HO HO HO...

We made it see santa at the mall. Not sure what his hair is all about... But the kids ate it up. Bode wants a blue tractor and Rylie wants an american girl doll and a me doll. She just sat on his lap and started saying what she wanted, he didn't even have to ask.

its all worth it...

Bode had just woke up from a nap and I left the room for some reason, came back and this is what I saw! I snapped a picture and they didn't even know it. It made my heart drop, just seeing them all snuggled up and reading the night before Christmas in front of the tree.

Being their mom is the best, I wish it was always this simple.

I love my kids!

the latest happenings...

We made some graham cracker gingerbread houses and they fell apart pretty quick. The roof fell flat, but they still had fun doing it and eating the candy. Rylie and her friend Hannah showing me crazy faces.
Bode ENJOYED the candies, but look what happened to his house

After finally getting some more lights, we got the TREE decorated. This tree is all MOOSE and I love it. The moose ornaments have came from all over and they all have some meaning to me.

One of my favorite mooses

Decorating sugar cookies! Look at those faces, how do you not love em!

Jingle Bell Rock...

Rylie rocked out to JINGLE BELL ROCK at her winter dance recital. She did such a good job and its the cutest thing ever to see all these girls dancing. Her grandma and grandpa Smith, grandma and grandpa Beckstead, Aunt Sharon and cousins Holly and Annie come to her recital. It made her night! I could not get her to stop posing and hold still for a normal picture.
Rose from dad!

Elf...

We got home from Thanksgiving Dinner and quess who showed up at our house. The ELF that night he brought the kids Christmas Jammies to wear during the Holiday Season! He has been a little crazy at night and showing up in the craziest places like the fridge, chandelier, tree, our reindeer decorations, rylie's barbie house... He even showed up in our hotel in SLC. The kids go crazy every morning trying to find him. They are definately putting their best foot forward since he came. :)

SLC...

What a fun time to get to spend the weekend in SLC, we headed down with Mike's brother and his family. Its so fun for the kids to stay in a hotel a few nights.

Here are the hightlights from our little getaway...

• 
  
  seeing the lights at Temple Square


• 
  
  shopping


• 
  
  going to Living Planet Aquarium


• 
  
  swimming at the pool


• 
  
  getting Rylie's build a bear a new outfit


• 
  
  jumping on the bed


• 
  
  just having good ole family time.

Mike was showing me how excited he was to have his picture taken!

We got a little bored/ tired on the way home.

It entertained the kids to take their pictures on the drive back.

getting the Christmas Tree...

Once again we made the trek to get our Christmas Tree! We headed up Strawberry Canyon, snowshoed in for a bit, started getting frozen cheeks, so hurry and cut down TWO. One for upstairs and one for downstairs and headed home. Rylie snowshoed and Bode rode in a sleigh, its quite the adventure.

Self portrait while Mike was searching for the perfect tree. We always think they are perfect when lit up and decorated. My snow angel, she takes after her mom and loves the snows! The boys not so much.

The basement tree is the believe tree and whatever else the kids have made over the years. Bode new pose for smiling.

I am one to get my trees right up, because I love them all lit up and decorated. I love the smell of pine trees. When I tried the lights for the upstairs tree, I was in trouble... 5 out of my 8 strands were out. I shopped for days, literally, and hit every store in Logan and they were all out of white lights on a green strand. I finally found so garland lights in SLC that did the trick this year. How is they all go out at the same time, they were fine last year. But the trees up now and I will post pics later.