Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful, wintery, snow white Montana Christmas!!! Most of my family was in town at my parent's house so we spent many (late night) hours at the card table and eating yummy food. Christmas morning we spent at our house. Here is Kelsey showing off her new ihome from Santa!!

Katelynn has been asking for a Nintendo DS for 2 years and good 'ol Santa finally delivered! If it was up to her she would eat, drink and sleep nintendo ds games. Thankfully it's not up to her!

Logan and Niko set up Logan's hot wheels race car track. It is way sweet!!!

Christmas Eve night at my parent's house we have a spiritual program and then the kids get to open their "special presents" and their p.j.'s. Here they are posing in their jammies.

The Sunday before Christmas Eve we pass out "special presents". This is a tradition from Chad's family that represents the special gifts brought to the baby Jesus by the Wise Men. Tied on the top of their jammies is something they have really wanted. They can look at it and see what it is but they aren't able to use it or play with it until Christmas Eve. Katelynn and Logan are admiring their Littlest Pet Shop Animals, Kelsey got a pair of shoes and Niko scored an Xbox 360 game.

Katelynn's school Christmas program was centered around the beach, but she wanted to wear her Christmas dress, so we compromised. Her sun hat, styling sunglasses and seashell necklace just scream "fun in the sun" don't they?

Making Gingerbread Houses for Family Home Evening

Every year we make "gingerbread" houses (this year we used graham crackers....yesssss!) and use the left over Halloween candy to decorate them. I think we ended up wearing more frosting than the houses did!!!


Logan...what a ham!! He LOVES his creation!

Katelynn posing with her house. I love her toothless grin!!!

Awaiting a mission call...

Well, we sent Niko's mission papers in on December 1st and he had his last interview with the Stake President on the 2nd! (The Stake President said he will send his papers to Utah on Sunday the 6th). Crazy!! We can hardly believe that mission time is almost here. We will be sure to keep you all posted when he receives his call. Any guesses as to where you think he'll be going???

Kaysie's Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday!!! So many of my family and friends called or serenaded me and I felt so loved. My friends Danette, Rhonda and Susan took me out to lunch (thanks guys, you're the best!) My dad took Logan for the day so I could shop and have a quiet day to myself. Then our family and my parents got together for the evening. Here we are posing in Home Depot (doesn't everyone go there for pictures???) after picking out our Christmas trees. It was FREEZING so buying the perfect one from the store wasn't so hard. In this photo we are missing Chad and my dad but added Niko's friend, Brae on the right.

After warming up in Home Depot, we ventured to IHOP for dinner and opening gifts. Then we drove to our church stake center for the community display of nativities...where they display nativities from all over the world. It is really neat to see all of the different ones.

I arrived home to find a yummy cheesecake on my doorstep from my visiting teachers! What a perfect end to the night!!! It truly was a wonderful day. It was so nice to have my whole family together. That doesn't happen much anymore with two teenagers that have jobs and are busy all of the time. Thanks mom, dad and Chad for spoiling me and for all of you that called me. Love you guys.