one little word...

I have seen a lot of people doing "one little word" for the last few years. I always think about it, but this is the first year I am doing it for reals.

You choose one word that you want the define the upcoming year. More info about it here!

My word for the year is...

Pause!!!
To me it means,
Pause to play with my sweet boys
Pause to take time out for my husband
Pause to think before I speak
Pause to just enjoy life to the fullest

I can't wait for 2012, its going to be a wonderful year!!!

My new treeee!

When we first got married we lived in a really small house, so of course we got a really small tree that I bought and made a few ornaments for. We have had it for what seems like forever! This year with Lance working out of town for the last few months, I wanted to do something to treat myself and make me get into the holiday spirit.

So I decided it was time to get myself a nice tree! Yay! I am a little excited about it if you can't tell.

Oh, and I moved the little tree into the basement for the kids to have in their playroom, and theya re really excited about it. So it is a win win for all of us. :)

Gingerbread House Making...

The boys and I decorated their gingerbread houses last night. They worked really hard at them, Layton was dissapointed that he couldn't make his look like the one on the box. Im not sure I could have either though, it is hard!
In the end they were really excited about the final result. We had the fire going, Christmas music playing, and rolls baking in the oven. Then woke up this moring to more snow. We are feeling the Christmas spirt!



Rush Valley Christmas 2011

We usually have Christmas in Rush Valley on the 23rd and 24th. But it didn't work out that way this year, so we had it this last weekend. The whole family came out, and it was so great to see everyone!

Also, I forgot my good camera so these are all horrible phone pictures, but I guess some bad pictures are better than none at all :(... right?

Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Jerri, with all their grandkids ( 8 now, Wow!)

Parker, Tanner, and Layton ( I love all their "cheese" faces :)

Kim, Rio, and Karsyn (Karsyn's first Christmas!)

Devin and Sidney



Ashley and brand new baby Hadlee! This was the first I have met her and she is darling :)

Shannon, Cooper, Darrell, and Cash

Grandma Jerri and Grandpa Dennis

and then the present opening started...

Layton got a RED (his favorite color) scooter, which was perfect timing because his old one was recently run over by an unknown vehicle (ahem :)

Parker got a... umm, I guess its a bulldozer? But he loves it and you push a button and it goes forward and back and lifts the bucket up and down, and of course plays awesome music that I wish I could listen to all day :)

This is Cooper, Parker and Layton. I grew up having 4 girl cousins that were all really close to my same age, we were very best friends. It is so fun to have these 4 boys all so close together! (Well, I guess soon Cash will be right there with them, so maybe there are 5? Oh, and Tanner isn't in this picture)

Grandma and Grandpa gave all the kids pajamas (that they are all wearing them in the fist picture) some church clothes, and then each family got a wagon! They are so cute, and I have been wanting to get one forever. Good job Jerri :)

Lance's favorite part of Christmas is putting things together ;)

SUCCESS! It isn't quite finished in this picture, it has some wooden sides that are on it too. The kids just couldn't wait to take it for a little spin.



We had such a fun time with everyone. I wish we could have all stayed there for an extra day to spend more time together, but life gets in the way. Thanks so much Dennis and Jerri for making it such a nice day!

Zoo Lights...

I took the boys up to Hogle Zoo for the "Zoo Lights" that they do. It was so so cold, but they loved it and were really excited to run around the zoo seeing the lights and the animals.

Its not a trip until I have purchased a souvenir that costs more than the ticket it get in :)

Santa and his reindeer were there! The boys weren't interested in seeing Santa, but they did really like seeing the reindeer :)

They were sure there was a witch living in this gingerbread house :)

We took a little ride on the carousel, I was really surprised that they choose this to sit in. Rather than an individual animal for them each to ride. They said they wanted us all to sit together, awe :)

It was a fun little evening. I love this time of year!

Parkers Christmas Singing...

Parker's preschool class had a little singing program today. It was darling, Miss Christy does such a good job with all the kids. This is about 5 minutes long so you will have to really love Parker to watch for all that time. But I have a feeling that a few grandparents will like it :)

Parker is the cute one (in the red striped shirt :)

Family Pictures 2011

We had our family pictures done this year by Simplicity Photography 

I am so happy with how they turned out, thanks so much Angie!!!