Christmas Memories

We spent Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house this year, and thank goodness Maddie wrote Santa a letter to tell him where to find us. We made many memories and had lots of fun.

The kids loved frosting sugar cookies. Here began the constant sugar high.

Ella was so careful and concentrated. I bet you can guess where that spoon ended up--there was a lot of licking.

We celebrated Daxton's 1st birthday together! I can't believe how fast that year went!

On Christmas Eve my dad built a fire, and Ella loved to sit by it and get warm. She is also mastering the fake "cheese."

We had our family's traditional Christmas Eve picnic by the fire. This has always been one of our favorite traditions. I may need to build myself a fireplace to continue it!


We followed that with the reading of the Nativity in Luke 2 while the kids built the manger scene piece by piece.

Emrie and Maddie were pretty excited about leaving out the cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and the reindeer. Maddie went to bed sure that she would hear the reindeer hooves if she listened hard enough.

What a bunch of weirdos! We had to model our full body Joe Boxer jammies. So stylish.

Christmas morning we always take a picture on the stairs before we let loose! It took a lot of doing to get all those boys out of bed.

Well Santa found us indeed. Maddie was disappointed she didn't hear anything, but she figured it was because she was in the basement. We're sure Dana and everyone on the top floor heard the reindeer on the roof.

The girls were happy to get their pillow pets and piggy banks from Santa! They've only been talking about it for about 3 months.

Grandma made Ella a happy girl with a sit and spin. Maddie got some darling new coats and a doll.

To top it off we all got packages from my parents with flight itineraries to HAWAII for a week!!! They are taking the whole family at the end of January. We all need to loose a few pounds (good luck to me-ha) and gear up for some sunshine! Ella practiced her Hawaii hula in the this cute skirt my mom made.

After the morning festivities we decided to burn off some energy outside. We played tag, duck duck goose, and lots of ball. The brothers-in-law were outside facing off till dinner time.

It was great to spend the weekend with all our sisters, uncles, nieces, nephew, cousins, aunts--family. It got a little crazy at times, but that's what families are for, to drive each other crazy, right?

We also had a special moment when Mike felt our new baby kick. There has been lots of activity in there lately and we are so excited to find out the gender on January 19th.

We wish everyone a Happy Holiday season, from our family to yours!

Home for the Holidays

I had one of those moments yesterday when you look at your life from the outside in. I went out to the mailbox and on my way back in noticed how warm and sweet the house looked from the window. The Christmas tree was lit, the lamps were glowing, and the kids were painting at the table. We have some letters above a doorway that spell JOY and I thought about how much joy I have in my life.

I want to remember little things that have made this season memorable. Here's a glimpse of what we've been doing...

Wrapping presents. Maddie has a new interest in helping this year.

Making all kinds of star ornaments. Remember how I said I love stars?

Making flowers for my girls and gifts (my friend wanted to see them).

Hosting Christmas parties... Joy School, one for some good old friends, and a family one coming up!


Acting out the Nativity... when you don't have enough hands, feet work too.

Making snow angels in the new snow we got!


Watching Maddie's dance performance of the Nutcracker. Daddy even got to come to class!

What a darling little ballerina.

A Bright, Shining Star

I have been thinking a lot lately about the Christmas star. I think it is my favorite symbol of the season because it seems to invite me to find Christ amidst all the other sights and sounds. We recently visited Temple Square and saw this beautiful star with the temple spires behind it reaching to heaven.
At the beginning of the Christmas season we read this book as a family. I was touched again as we read of the star appearing in the sky to the Nephites, signifying the birth of the Savior across the world.

A few days ago Maddie was watching a kid's show on PBS. I overheard them talking about the Christmas star and wondering why it always went on the top of the Christmas tree. Another character was explaining that it appeared every winter in the nighttime sky to signify that Christmas had come. I was thinking to myself how sad it was that the program couldn't talk about Christ when Maddie exclaimed to me, "Mommy, they don't know! They don't know the star means it's Jesus' birthday!" I had a gratified moment knowing that we had taught--and Maddie had internalized--the true meaning of Christmas.

At the First Presidency Christmas Devotional President Monson gave a talk by this title: A Bright Shining Star. It's worth reading or re-reading.

Let the Festivities Begin!

Friday night was the annual Provo Living Nativity at the beautiful Provo Tabernacle. It is a wonderful way to start the Christmas season on a spiritual note.

The girls enjoyed the lights and costumes. Ella loved the angels singing.

Outside they had real camels, donkeys, and sheep to pet. Ella was fearless!

I love little kids in hats. Downtown Provo was so pretty decked out in lights.

Saturday night we continued our tradition of buying a real Christmas tree!

It's always fun to run around the lot and pick your favorite ones. I have great memories of that as a kid.

Mike's a good tree tie-er. He even taught the employee guy a new trick or two. He's done it now 8 times, including one year before we got married for my apartment, but excluding the year I went alone and hefted in into his hatch back all by myself! (He had stayed up all night the night before and was getting some sleep, but that didn't stop me. Must have my real tree!)

Maddie couldn't wait to put the star on. Ella had to take a turn too.


It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Ella's "Two Two!"

Ella turned the big two years old yesterday! She loves trains so I thought a "two two" theme was fitting.

We practiced making twos at the breakfast table. My kid's birthdays make me really nostalgic because they remind me how fast they change and grow up. I usually spend the day noting and treasuring every facial expression, every silly saying, and every smart thing they do so I can remember exactly how they were then!

Funny the kids appropriately played train with the kitchen chairs as I mopped the kitchen. Later I heard Ella talking in her bed at naptime, saying "My birthday's coming up!" and singing her ABC's. She woke up to this:


Dana, Landon, Daxton, and our sweet neighbor Doris made up the guest list.


Present time! Ella was so excited but so patient waiting for dinner to be cleaned up so we could open presents.

A new stool! Maddie has one they fight over every day, so Ella was excited to get her own and gave it a good jump right away.

She got sweet gifts from everyone, but the crowning one was a Thomas the Train set of her very own! It has already provided hours of entertainment.

Happy Birthday dear Ella!

We love our little girl, green tongue and all.

Birthday Party Run-through

Ella was a lucky girl and she got an early birthday party with Grandma and Grandpa! It was great practice for the real day.

Cupcakes, balloons, and presents made for one happy little girl.

Yum written all over her face.

This was the first time Ella really opened presents on her own, and Maddie had a hard time sitting back. She was more excited about the contents than Ella was!

Grandma thought a Baby Drink and Wet was appropriate for the soon-to-be potty training 2 year old!

She also got a tea set of her very own (Maddie has a porcelain ladybug one) and has already gotten lots of use out of it. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a great party!