Some service

On our snowy Christmas Eve, we were able to do some service at a facillity for the handicap and help the residents open their Christmas presents. It was a really great experience for us and I hope for Jimmy. When we got there, each family was assigned their own special person to help. Our family got Jimmy. He had such a great smile and loved the Twillight series, the Bears and Carrie Underwood. It warmed our hearts to get to know this sweet guy, who could only communicate by smiling. And like almost always with service, we got way more out of it than Jimmy did.

Christmas morning was filled with presents, homemade cinnamon rolls and p.j.'s the entire day. It was a relaxing day that we all loved.

Today, Rick got ordained a high priest. He was called to the bishopric a few weeks ago and was set apart today. Rick and I both feel really good about it. So it looks like he will be doing a lot of service and I will need to beef up my church bag.

Some things that happened in December...

Ben ended his basketball season with the game winning shot. A great way to end the season. This is him with his trophy.

This year instead of cookies, I decided to make homemade fudge for the neighbors. I gave them with a pint of vanilla ice cream. I wanted to find peppermint ice cream in pint size but never found it. Hot fudge is good on anything right?

Rick gave me any early Christmas present this year...recessed lighting!! Since it gets dark around 4, it gets very very dark in the kitchen. We only have the pendants and under cabinet lighting which didn't give off very much light. Thankfully our friend (who has the same floor plan of house and had put in recessed lighting at his house) came and helped Rick install it. Thanks Jeff!! As you can see he still has some holes to patch but I'm a happy camper. Will figured out that he can roll underneath the Christmas tree and grab presents and ornaments. How does a child just instinctively know that a Christmas tree and presents are awesome? Tis the season for bundling up the kids for school, unfortunately. I took this picture one day before school while Ben was waiting for the school bus. He decided to play his DS all bundled up in his snow clothes. This picture just cracks me up!

Olivia had her annual Christmas P.J. breakfast. We had a great time (how could you not, when you can legitimately go out in public in your jammies) and she had even made Rick and I a present, this cute Christmas tree.

I was in charge of Ben's holiday party at school which thankfully went great. The kids had fun and I think the parents and teacher did too. I made these little cuties for the party. Although delicious and cute, they were super time consuming, and I will only be making them by specific request from my kids. The things we do for our little ones.

The Nutcracker

Olivia has been hard at work since, September, practicing her part in the Nutcracker this year. As you can see she is a flower, and a pretty cute flower at that. These costumes are just too cute!

Practicing After the show, she got her flowers, which she was very excited about. She did such a fabulous job! Ben (who was less than excited about going to a 2 hour ballet) even thought she did great!

After 2 days of trying to post the video of her dancing, I'm giving up. But believe me, it's really cute!

Christmas Decorations

I don't know about you, but if there was a fire in my house, and of course after family, the plastic tub where I keep the Christmas ornaments might be what I grab first. Over the last 12 years, Rick and I have collected ornaments from vacations we have been on, places we have lived and things we have done or accomplished during that year. Every Christmas I love opening the ornament box and reliving those memories from the previous years. We always talk about it as we decorate the tree. I love this tradition. All of the ornaments are irreplaceable and priceless!

Olivia's 1st Christmas

Gulf Shores, Beach trip

Italy trip Ben's 1st Christmas
Rick getting his MBA (Go Dawgs!)
England trip We have a hand carved Santa collection that we have been adding to each year since we have been married too. Rick's sweet Grandpa would send us a Santa or two a year that he would have carved for us. They all look completely different and they are all so cute. Grandpa passed away about a week before Will was born this year, so this year we won't be receiving any beautifully carved Santa's. I know Rick and I always think of sweet Grandpa every time we look at them.
A tradition that has continued now without really meaning to is the wreath on our front door. The first year Rick and I were married we bought a fresh green wreath from Costco. It smelled good, was pretty and cheap! It was perfect. So every year since then we have had a Costco wreath hanging on our front door. Now each year I see all of these cute Christmas wreaths and think maybe I should change it up a bit, but I can't. I just can't break the tradition now. Heavens knows what will happen if for some reason Costco decides to not carry them anymore. On a side note, I love Costco, like really really love Costco. It's a little unhealthy.

Our stockings are the same stockings I had growing up as a kid. My mom made them and somehow I ended up with mine and a few others. I think my mom had asked if my brothers wanted theirs and being boys they all said no, so I got them all. Lucky me.! One of the only benefits to being the only girl.
holly-me, stocking-Will, present-Olivia, stars-Rick & tree-Ben

8 Months

We took some family pictures about a month ago and these are my favorites of Will.

8 months...how can it be??

Snow & Santa

Last Friday night we went to see Santa and Olivia sat on his lap for the first time without crying. It was a momentous event in our family. Ben & Olivia both told Santa what they wanted from him and Will promptly took Olivia's place as the crier. You can see in the following picture that he is terrified. Right after I took the picture he completely broke down.

Olivia with Santa. She is so proud of herself.
That night we got a ton of snow so the next morning we went sledding for the first time this season.

My little snow bunny

Daddy & Will

Ben & the hill

This was the first time Will had seen snow. He was so bundled up he couldn't bend to sit (Christmas Story style). Rick had to hold him up, he didn't seem to mind though.

Thanksgiving at our house

Hanging with most of the grandkids (we missed you Aiwyn)

Watching football Playing sixes

Watching 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'

Meeting our new niece and cousin Allie

Eating and coloring

Food

The table

Celebrating Will's and Allie's first Thanksgiving

More food

Mom is the best!

It was a really great Thanksgiving! Rick and I are so grateful that we were able to spend it with some of our favorite people. It was my first Thanksgiving to host, and I was pretty impressed with myself that everything went smoothly with no catastrophes. One of my favorite memories was after Thanksgiving dinner when people were sitting around talking, with full tummies and the kids were running around. Thanks everybody for driving all that way. We love you!