December fun

December always goes by like a blur, someday I may figure out how to slow time down :) 
We always love our family time as we decorate for the holiday --this year we once again had TWO Christmas Trees -My beloved tinsel tree covered in my grandmas antique ornaments (and a few of my 'new' ornaments ;) 

We also went on a little hunt (right out back our house to be exact) and cut down this beauty (what we really did, is top the tree because it was much too tall)!  Yes, it's a Cedar tree, and I realize it's not an official "Christmas Tree" but it sure made our house smell YUMMY, probably the best 'real' tree we've ever had!

The crazy Christopher Elf visited us all month to keep his eye on the kids, nothing got them more excited than searching for the Elf each morning!

Laex also LOVED our advent calendar, each day gave us a different activity to do and he had a blast looking forward to what the next day brought.  One day we got to write a letter to Santa, he did an awesome job!

Another day we got to make & decorate this LARGE gingerbread man, so fun!

Of course I couldn't let December by without an Ugly Sweater party!  We invited some couples from our ward and had a fun night of yummy food, white elephants and good company --lots of laughs and good times!

 These are our awesome friends the Simmons (also the great people we got to hang out at Lake Powell with) --they ended up with matching mugs in the White Elephant exchange, so funny!

 Linda also won the Ugly Sweater contest and was awarded the footie PJ's which she proudly modeled for us all!

Thanksgiving 2012

LeGrand had to work the morning of Thanksgiving but the moment he got home we hit the road!  We met my parents & Trev & Ramey & the kids at Little America in Salt Lake!  This is our second time to enjoy a Thanksgiving Feast at Little America, while it's not your 'traditional' Thanksgiving, it is a good time with no one worried about cooking or cleaning!

 Entertained by Uncle Trev while waiting patiently!

 My FAVORITE part, the Crab!!

I'm pretty sure all she ate was desserts!

Following our yummy meal we headed to the Holiday Inn Express in west valley, they have a fun water park and slide connected and we all had a blast playin in the pool!  We quickly cleaned up and decided we might attempt some shopping, after a stop at Carl's Jr. to suffice the kids we made  our way to Target.  The boys decided to take the kids and head back to the motel while Mom, Dad, Ramey & I waited until Target opened then made our way to the door --we waited 15 minutes before the entire line got inside and we were able to get in - it was a nut house, but I kinda enjoy the craziness of black Friday!  We were out of the store and back to the motel by 10:30!  The next day we shopped till we dropped and the family headed back to Vernal.  LeGrand, I and the kids stayed another night and I soaked up all the shopping I could get --remember, it's a pretty big deal for me to get some time to shop, it's not like I have any stores within an hour of Grace ;)


The week after Thanksgiving I was really missing those Turkey leftovers - so we deep fried us a Turkey and I made our favorite fixings & we had Thanksgiving round 2!

Wish Bone!  Loa was the 'lucky' one!

Hostess!

With the 'BIG' announcement, in November, that Hostess was going bankrupt --we couldn't help but get in on the action!  --Let's face it, do we ever buy anything Hostess??  Maybe like once a year, maybe.  But, we couldn't let Twinkies disappear without the kids at least tasting them :)  LeGrand went on a hunt and was able to locate one last box of twinkies, and a few single packs.  The kids each got one and neither of them liked it, ha ha!

Thanksgiving Program

The kindergarteners put on the cutest Thanksgiving program!  They sang some fun songs, recited poems & each had a part --Laex rocked!  He had to say, "Thanksgiving has many colors, orange is the color of pumpkins!"  He'd practiced for weeks & had a blast 'preforming'!

 

Serving in South Africa!

LeGrands parents board a plane tomorrow for Johannesburg South Africa to spend two years in the service of the Lord!  What a great, amazing thing they get to do, it's even more special because of the connection they have to South Africa which is where LeGrand's Father is from (& where LeGrand spent a few years of childhood) They will be great missionaries!  And we are already getting excited about our trip to visit them at the end of their mission!

A whole DECADE!

3 Months after I met LeGrand we were married for Eternity --I'm sure there were plenty of people who had their doubts as to whether it would last longer than a year :)  I never doubted he was the man of my dreams and today I know more than ever what a LUCKY lady I am.  He's more perfect for me than I ever knew & I love him more today than I ever thought I could love anyone!

