and just like that... it's come and gone

Every year it seems like the Christmas season comes too quick.

and then after all the celebrating, traditional get togethers, gift shopping, and finally the Christmas morning glory.... it's done.
Just like that.

Here are the last few moments of celebrating we enjoyed.

It's a CHRISTMAS PARTYYYYYYY!! - Words of Taryn

The kids had a mini Christmas party making ornaments, gift bags, and cookies. They also exchanged their cute gifts to one another.
I think this party will be a new tradition for sure.


Ava (5), Gage (2), and Taryn (3)


a few of their creations :)

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Our Sunday Best Christmas Attire

-blah picture of me... but my girls looked adorable :) -




I love their matching pea coats!

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Lights at Temple Square

It was a chilly Monday night, the week of Christmas, and we made it our FHE to go see the lights at temple square.


Tenley never made a peep.
I wanted to be her in that cozy stroller.






Taryn begged to go inside. She peeked in this window and exclaimed, "I see carpet Mommy!"


then she took off her glove to feel the "sparkly" rock




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CHRISTMAS DAY............
UGH! We were so busy, I totally forgot to take pictures at our own house of the girls opening gifts!! Well, I did video tape.
So here are the few pictures I did take....


We were all spoiled with gifts from grandma


uncle Tay got her some sweet van's shoes :)


my booga's cute grin


The newest stocking made at my Grandma's house
I guess it was your turn for pictures this year Tenley Jane!
That's whatcha get for being attached to Mommy constantly...

I did get a video of Taryn opening her big present.

But this tops it all.

I don't even know how many hours and effort went into these, but I will be forever grateful!
I sure love my Mom and Dad.
It was a Very Merry Christmas indeed.

Ugly Sweaters

They are the latest trend...

ugly sweater parties.

This year we had one with my group of friends from high school and their husbands. Robbie and I for sure had the best sweaters for the event.

Mine contained kitten's popping out of Christmas presents, and Robbie was a champ sporting one that was my grandma's.

- Grandma, I'm sure you looked lovely in that sweater when it was in it's prime. -

and what's a Christmas party without some white elephant gifts?

one of our gifts, UFC loot Robbie won from Comcast.


Obviously I was thrilled with my gift.
It ended up getting snatched by it's original owner...


Allison opened our other gift. The truth or dare jenga set we bought in high school for a group date. Some pieces you had to come up with your own truth or dares, now those were funny to read!


Tiare's husband James totally pulled off the creeper look in his attire.


And these two were the winners for best sweaters of the night.


The whole gang!

Until next year...

Dancing Snowflake

Taryn has loved being in dance. She has always been one that spins around and prances whenever she gets a chance. So having her in a dance class is a given. Unfortunately her teacher will be taking some time off because she is having a baby... so we will either take the time off as well, or search for another class.

-which it will be hard to find one we love as much as miss Natalie's class!-

Miss Natalie is the daughter of Miss Connie who taught me when I was about Taryn's age. My mom has the funniest video of my Christmas dance recital. It's honestly America's Funniest Video worthy. Let's just say I wasn't in the best mood and made it very well known.

I was more than excited and surprised to see Taryn and the other classes do the exact same dances I did back in Miss Connie's class! Though this time around there weren't any pouter's.

Taryn was so cute as a little snowflake in her sparkly blue costume. She was in heaven! Anytime she hears a commercial or the radio play the nutcracker song they performed to she tells me all about how that was her dancing song.








I sure hope we get to see many more performances like this one! I LOVED IT!

this holiday season

We have been busy just like everyone else during the month of December.

Hustling and Bustling...

The other day in the car I found myself singing along to silent night. I tried to explain to my three year old why we really celebrate Christmas. I could see the wheels turning in her little mind as she processed that thought. Later she told me that Christmas is when babies come.

Well... she's kind of got it figured out.

I think it's my goal every year to keep my heart and mind focused on what Christmas really means to me. When there are so many wants and wishes flying around it's hard to keep myself grounded. I want my daughters to understand how serving others is what fills your heart this time of year.

