We're all in this together

Happy New Year!!

The whole crowd (Colby's family) all came to party in the new year at our house. There was plenty of good food, lots of fun games, plenty of noise....all in all, a great way to welcome in a new decade!

I think the game goes better if Braden has his tongue sticking out.

Yep...it's still out there.

Oh look...Chase's too!

Woo-hoo!! Let's make some noise! Happy New Year!

What's this kid still doing up?!

These ones too?!! Happy New Year sweet kids! Thanks for a great 2009!

Here's to a great 2010 to come!

Yeah for snow days!

We love playing in the snow.....

...and eating it too!

Sledding! Yipee!!

Day after Christmas...the sun is shining...it's freezing outside...perfect day for sledding!

Turn around Porter!!

We had plenty of wipe outs!

And one popped tube. Oh well...when your tube pops, snow pants work just as well!

The kids even hitched a ride in the back of dad's truck! What a blast! Time for hot chocolate!

Christmas Morning

How in the world does Santa get bikes down the chimney? It's a mystery! But...woo-hooo...he made it to our house!

Holt's very own motorcycle....vroom!!

Korinne and Porter have really needed new bikes....they run them ragged all summer!

Can't wait to get these babies outside and broken in!

PINK DS!!! Just what Korinne ordered! Yee-haw!

Santa definitely came through for Holt...a red vacuum just like Stockton's! Just what he wanted! The best part is it really works! What a help that will be for mom!

Yes!!! Guitar Hero!! Can't wait to rock out! Porter got just what he wanted!

Don't bug me mom....I'm concentrating!

Holt is loving helping clean up!

What a great Christmas! We're gonna have so much fun!

Christmas Eve

One of my absolute favorite things about Christmas is the gifts and things that we give to our "Christmas family" (a family that otherwise would not have much of a Christmas) We usually don't know them, but will find out about them from friends or other sources. We love to do the 12 days of Christmas and doorbell ditch them and leave treats on their porch for 11 nights. Then on the 12th night (which is Christmas eve), we bring our huge load of gifts for them. The gratitude that they exhibit and the warmth in our hearts from giving is worth more than any gifts that we might receive on Christmas. It adds such a special touch to this special day!

I also love the nativity scene that the kids put on for all of us at Grandma Lori's on Christmas Eve. Korinne was so excited that this year was her turn to be Mary, because she would get to hold Baby Jesus (aka baby Jackson). Kennedy wanted to be Joseph.

Reagan was the angel and McKinley, Paisley, and Britain were the shepherds.

Porter wanted to be a wise man because of the gifts they brought for Jesus and also because they got to follow the star so far. Holt and Finley made great wise men, too.

It's always the perfect touch to our Christmas Eve! And what a way to remember what this day is really all about. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives and the knowledge of the great gift given to us by our Heavenly Father and older brother Jesus Christ. I hope we can always remeber what He has done for us, and what we, in turn can do to serve our fellow brothers and sisters on this earth.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Yeah! Cookies!!

Time to make some special cookies for the Big Guy. We don't want him to get hungry while he's so busy making so many deliveries! Cousin Athena was in town for Christmas with her dad, so she came to help, too.

Yummy!

Ta-da! The finished product! They are almost too beautiful to eat! Aren't we amazing cookie makers?!

Okay...okay. I have to admit...these are the ones from our amazing neighbor.

This is how ours actually turned out. They taste good anyway! I don't think Santa will mind how they look.

Lights at Temple Square

We love everything about Temple Square and the Christmas lights....even the crowds don't bother us! It was another cold one...but you can see the love keeping us warm! Don't they look like little angels all ready for Christmas? Well, for these few minutes, they were at least!

That's a lot of walking for little legs....so Holt hitched a ride!

Christmas is such a magical time on Temple Square...we especially love to watch the real looking nativity and listen to the story...there's something extra special about hearing it here.