Bringing Tacky to a Whole New Level...

So, Dustin had his work Christmas party last night. You were supposed to wear a Tacky Christmas Sweater...what do you think, did we pull off Tacky?!

I think I should revamp the Christmas Cards...

The Reason for the Season...

We had a GREAT opportunity to go to the temple for our Ward activity the other day. The adults were able to go through a session and another couple and some youth watched and entertained the kids. They even took them to the visitors center for a little outing. My kids loved it...and I was so very grateful for the people who wouldn't let me stay with the kids. It was so nice to go through the temple and feel that peace. A really nice way to start the Chrismtas Season.

After, we had lunch and then Hot Chocolate and cookies and walked around the temple to see the Christmas Lights. They were beautiful.

The kids were really looking forward to this since October, when I told them we would come down to see the Christmas lights they were working on at the time. I don't think they thought there would be so many!

Honestly, can I get ONE picture of all of them looking like normal kids?!

So Thankful to all the people who helped get this activity together for our ward. Such a fun way to spend time with my family and friends and remember the REAL reason for the season. Remember that it is a celebration of Christ, that it is a time for families to be together.

Thnaksgiving...

Honestly I should write a real post. It is Thanksgiving, and I have so very many blessings in my life that I am Thankful for...but, I am just being plain lazy today. I am cooking dinner for our little family (Dustin actually has the day off!) and we are all still in our jammies! Its been kind of nice, to have such a laid back day. But I will write my Top Ten Things I am Thankful For:

1. My Husband - He works so hard for us so I can stay home with the kids. He is such a good Daddy and is my best friend. Everyday I am grateful to be married to him.

2. My Gracie - She is so happy and carefree. Such a light in our family and I wish that I could be more like her in that way. She is also such a good big sister.

3. My Brody - I can't believe how big he is getting. He is so mature and responsible for his age. A bit of a perfectionist, but always works hard. I love the things that come out of his mouth. Also, he loves his little brother and big sister so much.

4. My Cooper - He is honestly my biggest challenge everyday. Not only because he's 2, but because he is such a strong willed, determined little boy. (You see how I did that, didn't use the 'S' word *wink wink) But he has made me realize how much I love each of my kids and how fast the time has gone by.

5. My Family - Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Cousins, etc. I am so very grateful for that support that we have, no matter the distance that separates us.

6. Technology - I love being able to update my friends and family on Facebook and my blog. I love being able to find out about things with just my fingertips. I think Video Chatting is the greatest thing invented. So Thankful for Skype.

7. Our Home - I am so very grateful for our beautiful home. Its not the fanciest, biggest home. But its nice, its warm/cool, and it holds us in.

8. My Friends - Both here and away. I am so grateful for them because Friends are the Family you get the CHOOSE!

9. My Freedom - I am so grateful for the freedom we have in this country. And I am grateful for those who have and are sacrificing so we can keep it. Can you imagine a life without being able to make your own decisions?

10 - My Religion - I am grateful for the peace it brings to me, especially as a Mother. Some days it is all I can do to get myself through the day. The strength the Savior gives me helps push me through and be a better person for my family.

So many blessing to be Thankful for. How can anyone REALLY pick just 10?!

I am Thankful for my FAMILY...

We wanted to run away for Halloween weekend, and fortunately, Dustin had the whole weekend off. For something different, we went to the temple to check out the new visitors center. It was really neat. Lots of interactive things describing the LDS religion and the things we believe. Lots of things for the kids to see and do. They really enjoyed it.

Then we walked around the temple grounds and took some pictures. It was so beautiful. I am so very grateful for my little family. I am so grateful to be married to my husband for Time and All Eternity in the Temple. I am so grateful to be sealed to my children Forever. What a wonderful blessing and gift from our Heavenly Father. I often think of how we kind of took for granted the fact that when we lived in Canada, we were only 50 miles from the temple. So easy to go, especially with Grandparents that lived along the way to drop the kids off with! Its a lot more work and planning now. I am hoping in the next year I can go more. I want to make sure my kids realize what a gift the blessings of the temple are. The peace and happiness I feel when I am there are unmatched in anything else I have ever experienced. It is there that I know that my life is but a blink, small in the perspective of everything. But it is there that I feel my Heavenly Father's love and there that I can truly remember that I am Child of God.

My Brody.

My Gracie.

And my Cooper.

Whatever would I do without them? I can't even imagine my life without them. Even on the crazy days, where I want to pull my hair out...I check in on them before bed and I remember...

They are my light, my heart, my life.

Thank you Heavenly Father.

Who Dunnit?

So this is the first Halloween in 4 years where we didn't go to Disney to Trick or Treat...I was bummed. It is soo much fun and safe and they went and changed it this year and charged almost double, so we said NO WAY! So I was going to let the kids be whatever they wanted...it was killing me. I LOVE Halloween and dressing up as a family and figuring out the costumes is so fun for me. I was totally going to let them, and if they disagreed with my idea I would've let them do their thing...or maybe bribed them!

So, we just had plans for the Trunk or Treat at the church, and when I told a friend we weren't doing a group thing, she was like, "You have to! The Godlonton's always dress up!" So I tried to come up with something easy, something I already had, and something the kids would like...What to do?

So I pitched my idea to the kids and they thought it was great! And luckily we got to go Trick or Treating with Woody, Maxsim and Maki at their Ward Partyt too, so we got double use out of the costumes again. I loved the idea and I think it worked out great...

There was a small crime committed at the church. Do you know Who Did It in the cultural hall?

Was it...

Mrs. Peacock with the Candlestick?

Or Miss Scarlett with the Lead Pipe?

Or Mr. Green with the Rope?

Or Colonel Mustard with the Gun?

We know it wasn't Professor Plum...he had to work. I should have made him dress up anyways just to get a picture...next time!