Christmas Day

Christmas was VERY low key this year.  

But it was also VERY awesome

I am always so proud of how appreciative and easy to please my kids are. 

They are just happy, sweet kids and I love being their mom.

They were super good kids this year and were rewarded accordingly

This was definitely the big win at our house.  This game is fun and the whole family enjoys playing it.  

It was an awesome Christmas.  

Christmas

We had the MOST mellow Christmas this year and I have to say I LOVED IT!!!  I'm not kidding when I say it was mellow.  We spent very little money and just focused on the things that mattered and I have to say I couldn't have been happier.  My kids spent a lot of time and thought on their presents and were VERY thankful for the very humble spread they received.  It was a year I won't forget.  There aren't many pictures because I didn't take many.  I was too busy enjoying every second.  

I did, however, capture this moment!  My parents bought Kylee a real guitar and my dad has started teaching her how to play it.  You can't really tell from the picture but it's a real, wooden guitar, with real strings.  The body of the guitar is pink and the neck and frets are purple.  Kylee is in love with it.  I love that my dad is teaching her to play and that the guitar came from him.  Talk about special!!!  I'm so lucky to have such great parents.  

This was my favorite gift!!!  You might not be able to tell, but it's a Stanley Cup shaped air popcorn maker.  It is freaking awesome.  And makes the best popcorn.  The only problem is...I'm addicted.  I eat a bowl (with real butter) pretty much every night.  SO GOOD!!!

It was a super mellow holiday and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  

Christmas

We had a very mellow and low key Christmas this year.  We didn't have much to do or many places to go and it was actually kind of nice.  Santa found our house and the kids were awesome as usual.  Very thankful for the few things that they got and so much fun to be around.  

Christmas marks 1 year that we have had Minnie.  

We sure love this pup and she has brought a lot of joy to our family.

Kylee wasn't too excited about her underwear and undershirts.  

She did love her doll house additions and the barbie she got.  

'

Cannon was super excited about his Toy Story watch and the legos he got.   

Santa must have known that I have really been missing hockey.

He gave me a nice supply of hockey gear.   

It was a wonderful Christmas time.  

Parties

My Grandma decided she wanted to spend Christmas in California with my cousins (BOOOO!!!), so our usual Christmas Eve tradition was moved up a couple weeks, but we still had a great time.  It just didn't feel the same.  Probably because it wasn't really Christmas Eve.  : )  

We still laughed a lot 

And sang our favorite songs

And enjoyed time with people we love.  

Then we had our annual party at my parents house.  

 Don and Amberlee gave my kids some way cute blankets.  

Grandpa and his elves.  :) 

It was nice to actually have my hubs there with me.  

It doesn't happen very often.  

 We all pitched in and gave my parents a FIRE PIT.  

Now we can sing around the "campfire" anytime we want.  

I'm very grateful for my sweet little family and the love that we share.  

Christmas on Temple Square

One of my favorite places at Christmas is of course, Temple Square.  

The new shops and fun at City Creek make it even more enjoyable. 

My kids and I had a great time with my family.  

It even snowed on us most of the night.  

It was pretty much perfect.   

I'm so thankful for these moments!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Since it is looking like there isn't going to be any hockey this year (NOOOO!!!!!) I can safely say this is my most favorite time of the year.  I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!  I know that everyone complains about not celebrating Christmas until Thanksgiving is over, but I think the two really do go hand in hand.  I love focusing all November long on the things I am thankful for.  It always come down to the same conclusion though...the thing I am absolutely MOST thankful for is my Savior, Jesus Christ.  It's very easy to let the shopping and the presents and the talk of Santa mask what the season really is all about.

This year as I got each nativity out I realized I have 3.  I told Ky and Cannon they could both pick one they could set up and we would talk about the story of Jesus' birth why we set them up.  It was so cute.  I told them about each figurine and why/how they came to see the Savior.  When we were done I looked over at Cannon's and he had arranged his all COMPLETELY around the baby Jesus.  I told him he needed to have them face out so we could see the baby, and he frankly responded: "But Mom, then the Shepard's and Wise Men can't see the baby Jesus very well and they came all that way to see Jesus."  It warmed my heart.  So all our nativities now have the visitors completely surrounding the babe.  I encouraged my children to help us keep Jesus the center of our home as well.  I love when my children humble and teach me. They are amazing little souls.  

On a lesser note:  I'm obsessed with Hot Chocolate.  I'm pretty sure I drink at least 3 or 4 mugs of it a day.  It warms my soul and makes me happy.  

 

I just thought this picture was so pretty.  It makes me happy (and thirsty).  

I hope you all enjoy this  

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

Christmas Day

Christmas 2011 is one I will NEVER forget.  My kids are at the perfect ages.  So full of the spirit and magic of Christmas.  They were very excited to come down and see what Santa had left us. 

Wearing their new pj's they opened Christmas Eve night.

When they came down the stairs they were VERY excited to see that Santa had left them a PUPPY!!! (There is a way cute video I posted to FB)  At first the kids were a little confused wondering whose dog it was until they realized Santa had actually left it for THEM. 

Kylee and the puppy were instant friends.  She kept saying "We have a dog!" 

She is a mini Schnauzer and has been a lot of fun (so far).

We decided to call her Minnie. 

I got a snowboard and am waiting patiently for it to snow more so I can go.  Seriously we have been lacking this winter on the snow.  :(  Hope we have some awesome storms soon. 

There were other fun presents we got, but of course the highlight of the day was getting Minnie. 

I really did not want a dog.  Only because we don't have a fenced yard and I work all day and I just didn't want to have to worry about taking care and training a puppy.  My kids were too good this year and Santa had to grant them their wish and I must say I'm very glad he did.  She has already brought so much joy to my kids and she is an amazingly sweet and smart dog. 

I didn't do Christmas cards this year, but I hope each of you out there know how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life. 

HOPE YOU HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!