Christmas Adventures

LeGrand had to work both Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day so we spent the holidays at home, just us.
Christmas Eve
We went Sledding
































































Ate Chinese Take-out (a Tradition from LeGrands Family - which originally took place on Christmas Day but... There was no-where to be found open on Christmas Day so we opted for Eve.)
Watched "The Holiday" by the glowing lights of the Christmas Tree(s).
(Laex sported his new Spiderman pj's)







































Christmas Day
Laex and I waited for LeGrand to get home to open gifts, he could've cared less what was inside the wrapping as long as he got to do the unwrapping :)






























































We had Russian Borsch (a Tradition from my family which usually takes place on Eve but...we had to do a little compromise with the Chinese :) and Egg Nogg with Oreo Shakes (Laex thouroughly enjoyed the shake)!














We relaxed and spent the evening checking out Christmas lights around our little town.

Next week we get to celebrate our second Christmas along with New Years in Vernal!

Did I really say...

...that I Love a White Christmas?? - OK, I did.

Well, we now have about 12 inches with another large storm brewing for Christmas Day - I just won't leave the house I guess :)

So, on Saturday we ventured out to finish Christmas Shopping - Yeah, I know, nothing like waiting till the last minute. This month has been so crazy with LeGrand out of town for half of it I just haven't been able to get going.

Well, our day went a little different than expected, on our way we came upon this poor lady who had slid her 4-runner right off the road. After one truck tried to pull her out we realized that wasn't enough --eventually we got 3 large vehicles to help and we got her pulled out. An hour later we were back on our journey!

























We had to stop at the DMV, I stayed in the car with a sleeping Laex and completely enjoyed the beautiful snow. Sometimes I could really handle it better if it wouldn't get packed on the roads and cause so much trouble.















We finally made it to the mall and this fun little car cart was just hangin out waiting for a passenger - Laex thought he was in Heaven! He drove the car (motor sounds and everything) half-way around the mall befor we were able to ditch it! :)

Growing Up!

In my mind it is happening WAY too fast!
Laex, why can't you just slow down for a minute (literally!), you're growing too fast.
Lately you've discovered how to open the doors - now I've got to put those stupid handle things on there that not even I can work.
You've started this new thing where you talk all this jibber-ish, it's like you're trying to have a conversation.
Whenever we go anywhere, it doesn't matter if you've been there before or not, you start exploring. We tried to go visiting teaching yesterday and you were checking out everything So Fast, bringing the pile of toys and books to me as fast as you could and before I knew it you were on your way down the stairs...dang! sometimes you make me so tired :)
The ONLY thing I hope you do grow out of...I can't get you to listen - I know you aren't deaf but you are very good at acting like you can't hear me and as a result you get to spend plenty of time in that uncomfortable "Time Out" chair facing the wall. The other day, you showed me, I knew you were up to something on that chair...you had blown out plenty of boogers and wiped them all over the wall - yuck! I thought you weren't supposed to make that trouble until you are older. Needless to say, your "Time Out" chair remains far from the wall.
You're such a big helper - you can unload the dishwasher faster than anyone I know, I hope you like it this much when you're older :) You grab it and hand it to me and before I can get it in the cupboard you've got three more items out! You also have become very adamant about being the one to run the vacuum:




































You think you're such a big boy now that you don't like to sit in your chair to eat. You crawl right up on the bar-stools (yes, they're on the tile floor and you nearly give me a heart-attack every time -- you don't understand how easily you can slip and crack your head.) and sit at the table waiting for your food:





















Even through it all...our lives wouldn't be this perfect without you!

Christmas Yummy-ness

I love, Love, LOVE making Christmas treats! This year I put together baskets for the guys at LeGrands work, they included: Homemade Salsa and Chips, Sparkling Cider, Candied Citrus Rinds, Symphony Fudge (um, um), Muddie Buddies, Carmel Corn and Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sticks!


For the neighbors and friends:
Chips and Homemade Salsa
OR
Two Boxes of Gelatin with this great Christmas story I have to go with it (I love Christmas Stories that you can attach to a small item!)

For my Visiting Teachers and the ladies I Visit Teach:
A darling Christmas Tea Light holder with the saying, "May your home be filled with the "light" of Christ this Christmas Season." - it goes right along with this months VT message!

For LeGrands Home Teaching families:
Fudge with the saying, "Wishing you and extra "sweet" Holiday Season!"

