This past week...

Jacob loves the snow! Last week when it snowed, he spent a long time outside! He even built a sledding hill in the front yard. It wasn't very big, but he went down it many times!

During all of our candy making, I decided to make a chocolate covered pickle for Jacob. He should have been suspicious when I was taking his picture, but he tried it anyways! It was gross!

We exchanged family gifts with the Lowry's. I made them this really cool jean quilt with USC Trojans on the reverse side. I never thought it would get done, but it did! Thanks for your friendship guys! We loved our gifts too and had a fun time that night!

We always look forward to the Santa Cops coming down our street handing out candy canes to all the kids. Usually he rides on a hay covered trailer, but this year he was riding in an Explorer since is was only 10 degrees outside! He got out just long enough to say hi to each of the kids, give them a candy cane, take this picture and then he quickly got back in the car. We loved it!

Gingerbread houses

Yes, like many others, we made gingerbread houses this year too! Don't they have the cutest kits now that make it so easy? I remember making them out of graham crackers and sticking them to the side of a paper milk carton when I was a kid. How funny! Thank you to Tom and Cindy for having us over to your house! We had a wonderful time!

Christmas tag! Play along...

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it would be fun! Tag your it! (It looks long, but it is only 25 questions and they are short answers...)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! I actually LOVE wrapping gifts! I have wrapped other people's gifts because they didn't want to...

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. With my luck, I would be allergic to a real one!

3. When do you put up the tree? November 18th (the day after Jacob's birthday)

4. When do you take the tree down? December 26th (the day before Courtney's birthday)

5. Do you like eggnog? YES!!! (a little too much!)

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Sony walkman

7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband

8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? A few actually. Love my Fisher Price one the kids can play with!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A sweater that was too small that I had to try on for everyone to believe me that is was too small. Not cute!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home alone, it just makes me happy.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday mainly, but sometimes before.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I admit it, I have.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's cranberry cider and thumbprint cookies.

16. Lights on the tree? Colored and lots of them!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I can't pick just one.. I love them all!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like staying close to home. I don't like traveling in the snow.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all - Rudolph

20. Angel on the tree-top or a star? We have a star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Our tradition is opening gifts at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Christmas eve and then Santa comes Christmas morning and we do our family gifts after that.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not knowing what to get someone? I always want to get the perfect present.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? All the ornaments on our tree that we have collected over the years for our kids. (They get to pick their own ornament out every year...)

24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? We don't do a traditional Christmas dinner. We just do an easy dinner and that way we have time to visit and not feel exhausted from cooking all day!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really can't think of anything! I have the greatest family and friends, a roof over my head, and the gospel in my life. I feel so blessed.

All I want for Christmas...

Courtney lost her second front tooth tonight! She pulled it out herself! You think she could have spaced things out a little... The tooth fairy just came 2 weeks ago, now tonight, and Christmas and her birthday are also this month! Love her toothy smile though!

Thanksgiving

 This year my mom asked Brian to fry the turkey for Thanksgiving! Brian has fried many a good turkey and this was time was no exception! Yummy!!!

On Thanksgiving, I am reminded how thankful I am for my sweet husband and kids. They mean the world to me and I am so lucky to have them in my life. Love you guys!