December first means the Elves show up Yay!! The kids were so excited to find them and they left a North Pole Communicator! Now we can talk with those silly elves!
The church also was doing a Light the World Advent calendar and I wanted our family to do it. So, I bought a pillow to put the activity in so the kids could pull it out. I wanted the kids to make sure they did service even if it was little everyday.
That night we put the Manger out and talked about how to earn hay for the baby Jesus.
Oh I love the fireplace in December!
Then the kids got to open a gift which was their Christmas Jammies YAY!!
I love them and was so excited about them! I think the kids loved them also!
Kylie is in a leotard and tights but, is showing her open flap! (this is not her underwear) haha
The next day we had our Santa pictures with Mo and Matt! I love getting pictures done here every year! They always turn out great and they do them free which is better. Kylie was not too happy to have to get pictures in these jammies and go out in public! But, she was a great sport and did it for me! Love these kids!
Haha Santa's face is awesome!
Kenlie's cute group of friends!
After we hit Cafe Rio for dinner yum!
We got home and did the North pole Communicator and our advent calendar. Every night was a little nuts because we had the advent service pillow, the north pole communicator, and the scripture manger puzzle! So, it was a lot but, we loved doing it.
Then downstairs to decorate the tree~ The kids love putting all the snowflakes from great Grandma on.
Jordan learned how to make hats and spent the night making a hat for people in need for Christmas. I loved that he enjoyed doing this!
I love looking at my tree and even though it is super simple I love seeing all the snowflakes and Angels my Grandma spent so much time Tatting. I always feel like she is right by me smiling and admiring the tree!
Then it was Christmas movie time! I love sitting by the tree and watching Christmas movies it is one of my favorite things!!
Saturday Kylie had her Christmas dance recital and did so good. I love watching her dance so much!
Beautiful dancer and girl!
We had to stop at cold stone for a treat after!!YUM!!
Then home to write letters to Santa, get in the hot tub with hot chocolate, be goofy with balloons haha, read stories by the fire and share our service projects. The night was pretty great with some fighting here and there of course!
Checking out the Elves and Dyson touched one on accident which turned into everyone getting mad at him and him crying. I told him it was fine because it was an accident! Everyone hoped they didn't loose their magic.
Dyson got a new coat and loved it haha!
Perfect winter night activity!!
That night the kids drew faces on balloons and had way to much fun with them!
Silly kids did faces on their balloons and had us laughing pretty hard!
Everyone's letters except Kylie's because She wasn't done yet!
This book was new this year and we loved it so much! Plus reading by the fire is the very best!
Saturday the kids made homemade stress balls and Sunday before church Dyson broke his!! So not cool and it made a big mess for us to clean up and it caused me stress haha!
So funny he had flour all over his face!!
Doesn't look bad but this was jsut some of it and took forever to get up!
Sunday afternoon we went to visit G.G. we sure love her!
That night we watched the churches Christmas message by the fire!
The elves moved all over and we loved finding them everyday and seeing if they had a message. I forget to take pictures of them a lot but I remembered a few times.
Climbing Santa~
We bought giant pickels and the boys couldn't wait to eat them haha!
Monday for family night the neighborhood had their food drive so we went and took food, saw Santa, and visited for awhile. Then we headed over to a live Nativity which I thought was really neat!
Live Nativity~ Perfect way to spend Family night remembering why why celebrated Christmas!
Home to talk to the Elves, do our service pillow, and do our calendar pictures!
O.k. just two necklaces but, huge act of Service!! These got tangled together and I worked on untangling them for a hour and couldn't get them undone. Todd started working on them and sat at the kitchen table for hours trying to untangle them for me. I think it took over three hours but, he finally got it untangled yay!! I was so happy and he did the best act of service ever!! LOVE HIM!!
Time for the Adult dinner to the Roof. This is one of my favorite traditions and it makes me so happy!! I love the view it always makes it feel like the Christmas season!
We got free drinks because they messed up our table spot. But our view was still great and I got Hot Chocolate!
