Big, Little, and Random Things

  Love the suit and the person in it!  I took this picture, right before Spencer was going to help his girlfriend  at her sister's wedding reception. 

A couple days before Christmas, Matt was working on the squeaky brakes on my van and well, there was a little accident. I was in the house at the time and  then heard a bloodcurdling sound of my car hitting the garage door.  I thought he was crushed behind it-REALLY SCARY!!   We didn't take a picture until after the three panels were on the grass and flattened.  It looked unfix able.

 My friend's dad owns a garage door company and  so we called them.  They were fast and helped us put our garage door on, unfortunately, now we can't put any cars in our garage, because of how we had to fasten the door shut.

 We still haven't gotten it fixed.  Matt wanted to get it fixed right away, and I wanted to wait.  The cheapest door to replace it with was $1195, and the highest price with insulation was $1795, so we are waiting.  Although, I will say, going out to a car in the morning when it is 6 degrees isn't my favorite thing.   Matt now thinks he might be able to fix it himself, we will see.  

 Colton right before work.   He is smart to get ready for work and then take a break!!!

 Kara's report card for 1st quarter. She got an A- in Chemistry.  But an A in all of her Honors/Other classes.   She has had a 4.0 this whole quarter and the semester will end next week.   Then she starts driver's ed.  She has been driving for a while now, and has gotten really good at it. She can get her license in less than two months!!!   

 

Kara was also recognized in November with the Melvin Award from her high school.   A Melvin’s Hero is  recognition for being an awesome student.  A student is picked by teachers and  a small handful of students.

They spotlight a student Monday through Thursday.  There are 2500 students at the school and there are only 130 days that you could possibly be awarded this, so this was quite a cool thing.  Kara got a t-shirt, certificate and medal.    Our family knows Kara is awesome, but it is nice when others appreciate her  too.

Coby got a 4.0 at BYU last semester.  Yesterday he started his final semester at BYU.  He is graduating in April. He has been applying for scholarships for master programs in Europe and Israel.  We are so proud of what a hard working student he is and it is hard to believe he works part time too!!!!  

I copied the way my friend Makinzee hung  her cards. I love it and now I just don't want to take it down.  Such a cute idea, thanks for sharing.

Our Families Christmas Eve/Day!!!

 

This is actually on Christmas Eve.  It snowed all day long.  Kara was so excited that she had to go outside in it! 

On Christmas Eve day Colton, Spencer and Matt had to work. Christmas eve day Coby was recovering from some kind of bug he had.  Poor guy, he is a really good patient though. :)   After everyone got home we ate dinner.    We had Cafe Rio night.  Everyone's favorite.  After dinner we all gathered to unveil the movie I had gotten at the library. I always try to surprise them!  I always get a Christian/Christmas movie, but sometimes the acting isn't always good.  This year, everyone LOVED the movie. It was a winner.   We got Christmas Orange.  It was a beautiful story President Monson told that they made into a move. I highly recommend it!  LOVED IT!!!!

We didn't open our traditional PJ's since last year almost everyone expressed they didn't love it.  This year I just got some for Kara, who loved the tradition, but then many said they wish they had gotten PJ's.  I guess you can't win.  :)

 This last summer Grandma Sheryl gave Kara my mom's nativity.  Kara got it out, and we all were quiet.  It brought me to tears and I remembered great memories around the nativity, my mom had made. Spencer was tired as he leaves for work each morning, at 6am.  And then in the corner of the picture above, are all of the vitamins I was trying to get Coby to take to help him get better!  I was afraid he would get bronchitis.

Growing up, one of my families traditions was to  put hay under baby Jesus head when we did a kind act for anyone. We loved to see how soft we could make his bed.  It was such a fun tradition, that helped us all feel the spirit of Christ and to just try to be a little kinder.  Our family is doing this tradition during the month of January.  

 On Christmas morning, when I came downstairs this is how I found my children.  Kara was playing beautiful Christmas music; I love it!

 What it looked like outside when we woke up. Very cold, but sunny.   And a picture of Colton and Coby's car!

Before we open presents I love to get a picture of everyone.  Spencer is holding Gracie, but it is hard to tell.

Fozzie just won't look up for the camera.

After we took pictures, Matt read about the birth of Christ.  I love this tradition.

The kids each opened their presents.  Christmas was a little small this year, but they were all very grateful!!!  I think it is smaller when you have older kids, because everything they want is so much more expensive and seems to be small.

After presents, we had our traditional Christmas breakfast, yummy breakfast casseroles with cinnamon rolls.

 For a couple of hours the kids were all on  their  new gadgets, before we got together again.

We played several games together.  It was FUN!!! 

