Christmas Eve PJ's

Another Christmas Eve tradition for our family is getting to open one present on Christmas eve, which always PJ's. Austin has pointed it out to me the last two year's that we always get pj's on Christmas Eve. Even thought it is clothes the boys always enjoy having something new to sleep in on Christmas Eve. This year it was a theme of mostly UofU Pj's. This is a tradition my mom did with me, my brother, and sister when we were kids. I have always wanted to carry on this tradition with my family.

Christmas Cookies

Our Favorite Ones
Cutting out the cookes

Jaron rolling the dough out

One of our family traditions that we do every Christmas Eve is we make cookies for Santa and decorate them with frosting and candy. Jaron and Landon really love to do this for Santa and they ask all day long when we are going to make cookies for Santa. Jaron was great at helping roll out the dough and Landon was wanting to put the cookies into the oven. Austin mostly wanted to make sure we got carrots for the reindeer, nine carrots to be exact. After we are done decorating the cookies we take our picture showing how great our cookies turn out and then we eat them Yummy!!

Christmas Lights

It was a night of seeing the Christmas lights!! We have not down to see the lights downtown in five years. It was amazing how much the lights have changed. They didn't decorate the really tall trees with lights like they usual do. They did have extra Nativity sets around and snowflake bags that have different Christmas sayings on them. We had a great time having Annie and my dad in town visiting with us and experiencing the Christmas lights. It was a great way to start the week of Christmas off.

Microwave,Stove, & Fridge

After having our microwave less than five years it decided to go out. Sean had a tech come and check it out and we where told that it would cost us just the same if we bought a new one. We went out looking one night at Home Depot, but we were told that they wouldn't be able to deal until after Christmas. The following weekend we went to Lowe's and found another microwave. While Sean was looking at the microwaves I was over looking at the stoves. Since we had moved into our house five years ago I had wanted a new stove. After getting rung up for a new microwave and stove we decided to go a new fridge too since they were having an amazing sale on the appliances. I love the new appliances and the way they make my kitchen look SO much better. The remodeling on my kitchen has begun now just the counters,dishwasher,more lighting, and sink.

Visiting the REAL Santa

It was our second time for the boys to visit Santa. Our first visit the boys spent at least 30 minutes talking with the Santa at Sam's Club. When we decided that we wanted to take the boys again, so we could get there picture with Santa I said what about if we go to see Santa at Sam's Club?? Austin's response was no I don't want to see the Santa at Sam's Club because he is not the real Santa he was wearing DC shoes. Landon's response was no he is not the real Santa because he does not have a REAL beard. Jaron said I am fine with that because I want to ask him who his favorite reindeer is? All of these responses made me laugh, so I decided we should go see the REAL SANTA who is at Fashion Place Mall. He is the Santa that we have been seeing for years and the boys have always know that he is the Real deal!

Decorating the Tree

This year the theme was University of Utah ornaments. The boys were very excited for there new ornaments and could not wait to put them on the tree. We came up with giving them the UofU ornaments since they have been talking about and acting out football on year long. I guess you would say they are obsessed with it. Football is on the brain. This year Landon was extra helpful with putting the tree together which I was very grateful for since I am the one who usual has to fluff the tree, Sean thinks he only job is to put the lights on. It was Austins turn to put the angel on top of the tree and he didn't need his Dad to raise him to the top of the tree to put her on just the help of the stool.

Thanksgiving in Yuma

Sean made a great decision for us to drive down to Yuma, AZ to spend thanksgiving with my mom, Ray, sister, and Neal. I was surprised by Sean saying that we should drive down to Yuma again to spend Thanksgiving with my family. The reason for me being surprised is that the drive is 12 hours long. We took our trailer with our four wheelers to enjoy the great weather and get some riding time in. My mom finished the patio in the background which made it really great to have our Thanksgiving dinner out on the patio. At night time we had bonfire's which surprised me that we needed the fire with how nice the days where. Annie and I did our annual day after Thanksgiving Black Friday Shopping. We got alot of shopping done in a short amount of time. I really am thankful for the time that I was able to spend with my family and that Sean suggested we take the long drive down to Yuma to be with my family.