Yum~
Love this family of mine!
This was from Kylie and made me laugh so hard. The girls were so mad they didn't get to come with us this year. The Hot chocolate I got was called Christmas in a cup and so I sent it to the girls and Kylie's did not like that!
Kenlie babysat while we were gone and Kylie was at dance. They watched a Christmas movie and had popcorn.
Jordan got to go with his basketball team and help the old folks place make gingerbread houses. I love that Skee has the kids do this activity. They even sang Christmas songs with to them!
The manger is getting hay for the baby Jesus!
Jordan got an award in his class for being a Great kid!! So proud of him~ They picked him to go to lunch with the Mayor and police officer.
Christmas Jammie Bunco is one of my favorites!!
Our white appliances are finally going bye bye!! I hated them at first but, then they started to grow on me. I was super excited for our new ones though!! I got a killer deal on the package of four!! I was pretty proud of my good find and was excited to see how they looked in the house. The Microwave and dishwasher came one day and two days later the other stuff. The dishwasher almost didn't fit which made me so nervous!!
Out with the old in with the new Black Stainless steal look!
Playing with the grinch!
This cute boy had his last Basketball game and had a great time playing. He was so sad they weren't doing a second season for his age group. He wanted to keep playing so bad.
He was the cutest defender ever!
We got snow and lots of it!! The kids were so excited!
Christmas lunch with some of my favorite friends!! I love seeing them and talking and laughing. We don't see each other as much as we use to and I hate that. It is hard that we all moved away from each other but, I am so happy we stay friends still.
For our friend party this year we decided to do a service project. Angie found out about food packets for kids at school who don't have food on the weekends. So we all pitched in and bought stuff and made a ton of food packets, wrote cute notes and ate dinner. When we were done we played some games. It was the perfect night and I hope we do this every year now it was a great thing for the kids and us to do.
Love this bunch of amazing people!
The kids loved doing this and it was fun to watch them get excited about it.
Now time for a fun game and lot's of laughing!
Kylie almost got this cash but, Peyton took it in the end!!
Greatest bunch of friends minus a few families who couldn't make it! We are so lucky to have made these friends and have them in our lives!
Saturday morning our ward had their Christmas party. We all brought stuff for refugee families. We got a bunch of stuff and had fun giving it to the bishop and seeing all the stuff they had collected. We all really wanted to get to go deliver it and see their faces. Maybe one day we will be able to go do that.
That afternoon we headed to the Grand America to look at the windows and the Ginger bread house. Another fun tradition we love.
Love these kids!
The ginger bread house was huge this year and so cool. You could smell it clear down the hall so crazy.
Then over to the Olive Garden for dinner with the Bessey clan. Dyson got a little crazy with the stickers!!
My buddy~
Then off to Eclipse 6 one of our favorite Christmas concerts~ They always put on the funnest family show.
The girls won a free cd yay!
We had three extra tickets because a few people were sick so I asked Jessi if she wanted to come. It was fun having her and her kids come with us.
Austy and Bray~
We were so excited to get our picture with one of of favorite Eclipse Members!
The Elves are enjoying the train track!
Dyson gave me a early Christmas gift it was a cute melted snowman.
Sunday after church we watched A white Christmas. It was one of my Grandpa's favorites and none of the kids or Todd had seen it. It started out really slow for them but, when it was all over they all loved it.
Then we headed to my parents house for dinner and to go look at Temple Square lights. We lucked out it was a pretty warm night and it is one of our favorite activities. I loved having G.G. with us to enjoy the night!
Love this family of ours!
The windows at Macey's were awesome as always!
Fighting for their freedom!
Christmas movie night by the fire another favorite for sure!
I took the boys to the Christmas sing a long at the old Delta Center while the girls were at lessons. We had a blast with our friends singing and being crazy!
Santa came to Town~ The kids went running down to chase him but never quite got to him!
We came home and read a super cute new book for Family night with everyone.
The kids always love to find where the elves end up in the morning.
