Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Our house has been bursting with excitement now that Christmas is only two days away. Ethan has had a Christmas countdown chain and is thrilled that there are only two links left. We have had fun doing lots of Christmas activities as we prepare to celebrate Christmas this season. As we have told the Nativity story to our children many times over this past month we are pleasantly surprised at how much they know about the true meaning of Christmas. Ethan's little preschool class put on the nativity. It is wonderful that Ethan can learn and grow in that kind of atmosphere.

As a family we went downtown to see the zoo lights. It was so much fun! There are hundreds of lights in animal shapes as you walk around the zoo. We were even able to see the elephants, hippos, giraffes, and walk through the reptile and fish house. It was a fun night together as a family.

Sunday was Christmas Sunday. Here are a few pictures of the kids in their Christmas clothes. Seth sang in the ward choir and Ethan sang a song during sacrament meeting with the primary kids. We then took an entire family picture and I think it turned out quite nice for trying to get so many little ones to cooperate.

Then all the grand kids, plus Laren and Kaylie, got together to film the nativity to watch on Christmas Eve. The kids had fun dressing up and being filmed! We can't wait to see it!

Then for family home evening this week we invited my family and the Hicks over for the night. We had a family tradition of chicken noodle soup over potatoes and rolls! Then we had the children tell the nativity story using hand puppets, we watched the living scriptures film "The King is Born", and we had lots of little treats for the kids! It was such a fun night to remember why we celebrate Christmas!

I am thankful to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ and to feel of His spirit in our home. I am thankful that He came to earth and died for me so that I can return to live with my Heavenly Father again.

Ciara Lou Who

Last Saturday night was our ward party. The theme this year was taken from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas". I have had lots of people tell me that Ciara looks like Cindy Lou Who from the movie. So I decided to go all out and make her look the part for the party.

I was able to find a perfect Christmas dress at Goodwill for $3, and then we watched the movie many, many times to get her hair just right. Ciara loved sitting there having me try to get her hair right just as much as I had fun doing it. I think in the end she looked perfect, and oh so adorable!

Ethan thought Ciara was so cute all dressed up. Whenever we would watch the movie and Cindy Lou Who came on Ethan would keep saying that was Ciara. So he was so excited that we made him be the brother of Cindy Lou Who.

Seth had to work that night so my parents came down and went to the party with us. It was a fun night. After dinner they read the story "A Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and then the Grinch visited. So, I just had to get a picture with my Ciara Lou Who and the Grinch. Ciara did really well for sitting on the lap of a big green monster! Then the kids were able to sit on Santa's lap yet again and then we went home. It was a fun Christmas Party!

Sunday was my birthday. I took some pictures of the kids before church. They are getting so excited for Christmas and that excitement fills the house everyday.

After church we went over to my parents house for a birthday party. My mom made my favorite dinner, got me a cute snowman cake, and then I opened lost of great presents. I got a hair straightener, new hair curlers, perfume, cute clothes, and house decorations! Then on Monday Seth took me out to dinner and to watch Twilight, which I loved! It was a wonderful birthday!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Parowan! We left on Wednesday night and went half way and then met everyone up at the cabin on Thanksgiving Day! It was such a nice day. It started snowing lightly while we were up there and it made it the perfect Thanksgiving. It was different being up at the cabin and not having Grandpa there but it was also nice being all together as a family at a place that Grandpa built and loved. It is also fun to be with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ethan and Ciara loved playing in the cabin. They thought it was the best place in the world!

Driving to Little Creek Thursday morning!

Ethan and Ty played non-stop!

A few pictures of everyone eating.

Ethan and Ciara playing in the lofts of the cabin.

After we ate we all expressed what we are thankful for. I have been very blessed throughout my life. I am thankful to be a mom to two beautiful children that are my whole world. It feels like Christmas morning to wake up each day to be with them! I am thankful to be a wife to a man who supports, loves, and takes care of me. I am thankful to be a daughter to parents whose example I try to emulate. I am thankful to be a granddaughter to grandparents that have taught me so much merely by watching how they lived their lives. And above all, I am thankful to be a Daughter of God and to have the restored gospel in my life!

Ciara loved Thanksgiving dinner too, especially the pumpkin pie!

The rest of the weekend was packed with fun activities that we shared together as a family. We took the kids and Kaylie to see Madagascar 2. It was so cute! Then we took the kids to the St. George Temple to see the lights. The Temple has a big nativity and decorates the grounds with lots of lights. It was special to take the children to the place that we got married and to start off the Christmas season at that wonderful place.

Then on Saturday we went to the Parowan Santa parade. After getting candy we went and sit on Santa's lap. I even got a decent picture of Ciara sitting on his lap. We spent the rest of the day at the Christmas bazaar, the Nativity parade, and the Christmas program.

Waiting for candy to be thrown....

Running in the street after the candy is thrown!

The three boys watching the parade!

Ethan's Christmas list changes from day to day, sometimes it is a long race car, sometimes it is a bad Hulk, and sometimes it is a Transformer!

Ciara was so brave to sit on Santa's lap and she kept saying "baby, baby" over and over. I think she wants a baby for Christmas!

On Sunday Casey and Brynn blessed their new baby girl, and we were able to go to that. I did not take any pictures of Ciara before church but she sure was cute! Then we started on home. We got all the way to Glenwood Springs just to find out that the highway was closed due to the weather. So we decided to stay and get a hotel room. The kids love sleeping in hotels. We had snacks and watched a movie!

It was a great Thanksgiving but we are glad to be home and start celebrating Christmas!