He's a man that will spend all day shopping with me at the mall, craft store, home decor store & shoe store.  He does it happily with no complaining!
He's a man that loves his job and as a result happily works hard to provide all we need and more.  BUT, as much as he loves his job, he loves being with his family more - he passes up overtime to spend time at home, I couldn't be more proud that he's a man more devoted to his family than his job.
He's a man that will spend a much loved day off serving the youth of the ward.  He is one of the most selfless people I know - he would let me spend every dime he makes and never ask a question or want of any for himself.
He's hilarious!  It's guaranteed to be a good time with LeGrand around, he's spontaneous, random, funny, quirky & crazy & I love it!
He is a worthy priesthood holder with a testimony of the gospel.  He's an honest, honorable, respectable man who knows the gospel and lives it.
He's the coolest dad ever.  The kids are so lucky to have a dad who loves them and wants the best for them, who isn't afraid to play dolls & wrestle on the floor who is a great teacher & example.
He shares my dreams, love of traveling & passion for life!
He's generous & compassionate especially to those who have less.  To him, money is just money and things can be replaced - he would give all he had without thinking twice.
...I could go on & on about the amazing man he is but most of all I'm so grateful that he loves me, listens to me, understands me, cares about me, serves me and pushes me to be the best I can! Because of him I'm happier than I ever imagined I could be after 10 years of marriage - and it only gets better from here!
Love You LeGrand!

Halloween 2012

LeGrand and I were on our way home from Kauai, so the kids got to have a blast with Grammie & Papa doing all the Halloweeny things :)  While I don't have pictures of that night I do have a few of us dressed up for a fun Pre-Halloween party that we went to!

Kauai

LeGrand & I Celebrated a DECADE of marriage a few weeks early with 10 glorious days in Paradise!!  Thanks to my amazing parents who took 10 days to come to Grace and stay with the kids --Laex & Loa were in Grammy & Papa Heaven!

This was our first trip to the Hawaiian Islands and we chose Kauai because we had heard so many wonderful things about it, we were not disappointed!!  The weather was in the mid to high 80's the entire time with brief rain showers most days, it just couldn't have been more perfect!

Our great friends the Wickhams also visited Kaua'i, we overlapped a few days and had a blast exploring together!

We were able to do so many fantastic things and spent time enjoying the whole island, can't wait to return someday!

We swam in Queens Bath

 Kayaked the Wailua River

(Awkward friend photos! LOL!)

Hiked to Secret Falls (There should be a waterfall behind us, unfortunately, there isn't a 'fall' because of the drought they are having)

Swam & Snorkeled in the Ocean (Multiple times!)

Soaked up the sun

Ate fresh fish EVERY.DAY! (I personally couldn't get enough of the amazing fresh fish tacos!)

Downed our share of shaved Ice

Got an amazing birds eye view of the Island Via Helicopter

Saw the 'Spouting Horn'

Enjoyed an amazing Sunset from the fantastic 15 mile beach at Polihale State Park 

Toured the Napali Coast on a Motorized Raft Boat

Saw Dolphins & a Sea Lion in the wild

Luau'd 

Walked on the Hanapepe swinging bridge 

Visited the 'grand canyon of the pacific' Waimea Canyon

 {LeGrand under the fall)

Hiked 8 miles on the Napali Coast to visit Hanakapi'ai beach and swim under a waterfall

 Taro Fields

 Dry Cave

 Wet Cave

Light House {Under Construction}

Lava Pools

And took in all of the breathtaking sites of this magnificent Island!

What an amazing adventure!  It truly couldn't have been a more perfect time!  The island of Kaua'i is such a beautiful place -- one side of the island averages 40 inches of rainfall a year and has large cliffs and canyons with red dirt while the other side of the island averages 350 inches of rainfall a year and is comprised of amazing rain forests and waterfalls everywhere.  The sites from one place to another are so spectacular!

The ONLY thing about the island we were ready to leave were the crazy ROOSTERS!  Chickens & Roosters are EVERY.WHERE!!  6 years ago when Kaua'i had a hurricane many people had Chickens & Roosters as pets and the Hurricane caused them to be set free from their cages, there are no predators to eat the Chickens so as a result they continue to multiply like crazy & run wild all over the island.  And, from experience, Roosters DO NOT just crow at sunrise --they crow ALL NIGHT! - we had to buy ear plugs to sleep :)