What We Did {December}

Who doesn't love December?

So many fun things to do.

This year, we did several things we've done in the past,

but also got around to trying some new stuff.

We had Haidyn over and made ice cream cone Christmas trees.

Went to Bountiful's Christmas parade for the first time.

SO not the riot of the Handcart Days parade.

(Which you can read about here).

We showed up 5 minutes before it started, 

parked a block away, and got front row seats.

Now that's my kind of parade.

Made a gingerbread house.

Fought crazy traffic to see the lights at Temple Square

in the FREEZING rain.

Next year, we're checking the weather report before heading out.

Tried a new, super easy fudge recipe.

Took a ride on the Jingle Bus,

a free bus that took us in a loop around downtown.

Got to check out the Christmas Village in

downtown Ogden.

And last,

but certainly not least,

we attended our first ever 

ugly sweater Christmas party.

Now if that's not bringing sexy back,

I don't know what is.

Christmas

After weeks of waiting,

(or MONTHS of waiting if you're a certain 4 1/2 year old,)

Christmas arrived.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Carters.

I have been having major camera issues.

First, I couldn't get it to focus (proof: above).

Then, I couldn't get the 10 second time to work (proof: no group shot).

 

Christmas Day was spent at our house with my 

side of the family.

Santa came.

Coleman was pretty excited for his stuff.

Although we probably could have just given him

Brett's 49ers shirt and he would have been just as happy.

Brett got it as a gift the night before and Coleman was

convinced it was his, not Dad's.

So to avoid a major Christmas meltdown,
Brett let him wear it as pjs, hence the awesome

Christmas morning outfit.

Macy got the boy Barbie she asked Santa for.

 Another favorite gift...a 

baby bed that Grandma Sherri made.

 Coleman got some other great goods too,

including his very own "mitten"

(baseball mit)

from Grandma Barb and Grandpa Vance.

As always,

such a great couple of days.

Merry Christmas from the Carters!

Bowling At Bonwood

Scooterin'

It's 5 days before Christmas,

41 degrees outside,

and the kids are getting antsy.

What's a mom to do?

How does busting out some Christmas presents a little early sound?

Sounded good to me too.

Mommy Mondays of all Mommy Mondays

A few years ago my friend started a neighborhood playgroup.

(Which later became known as Mommy Monday.

It was on Monday, secretly more for the moms than the kids...yeah, we're creative.)

 

Mommy Monday is a big deal at our house.

This weekly playgroup has become part of our routine.

It's a great way to start out the week.

The kids get to play with their friends,

the moms get some adult interaction.

It's a win-win situation.

 

Over the years, we've had a lot of fun.

But I'm pretty sure this week's Mommy Monday

takes the cake.

 

You see,

we had a visitor show up.

 

 

 

To say it was magical sounds cheesy,

but it was.

 

This wasn't a wait in line,

talk to Santa for 15 seconds,

grab a candy cane and go type of thing.

 

He spent a good 2-5 minutes with each kid,

really listened to them,

and then stayed and read a story to everyone.

 

If our kids weren't excited for Christmas before,

they sure are now!

 

(P.S. Thanks Noel!)

(P.S.S. Photos by Tiffany Jack.  I told you she was fabulous!)

 

 

Family Pics 2012

Oh, I am in love with our family pictures.

(Taken by the oh-so-talented Tiffany Jack)

 

 

 

 

Moving: Phase One

Moving turned out to be nothing short

of an adventure.

And the fact that we have to do it again

in a few months makes me

SO excited.

(Sarcasm, sarcasm)

This is the first time Brett and I have moved

as a married couple.

Over the past 7.5 years,

we have accumulated 

a lot

of stuff.

But, thanks to the Carter boys,

we got all the big stuff moved on Saturday.

We had enough of our things to stay over in the new place that night.

But wait!

What about the heat?

Apparently, the gas company does not work on Saturdays,

and 55 degrees was just a little too cold for us.

So we hauled mattresses, pillows, blankets and pjs

back to the old house to sleep in heated peace.

Sunday was more of the same.

Brett and I would take turns running over to the new place

for necessities; cereal, milk, church clothes, toilet paper.

(see, there was logic behind the 300 foot move)

Monday we finally got the heat turned on,

re-moved all of our stuff,

and are now officially in our new (temporary) home.

Now we're just trying to figure out what our next move (literally and figuratively) is.
We've toyed around with the idea of building,
but are thinking that buying an existing home might be the
better choice for us financially.
So, the search for the perfect home (and neighborhood) continues!