On to the next year

I make a book out of our blog every year, one of the factors that keeps me writing even though blogging seems to be a thing of the past for most people. This year has gone so fast!!!  Every month I would wonder where the days went, time is my biggest nemesis lately, I feel like my life has been crumpled up into a ball and is hurtling toward death and I have no power to slow it down.  I'm grateful for many things this year, and even though I have seemingly experienced life in fast forward mode doesn't mean I don't appreciate these particular details of my life:

For our family vacations to California/Mexico and Arizona
For LASIK
For my children developing their talents at piano, violin, clogging, and gymnastics
For the hot tub!
For my health, I have enjoyed much better health this year and will never take that for granted again!
For a lot of time with family members celebrating birthdays and holidays and whatnot
For a job that I love, and that I don't have to work full time, but I can still be apart of a cause I consider very important
For a good husband who loves me and provides for us
For my calling as primary chorister
For friends I have made in this ward and neighborhood
For a smart phone and a iPad
For children with good health
For abundance of healthy food, vitamins, and good water to drink
For reliable vehicles
For time to be with the people I love most in the world every single day
For my religion, for temples, for my Savior

THANKS FOR ALL THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE OFFERED 2012!

On Christmas

Merry Christmas 2012!  It was a wonderful day, just wonderful.  We got everything all set up and ready by 10:45 PM, which was great. We felt so blessed to have so much to offer our kids this year, and to other family and friends as well.  We are so blessed!

before santa came

After Santa Came...

...

...finally, Christmas morning!

Fiora putting the last advent ornament on the tree

This kids had a breakfast picnic downstairs and we opened the service box and had family prayer before presents.

The girls got nice new bikes so we can take advantage of the awesome trail we have right below our house.

They loved their bikes

Weston got an archery set.

and target

Opening the stockings!

photo album, movie, accessories, candy, gum, socks, etc.

Weston got a watch and legos

Jared got snacks and a love note from me

trying out weston's bow

Presents! Sav got gift cards to Old Navy, Payless, and Ross

She was very excited, she also got a canvas print of the picture holly took in October

Fiora got books, and was so happy she started crying

I thought something was wrong at first, but she was just overwhelmed with joy.  She loves reading

Weston got his Ninjagos set

I had some bonus cards to my favorite restaurants and snacks in my stocking

Fiora got lots of books, the kids all got converse shoes from Dad as well

Fiora cried lots of tears, she is such an angel

We received a wonderful gift basket from Aaron and Amy, Monson's Biography on CD, $30 to cinemark! and pie fillings

The Wilkinsons left us gifts, they generously gave us a LDS Christmas songbook, "Matched" and nightlights

Grandpa Neil and Grandma Bonne visited us and showered us with gifts! Thank you!

Weston opened his Ninjagos right away, he got to work building his ship, he hated being torn away to go visit the Barretts

Mehki, Sylvan, and Kayden Nielson, all got shoes from us, not too exciting but very practical. :)

We had Holly and Bill and kids for Christmas, we gave them the shoe shelf/seat furniture piece pictured with shoes for all the kids

Holly opening little Penelope's shoes

My kids got some gifts from Grandma and pa Barrett too, so much love !

Savanna being grateful for her gift from grandma

Enjoying the head massager

We gave grandpa and grandma a gift card to a hotel of their choice and a head massager

 

The head massager was a hit

Kynsie and Penelope

Opening my awesome gift from Jesse and Kelsy,

a blazer, leather jacket, skinny pants, and nuskin vitamins! You guys are the best!

My brother and his sweet wife Kelsy

My parents gave me a dress and some beautiful books, and Grandma Rappleye gave us a Carrabbas gift card.  We enjoyed soup and a nice turkey for Christmas dinner at the Barretts, and enjoyed talking to our missionary Karli Sue for a while.  It took us a lot of patience to figure out how to Skype her, but once we figured it out it was wonderful.  We miss you Karli!

We had a white Christmas!

We got a lot of Christmas cards this year, I love that!

Highlights of this Christmas season for me included the Wilkinsons' visit, receiving a full on dinner on our doorstep from my sweet friend and running partner Wendy Heim, Singing carols with the extended Barrett and Rappleye families the evening of the 23rd, the Schauers Progressive Dinner on Christmas Eve, seeing the excitement on my kids' faces when they were opening gifts on Christmas morning, telling one person every day until Christmas that the Lord loves them, and Jared's booking a cruise to Alaska for just the two of us in May. The cruise was our gift to each other, and I'm so excited and look forward to an excursion with my friend and husband Jared.  Remember, the Lord Loves You! :)

Before Christmas

Happy 35th Jared!

Our December birthday boy!  Jared went to Tucanos with his office pals and siblings the day before his birthday so all he wanted for breakfast was a smoothie. The kids made him cards, and Savanna made him bacon and pancakes later, and Jared and I went to see the hobbit and went to dinner later. He said it was a nice birthday.

Jesse helped me compile all our video clips onto one great DVD

Weston made this awesome pop up origami card for Jared for his bday

At the movie theater seeing "The Hobbit"

  The next day was Sunday dinner at the Barretts and they always make a nice dessert and sing for the person whose birthday it was that week. Jared requested his mom's famous mint oreo ice cream cake.

The Happy Birthday Cake

On the 21st the kids went to Wendy Snow's for the annual Grandma Sandy Christmas Party for the grandkids.  It was a Polar Express party!  The kids enjoyed making crafts, having snacks, listening to the story, playing boola boola, and having a visit from Santa!  Thanks Wendy.  Weston got some magnets and played with those non stop for 2 days.

Savanna, Bailey, Sandra, Ethan, Wendy, Lexi, Fiora, Austin, Weston, Ashlyn

Fiora's snowflake

Hugging the train conductor, Wendy

Savanna and Lexi doing their activities

Weston's magnets

Christmas Eve I motivated the kids to help me clean the house extra well by giving the option of opening their Christmas Eve gift during the day instead of at bedtime.  It was footie pajamas!  And they loved them so much they put them on at noon and didn't take them off until Christmas was over!  They looked super cute of course.

Weston was wearing fake glasses

 

footie jammies!

At 4:00 Christmas Eve we had our annual progressive dinner with the Schauers.  Every family has a food assignment and shares a talent, and all the Schauers are excellent cooks so its all very yummy.  It was blizzarding that day so luckily no one slipped on the icy roads. Savanna sang "Snow Ball Fight", Weston played "Angels we have heard on high" and Fiora won "Santa Says."  The kids got to beat the smitherines out of a pinata at the end, it never did open!  Aaron had to cut it open after everyone had tried their best to beat it open.

my kids with Ashlyn, Sandy, and Austin Snow

Keith Snow and Jared

The Snows and us

Grabbing grub

Shawna Schauers and me

Trying to break Uncle Todd's pinata

Sav Holding her 1st cousin once removed, Ali Sandra

Jared and I had such a crazy busy December we didn't have a lot of time to connect, but we love each other so much we managed to help and care for each other despite the busyness.  I saw this picture on facebook and loved it so much I had to add it, kind of sums up our marriage this month.  I love Jared.