3rd Annual Friends Christmas Party

Since we have moved here we have made some really good friends. For the last 2 years we have gotten all our families together and have done a little something to celebrate christmas. It's always fun when we get together. The kids really enjoy playing together. They are a little loud and crazy, but thats normal. This year everyone came to our house. We ate some food, the men watched football, the woman chatted, and the kids made a big mess everywhere. We each bought every family a little something. The kids of course loved opening the gifts. 

Here are some pictures of each of the families. 

These guys actually have a daughter also, but she wasn't feeling so good so she stayed home with her grandparents. 

These guys do have kids! They actually have 3, but they didn't want to deal with trying to get them all to cooperate. 

These are just a few pictures of the kids opening different gifts. 

We had a really nice time with our friends. It's so nice to have so many good friends!

Oakland Temple Trip

One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to the Oakland Temple with my family and seeing the christmas lights. They are just amazing!!! I was excited to take the kids this year. Payton enjoyed them and Scarlett just look, but didn't really seem to care very much.

This year it really wasn't too cold. It can get very cold there when the wind blows. I just love walking around and feeling the amazing spirit that is there at the temple.

The church does such an amazing job decorating. They have lights on everything.

They have a beautiful stable with Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. That was fun to show Payton because he is actually starting to understand. 

These two little loves just melt my heart. I just love these three pictures of them. They are just such cute brother and sister. Scarlett is getting so big and starting to really interact more and more with Payton. She has officially started taking steps on her own. Four is the most that I have seen.  

Scarlett just wants to be out and about. She is so active. Sitting in the stroller for any length of time does not work for her. I guess I better start putting shoes on her more often when we are outside.

Payton is just my free spirit. He definitly has a mind of his own. He is really smart and forgets nothing!!! He is getting so big!

I am just so grateful for this time of year. I am extremely blessed! I love the Oakland Temple! I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am so grateful for His birth on this earth!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

The Tree Hunt!

Our tree hunt this year was not what I was expecting it to be. I have this strong desire to take my family out and go cut down our christmas tree. The problem I have is we don't live near any good places. This years place we decided to try was even worse than last year. We found this place on line and it wasn't too far. The clue that it wasn't too far should have meant something to me.

We got there all prepared to hopefully find a tree we could cut down, but that turned into a bust. This is what we walked through looking for a tree.

Are you kidding me?! These are NOT christmas trees! They are shrubs! The best part was watching people buying these ugly things. I just was laughing inside!

All I can say is UGLY!!!

We did take the time to walk around just to make sure we didn't miss anything. Let me just say we didn't miss anything. There was nothing!

How many cactus bushed do you see at a christmas tree farm? Well we found one!!!

After walking all around we just went back up to the front  of the place and bought one that they had imported. I am sure most people do the same thing we did.

My favorite kind of christmas tree is a noble fir! I just love them!

We found our tree. Payton just loved running around and playing with Ryan and Austin.

Payton got the cart to caring the tree out on.

He and Josh are so cute pulling the tree. Payton was very helpful!

We loaded the trees up in our friends trailer and went home.

But before heading home the kids got to eat their candy canes and sit in the back of the trailer. 

The next day we decided to bring the tree in and get all our christmas decorations out.

Payton did a good job directing his dad.

Getting it up!

I decided to put it up on a table so that it would be more of a challenge for Scarlett to get. That little girl doesn't really get close to it unless her brother is touching it. 

Sorry the picture is kind of fuzzy but I wanted to show how helpful Payton was at decorating the tree. Everything was just in a clump! I didn't eventually get it all fixed and it looks much better now. 

Scarlett just crawled around and got into all the boxes.

This little girl is just getting so big. She stands on things all the time and is officially walking along things. She thinks she's tricky when she lets go and stands all by herself. 

She is now officially 9 and a half months old!

Just a silly picture of her!