The starting point

love the color??

I was so happy how this turned out..

stain is a little wet
The finished product

Good-Bye Christmas

Ahhh it is done and way too fast!! We had a blast opening presents and we all made out like bandits!! Santa was very good to us all. The kids also got a big train set and Taylor gets double Christmas with Corey and his family. We are excited beacause my parent sent us a web cam and my brother and his family too. So we can see each other and my parents will love seeing all their grand kids. I wish we were all closer and had the convience of dropping by whenever. But that isn't the way life has taken us. Tonight Marc and Bryce and I went up to Sundance for dinner. And I thought we should start a new tradition in our little family. I think for every Christmas we will eat up at Sundance. A few reasons.... (and I am sure those of you who know me so well are thinking I am just trying to get out of cooking) first we all love it up there so much. It is one of our fav. places to go. It was fun to be there tonight with a bunch of other people we didn't know and just be in our own little world. I always think is it so beautiful there no matter what the season, but winter is the best. The snow on the trees, all the fire places roaring the dim lights, good food, and my family. It was absolutly perfect. (And okay.. me not having to cook was a plus....lol) I was sad Taylor wasn't there this time but we will have all the next times.... I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas no matter what you did. Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Day

Yet another classic of Bryce..We figured this helmet was appropriate for him to wear for all activities except sleep.....he is a crack up!!!

Basketball shoes from Santa! Jr. Jazz starts in January..good timing Santa!!!
New pants for mom... I love the Sundance Catalog)

Taylor trying out her new long board

Roxy is checking out Taylor's new long board

I love old school toys...who doesn't love Lincoln Logs???

I have yet to see High School Musical 1 or 2.....But Taylor loves them!!

Bryce and his stash

from Taylor...

Fun gifts from cousins in Chicago..

Keeping my man foxy in some hip jeans....

Oh the mess! It's all over too fast!!

Well Christmas Eve was super fun at Greg and Stephanie's....We had different types of yummy soups, lots of delicious treats and the joy of just being with family. I love when all the cousins get together to play. It is so fun for my kids... and I honestly could not have picked better cousins if I had tried! My sister-in-law Emily and her son came from Vegas so it was a fun surprize to see them. And she was sporting a sassy adorable new haircut. After the party was over we all headed our seperate ways... We came home and opened out Christmas Eve presents from my parents in Michigan..... pj's. Which is one of my favorite things because for as long as I can remember we always opened pj's....then off to bed with cookies and milk waiting for Santa....and Taylor trying her hardest to stay awake waiting to hear the sleigh bells.......

The Family Christmas Eve Party

I am ready for bed!!

We love our Christmas tradition of PJ's from my parents on Christmas Eve...

Christmas Eve PJ's from Grandma and Papa in Michigan

Me and my brother-in-law Brad....Girls he is single and a great catch!!

Kendra hamming it up for the camera!! I love you Kendra!!!!

I love this pic of Jack..

Bryce was so excited about his Hummer

Kyle absolutly loves BYU...

Taylor got basketball shorts from Grandma

Brady in from Vegas

Hallie and Taylor with Jack

Jason and Tonya (bro and sis in-law)

So my big present this year is this new car. It was time to retire the Subaru. And although that car was new to, we just out grew it....between car pooling to school and Costo alone we needed more space. I have had back issuses so getting groceries in and out was really tough on my back...so this is perfect! And I absolutly love it!!!!My fav car ever!!!! Beats out my old Land Cruiser, which when we left it at the Subaru dealer I almost bawled my eyes out!!! So a big fat Merry Christmas for me!! Thank you Marc....

Merry Christmas to me!!!!

So fun...

I love my new car....

Well only a few days until Christmas. I will be sad to see it go. We went up to Salt Lake City to see the lights tonight and as always..it was so beautiful. I love the cold air and the music and all the people. I love to see all the little kids and how they love to look at the lights. I remember as a kid driving around in our big ole Suburban (probably driving my parents nuts for fighting with my brother)looking at houses with lights and decorations. My kids have inherited my love for going on drives and they love the lights... I love the excitement they show and I always laugh because it seems the more outragous the houses look the better it is for them. Ah to be young and that innocent again. Today in church a woman that has health problems was telling me how Bryce was at her house the other day (he likes to visit her daily and has a schedule that he is very adament about) and he was asking her about her wedding ring. She said she had it because she was married to her husband and he gave it to her. Bryce then said to her "I would like to marry you but you are already married to Rudy" she said it was the sweetest thing because he didn't care what she looked like or that she was a little different. I really started to think how different the world would be if we could all be like that. I hope as a mother I can help my children to understand that different is good and we are all different inside and out. I know at Christmas we always focus on service..and it seems easy for a month with Christmas reminders everywhere and good lessons being taught about our Savior. I wish that there was that much focus the whole year. So my New Years resolution is to be more Christ like always.....and not get caught up in the "junk" of the world but to serve my heart out!!!!! I love you all and I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas....

Marc and Bryce

Taylor enjoying some hot coco

Taking a break

The kids were so proud

We both hate having our pictures taken...

Taylor and I after church

Temple Square in SLC...It was cold but worth it..

Well my nephew got Baptized on Sat.... So we got together with family and had yummy food (Tonya is the best at getting a delicious meal together) and all the cousins with a few Uncle's went out into our first "real" snowfall. They all had a blast and lasted alot longer in the snow then I would have. I opted to hang by the fire and chat with my sister-in-laws and stay warm and hit round 2 and 3 of more good food! It was really fun. Then I took Taylor and Hallie to see Enchanted (which was really good!!) and we hung out..just the girls. A ton of popcorn and licorice later (I thought Hallie might barf after all she ate but she pulled through) we called it a night and I kicked Marc's trash at yet another game of Scrabble! And he is not a good looser! lol This is like his 6th game of getting his tushie kicked by yours truly...ha ha and he never gives up!!! We have been Christmas shopping and these days go by too fast for me. I so love this time of year. We will go see the lights at Temple Square (Salt Lake City for all you non-LDS) and we are going to take the kids on a carriage ride around Salt Lake City. When I moved here from Michigan I remember thinking how clean and pretty SLC is. It is even more beautiful to me at night with all the lights. Well that's it for tonight...Love to you all!

Enjoying the first snow

He really is asleep...

The ride home...

Bryce has had a long day..

I may have been out too late the night before and hung out by the fire..

Marc is thawing out

Uncle Jason is a madman!!!!

Hallie and Taylor are the best of friends...

Bryce had a blast in the snow

Well Thanksgiving is just about done...lots of yummy food and sharing funny stories from the past. We have decided to start a tradition for our little family and go to the movies on Thanksgiving night. So tonight we saw Bee Movie. It really is a cute movie. And for me to say that is a big deal because I am not a fan of animated movies. But it was well worth it and fun to have Uncle Brad come with us.. So tomorrow begins the madness of Christmas shopping....I love this time of year....I am so thankful for all my family and friends. I love you all!!!!

Thanksgiving with in-laws

Kendra looking older than she is...watch out boys!!!!

Bryce with his cousin Karianne

"The Cousins" Taylor, Hallie and Kayla

Uncle Brad and Bryce...Best buddies

Jason and Tonya