Temple Square

Monday night we went and got to go see the lights at Temple Square. We had a great time with Nathan's family and the kids loved seeing some of their cousins. It was beautiful as always. It seems to me that they don't light as many trees as they use to. Maybe its just because I was a kid then and all the trees were so big. Who knows I am just glad we had such a great night and got to enjoy it as a family.

I am just glad that I live near temple square and can enjoy it every year, its such a wonderful tradition to see the lights. To see the nativities, I think it always helps me focus on the beautiful truth and light of Christmas. I get so sick of all the money and merchandise that goes into Christmas. Its nice to go somewhere and just focus on the Savior and the true reason for Christmas. Its great way to help teach the kids that as well. Nathan got some great pictures. Enjoy!

Tribute

I wanted to take some time today and write down a few of my feelings. We lost Nathan's mom this weekend. Its been rough. She was a wonderful lady and will be missed dearly by all of us and many more. I feel blessed to of known her, to of been able to call her Mom and be part of her family. I know I am even more blessed to of been lucky enough to of married one of her sons that she raised so righteously. I will miss her more than I know. She was a wonderful Grandma and my kids adored her. She was a hopeful, strong person. She battled cancer 12 years with all her might. She was very close to our Heavenly Father and loved the gospel. She was always willing to help Nathan and I with whatever we had happening in our lives. She loved to garden and taught me a great many things. I am thankful for the time I got to spend with her and will treasure the memories I have of her. I am so glad to know that she is at peace and with our Heavenly Father. I hold to the fact that I know that we will see her again and that we can be with her and our other loved ones we have lost. May I be able to emulate some of the wonderful qualities that Nathan's mother was so that I can live a life as beautiful as hers was. Love you and miss you Mom.

Click here if you would like to read the obituary

War of the Worlds

This evening Stephen and Stephanie were here rocking out on the Guitar Hero with us, and when they left later on Stephen gave us a call to go out and check out the weird lights on the mountain. Nathan grabbed the camera and got some awesome shots. It looked really freaky not knowing what was causing the lights on the mountains. Once we looked at the photos on the camera we could tell it was the moon glaring off the snow. We figured that the snow had melted and turned to ice and the glared of the moon, so enjoy Nathan's awesome photos.

Nests and such

I have a thing with nests, I just love them. They amaze me and I find they so intriguing and beautiful. They are a favorite thing of nature for me. It all kind of started when we were first married and we would go cut down a Christmas tree every year. One year we got our tree home and it had a nest in it. I loved it, I went and got wood eggs and put them in it. When Christmas was over I carefully pulled it from the tree to save it. All the hard work that the bird had done to make it. I honestly felt bad that we had cut down the tree with the nest in it. Anyway I saved the nest and loved it and all the fibers that were in it, I remember the mud and twigs and even the deer hair, it was amazing. Unfortunately the kids came along and it got touched to much and I had to throw it away. So then I just started looking for decorating nest so I have been collecting them, but still hope to find some real ones one day.

So the other day Elise was playing with one of her many stuffed toys and since it was a robin she decided it needed to sit on one of mom's display nests. She told me, Mom sometimes robins lay eggs so my bird needs to sit on this nest. I had to get a picture. She cracks me up.

The other day I was sewing and Elise took my extra fabric and decided to play with. She told me she was making glasses, and wanted my help. I didn't know how we were going to do it with fabric but I did make her a pair out of some pipe cleaners. Well then what do you know her lamb needed glasses, and so did Brycen, and all her friends and cousins. So Elise, and Brycen had to wear their glasses for the rest of the day, and yes that included to the store. Yep I got some fun looks, but what could I do, eye wear is so fashionable, so enjoy Elise with her lamb.

Halloween

Just wanted to post a picture of the kids in their Halloween costumes. They loved all of it and already know what they want to be next year. Elise got to be Ariel, and requested the pink dress that she wears when she eats with Eric, with the white cut outs on the sleeves. Brycen got to be Sebastian the crab. I was afraid no one would know who they were, but people did. All in all it turned out pretty good. Elise was so funny in this picture, she told me she had to hold her dress out like she is because she is a Princess. I think we have been to Disneyland, I laughed.

Pumpkin Patch

Okay so I know this was so long ago but, oh well.

For preschool Elise got to go on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. Brycen and I got to join in as well. I had a lot of fun getting to know some of the other kids and mothers that go to Elise's school. We went to the Black Island pumpkin patch and had a blast. We got to go on a tractor ride and pick out our own pumpkin. Then they had all these hay slides that the kids loved. They went on all of them so fearlessly. They had a corn box instead of a sand box. Elise loved making Corn angels, Brycen and I just liked the feel off it on our toes. It was a lot of fun and we got some fun pictures. It took me forever to blog this since I got a terrible sinus infection and then had so much to catch up on. Nonetheless I am doing good now.

Chuck E. 'yucky' Cheese

Life lately has been like a roller coaster ride for us for sure. We have had lots of ups and downs and yet Nathan and I are just trying to hold on. We are thankful for all the support and love we have felt, as we cling to each other and this difficult time for Nathan's family.

We spend a lot of time driving down to Centerville lately and in doing so get to pass the new Chuck E. Cheese building. The kids have been begging us to go so we finally gave in. Nathan had Thursday off from work so we thought it would be a mild less busy day. NOPE forgot that it was UEA and everyone is out of school. We waited anyway to get a seat and pizza. I couldn't believe all the hectic craziness of the place. The kids had a great time and we had fun spending the afternoon together playing games. Nathan and I loved the Skee-Ball (Alley Ball) whatever you like to call it. There were a ton of games to play and they were all just one token so it was fun for the kids. It wasn't all that bad until later when we were all sick to our stomachs from the pizza. So next time we will for go the pizza and just play the games. All in all a nice time with the family which we needed.

The picture is of the kids at the Chuck E. Cheese Drawing pad boothe. Its a fun one of both of them Brycen was laughing.