We love finding out what our act of service will be for the next year.
Just reading by the fire with my hot white trash Santa haha! Todd had to get dressed as a white trash Santa for work the next day. I was laughing at his outfit.
Stuck in the hoop~
These two were suppose to be down stairs asleep and I could hear them laughing all the way upstairs. I love that they are best friends and share a room to sit and laugh together even if it means McKenlie pees her pants!
Kylie stole Kenlie's sock and was doing a sock puppet show.
Back to elves they were making some desserts!
Dyson gave me this cute decoration.
Jordan made this awesome wreath, he is quite the crafty boy lately.
While Todd and I headed to his work party the kids went with my Mom to Station Park. They went and saw Santa and he was the real deal for sure. The kids all loved him, doesn't he look like the real deal!! They also went to Chick a filet for dinner and peppermint shakes. Then Grandma even got them donuts after that! They were for sure having more fun then we were.
We got stuck in the worst accidents on the way out to Lindon where the party was. It took two hours to get there and Todd was so frustrated. It was so awful we got to the party way late and it was pretty much a waste of time to go. I am glad my Mom took the kids to do something fun I just wish I had been with them too!! Oh well, not the best night but still a night away.
For activity days I took the cute girls to sing songs and deliver gifts to some of the older women in the ward and then we headed to get Hot Chocolate at Fiiz. It was a cold and rainy day so Hot Coco was perfect!! I have really liked this calling and these cute girls!
That night we hit up Arby's for dinner the kids love to eat here.
Then we headed to go Ice skating for Kylie's team dance party. The kids got to come with us and they all had a blast!
Kylie's dance team~
Gift exchange~
Before ice skating we went shopping to get some gifts for a little girl we were doing a sub for santa for. The kids had fun picking things out for her. It was fun to see them get so excited about buying things for her!
We got home from skating and I wrapped gifts and we watched a Christmas movie together! We got to get all our favorite movies in before Chirstmas.
Elf is for sure at the top of our list!
Saturday we headed to Chili's for dinner and then went on the Mini Van Express! I found a bunch of fun houses to go see that did cool lights!
We found this fun house that the lights went to music and they had Santa there too. It was seriously sooo freezing cold and the girls would not get out of the car.
Then we drove over to this one where the night went down hill. The house was awesome but, the kids started fighting so bad and hurting eachother. It was so awful and Todd and I were so mad. So we left and went home without hitting the other places I wanted to go to. By the time we got to Centerville the kids were being better so we stopped at a few houses in Centerville. It was a bummer they ruined the night I wish every night could be like it was in my head.
The kids got on the naughty list darn it.
The elves didn't move but left a note for them.
For dinner we did Spaghetti and Mizithra cheese and Dyson of course want to put some syrup on it haha.
After dinner we headed to my parents for our crazy Ginger Bread house making night!!
We got our got our festive clothes on and are pretty cute!
We love doing ginger bread houses and the kids are getting pretty good at it.
We were so happy that these two came to join us!~
Looking good Dyson~
Love it Bray~
Super creative Jordan~
Todd even helped out for a little bit which doesn't happen very often!
Love having more of the family there this year to do this tradition with us.
Let the frosting fight begin haha!! we always think we may go a year without a fight but, someone always starts it!! This year it was a little wild and crazy!! Mom and Dad even got in on it and made us all laugh to tears!
Yep Jesse got me good right in the face!!
I give up I can't see a thing! Haha I love our crazy family!
Hahaha they are my favorite!
My Dad thought he was so funny when he put an entire bowl of frosting on Mom's head!
I finally finished my house!
Look at all those cute houses~
Kenz did a blue and white theme this year and it was so cute!
Kylie was the last one to finish and it looked awesome!
Opening their Christmas gifts from us a little early.
Leslie and Dan always have to most intense and best houses!! We love seeing what they come up with and this year they did a minion theme! It was such a fun night and one of my very favorite traditions!! I am grateful for my parents who keep this alive and don't mind letting us all make a mess of their house!
