Christmas

Christmas was a beautiful day, even though the only snow we had was from about three weeks ago making it hard and crusty. The girls got many things and were happy with their presents, although McKenna enjoyed unwrapping the presents more than what was inside. We enjoyed a great day with family. We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!

Ward Party

This years ward party we actually got too. And Brooke had a big role in it. This year they had the primary sing and the youth did a play. Brooke was one of the sheep with the shepherds. She was so cute!! The young women also had to sing two songs. They served us dinner before hand and they had santa come after. It kind of reminded me of the ward parties when I grew up, but a little different. And they could maybe used a different santa, nobody really liked him, nobody sat on his lap. They all stood in front of him to tell him what they wanted. I wonder if it had to to do with the fact that his beard wouldn't stay up nor was his hair sitting right on top his head, hair was all over. But Brooke actually went up there to talk to him, which is a very first for her. McKenna wasn't too sure of him and just wanted the bag he was giving everyone, amazing she must have known what was in it, because that's all she wanted the whole wait in line.

These aren't the best pictures, I forgot my camera so I used my phone and it came out very bright.

She did take the bag from him even though, she was scared.
















A couple weekends ago, we also went snowmobiling. After it snowed during the week Mike, Sena, and I took a friends snowmobiles out on the Little Salt Lake and had a blast. Brooke didn't want to go and Kenna had such a bad cough we didn't dare take her. But we had so much fun! Mike is actually wishing it will snow again, so there will be new clean snow and we can go again!

Baking

We made gingerbread cookies one day and the makings of a gingerbread house. My first attempt and wasn't too bad for an amateur. Although yes it does need some good improving. Both girls loved to help!!! Even better when we decorated our gingerbread house a couple days later.

Christmas Program

Well, we or more importantly Brooke made it to her program this year. I didn't go watch in the morning just waited for the evening one. Since we cannot make it early, and sometimes on time either, we stood up in the back behind all the seats against the wall. Now I will just mention how common this is there were a lot of people standing, their high school auditorium is not very big. However, Brooke did great this year, singing about every song and being happy to be there!! Their theme this year was an American Christmas and dedicated it to all the people serving in the armed forces, more specifically the 222nd and soldiers in our area (their were a lot.. I say were because they are all mostly back now at the time I am posting this) The program was awesome!
 I didn't take many pictures because I video'd the program and this was the better picture of the two. And yes my daughter is the yellow one, she doesn't have a festive dress yet, my girl loves pink! She chose this one over her "cupcake" dress as she calls it because she feels like a cupcake in it and hates it. And she has ripped many wholes in her favorite dress.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving we spent with Mike's family, which consisted of our normal Sunday dinner party minus my sister... Us four, Mike's parents and younger brother Willy and his grandma Rose. We did however get a lot done that weekend though. We started putting up lights on our house on Tuesday and finished everything Thursday morning. Fixing everything too. I was excited Mike actually put most of them up without even being asked. He enjoyed it this year. Since we weren't having dinner until late in the afternoon, I decided to get my living room ready for the christmas tree. I rearranged and vacumned again.
Then Friday we headed up to my parents' meeting Shilo and Ryan there. McKenna is now so used to her bed and dark and semi quiet that anything but doesn't really help her to sleep. It took us quite awhile to get her to sleep that night then she tossed and turned. Like normal she was up early.. Saturday morning had us all preparing for the trek for our perfect christmas trees. Now Friday on the way up to my parents' I had drank some of Mike's monster energy drink. Mistake I have now ingrained into my head so I won't do it again. This has happened before and dummy me hasn't remembered the affects. I guess there is something in these energy drinks that does not blend well with my body any more. I drank some at the end of Clear Creek, and we stopped to get a few things. By the time we reached my parents' house I was feeling pretty crappy. I had absolutely no energy, I felt a little nauseous. Anyway I wasn't up to much so we chose to go the shorter (or thought it would be) trip up Willow Creek instead of  up Gooseberry. I just wasn't sure I would have as much energy as I would need for hiking where we would be going. (I always have to have something to eat and drink when hiking.... not always fun for me. or others that are with me... not sure if that's the hypoglycemic or something else).
Anyway our trip turned into a bigger hike and a lot longer than I think any of us expected, but it was fun. And I did amazing I have to say. There was only one time I had to sit down and rest and we had just climbed up a steep hill then back down a steeper part of the hill across the creek and back up the steep hill.
However we found all our perfect trees, the only sad part was I had to chop a LOT more of my tree than I would have liked. I can't wait for the time I can have a huge tree again!!! But I still love my tree, most people think I am crazy but I love my blue spruce, for some reason not many trees can show me they are the one like a blue spruce! They are my absolute favorite.
We came home Saturday evening after dinner of yummy soup. Sunday we put up the tree and all the Christmas decorations. I love my house decorated for Christmas and it makes me sad and the house feel empty when I have to take them down. But for now it is perfect!
(Sadly I didn't take any pictures of our Christmas tree adventure)

This was a quick picture I hurried to take before we left for Thanksgiving dinner.