Merry Christmas!

The Temple grounds were so beautiful. We chose to go on a day it had snowed because we figured it would be a beautiful sight, and it was amazing!

The Lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial building at Christmas time.
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Nathan was pointing back and forth to the light rails on either side of us. He thought it was so amazing we were standing in between one coming and one going =)

Tyler LOVED riding the light rail

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Santa visited our Ward Christmas party in UT

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We had fun playing on a playground while it was snowing.

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I love my faithful blog readers =) I couldn't send a Christmas card to everyone, so if you didn't get one, I'm sorry =( I was lazy and didn't bother getting a lot of addresses that I wanted to, plus if I sent them to everyone I want to, it would cost a fortune! So I am posting it for all to see =). Aren't the boys cute? I couldn't find a cute, current picture of Josh and I so we didn't make the final cut......maybe next year =). I didn't even want to attempt getting a family photo, because one of us always looks bad and we are never all looking at the camera =) LOL.

I love this time of year! Despite the craziness that comes along with it, I love it!
We have all of our shopping done...finally. Now I am trying to just avoid the caos at the stores and only go when absolutely necessary. But that is not why I love this time of year, actually that is the one thing I hate about this time of year. Sometimes I just wish we could do away with the presents and shopping and just do important stuff. What I love is having a whole month when the majority of people celebrate Christ and all he did for us by coming into this world. I was thinking back on my childhood Christmases and when I thought of my best memories it always involved activities with loved ones, usually not gifts. If I didn't have pictures showing what I got each year, I don't think I would have remembered even half of the things I have gotten over the years. The things I remember best are things like watching my sister perform in the Nutcracker, then finally one year getting to be in the Nutcracker along with all my siblings, going to see temple lights on Christmas eve with my grandparents every year even though they were not members of our church, having Christmas Lunch at my Grandmas house with aunts and uncles, attending our neighbor's annual Christmas performance in their basement every year, and sneaking out of my room with my brother to try and catch Santa super early in the morning. I must admit the presents were great =) but the lasting memories did not really include presents. As a kid, Christmas is just a ton of fun, then as an adult the stress of it all begins to set in.... if you let it. I try not to let it, but it always bites me in the butt at least a little bit. I stress about getting the Christmas cards done and out in time, getting my tree up and the lights on the house, stress about what to buy for whom, how much everything is going to cost, ect, ect. You all know how that goes =). Despite the stress of the season, I still think it's a ton of fun. When all of that stress hits me the hardest I love thinking about Christ and who this season is really all about.
Josh and I took the kids to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square and it was so beautiful! the manger scenes were amazing, and the music playing outside the gates from street performers added to the whole scene. We bundled up nice and warm and just enjoyed it in 28 degree weather =) and the beauty of the temple grounds frosted in white snow and shining lights. We then walked to the light rail and got on for a couple stops. The boys thought that was the coolest thing ever! It was really cute, I'll have to upload some pictures =) But it is extremely late and I need to go to bed. I mostly just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and I'm glad you, my friends and family, are in my life =)

Love you!!!!

Slacker, Computer Problems, Leaving =(

So, I'm a slacker because I have not been keeping this as up to date as I should be. But it's not totally my fault because I can not use our home computer because it is being attacked by some virus like thing and we can't get online with it. Si the only time I get on a computer is in the evening when my hubby is home with his laptop, but even then our nights have been busy, so I slack =). I hate computer problems! Especially since neither Josh nor I have any idea what to do about it =). We have to wait until we go back to AZ and let my smart brother save the day for us =).
This brings me to us leaving Utah. I am having mixed emotions.... I am happy to be going back home and being close to my family, friends, and being in my own home, but I have had such a great time here. I have LOVED the weather, loved the activities we have had time to do as a family, love being close to every store I could think of (instead of having to plan a day trip to go anywhere), loved the people in the ward we are in, I love seeing church buildings and temples pretty much everywhere =), and I have loved having a more laid back, less busy life up here. We have been keeping our life fairly calm and not crazy busy up until this point and it has been nice. I want to go home and de-clutter my life a little more. Cut down on projects and events I always feel like I must be doing. I have loved having less to deal with and stress about. I’ve had time to just be with my kids and enjoy the park or doing crafts with them
I am however really looking forward to being with our families. I have missed them and I’m pretty excited to start joining family dinners again. Coming to Utah really was a huge blessing for our family. We have had fun that we never really allowed ourselves to have, and we have grown a little closer together as a family I think. I have been really proud of myself for jumping right in and learning the area as best I could in such a short time and just getting out there on the road without worrying too much about getting lost =). That's one fear conquered, as well as driving while traveling long distances. Our drive up here was the longest I've ever driven and a first for driving on a road trip, so I'm pretty happy about that =). Anyways... yes I will miss this. It has been fun, I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
I am also really excited to return because we get to go to Disneyland right after we get home! Yeah! I have been dying to see Disneyland at Christmas time and we finally get to!!!! We will get home from that trip on Christmas Eve! Talk about crazy busy huh? This will be the first time the boys have been on an airplane too! This trip is our Christmas present, New Years present, and Tyler's Birthday present =) (maybe....I'm hoping we can take him again on his B-day, cause he loves it so much...and it's logical since we have passes right?). We are going with my Sister and her family and we are so excited! We are going to be sooooooo worn out on Christmas morning! LOL =)

The pictures I promised....

This is the boys having a blast in the mud at the Van Vleet’s house on Thanksgiving.

I, not realizing they would be playing in mud dressed them in off white and khaki pants…....genius!

Mud slide!

Nathan is not quite sure what to do with his hands =)

Notice the filthy shoes? yeah....it was nice getting mud off canvas. =)



Who wants pumkin pie when there's a perfectly good mud pie outside?




Tyler being his crazy wild self =)

Luckily Grandma Van Vleet has had lots of experience in this department and could get the stains out =) Thanks Nancy! So, after the boys had their fun in the mud we threw them in the bath. Of course I added way too much bubble bath =)...at least they had fun right? =)

Got Bubbles?

Doesn't that look like fun?