Monday night we headed out to Ogden to see the Christmas villages with cousins.
It was freezing cold so we hurried through the village before we all froze!
Then we stopped for ice cream at Jake's over the top. It was cold but, we can always have ice cream.
After we headed to go watch cute McKenlie dance at her recital. I love watching m girls dance on stage.
Look at those amazing muscles on her arms.
Beautiful girl!
Loved that our cousins came to watch her.
Dad and the boys left before we got a picture with them.
Kylie got to watch her friends dance too.
Then after I had some Heather luck...... my keys were locked in the car!! Seriously how did I do that? I swear I am so lame!! So we called the police and I sat in my Mom's car waiting for them to come open my car. Kylie and McKenlie went home with Emma's family so they could go do homework. I was so mad at myself and felt so bad making my family sit for a hour waiting for me! I need a key that is always under my car!
The Elves reading Christmas stories!
Kylie had her Christmas concert for choir!
Best friends~
The Elves wanted to have a movie night!
Time for some fun with our cousins at Get Air!
Oh how I love when we all get to be together!!We have so much fun together and even more at get air acting like kids!!
Toe touch and I only peed my pants a little haha!!
The little kids had so much fun with Grandpa!
These two are the very best!!
After we got ice cream at baked bear and it was sooo yummy!! We sure missed Kylie who was with the young women at the Temple. she in the end wished she had come with us and we sure missed her!!
The next day was our Elf dinner with everyone. We met for a big group picture of all these cute elves!
They are getting older and do not love wearing the elf jammies anymore. I am glad they were good sports!
We all headed out to Great Grandma's place to sing songs and give the residents a soft blanket.
It was so cute to see all the kids handing out the blankets and singing.
I also did Grandma's hair and made her look beautiful!
Love her so much!
Then we headed to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner and to wrap gifts for Santa to come and get the gifts for the families.
Haha just having some spaghetti!
Santa gave the kids a chocolate orange and talked with them.
These two are great examples of kindness, service, and generosity!! It was a wonderful night!
Snowball fight!
Jordan helped me make cookies to decorate for Santa!
We had fun making our Santa cookies!
Love these kids so much!
Look at all those yummy cookies!!
That night we went out to dinner at the Mandarin with Todd's family and it was so yummy!
Then we headed to go see the new Star Wars movie with Todd's parents and sister. It was pretty good for a Star Wars Movie!
Fun pictures with Caroline~
The Elves cooking some dinner!
The kids wrote a note to the Elves~
They responded to them~
Since it was Christmas Eve the kids got to hold and play with the Elves and they loved it!
Haha Christmas bunny!
We sat by the fire and read Christmas oranges while we ate oranges and I loved it! It was a perfect way to start the day!
Then some of us headed ice skating with my family. Todd and Jordan were being big fat Scrooges and super mean so they stayed home. The rink was pretty slushy and it was raining off and on which made it worse. But, we still had a fun time!
Jordan ended up coming and joining us but, was still being mean so I was mad he showed up to just be rude!! But, even though Jordan was mean I was glad he came because I sure love these kids!!
It was a slushy mess but ,we still had a fun time for the hour we skated :)
After we got hot chocolate at Fiiz to get warm.
Then we went home and got Dad and headed to my parents house for our Christmas Eve dinner.
Love these kids~
It's a wonderful life as my shirt says!! I love being at my parents for Christmas Eve and having our candle light dinner!
The best ham around, Christmas casserole, and homemade cinnamon rolls is what it is all about for dinner!
After a yummy dinner we had a talent show with everyone. Our kids just read some poems on the true meaning of Christmas.
Grandpa made bray lite up!
Then we got to open our Christmas Jammies yay!
We love new jammies!!
Matchy matchy~
Love all these ladies!
We came home and got everything ready for Santa!
We put the hay in the manger~
All ready for Santa and the reindeer
Time for a sleepover~
The kids slept in until seven and then it was time to go see if Santa came.
Yep they were spoiled!!
