You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry...

The kids were super-excited this year to have Grandma and Grandpa K. here to celebrate Christmas with us (first time ever!). We played most of the week before Christmas and poor Natasha got a bad case of strep on Christmas Eve and had to miss the festivities with all the Preator family at Grammy Su and Grandpa Bar's. Nonetheless, everyone was pretty perky for the big day itself and seemed to get what they wanted from that jolly ole' elf!

 Waiting to be let loose into the family room--a tradition!

 He wasn't expecting that surprise!

 Just what she asked for! (She still declares "Sleeping Nudie" is the only REAL princess!)

 Oh, boy--more video games! (Just what we needed...NOT!)

 Connor loves to construct these sets into various forms--entertains him for hours!

 The magic chopper! Shayne adores the one we bought for him--makes a lovely salad.

 Grandma helped Natasha make her vision come to fruition--an adorable puffle blanket for Dane.

 And a Jiujitsu one for Connor (with the logo of Connor's academy!) Pretty cool, Tash...

 Who doesn't love polka-dot knee-hi socks??

 Gave the hubs a fancy watch (which he returned...but still, thought that counts, right?)

 Snuggling up with the new dolphin pillow pet.

 One worn out little lady...

 Dane, in puffle form..!

A little RC race, anyone?

And, oh, yeah--here's my photog disclaimer: I hate taking Christmas and birthday photos! They never turn out pretty and everyone always has red eyes. And after shooting my first wedding with my "fancy" camera a couple of days before, I just couldn't handle the brain strain of trying to take good shots for the big day. So instead, I used my little pink cheap one...and it shows! Oh, well...

Up On The Housetops Reindeer Pause...

A little Christmas Eve magic...

 Cookies and milk for Santa

 A gift from a friend: I love it and want to copy it next year!

 Ready for an early Christmas morning

The loot...

Silent Night, Holy Night...

As a child, I loved to climb into the back of Grandma and Grandpa Preator's big ole Lincoln Mercury and travel down the snowy, light-speckled streets of downtown Salt Lake City. I'd get a tummy full of butterflies as I anticipated the coming of Christmas...
To this day, I still love to get all bundled up and walk through the beautiful, serene and sacred grounds of the temple. Every time we visit now, however, Shayne and I point out the very spot he proposed to me in front of the Assembly Hall, stretch our arms up to the third floor window of the sealing room we were married in and explain to our children the special nature of that square. The kids love to see the Christus and watch the Nativity story "come to life." When we lived in Oregon, the reflecting pool was built on the east side of the temple. I just adore that spot and love to see the glowing creche (although, I have to admit, it was a little hard to shoot around when I photographed my first wedding there a few days previously!). We enjoyed all the movies of the visitor center and had a great time together as a family. It's a tradition I cherish...

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

True story: Shayne and I love to bowl. We aren't very good at it, but we still love it. Shayne even took a class at BYU to perfect his spin on that darn ball (didn't do much good, I might add! hee, hee)! And our kids are split on their feelings about bowling. Natasha thinks she is awful at it, Connor does the most crazy throws and scores some pretty high points, Dane is pretty take-it-or-leave-it, and Fynnley thinks it's a blast. But with parents who think its great fun, none of the little people really get a say in whether we go bowling or not as a family--we just GO! With Grandma and Grandpa here to cheer us on, we had a ball (pun intended) entertaining ourselves one afternoon during Christmas break!

Silver and Gold, Silver and Gold...

All dressed and ready to sparkle (just a little bit!) for Christmas Sunday at church...such a gorgeous girl!

Where Are You Christmas?

Fynn offered to do a little posin' for me while I learned how to use my new external flash. She's pretty good at it these days, right? And that sucker just adds a little something...hee, hee.

'Cause You, You Light Up My Life, You Give Me Hope To Carry On...

I'm not an easy girl to live with. I used to think I was, but time and a little perspective are teaching me differently. I try really hard to be a good wife, a good mom, a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend...and every other role in between. But I get tired, and grumpy, and, sometimes, sick of all the effort. It never lasts for too long, then I'm back on the path of progression. And who gets to bare the brunt of my changing moods and whimsies and worries? Dear Hubs. And that Shayne, he's a pretty patient guy. And he does a darn good job of listening, encouraging, solving, acting and loving. He's a great friend and partner for a girl to have; much better at participating in our relationship than many men might in other marriages. I am so grateful for that. So grateful he is my best friend. It's a feat for us to celebrate 16 years together. I'm proud of us and our relationship and our family. I love you, Sweets!

 We had a blast celebrating our anniversary at one of our favorite restaurants, The Melting Pot, for a 4-course fondue meal (seriously, I just drool thinking about that luscious cheese and to-die-for chocolate ready for dippping!)

 I was shocked when the waiter brought out our dessert topped with that infamous little blue box full of goodness! Shayne surprised me with a Tiffany trademark silver bracelet engraved with my intials--what a gem that guy is!