A Very Merry Christmas Morning

Well Christmas Eve, it did arrive

and Parker - Oh! He was EXCITED!

Out on the snow he spread reindeer eats

Hoping Santa and team would be DELIGHTED!

They sure were!!! They did deliver!

Christmas morn was quite the SIGHT

P & E -- what lucky kids

Just look to each side of those gleaming tree LIGHTS!

A kitchen for Emmie -- shiny and red

A train table as requested by P

All on display in our new finished basement

--A gold star Christmas favorite for ME!

Their eyes -- how they twinkled!

Bright smiles they did flash

Those moments - ones we want to ENGRAVE

What beautiful kids what a wonderful life

My family - they are the true gifts I do CRAVE!

On went the day, filled with laughter and love

The rushing about I could do without - I won't LIE

But blessed are we to celebrate the birth of His Son

Whom did suffer and for each of us DIE

What a wonderful year as I look back and reflect

on all that went on in '09

I am grateful and blessed for ALL that I have

From me, there will be no WHINE!

(okay - not 100% true - if you read my blog - you know I whine. Sometimes. :))

The story goes on...HOORAY! -- the pictures get better

For a FUN surprise I did get from my CHRIS

It is shiny and black with a shutter and lens

Yes! A new camera! A high tech one! I'm in BLISS! :)

Happy New Year everyone!!!

To be continued....

Big Man in Red

Last Monday we were on a mission to go and see good old St. Nick.

Parker wanted to be sure to let him know what is topping his Christmas list this year.

As for Miss Emmie, everybody knows that a girl must look her BEST to meet the

Big Man in Red.

She is counting on her good looks and a little ESP to get her what she wants for Christmas this year. (Like most women out there, right?!...)

So the preparation began.... In went the curlers.....(a little hesitantly after our last episode)

...and out came.....
...SHIRLEY TEMPLE but with crazy calics!
No worries, with a little tweaking the lockes were tamed and she was looking pretty spiffy upon her turn to sit on Santa's lap.

She forgot her smile but her big brother remembered his. Parker was very excited to meet Santa and confidently let him know that he's been a good boy and would like a train table this year. He parted with his new found friend with high fives and high hopes and trust that Santa will deliver this Thursday night.

Afterwards we had a yummy lunch in the food court before Chris had to head over to work and then hustled and bustled around the mall with some of the other Christmas shoppers. It was craziness but actually really fun. We even saw a man get jumped and hand cuffed just a few yards from us out in front of Macy's.

(Yah, the man was super violent and it scared the daylights out of me to have this brawl go down so close to my kids!!)

Oh the excitement of the holiday season.....!

I love to see the temple

On Monday night we packed up and headed for Salt Lake to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

The beautiful lights are missing from these pictures however because my lovely camera battery died before it even got a chance to get dark out. Oh well. We still got a few pictures of the beautiful temple - which is way better than the lights anyways, right?

What a nice day out! SUPER COLD, but at least it wasn't snowing on us!

Parker loved the touch-screen videos in the visitor's center. He couldn't get enough of them and therefore we eventually had to rip him away. The kid is obsessed with electronics. Before doing so, however, a black gentleman appeared on the screen to speak.

What came next was our son screaming out for all to hear,

"Obama! It's Obama!".

Oh dear. Not Obama. Nice try though. Too bad he wasn't screaming out President Monson's name at all the pictures of him posted around. Maybe then we would have looked good... :) If you don't sense my sarcasm here you don't know me very well... :)

It was a fun night. I truly love to be on the beautiful, sacred grounds of the breath-taking Salt Lake Temple! What a blessing and miracle it is! I am so grateful for this time of year and the enhanced opportunities we have of reflecting on the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. All things are possible through Him. I have felt such an overwhelming sense of gratitude this year as I reflect on all the many, many blessings in my life! I am truly blessed.
MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!!

Lights, hot chocolate, and reindeer

On Monday night (December 7th) we met up with the Hansens (minus Zach, Sarah and Dustin) & newlywed Bergers at Thanksgiving Point to see the Christmas lights. We also went inside the cafe there for hot chocolate and to check out Santa's reindeer. We had a great time!

Gotta love Thanksgiving Point. They've always got something fun & festive going.
Parker and Atticus...
Yes, they are cousins, but these little buddies could sure pass as brothers, don't you think? These two have had the best time playing together this last little bit as the Texans - Eric, Cindy and Atticus have been visiting Utah. They are 18 months apart in age - just like their
red-headed daddies! It is so fun to watch them interact and play!


This is Parker's way of saying that it was
FRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEZING but fun!
Don't you just want to squeeze his little cheeks???

Photography on a budget

The very beginning of November, we were on a mission to get a few good pictures of the kids. I'd love to do them professionally, but it just wasn't fitting the budget this year! So we took our point and shoot camera and drove about three minutes from our house, and here's a little of what we managed to capture. Nothing PERFECT (far from!), but a few pretty cute individual pictures that I am happy with for the 'free' pricetag that they came accompanied with!

Have a look:
My favorites are not here but might just be showing up in your mailbox soon! :)

Good morning

A pretty typical morning at our house: The bedhead, walking around pantless, interesting footwear, Emmie carrying around a plate begging for seconds (thirds & fourths)....

Yep, we've got it all together around here! :)