Santa even left a snow blower in the garage for Dad! Too bad it was broken and had to be returned to Santa's shop!! Especially since it was a WHITE Christmas and we needed it!! It snowed so much it was crazy and we were all sooooo excited about all the snow out there. Although we did not want to drive in it out to Dad's parents house!
After getting everything they wanted from Santa it was time to open family presents!
She was pretty excited and surprised with her one direction blanket!!
Chicago Cubs Christmas!!
Jordans loot from Santa and us! He couldn't wait to shoot his air soft gun!
Bray was excited about his snow scooter and football and football gloves!
Dyson wanted to go right out and use his snow board!
Kylie loved her 1D stuff and Polaroid camera!
Kenz loved her camera and painting stuff!
We had a fun morning and it always goes by way to fast!!
Yay a stomach workout board!!
Christmas casserole yum!!
Then out to shovel and play in the snow yay!!
The drive way was so slippery they could sled down it!
Perfect Christmas morning for sure!! Hours of fun for all the kids!
Merry Christmas From The Jones Family!
After a very scary drive to Sandy we made it to church when it was half over. We passed so many car accidents and slide offs. We prayed the entire way going out and were so glad when we made it safely there! We only made it to half of sacrament meeting which was a bummer but, at least we were safe!
Love our family~
Love these boys!
Opening gifts from Grammy and Grandpa! The boys got Utes Jersey and were so happy!
They also got a new video game~
The girls got shoes and clothes!
After gifts we had lunch and went out to shot his air soft gun and go sledding! The snow was so beautiful and amazing!!
The kids loved using all their new snow toys!!
We had way too much fun for a few hours!
We came back to Grammy's and had the very best dessert and more food.
Grammy also made the girls these cook books! We had a wonderful white Christmas spent with tour family!
The day after Christmas we headed to meet Grammy to return Kenlies shoes. Her feet grew a entire two sizes since I told Grammy her size! So we got a yummy lunch a the Nordstrom cafe and went shopping for a while.
The girls loved their fries and french dips sooo much!
Amazing dessert too!
The boys were all sledding with Foxes at Muller Park so we headed there to sled with them! They had so much fun this snow is just way to awesome to not go sledding!
That night Foxes game over to hot tube and play games!
We also did a little a little sing star and we were laughing pretty hard!! It was such a fun night!!
The next day we headed to go see sing which we loved!
There was also the Utes game and we were ready watch it!!
Jordan went to lunch and shopping with Grammy and Grandpa for his Birthday!
Then that night we headed to a football party with friends!
The next day was Jordans 10th Birthday!! We got everything all ready for the Birthday boy!
He choose breakfast burritos and strawberries for his breakfast!
Lots of Utes stuff for his big day! Utes socks, utes ring, utes blanket, utes clothes!
Then off to Boondocks for arcades and bowling!
The kids all gave Jordan their tickets so he could get a lava lamp! So nice of them!!
Then we headed to Crown Burger for dinner and met our parents there to celebrate!!
Back to pop balloons and have a late night!
His favorite cake!
He wanted to play five crowns! Then he stayed up past 1 to play video games with dad!
These two are just the best of friends and look like brothers!!
That one time he had a HUGE bonk from falling down the stairs!
During the day on New Years Kenlie went ice skating with friends!
Love my Christmas card door~
Jordan went to Max's Birthday party at Classic Skating during the day on New Years!
That night the girls and I met my family for dinner at a yummy Italian place. The boys stayed home to watch some huge football game they wanted to watch!
Then we met all our friends at 7 at the church for games and a super fun night to bring in the New Years!!
Love these ladies!!
At ten I took Kylie to meet her friends and then met everyone at Foxes house to play some sing star and ring in the New Year!! We were all laughing pretty hard at our singing skills!!
These two might have been my favorite!!
Games were of course going on!
Then time for poppers, yelling, and kissing in the New Year!! It was the funnest night with some of our best friends!! Best way to end one year and bring in a new year!!
Goodbye 2016 Hello 2017!!!
