Christmas Day

Christmas was more fun this year. Josie understood more about the whole deal and asked a lot of questions. 

Josie was set on getting a Barbie House and she also wanted a car seat for her baby. Santa is super smart 'sometimes he re-gifts between cousins'. When Josie started playing with her new toys she stopped for a second and said, "Mom, Gretchen has this exact same car seat, I can take this next time I go to her house and now she won't have to share, we can both have one". I just smiled and told her she was a lucky girl. Needless to say we won't be going back to Gretchen's for a LONG time. 

Trig was overwhelmed he couldn't quite focus on any one thing for very long.  

Josie wrapped two drawings up one for me and one for Dean. She was so excited to give them to us. 

Good think Santa didn't buy much for Quincy because she was thrilled with the garbage.

Every time I turn around Josie is screaming, either because Trig won't play with her or Trig is playing with her stuff, its always a lose lose for that boy. 

After we cleaned up we headed to Dean's parents for the day we got showered with gifts and had a nice dinner and a fun visit with all the family. I sure love this time of year. Except the part where my driveway is 100% pure ice, and its unbearably cold outside.

Christmas 2013

On Monday night Granny Sharon kept Quincy while we took the kids to see the lights in Ogden with the Whites. We had perfect timing getting there right as it just started to get dark. We finished up as soon as the crowds started coming. We got to ride the train around the block and the kids were thrilled! We stopped for dinner and headed back to Grandma's

 Tuesday we played in the field in the snow. Dean rigged all the sleds up in a row and the kids loved it. Addy and Grandma even had a ride and of course Dean and Cameron tried turning it into an extreme sport.

Next we went to Alyson's to frost cookies for Santa and then back to Grandma's for wonderful dinner and a program (which I didn't get any pictures of).

Christmas @ 20

Leann wanted to make her missionary a quilt covered in pictures of her family for Christmas. Jenna and I may have laughed at the idea, so she asked me to take some pictures of just her to send to him. I did and they turned out great, cause she's so cute.

Baby #3

I enjoy Quincy so much. She is a fun baby. She reminds me so much of Dean. I think she looks like him and she defiantly has his personality. She is so fun and easy going but she has a temper. She loves treats as much as her dad and I love to give them to her because she is so funny about it. People say with #3 your more laid back, I guess its true. I give her food I never would have given my other babies, I don't have near as many pictures, and I don't fret as bad about her. But I have been enjoying her more also. She is such a doll. 

By changing nothing, nothing changes

Growing up I called this sweet lady Grandma Hall. Now that I have kids and my own mom could be confused with Grandma Hall we call her Grandma Great, which suits her perfectly. She is such an amazing woman, she is a spiritual giant, quick witted, intelligent, charitable, humble, and an extremely hard worker. Growing up we went to Grandma’s house A LOT. I have a many fond memories of my grandparents and the more I thought I realized I have a lot of fond memories of their house. I loved eating popcorn and chocolate cake, trading Halloween candy with cousins, eating Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner on the dangerously steep stairs, turning on the heat lamp in the up stairs bathroom, looking for chocolates in the basement, grandma washing dishes, eating radish sandwiches while grandpa played cards, playing Lagoon in the yard, visiting in the kitchen; I could go on and on about the memories I have at that house.  There are no pictures; you couldn’t capture the memories in a picture anyway.

When I heard that my grandma was moving I was so excited for her. I instantly thought it was the best idea and knew it would be good. Her house is 3 levels and this new one is all on one. I, ironically, think its good for people to move every 10 years to de-junk. She moved right next door, and couldn’t ask for a better location.

The first time I walked through the new house I was a little surprised with the sad feeling I had in my heart but I still knew it would be an awesome place for her. I even gave a couple lectures to people that were acting sad about the change. The real kicker for me was the last visit I had with grandma at her house. The house was basically boxed up and we had a fine visit but when I walked out of the kitchen to my car I cried. I cried for a while, and though I was by myself I was embarrassed. I still have all the happy memories so I figured the only possible reason I could be crying is because I don’t like things to change… ever. I like the security of predictability. It's a problem I was born with so I'm going to try to deal better with things changing. Meanwhile Gram’s new house is perfect. It has such a good feeling and we visit just the same. She was so sweet to let Josie pick out two necklaces and some clip on earrings from her collection!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Dean is such a good Dad and an Awesome husband. He is pretty easy going about most things but one thing he keeps pushing is a Real Christmas Tree. It's a tradition to get a live tree as a family. One really hard thing about this is I like to decorate the day after Thanksgiving and that never works whether it be the weather or Dean not being able to go we don't seem to get one til way to close to Christmas day. I will say this was the most pleasant year so far; that being said... I still hate real trees. They are messy, they fall over, and you have to water them; but all that aside I can't stand that what little branches they do have are to flimsy to hold up ornaments. So this year I opted for a Cedar tree. You know why people don't use Cedar trees? Because they are poky and they will scar you. Anyway we finally got the tree decorated and it has only fallen three times so far.
Next year we are going to compromise. I will decorate a fake tree in the living room upstairs anyway I want. We will still go as a family to get a real one, the kids can pick out whatever one they want, we will decorate it together for fhe. It will just be down stairs, or in their room, or perhaps outside...

VEGAS

Dean's work takes him to Vegas every year for the National Finals Rodeo. I went a few years ago and got to go again this year. We debated whether to go or not, but I'm really glad we did. We had just got home from my moms and I had to teach Relief Society, un pack, repack, Dean had some work to get done, we needed to regroup and organize but we managed to pull it off. I sent Addy this text. 

