Gingerbread Houses

This is a very fond tradition in our household. Five years ago we were making gingerbread houses in Logandale with my side of the family when Tim proposed to me! Ever since then, we have made it a tradition to make gingerbread houses. I guess it was our first tradition we ever started together. This year was no exception. It gets all the more fun with more additions to the family (this year being Kaven). And as you can see he was not left out. This is his first candy cane. We gave it to him, and awhile later we looked over and this is what we saw. We couldn't help but laugh for the next few minutes. Kids make things so fun! Emery made a snowman out of marshmallows (but I didn't get a picture fast enough because she ate it too quickly after. Then Tim and I made our own houses. I thought I would try a pretzel cabin this year with a train! Always fun to try something new. Merry Christmas!

Random December Happenings

This month of December has been a very simple but very memorable one. We are tighter that we have ever been (being in Pharmacy School and all) but the happiest we have ever been. We have not always been great at doing Family Home Evening but made a goal to start doing it EVERY week. We have done really well and it seems to be making an even greater difference in our home. Emery never seizes to amaze me with the things she knows or says. Last Monday we talked about how things like Christmas tree's, candy canes, stars ect. could remind us of the real meaning of Christmas. Tim had mentioned, earlier in the day, what Christmas lights could help us think of. I didn't even think Emery heard him or noticed because she was just running around. In our Family Home Evening I said, "Can you tell us what Christmas lights can remind us of Tim?" He said, "What do you think Emery?" To our delight she said, "The light of Jesus Christ." Both of our jaws dropped!!! It is amazing how well kids really do listen. It also reminded me how close these little ones are to heaven, and how precious they are. Kaven has been changing by leaps and bounds this month as well. We have found that he absolutely LOVES eating finger foods or whatever we are eating. This leads to a lot of time enjoying himself in the high chair and a HUGE mess. Well worth it though. He has also been figuring out how to move himself around. He is just starting to crawl (but can't get very far yet). He also is pulling himself up onto anything he can reach or get to. He also just learned a cute new trick.
It is kind of hard to tell what he is doing but you ask him to show you his muscles and he tightens up his body and grunts a little. It is pretty cute. He is such a happy personable baby that I can hardly believe it. Tim just finished his last final yesterday, boy has he been busy. Our first semester of Pharmacy school is completed, HOORAY!!! It was by far the fastest semester we have ever experienced. Must be going well them. :) He did great and we are looking forward to his next classes. He has learned SO MUCH all ready. We hope you are all having a great Holiday season! Merry Christmas!

Family Christmas Party (Mom's Side)

I love family get togethers! I especially love getting cute pictures like this. It is of my mom and her sister Paula. Aren't they so cute? It has been so nice living in Salt Lake, seeing as my Mom grew up in Provo Utah and my Dad in Orem Utah. So that means a lot of my extended family is pretty close near by us now! I feel that my parents did a great job getting us to family functions when we were kids but it was a little difficult because of the LONG drive. I grew up in Southern California and mostly Southern Nevada. Because of this we did not get to see my cousins as much as I would have liked. Now that we are closer I feel like I am getting to know some of my extended family a little bit better. We have been able to attend some Family Home Evenings, missionary "homecomings" and parties! It has been great!
So this is just one of the few things we have done with my mom's side of the family.
We had a great time at the family party: great food, great company, fun relay races, and it was the best having my mom and sister come up for the party and spend the night at our house.

Ice Skating

We had a VERY special treat last weekend. We were able to go ice skating for our ward party and to top it off my Mom and little sister came for a visit! Makes for the perfect weekend! I didn't think Emery was going to be able to skate because she is so small but when we went up to the desk they handed us these adorable skates just Emery's size! Did she ever LOVE them. When Tim took her out onto the ice the first time she bent over and hardly touched the ice as Tim held most of her weight. She didn't know otherwise though and said delighted, "Dad, I'M SKATING!!" Since my mom and sister were here, they went with us and boy was that ever nice. Tim and I were able to skate alone while they watched our wee ones! THANKS SO MUCH MOM!!! That is probably the closest we have come to a date in a long time. We sure had a blast! Emery and Kaven were able to sit on Santa's lap again and once again it was a delight for both of them. I don't know where they got their bravery because I was always very scared to sit on his lap when I was a kid! I just love this Holiday season! Merry Christmas! I

New Tradition??

Right after the light parade we went to the park to see the lights. They were all so pretty and Emery was in awe of them! We walked through the whole park then stopped at the nativity as we were leaving. It was another great chance to talk to Emery about baby Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas. Sometimes I think that gets put on the back burner a little too much this time of year. So I loved that it was the last thing we saw at the end of a day full of Santa and Christmas trees. I think I might want to add that as a new tradition when we are in Delta.
Merry Christmas!!!!

Light Parade

(Waiting in line for Santa)
Sense we were in Delta for Thanksgiving this year we were able to see Santa (pictures in header), visit a tree festival, and go to the Light Parade on Friday. This is a pretty simple and short parade but one of my favorites! We get all bundled up (because it is cold outside) and watch the lights float by. Emery was SO EXCITED about Santa this year! After she got off his lab she bounced out the door with a big smile on her face and a bag of treats. Later that night we headed to the light parade which Santa is on the last float. As it floated by he looked right at Emery, waved to her and said, "Hello sweetheart!" She turned to me with eyes as bright as headlights and said, "HE SAID HI TO ME!!!!". Those are a few of the things that make the holidays so Magical and great! It is so fun experiencing that again through my children!

Thanksgiving

Once again our holiday plans changed due to sickness. I had been so excited for Thanksgiving this year because it was the first time we were going to my side of the family sense we have moved to Salt Lake. We decided to break the trip up a little bit and stop in Delta for the night on our way there, (seeing as there is only about 7 mile difference going through Delta rather than on I-15 the whole way). Well Emery got sick with a bad Croup cough so we were stranded in Delta. With Tim's family in Manti we were on our own. Luckily Tim's grandma lives in Delta so we were able to spend Thanksgiving with her and I was able to make my first Thanksgiving Meal with out the pressure of having a lot of people there. It turned out great and we had and excellent time with Grandma Dora (as Emery calls her). Though I was a little disappointed being away from my family, I think it was a Thanksgiving we will always remember. We loved spending it with Grandma Dora and it helped me think more about what I am so grateful for!