Christmas Lights

On Tuesday night we had our traditional Thanksgiving Point Light night! We all got in our comfy clothes, stopped at Maverick for some treats, and it was off to see the lights. I love this idea. To think we use to bundle up and freeze while looking at the lights on Temple Square. This way we get to sit and stay warm to enjoy the lights. Joey even made us a Christmas CD that we listened to as we looked at the lights. I love these outings we get to do as a family. As we drove through the lights I could not help but be overcome with gratitude. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and amazing kids. How lucky am I that I get to enjoy the holidays with them? So so lucky!
*We had just woken Nash up from falling asleep in the car. We did not want him to miss the lights but he was not so happy about it.

Nash's 3 year old checkup

Yesterday Nash had his 3 year old checkup. Joey was off of work so I got to take Nash all by myself. What a quick and quiet appointment. Nash is doing great. Here are his stats:

Weight: 36 lbs - 85%
Height: 39 1/4 in - 90%

Dr. D was so proud of his speech improvement and said that by four he needs to be going on the big boy potty. I am hoping that it is before 3 1/2 that he masters that! Who wants to have three kiddos in diapers. Does not sound fun! So grateful for Nash. We are hoping though that this bad behavior that came on the day he turned 3 quickly disappears. So much for our mellow fellow!

White Elephant Party

On Sunday night we had a white elephant party at Jamie and Mindi's house. What a great night. We had enchiladas for dinner and then went downstairs for a little program. Grandpa talked about the true meaning of Christmas and bore his testimony of the Savior. What an amazing example he is to all of us. We are so lucky to have him in our family. After Grandpa spoke, Jamie shared a few short videos that were really touching. Then to finish up Hailee played the guitar and Mindi sang Silent Night. It was so beautiful and such a great reminder of what we should be focusing on. Then we all went back upstairs and opened the gifts. It was so fun to see what everyone got. Very creative! Aside from Gray splitting his lip open and bleeding all over the place, it was a perfect night. So grateful for Joey and his wonderful family that we get to be a part of.
*At the end of the night we finsihed off Nash's bday with cupcakes!

Nash Turns Three

Our little Nashie is growing up. We cannot believe that he is already 3 years old. He slept in longer than anyone today and woke up to a breakfast of snowman donuts! What could be better for our little guy who LOVES sugar! He opened his presents a little later and was so excited to get a Cars 2 racetrack and a transformer. We went over to Mindi and Jamie's for dinner. After dinner we sang to Nash and had cupcakes. What a fun day! Probably one of the last ones where we can be so low key with the celebrating. We hope you had the best birthday Nash!
*Everytime someone would tell him Happy Birthday he would reply "Happy Birthday!" Too cute!

The Breakfast Club

Since being released from the RS presidency, Janet Serene and I have tried to get together frequently. Since we are in different wards we miss each other! A couple of months ago we decided to start going to Kneaders for breakfast once a month. We have added our friend Deb to the group and I call us the Breakfast Club. Yesterday we went and exchanged presents for Christmas. I am so grateful for these good friends and the great examples they all are to me.

Cookies at Mimi's

On the last day of school before Christmas break my Mom has all of the grand kids over to make a Christmas treat. This year they made cookies that looked like Santa. They were so cute. Since this always seems to fall close to Nash's birthday, we always spend a little time celebrating him.



He got a transformer and I do not think he has put it down since. He loves to figure things out so this toy was right up his alley. The kids had such a good time.



*Not sure why I did not get any pictures of the cookie making but here are a few of Nash getting his present.

The Christmas Sing 2011

Traverse Mountain held it's 2ND annual Christmas Sing. Each of the grades sing a couple of Christmas songs and the parents come to watch. Luke's class performed at 10am to a packed house. They sang "What Child is This" and "Santa Claus! Santa Claus! You are much too fat!" Luke was so not into it. It is crazy how much he has changed since kindergarten. He was so animated and very accurate with all of the actions.




This year, he wore his jacket, hoodie, and kept his hands in his pockets. I told Joey that this was his fault! I could totally see Joey doing the same things years ago!



Harlee had her performance at 1pm. Her class sang "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" with their cute painted noses and reindeer hats. She was so cute and animated. I hope her hands stay out of her pockets in a few years! So fun to watch them grow up. It is happening too fast!

Anything is as good as gel...

Gray puts EVERYTHING in his hair. I am not sure if he thinks he is styling it but he will try anything. I had just given him a bath because he had put blue paint from their art projects all through his hair. He came down all clean and smelling good, ready to eat lunch. He had some cheese and then a gogurt. No sooner did I give him the gogurt that he squirted some on his hands and styled his hair. So much for the clean baby. I am really hoping this is just a phase. I am really having a hard time keeping up with this kid!
*It is hard to tell in this picture but check out the right side of his head! Glossy with yogurt- nice Gray!

She Did It!!

Harlee has been struggling again with going to preschool. She gets really sad to leave me but as soon as she is there she is fine. I made her a promise at the beginning of the week that if she did not cry this week then we would go on a date of Friday night. After school each day we would put a happy face on the calendar showing that she was so brave! She was so good all week and did not cry at all. It was so wonderful to watch her bravely go each day! So proud of her! So on Friday, as soon as she got home from school, we were off for our date. She chose to go to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner. It was so fun to sit and chat with her. I feel so blessed to have her as my daughter! Then we went to Target and she did some Christmas shopping for her brothers. It was so fun to spend this time with her. I know it was the reward she earned but I felt like I was rewarded also. Love you Har!!

They are listening...

Yesterday I was picking up the living room when I saw Luke's take home reader on the floor. I had asked him to put it in his backpack and I don't think he was listening. So I said: "Crap Luke." Not the best thing to say I admit. To which Nash replied: "Mom, we no say crap!" Don't you love it when your own words come back to haunt you? Such examples these kids are. Always helping me to get back on the right path.
*Love this picture of my Nashie! Such a babe!

Festival of Trees

Luke's 2ND grade class made a tree to donate to the Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees is a big event where trees, wreaths, and other Christmas decorations are donated and all the proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital. This is a place that is dear to our hearts since at one point or another all of our children have spent time there. Luke was there for 10 days when he was so sick at birth, Harlee had tubes put in and removed from her ears, Nash spent a week there when he contracted RSV at 2 months old, and Gray had his tonsils/adenoids out there. We are so grateful for this hospital. So when Luke's class donated the tree we were so excited to go and see it and support this great cause. So we got a babysitter for Nash and Gray so we could just take to two older kids. We went to the festival and it was so great to see all of the amazing trees. Luke's tree was made up of frogs.



Each of the kids made a frog and accessorized it according to a story they had written. Luke's frog was a hiker so we made a backpack and sleeping bag.



After we walked through the trees we took the kids to Crown Burger for dinner.



It was so fun to enjoy dinner and get to talk to them about what is going on in their little lives. I decided we need to do this more often. What a fun night!