She was so so nice to take my kids. We stayed at the White's Sunday night, it was like our vacation had already started they were great hosts. We left early Monday morning and Dean was such a good sport to let me stop and shop on the way down. We had a good time in Vegas but it was mostly just nice to be with Dean, eat dinner and only worry about feeding myself, sleep through the night, O and my favorite part was carrying nothing. I know its silly but I packed really light so Dean and I shared a suitcase. I didn't take a purse, diaper bag, or camera. I didn't worry about a thing. Dean had his wallet and carried my phone. I loved all of it, even the drive. Addy took such great care of my babies and sent me home with clean laundry it was like a short dream vacation! Thanks to the White's for making it possible! 

 I saw this at Cowboy Christmas and had to take a picture of my Boy's name sake. He is named after his grandpa Leon Thompson who is know as Trigger for always riding palomino horses. This is 'Trigger' Roy Rogers horse. Yes its the actual horse. I asked the lady, "So you just took this straight out of the museum"? She did, she said she rode all the way there with him and she can't leave his sight.

Tuf Cooper and I at the NFR, I needed to share this with Leann who desperately wanted to come.

These silly little models where outside the rodeo every night, they made me laugh right out loud each time I walked passed. How embarrassing; They were trying to act like mannequins but they just could not hold still.  

As soon as we turned off the exit to pick up the kids I felt Dean turn back into real life mode. It was nice to enjoy him while I could, (he still did plenty of work over the phone while we were in Vegas making sure things were happening at home) but at that second it was all over. We picked up the kids real quick, stopped by the Westates office in SLC for a minute, picked up new semi tires, planned the rest of the work week on the phone, on and on and on. It really was fun while it lasted.

 We were almost to Logan and Josie said, "Mom please stop talking to me so I can go to sleep". and she did along with Trig and Quincy. They must have had a great time with cousins because they were exhausted.

I love December, it's always FULL of parties. We went down to my moms for the Jerusalem dinner and it was so nice. It was an extra special one for me because the Monday before we used our new 'little people nativity set' (thanks the Grandma and Grandpa Fox) for Family Home Evening. I used the little toys and told the kids the Christmas story. Trig thought it was so funny that Jesus slept on the hay where the cows eat and Josie couldn't figure out why they couldn't just stay in a different hotel. Anyhow it was nice to retell the story and try to explain our family tradition of the Jerusalem dinner to my kids.

Shawnee's grandpa passed away so I took the kids down a few days early to visit with her family, they have a special place in my heart. It was nice to get together with these ladies again. My mom was nice enough to let us revert back to our teenage ways and stay up way to late visiting. She made us cookies and hot chocolate and I loved catching up with them.

 We love to stay over when the Whites are there too. We were lucky enough to hit Grandma Great's Birthday while we were in town also. We took the kids over to sing to her. We sure love that awesome lady!

Santa?

As my kids get older I'm trying to find out where I stand with Santa. I want Christmas to be magical for them but I don't really want to push the creepy elf that watches you at night or getting coal for Christmas stuff. I was excited to see that Santa made a stop at our ward Christmas party and the kids were too (well Quincy obviously wasn't thrilled to see him). Josie sat on his lap and talked to him, which is a big deal for her. Trig ran a few circles around him and then stopped. Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas. Trig replied, "Chaps" then punched Santa in the belly, and continued running circles until I stopped him for a picture. 

Seeing Santa really opened a can of worms at our house. EVERY single day Josie asks me a question about Santa. Sometimes only one Sometimes 5 or 6. 

I don't even know how to answer...

*Why did Santa ask my name? I already told him last year?

*Mom why doesn't Santa just drive a car?

*The reindeer probably can't hear Santa tell them where to go if he is in the sleigh, right mom?

*If Santa has to come in the door will he take his boots off so he doesn't get the house dirty?

*Why does Santa bring presents when I'm asleep, then how can I tell him thanks?

*Is Santa a stranger because I don't really know him?

*How does Santa know if we are good, he can't see us from the North Pole?

*Is the North Pole far away like more then hundred ten minutes?

and on, and on, and on...

another busy weekend

We started Thanksgiving with a skeet shoot & then had a nice dinner at Dean's parents. 

Friday was Janale's Birthday and Jenna planned an awesome surprise party for her. 

The kids were watching for her to come so they could yell surprise. 

Kolt is getting so big, isn't this the cutest winking face ever. 

TJ & Ashton bought a house and they were nice enough to let us have our party there.

I asked a little neighbor boy who was taking out the trash to take our picture. 

I think he was a little scared but he did a great job!

Dean wanted to go straight home but I knew if we did he would just start working. So I forced him to hang out with us. We took the kids to this play place and it was awesome!

I love this picture of Josie helping Trig up. He's all but taller than her and he weighs a ton more, they are so funny.

Saturday Lawrence preged his cows and the kids of course wanted to go with Dean. It looks like a nice morning but it was freezing; despite Lawrence wearing a T-shirt and ball cap it really was so cold.

I love to hear Josie when she is moving cows with her dad on a horse or a 4-wheeler. She will 'whistle' and whoop and holler for the cows to get out of the way. It is so so funny. But just so we are clear if a cow comes within 50 yards of her while she was on the ground she will scream bloody murder.