When life gets hard and trials take over, I can count on serving others to help heal my worrying mind. It is one way I can free my mind and think of someone else's needs.

One of my favorite's is the festival of trees. Growing up I never really thought much of who and why and how these trees came together. This year of course it hit much closer to home. It was a bitter-sweet feeling to help with the tree that was decorated for my Dad. On one hand you feel like it's an honor and think of how much he would have loved to sit by this Utah themed tree. But on the other hand it's another reminder of the reality that he is gone.

I think when you lose a loved one you find when there's a positive it's usually followed by a negative.
If you enjoy something, you wish you could share it with them.
When you hear a funny story, you miss hearing their laugh.
When you accomplish something great, you want them to be there to hug you.

See what I mean. So as much as you miss them during hard times, you miss them just as much during the happy ones.

But life goes on... so we must too!! :) I do count my blessings everyday and am ever so grateful for my darling husband and beautiful girls. Now moving on to some photos to enjoy...

"Merry Christmas to U"
The Ute tree for my Daddio


It turned out so great! So many people helped out by making blankets, pillows, donating red gumballs, Uof U ornaments, signs... and so much more!!


The kids had a blast in the kids korner getting decked out with glittery "tattoo's", decorated antler's, and the girls had their nails painted.

I just love these girls!!!!


and the part Taryn was looking forward to most...
telling Santa what she wants for Christmas.
She had practiced for days on what she was going to say.
"I want a princess barbie rapunzel with a castle and a prince... and a baby named Sara."
So as she got up on his knee the nerves kicked in and it came out like this...
"I want a repunzel baby and a barbie named Sara."
Such a silly girl! I helped her explain a little better what she meant :)


I just love this picture.


especially this part.
So magical.

Oh, it's almost Thanksgiving... so I better get to that Halloween post. yaaaaaaaaa

~HALLOWEEN~

Part ONE:
Pre-school party


Ariel all ready to go!


The kids were so cute singing their spooky songs and showing off their costumes.


Taryn's buddy Ruby.
They are tight.


Tar's teacher's Miss Denise and Miss Laurie


and here is Sebastian the crab!
They looked so cute together :)




Part TWO:
Saw thriller with the girls... (well not the little ones :)


creepy!




We were scccuuurrrddd


then we went home in the snow

part TRES:
Trunk or Treat.


Taryn and her buddy Becca.
(Taryn called her Princess Aroura the whole time)


I'm always a witch... it's easy and I love my hat :)


3 out of the 9 kids from my Primary class. I sure love these girls!


Getting candy from our car.
Their bags were filled by the end!


Such cute friends!
Funny story: They didn't want the night to end.... Becca's mom, Mariann, said they'd bring Taryn home because they were having so much fun. They climbed into the back of Mariann's car and when it was time to finally head home they told her to keep driving, so she went around the block a few times while they giggled and sang along to the mama mia soundtrack!

Part FOUR:
Carving Pumpkins

Our original pumpkins were stolen! How rude... :(
Actually I may or may not have done that with the deli boys I worked with in high school. They wanted to smash them by tossing them out the car window while driving... yeah that may have happened. I guess I deserved it in a way.
So I got a couple straglers the night before Halloween for us to carve.






We made Taryn's a kitty cat. - I think her face here is hilarious


Robbie carved his usual Ute pumpkin and he gave blood earlier. Way to go Robbles.

I just drilled holes in my chubby pumpkin, but it didn't light up too well.


and last but not least...

Part FIVE:
October 31st... crazy rainy dreary weather which is very fitting for the holiday, but not the trick or treaters. Robbie and Taryn ventured out anyway and were gone quite awhile. I stayed back with Tenley and passed out candy. We had so many kids come by, we ran out of goodies and I ended up giving some kids granola bars! haha


Heading out in the rain


After a warm bath, we had yummy chili in bread bowls and pumpkin cookies for dessert.
and that's our Halloween. :)