SLC Lights

Going to SLC to see the lights and do some shopping is always a fun tradition. Eventually we would like to spend the night too and add swimming to the nights events. We love seeing the Macy's windows.

 

Anything with water in it is always fun. 

After dinner we do see the lights. It was kind of busy this year but not too bad.

 

We always go into both visitors centers. The girls love looking at the model temple. This year we listened to all of the nativity story too. We usually catch a little of it, but this year we waited and got a front row seat. The girls liked it but Ms M and Buddy we ready to move on. If the one wasn't screaming the other was. 

Every year the line to come up here is long. However, after 10 min. we were up and watching. This is MJ's favorite! 

 

Another was of MJ's favorites is the nativity scenes. She couldn't wait to go see all of them. She is really into nativities this year. When driving around she want to see every nativity in every yard.

What's a trip somewhere without a sleeping child.

We had a great day/night. This is definitely one of the best traditions that we have!

Ward Party and More

Our ward party was really good this year.  The activity day girls were in charge of the decorations on the tables. They made gingerbread houses and did a great job. Here is MJ's:

 

 Then we have very talented people share their musical ability by singing and playing songs. The primary sang some songs too. MJ and Lil had a great time and did awesome.

Ms M had a great time eating ice and sour cream. She loved it and made a huge mess. 

 Yes, Buddy went with his shirt on backwards. He is pretty independent in getting himself dressed and so that is how he went.

 It was a good evening visiting and being with family!

 There is no doubt in my mind that Buddy loves peanut butter! He licks every bit of it out of the container before we can throw it away.

Buddy doesn't think he is a person. This video is so cute and is exactly how he is on almost every conversation that we have. 

 Buddy loves his trains, planes, and cars. 

He played with them around the Christmas tree every day.

The girls had Santa send them a message again this year. Lil was all smiles, and MJ kept hiding like Santa could really see her. Buddy could have cared less about it. They all got a nice rating from Santa and they are now super excited for Christmas to see what they get. 

It's hard to believe we are in the full swing of Christmas activities. More will follow!

Christmas Shopping

When we were decorating the tree MJ found the tree skirt and was twirling in it. She loved it.

Every year we try to go shopping for Christmas. This year Santa happened to be at the mall when we were there. There was NO line and so we said what the heck, we might as well. MJ was the only one who wasn't afraid and actually had a good time. 

At least there are no tears. 

When we finally got home the girls were passed out. Yes, MJ does have her seat belt on. And of course, Buddy wasn't even close to sleep. 

Our next stop is SLC for the lights! I can't wait!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a blast, like usual. We were in WY with my family. All of my family was there except one husband, and my brothers three kids. We had such a fun time playing games, and eating a ton of food. We went to the movies and some watched Catching Fire while the others watched Frozen. My dad has a stove heater in the garage. With that thing burning the garage got up to 70-80 degrees. It was fun to have somewhere to go outside the house. The kids got to run and scream, and not get in trouble for it too. It made it so the house wasn't so crowded. 

For Christmas this year we gave my parents a frame with BOYER in it. Each sibling took a letter to decorate of their family starting from oldest to youngest. I should have taken a closer picture but didn't. The next time we are visiting I will have to do that. Since we were all together for Thanksgiving we gave them the gift early. They loved it!

 

We had tons of food and of course it was all good. 

May and I took our kids for a walk one day to the park. It was a school park and they had all sorts of cool toys to play on. This was one of them. We had a blast spinning on this thing!

There are more Thanksgiving pictures that I need to get from family. But until that happens this will work. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving too!

Annual Tree Hunt

Tree hunting this year did not disappoint. It was another great adventure.

On our way to grandmas we spotted an eagle. We had to go back and take a better look at it. The kids loved it!

 We were so happy to see snow once we got up in the mountains. We tried to go to our usual spot but our jeep wouldn't stay in 4-low. It kept popping out. Then RB's brothers vehicle never would have made it up to where we were at. So we had to back down the hill and park at the side of the road. It was not a simple backing down however. We had much pushing and digging around tires to get the vehicles out. This is where my first near death experience happened. We finally got the other vehicle unstuck and then we tried to get us out. RB, his brothers, and I piled into the jeep. I was clearing off the seat so I could get in and sit, when RB started to go almost running me over. After I finally made it in RB started to back up and slid off the road causing my second near death experience as we almost ran into a tree. Ok, I really wasn't close to death but it sure if fun to tease RB about it.

Ready to go find a tree.

 

Buddy really was happy until we stopped to cut the tree down. Then he got a little upset that we wouldn't let him out. 

 RB is the type that likes to search for the perfect tree. He has to look at many trees before deciding which one to get. He walked around a bend and low and behold he found our tree. It was destiny. The light was shining right on our perfect tree.

 Ok, it wasn't a perfect tree. But it was good enough and that is the one we got. The girls helped cut it down this year. They thought that was great being able to use the saw.

 The Tree.

I accidentally took a picture while rubbing the water off my phone and this is what I got. Not bad for an accident. 

Sledding is always a must! 

 

The campsite. Fire, hot chocolate, cider, hot dogs, and chips. Loved it!

We had so much fun! This is a tradition worth keeping.