Tuesday, January 24, 2012

{Macy is ONE!}

Our baby girl is ONE!
I can't believe how quickly this year has gone. I can't believe my baby is ONE! It doesn't help that she is tiny for her age.  

We had a little birthday party with her on the night of her birthday.  Maggie and I blew up balloons and make a cake and cupcakes. When daddy got home we celebrated and then put her to bed early. Our little Macy is usually always happy, but not on her birthday. :) It was a short little party. She got some fun new toys and a new outfit and darling Toms--we are now hoping she will start walking!  The next night, we took the kids to Amazing Jakes for dinner and games. We had a great time and Macy was her happy little self. 

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Happy birthday sweet Macy. We love you!


Wednesday, January 11, 2012

{Christmas in Utah!}

  Our adventure to Utah started on Friday December 16, we made it to Kanab UT, where we stayed in this darling Victorian B&B. The room was wonderful, lite by a burning fire and breakfast was fabulous. We headed out early the next morning to make it in time for the big Craven family Christmas Party and Nativity. We got in an hour before the party started! 

We had great food and company. We always do the Nativity and all the kids have parts and fabulous costumes. There is a lot of work and preparation for the performance. It is wonderful. Kaiden was a Shepherd and Maggie was an Angel. 
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Tag an Angel. 
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Macy watching the performance.


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Kelli, Nick and Mack were Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus this year. 
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The cast.
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We always are so lucky to hear the testimony of the Savior from my Grandparents. It is such a wonderful tradition.


 The next day, Sunday, was Scott's (my baby brother) farewell. He had two meetings, one in the home ward and the other in his singles ward. He did a fabulous job and it was great to see friends and family. 

Later that evening was Jake's family progressive Christmas Party. We had wonderful food and great company. Santa made it to Granny's house (he is the best Santa!), he sings songs, let's the kids ask any questions and give gifts to everyone! The kids loved it!
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Singing jingle bells.

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Kaiden has a few questions.

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Macy, Kaid and Maggie.

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Granny and Papa

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All the grandkids.




We did lots of playing with our families. We stay at my parents when we come up and there always seems to be people and things going on....I love it! 
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Including someone being shrink wrapped and place on a door step. But we chose Mitch, and Mitch has been using his silly bow-flex, so we were unsuccessful! :)

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The cutest Destructive Angel. Lincoln. 

My parents started a new tradition with the older grandkids. They take them shopping and they get to pick out whatever they want, but it is their secret, they cannot tell anyone, they also got to pick out their own wrapping paper and got to wrap it themselves! They loved the experience--and they couldn't keep it a secret!  haha! :)
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My family has a tradition of doing a Christmas Eve brunch. It was so yummy! 
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The kids make their own Santa pancakes.

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We then decorated cookies for Santa. Christmas Eve morning is one of my favorite traditions!



Christmas Eve afternoon, we headed to Jake's parents house for a early dinner, story from Papa and cousin gift exchange.  It was a beautiful night. I wish I would of taken pictures. 

We then headed home to get all ready for Santa. My parents tradition is going out to eat, usually Chinese, so my parents were out. Jake and I gathered out kids to read the Story of Jesus and talk about the birth of our Savior. 
My parents give everyone new jammies for Christmas each year so the kids opened those and set out cookies, left food for the Reindeer, and wrote Santa a note asking him to leave Reindeer milk. 
Then we were off to bed!

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Christmas morning!
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My mom has the most beautiful trees!

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Santa remembered to leave Reindeer Milk. It went perfect with Grandma's yummy breakfast!

We then opened stockings and presents!
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Dad got mission stuff.

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Scotty got mission stuff.

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My parents went to their early Sacrament meeting and we went to Jake's parents meeting. It was a wonderful morning. 


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Trying VERY hard to get a decent picture on Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa! :)
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and trying to get a family picture....grrr! :)

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We then headed back over to Jake's parents for presents.
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After we spent sometime at Granny and Papa's we headed back to my parents for my mom's fabulously fun dinner.  We always do crackers or "poppers", and each popper has a gold crown and a prize. It's so fun! My mom makes the best dinner ever and always has the table set so beautifully. All my family was there...this is my most favorite night!
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Grandma and Grandpa (Great) Craven

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For dessert we always have a birthday party for Jesus. I made a cheesecake this year. We then give Jesus a gift and have a wonderful little spiritual party. 
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After dessert we opened gifts from my parents. 
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We gave my mom something special this year. We know they are going to be gone for the next 3 years and didn't want to give her something that would sit in storage so for several months my sisters and I have been scheming up  a plan to have each family give my mom a charm that represents each family, we then had it made into a charm necklace. She can wear it on her mission and be able to look down and see all her children. It was a really a tender minute as we all presented our charm to her. The necklace turned out so beautiful! We have all shed a lot of tears over this holiday season!
She is a wonderful mom, woman and leader. The mission she will be over is so blessed to have her.
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We stayed up well after midnight playing funny games and watching movies. It was one of the funnest nights I can remember. 

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It was one of my most memorable Christmases yet! 




The rest of our time was spent playing with family, mostly my family. I wish that Jake's family got together more, we hardly see them when we are in town. It's kinda sad. 
The weather was mild and wonderful. Went to movies, out to dinner, watched LOTS of movies, temple, shopping, hot tub, sleeping in, family pictures, urgent care, catching up, sick-sick-sick, more parties, crying, laughing and being together. My kids are in heaven with their grandparents and cousins. They beg us to move back to Utah.
We spent New Years with my family cooking Chinese and playing games. Happy 2012!

I met up with some of my best friends from High School, they were in town visiting family also. It was fabulous to have us together again after 10 years. It was amazing. 
(wishing I took more pictures of everything!)


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The kids love to spin on Grandmas chair.

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Baby Mackay. he is such a sweetheart. I can't get enough of him.  Don't ya just love his eyes!

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Scott was set apart as a missionary on Tuesday, January 3rd. It was a beautiful blessing. I am so grateful we were able to be there for this special time. 
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The next morning Elder Craven was up and at it with my Dad. 
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All of my family met at Market Street Grill for a fabulous breakfast before we left for AZ and Scott for the MTC. The food was amazing. It was so fun to be together one last time. We probably wont ALL be together for 3 1/2 years. Sad! 
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All the family (minus James and Lincoln)

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Elder Craven and Macy.

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Elder Craven, Tag, Jayci and Bo

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Kelli and Mack

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Tag

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All the nieces and nephews (minus linc)

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The kids have so much fun together.

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lots more tears and goodbyes.
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I have a VERY special place in my heart for Scotty. I love that kid so much. I am so proud of him. My kids love him to pieces too and look up to him so much, and Jake considers him his brother. We sure are going to miss him. Chile will be blessed to have you Elder Craven. We are going to be awesome! 


We then jumped in our extremely packed car and headed home to Arizona. 

It was such a wonderful, memorable vacation!