After the games we ate our traditional dinner, which was yummy.  We had my mom's famous punch, that everyone loves,  funeral potatoes, homemade rolls,  green bean casserole, green salad, and yummy meat and gravy.  I added cream to several of the items, so it even tasted more yummy! :)

After dinner we went to a matinee showing of  Les Miserables.  Whoever did the 12 days of Christmas for our family, gave us a very generous gift card to the movie theaters.  They were so sweet. Thank you, thank you!

After we got home from the movies, it was getting late.  Everyone had to work the next day, except for Kara and I.   I love Christmas.  I love celebrating the birth of Christ and being with people I LOVE!!!!

Temple Square at Christmas Time

 I love going to temple square at Christmas time.  It is so beautiful, calm and peaceful.

 
 I love to see the Nativity. 

 I love taking pictures of family.  Unfortunately, it sometimes feels like Kara and I are the only ones who love creating memories with pictures.

 Colton wasn't feeling super well, but he still came.  Thanks Colton!!!

 

 

From our Family to Yours.....

 

We wish you a Merry Christmas  and a Happy New Year!

 

For our Christmas card/letter  that I sent out to others we don't live close by to, I made a family crossword puzzle.   I really messed it up, but next year I think I will try to do it again, but this time I will get it right! 

Favorites of Christmas

(All in no particular order)
1.  Christmas Movies    I love watching a Christmas movie while wrapping presents, baking,  getting dressed in the morning.    I can't express in words how much I love them.  The more cheesy they are the better!

2.  I love getting Christmas cards in the mail.  The more news they hold, the more I like them.  I love the pictures.  I look forward each day for some fun cards, through mail or email, I'm not picky.   Below is a picture of how my friend Makinzee  displays them.  I am going to to do it that way next year.  Taping them up has just lost its appeal.



3.  I love Christmas baking.  We have some traditions we make each and every year.   Some of my children don't believe you can  have Christmas without the usual baking. 
We always make 7 layers bars (my mom's tradition)   Peanut Butter cups,  and Sugar cookies.   One of Matt's favorite traditions was making Sugar cookies and also receiving a package of fudge from his Grandma each year.  So I make fudge, of course, too.    

            

4.  Giving the 12 days of Christmas or receiving it!!!    This year some family has picked our family to do the 12 days of Christmas.  They have been wonderful!!!!  It has been so fun to be generously spoiled.   I love that because we have received this, that we see the goodness in EVERYONE.  You don't know who is doing this kind act, so you feel gratitude for everyone!!!  Thank you, thank you!!!  They are quite sneaky too.  Below  are some of the  fun gifts we have received.

5. Giving Neighbor Gifts  I love giving gifts.  This year I bought my neighbor gifts very early so I got a steal on them.  And it had 2 books in one!!  I love a bargain.   I gave these out as well as some other things too! 

6.  Christmas Music-----I love listening to Christmas CD's, Kara playing the piano and singing.  In fact I am doing it right now!!!!    Kara is singing tonight at a Benefit concert for the Road Home, a homeless shelter.  She gets to sing at the Masonic Temple in SLC.  The program is below, but it is hard to read.

Above is a song from Kara's recent Candlelight Concert. I loved this song, until Spencer told me what it really is implying, but I still like it.  (It is a really bad copy.  Matt and I switched users to get the best angle).

7.  I love being with family  I love having my family all together.   When I think of Christmas I think of my family.  I think of my mom and dad who have both passed on.  I miss them dearly, but I am grateful, as I focus on my Savior's birth, that he made it possible for me to be with them again. 

I am grateful that this year--all of my children are home and we get to spend Christmas together. I realize that this is a real luxury the older my children get.  I am grateful for the time we get to be together. 

 Above are my some of my siblings, Matthew, Mark, Katie, my step mom Sheryl and their families while visiting in Seattle this Christmas.
From left to right: Mikayla,  Brittany, Suzanne, Brighton, Matthew, Nathan, Sheryl, Katie,  Abe, Cougar, Mark,  Miriah, Jett, Layla, Cumorah and Caleb.  

8. I love Christmas lights  I appreciate Christmas lights. As a child I can never remember our family putting up Christmas lights, so I go overboard.  My husband is great about putting up lights. I really appreciate  him for doing this. 
   

9.  I LOVE the spirit of Christmas.   I love how everyone is a little bit more kinder, patient, and giving.  I love that Christmas helps us focus more on our Savior.

10.Reading the Story of our Savior's Birth  I am grateful to be reminded each year of the simple birth of our Savior.  I am grateful for the perfect life he led, the example he was to us, and that he laid down his life so we can live eternally.  I can't think about the Savior's birth without thinking about the Atonement. 

I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!!!