An Imperfect Christmas!

So I saw a little thing on the news in December about how we make ourselves miserable trying to create a perfect Christmas for ourselves and our families. The segment went on to explain how we need to plan on not having everything be perfect for Christmas in order to easily enjoy the holiday. I realized that I have been doing just that. Not that I make myself miserable, but I plan too many things that we have to get done before Christmas. 

This year I was going to make all kinds of Christmas candies and goodies, in reality I only ended up making 2 things, and the cookies always look way better in my head that they turn out in frosting. The lack of Christmas baking is better for our waistbands in the end though.

I was going to learn a handful of new Christmas songs on the piano. I practiced all the Christmas songs in the hymn book lots for my calling, but I only casually played the other ones that I was going to learn. Oh well I guess I will just have to play Christmas songs all year.

I was going to read the dozens of the Christmas books from the library that I look longingly at the rest of the year but force myself to wait to check out. I only read 2.

I was going to get my shopping done early, but the 23rd of December had us in crowded stores doing Christmas shopping for my procrastinating brother-in-law.

We had fun doing a white elephant with family on Christmas Eve, but it started way later than we had planned because kiddos did not want to go to bed nicely that night. 

Our child could have cared less that we spent a whopping  $7.50 on toys for her, all she wanted was the candy in her stocking.

And Christmas is always crazy in Moab between us trying to bounce back and forth between families trying not to miss any of the fun.

And you know what.... it was all perfect

 This pretty much summed up Kynlee helping frost the cookies. She would put frosting on a cookie, lick it all off, then add some more, lick it off...you get the idea.

 We made gingerbread houses with Grandma Sue. Kynlee thought having all that candy and frosting within her reach was awesome.

We did a live nativity at my Dad's house. Carson and Andrew were enlisted to be wisemen (I think they were thrilled about it) We also couldn't get anyone to play Joseph, so we will just pretend he was out getting diapers.

 We celebrated winter birthdays for Carson, Andrew, and Alex.

 Marie's white elephant gift. She sings "Don't you wish your Grandma was HOT like me."

 Dad trying on his white elephant gift.

 Checking out the goods on Christmas morning.

 This is the best picture of the 3 of us on Christmas day.

 Nathan trying on one of the little girls hat. (good thing he doesn't read my blog).

 Kynlee trying out her new high heels from Papa and Marie, she actually walks pretty well in them.

 Kynlee thought it was great to climb up the pile of presents at Grandma Sue and Grandpa Dan's house.

 She also loved the little tent they gave her.

 And finally our third Christmas back at home. Kynlee really liked the body spray that Carson got for me.

 My new shoes!!

 Carson's much needed new shoes. He was still wearing the ones from his mission, and they were not even black anymore.

 And the very best part for this little one was when she finally got this candy out of its wrapper. 

I hope everyone else had just as imperfect a Christmas as we did, and took some time to do some service, and reflect on our Savior and his love for us.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!!

Sledding!!

We got to go sledding in Moab over our Christmas break, and even though it was just a short little trip, we had lots of fun. 

Dad was the bravest of us and tried the hill first, as usual he went all the way down and hit the road at the bottom before stopping with a nice crash. 

 Megan looking super cute in the awesome hat I made her for Christmas. (I have the pattern memorized if anyone else wants one)

Andrew and Alex ready to brave the hill.

 My first time down. I'm not nearly as fearless as I used to be with things like this. I don't really like these flat sleds because they are pretty much designed for you to go down head first on your belly. Well that was not appealing to me, so I insisted on going down like this. I did end up kicking snow in my face with my feet out in front though, so it probably wasn't the best plan.

 Cheznie watching the show.

 Cute little Kynlee enjoying running around in her snow suit.

 I'm not sure if she is very happy to go down with me.

 Here is where Carson and Andrew decided that we would all race down. I won the first race, and I would have won the second race if I hadn't ended up in a big bush with snow and sticks all over my face letting Andrew have the victory. Luckily I didn't feel anything except the cold on my face when I crashed.

 Carson and Kynlee going down.

We always manage to have good times with family in Moab!!!

Tis the Season...

I love this time of year!!!

We went and got a Christmas tree the day before Thanksgiving because we had a busy weekend planned and I wanted to get our tree up as close to December 1st as I could. 

We headed up the mountain to our favorite spot. It did not disappoint, we found a beautiful tree. It was located on a hill though, and we had to climb thru quite deep snow to get to it. Alex came with us, so Carson and I each had a child in our arms and we had to cut our tree down and leave it for Carson to go retrieve once we got the kids back down the hill. Good thing a beautiful tree is worth all that work.

 Alex was so excited because Carson let him help cut the tree down.

 My two cuties decorating the tree. 

  It sure is beautiful!! Our new ornament this year comes all the way from Bend Oregon.

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Turkey Day!!

I sure hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I know we sure did. There was fun and family, and TONS of food. Of course I stopped myself from eating too much, as all of you did too I am sure.

The next day we celebrated a wedding. Dad and Marie finally got hitched!! Now I have 12 step siblings to go with the 4 I already had. Sadly I have not even met them all yet. But the best part is this: since Marie is Carson's aunt, him and I are now officially first cousins!!!

And now presenting Mr. and Mrs. Holyoak!!!

SNOW... so much snow!

It has been snowing here for 2 days, so what better entertainment is there than playing in the snow!!! (it definitely beats grouting the tile in our bathroom, which we have been procrastinating for weeks)

These 2 cuties are ready to go outside. Kynlee reminds me of Randy from "A Christmas Story," but waaaay cuter of course.

 

" I can't get up!!!"

 Believe it or not Carson was the one who added hair to our snowman and turned it into a snow-woman.

Kynlee did not mind the snow once we got her all bundled up, but earlier today Dad left the door open when he went out to grab something and Kynlee got her first snow experience. She didn't like it so much in just her pajamas. Ha Ha.

Far Far away to Oregon.

A week or so ago Carson and made the VERY long drive to Oregon with his family for his brother's wedding. The drive up there actually didn't seem that long, even with a baby girl cutting 4 teeth on top, but the drive home made me think we will definitely be flying if we ever go again. Kynlee is actually an angel when we travel, but we were all very sick of being in the car, she just decide to voice it when we were about 40 minutes from home. We passed cookies back to her, and we all made it home in one piece, but it was a VERY long day of driving.  

The trip was lots of fun though, and it was nice to just have some time to relax. The town was really different than anywhere I have ever been. Bend is actually a pretty big city, but you would never know it from driving around, there are no big roads, and you drive thru neighborhoods to get anywhere.And there are BIG trees everywhere, so you feel like you are in a forest all the time. We did some hikes in a pretty park,

And of course we went to the wedding. Cody looked handsome (Sam made him shave the duck dynasty beard just hours before the ceremony). Sam looked beautiful, and we are excited to have her as part of the family now.

 I think it is funny that these pictures make it look like we are hiking in the dark. The forest is really just super thick, so it looks like it is dark.

 The waterfalls were beautiful, and the rivers have the clearest water that I have ever seen.

 I think Kynlee thought this was the best part of the trip. Dad pulled her around the house in the little wagon for quite a while. 

 We drove up to Pilot Butte to get a good view of the town, but it was super windy so we didn't stay long. 

The trip was lots of fun, we got to spend quality time together, and see lots of beautiful sights. Can't wait for our next adventure.