Breakfast with Santa

My parents invited us all over this last Saturday morning for "Breakfast with Santa". My kids were so excited. Lexi had Mrs. Clause come to her school class and she just couldn't believe that she was going to see Santa too. I love this excitement! We had fun sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what we wanted for Christmas and then we had breakfast that my mom made for us all. It was so fun for the cousins to all be together and for all the adults to sit around and laugh and have fun together! Hope this turns into a family tradition!

Christmas Piano Recital

Shelby and Sage had their Christmas piano recital this last week and they both played really well. I told them both that I'd pay them $5.00 per song if they would have them memorized for the recital. So they both worked really hard to have them memorized. Their teacher still had them bring their books up front so they may have cheated a little, but I knew that they had those songs memorized! Good job Shelb and Sage! I know they're glad to have a break for a couple weeks.

Happy #2 Libby

Hard to believe that 2 years have now come and gone since our little Libby entered our lives. She has been an absolute joy to an absolute pain in the rear (I'm her mom so I can say that). But oh how we love her! She loves books, her big sisters and her mommy! She definitely LOVES her Daddy and is always the first one running to him when he walks in the door from work. She loves to snuggle with him!

We've celebrated her birthday a few times already with extended family so her actual birthday was pretty low key. It included going to Sage's basketball game, to shopping at Sam's Club to dinner at Cafe Rio. All of her favorites!:) I was kind of feeling bad that we didn't do a cake or anything for her and then the doorbell rang. Sage had been at the neighbors playing games and she brought home with her a plate of cupcakes- PERFECT! Shane put 2 candles in a cupcake and we sang and Libby loved it! Thanks Owens! I guess that's what happens when you're the 4th child and your b-day, along with 2 of your sisters, is around Christmas.

Happy Birthday Libby- we love you!

Family Photos 2008

YEA! I finally got it to work! I've been struggling with getting these pictures to download, but finally! These are our family photos and I'm really excited about them. We got some great shots of the girls and had a great time too. Katie Moss with Peek-a-Boo Photos did them and I think she does a great job-

The girls, Lexi and Libby and Sage, loved these dress up clothes. I can't look at these pictures without cracking up- they make me laugh so hard! Man you gotta love the "tube top"!

Libby was a riot. She sat still for all the family photos and everything, but rarely smiled. That's our little Libby. But when these clothes came out, she was a different little girl. Smiles, dancing, and she had the best time. It was so funny!

The Lights...

We ventured down to Temple Square this last Monday night with the rest of the Mormons for Family Night and it was so beautiful! It's been a few years since we had made the effort to go see the lights so I had kind of forgotten how beautiful they really are. The weather was perfect, not too cold, not too warm. It was great being there with our family and our friend Laura. We consider her family too! I'd recommend it to anyone!

Thanksgiving in Park City- round 2

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Park City with my parents and siblings, minus Jon and Jessica and griff and Max- we missed you guys! We rented a couple of condos and spent 3 days playing together and then prepared and had turkey dinner there. It was such a great time! My sister Katie and her husband Ben and their two little girls flew into town for the holiday and it was so fun to be able to spend time with them. The girls loved playing with their cousins for 3 days straight!

Check out that turkey leg!

Each of the condos had a hot tub on the deck- the kids were in heaven! That was always the question of the day- Can we get in the hot tub? I think it's impossible to get a good picture of 12 little kids under the age of 8. They're all a bunch of goof balls anyways, so this is the best we could get! We missed Max and Griffen, but we're excited to see them in a couple weeks when they come home for christmas!

We even had a mean game of football on Thanksgiving Day! It was suppose to be two handed touch ball but there was a little bit of hard hitting going around- just ask my sister in law Julieanne!

These three are almost turning one! There's Millie, Marshall and Dani. They're all so cute and it'll be fun for them as they grow up to have little friends to play with.

The kids, of course loved being with Grandma and Grandpa, playing games, wrestling, cooking and all that good stuff.

I love that we have this time of year to reflect on all that we are thankful for. I am especially thankful for my family and that includes my in laws. I have been so blessed to have good parents and siblings who are my closest friends. I love my in laws and all they do for our family. Shane and I are so lucky to have families that we want to be with and share our time with.
I'm thankful for my little girls. I love all 4 of them in their own unique ways. They're the greatest!
I'm incredibly thankful for my husband Shane. Where would I be without him? He is unconditional, fun and completely genuine and I love being with him!
I'm thankful for Shane's hard work and for the Pharmacy. He loves his job and business and I'm so thankful for that. I'm so thankful that he works so hard to provide such a great life for our family- we are truly blessed!
Most of all, I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the knowledge we have of the plan of salvation. I'm thankful that families are forever and what a blessing that is for me to know that if I do what's right, I will be with them all forever!

Thanksgiving/Birthday celebration- round 1

Libby and Macey were cute little friends. They loved playing together!

This is Henry- isn't he cute!

Nanny gave Shelby this enormous dog! It's the size of Shelby's bed and she loves it!

Libby got this rocking horse and she get s little crazy on it! Look out!

I love Thanksgiving! I love when our families get together and create lasting memories. I love Thanksgiving dinner...mashed potatoes always taste better to me at Thanksgiving, turkey, stuffing, jello salad, and of course pies and dessert. It's always the greatest! Shane's mom is a fabulous cook and so is my mom so I always look forward to spending time with both families. Shane's sister flew into town from Arizona with her little Macey the week before Thanksgiving. We spent a few days enjoying them and had Thanksgiving dinner early with the Jensen's so she could be here for it. I left my camera home on the counter, makes me so mad, so I didn't get any pictures from dinner, but it was fabulous! The day before we all went to the movie BOLT and came back to the house for dinner and cake and ice cream to celebrate Sage, Libby and Shelby's birthdays. The kids of course were spoiled but more than anything, just loved being with their cousins! They all had a big sleep over and then we all met at Nanny's for dinner the next day! We are so grateful for Nanny and Poppy and for all of our cousins and aunts and uncles. We love all of them and love to spend time with them. It's especially fun when macey comes from Arizona. We wish we could see her more but love spending time with her when she comes to visit!