Let it Snow

Yesterday we got our first big Snow-storm of the season. (We also got our Dad home - woo hoo! He was gone MUCH too long :)














Perfect timing. Just over a week until Christmas.
Though I'm not a fan of the cold I do love a White Christmas!

House Sitter

Laex and I had a fun weekend with the Dillon kids while their parents enjoyed a relaxing couple of days away celebrating their anniversary!

The kids had fun playing,




















(Luckily Laex only fell down those stairs once:)

And watching TV!











Laex even "helped" Kali with the Christmas lights!











Thanks Kali, Brin, Dax and Stocky - we had fun!

Christmas

Now I can focus.














I was so excited to get my "trees" and the rest of the Decor up while Laex was in Vernal. (Although I prefer a REAL tree - it just wasn't happening this year)

































And now, while LeGrand is in St. George for 9 days (sad, :( I'm going to get busy putting together neighbor gifts, sending out Christmas cards, making candy, and getting gifts together for LeGrands co-workers! Wow! - I love this season!

I survived :)

We made it through the biggest and most stressful activity of the year - I guess it was a good way to "break me in"!
Here's a rundown.














After being called to this position I kept feeling like it was really important to have a program completely focused on Christ (it seems at this time of the year its SO easy to worry about all the "things" of Christmas and forget about the "reason for the season") So, as a committee we decided we would have a program in the Chapel (yes, the ward had to dress up) with ward members sharing stories of how the love of Christ has impacted their lives and the Youth and Children in the ward taking care of the musical numbers. As I took this idea to ward council I was pleased to know that I was listening to the same Spirit as the Bishop as he told me that the meeting prior to ward council had been a Bishopbrick meeting where they had decided that the month of December would be a month focused on Christ with musical numbers and talks about the Savior throughout the month.
As a result we had a wonderful program, only 45 min. - so not too long, with singing, piano, chimes, personal stories and scriptures. The spirit was amazing.
































Following the program the ward moved into the cultural hall where dinner was waiting - no waiting in a line - the Youth had left the program about 15 min. early and delivered a plate with Beef Brisket and Baked Potatoe to each seat . On the table was the Corn and Rolls along with Sour Cream, Butter, Jam, BBQ Sauce (home made :), Salt & Pepper and Cheese. It worked out wonderfully, I just couldn't see how we were going to get that many people with all those kids (our ward has over 200 kids with three nurseries) through a line in an orderly and timely fashion. Plus this carried the spirit into the meal as everyone was able to sit down and start eating! When people were finishing up the youth delievered them dessert.
We had approx 280 people there, what a success!
And boy was I happy for Sunday to be the next day - I needed that day of rest!

Where's the BEEF...

um. I'm pretty sure it's ALL at my house!












This week has been so crazy.
Saturday is the Big ward Christmas Celebration - who's in charge?
That would be me!
So, Yesterday I finally finished cooking, shredding and freezing the last of 9 12-15lb Beef Briskets.
I'm tired of Beef and even more tired of the house smelling like it:)
It will be good!












In the middle of all the craziness, I needed a break!
Last night we headed to the Festival of Trees - so Fun!
I love checking out all the creative, fun trees.

This tree was made entirely out of shot-gun shells, kinda cool!




























A tree made from blown glass - our favorite!

16 months

Wow! I felt like the first few months of Laex's life stood still and then he hit about 6 months and suddenly he's 16 months wearing 2 and 3t and becoming a little man!
He is quite the kid - and truly our "Pride and Joy" - his personality is so fun! He goes, goes, goes and then stops to give "loves" and continues going! He's so dang smart I hope he keeps it forever!
At 16 months he continues to do his signs:
food, bye bye, more, ball, please, drink, milk
But now he's saying these things (not clear of course, but good enough that we understand!):
truck, chicken, cracker, snack, ma ma, da da, pa pa, kenzie, cade, more, book, milk, hot, brrr, puppy, jacket, ball, block, blankie, bath (and pretty much anything else we ask him to say!)
And he can identify these things:
Head, toes, noes, eyes, chin, mouth, teeth, ear, loves, hugs, kisses, cow, lights, car, socks, shoes, prayer etc...
And his newest adventure: He learned how to climb out of the pack-n-play at Gramie and Pa pa's - we're in trouble now.
He still pushes every limit and is totally a boy, loves to be outside playing in the dirt! We love how he is progressing but, he could stop growning up so fast!

I guess he and Avi are planning a future in music :)