save the details of that for another post..Just know we are ok. He already had another job lined up, and we are thinking he will hopefully just start a week early!)

I hope you are all enjoying this awesome season, your family traditions, and everything else!! (Hopefully nobody is too stressed out!)

Christmas Traditions

Oh so excited for Christmas this year! It is our first year away from our families, and I have a list a mile long of traditions I want to start this year! We have started by decorating the tree, drinking cocoa, and eating popcorn the day after Thanksgiving. We bought each of the kids their own ornaments, and will do so every year, then when they are grown (GULP) they will have a box of their own! We also have enlisted Woody's grandmas help in making a very SPECIAL white stocking. This won't be just any stocking, but it will be Christ's stocking. We will hang it every year, and on Christmas day, put the "gifts" we want to give Him throughout the year. The next Christmas we will read them, and talk about how we gave Him those things. We are doing an advent calendar that has the story of Christmas, and we will be reading a Scripture a day (in addition to our normal reading) that somehow relates to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we will be doing Santas cookies, reindeer food and a movie box. In it will be a movie, Christmas jammies, hot cocoa, and popcorn! WHEW! We are in for a LOAD of fun! I hope!! If anyone wants to share their traditions, that would be awesome! Love to all!