"BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!"

December was a VERY busy month for me. With decorations, putting Christmas presents together, and being REALLY sneaky about them, December kind of disappeared without a trace!!

Let's see where shall I start. The beginning of December we took the kids sledding. It was Carter's first time, and he really enjoyed it. We were only out for an hour or so because it was REALLY cold!

Christmas came a little early for Bradey!! It was ONE of the BEST parts of my Christmas. After we had a few intense days of snow storms, Bradey had been talking about getting a snow thrower. Well being the sneaky wife that I am, I went a bought him one. Since its a bit hard to hide an enormous machine, I just let him open the trunk of the Yukon! I NEVER have been able to surprise him, EVER!! So I was really excited to give him this gift!

We got a REAL Christmas tree!! We had one our first year we were married, but the only reason we did was because I was pregnant and got whatever I wanted! ;) Last year our fake tree was really falling apart on us, so we decided to get rid of it, and enjoy the WONDERFUL smell of a real tree!! The kids of course helped Bradey put the tree up, and helped remove all the ordaments off the tree (at least all the ones they could reach!).

The rest of my month was booked with being sneaky with Bradey's side of the family. All the kids redecorated my in-laws living room. It was a chore keeping it quiet, but we managed to do it. And it was fun. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will at another post.

Then Tesha and I received an old window from my grandparents home for my mom's Christmas gift. It going to make a fun decoration for my mom's den. Again I don't have pictures. THEN Mom and I tried to have a photo shoot with ALL 4 grandbabies for my dad's gift, but none of the photos turned out. Thankfully I have an amazing sister in-law that took pictures during Thanksgiving and picks up my slack!! ;)

Then of course CHRISTMAS!! Christmas morning my sweet little Londyn decided to wake up at 3 o'clock in the MORNING!! When she saw that Santa had come, she refused to go to bed. I think she might of had an hour nap sometime in between waking up and going to bed after the day was done. You can find out Christmas morning video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRtBHd8y-gw

After our Christmas morning excitement wore down, be headed to Bradey's parents home for Prime Rib and Ham!! YUM! It was a great time. I had to leave for a bit because ELDER LEONARDSON called Mom's house!! It was wonderful to hear his voice and to talk to him!! He told us his testimony in Spanish. IT was CRAZY awesome!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! WE sure did!! :)

Some how the Turkey gets you FULL!

This Thanksgiving was AMAZING!! We had my family get together for dinner at our church house. I think we're starting to do a new tradition of just doing my immediate family, instead of the entire extended family. Which there is A LOT of people in my extended family. Everyone was there minus our wonderful missionary Elder Leonardson, but he's doing good work, so we'll excuse him this year and next!! ;) But we did enjoy our local missionaries at dinner!! NO one wanted to be photographer while they were eating, so I started taking pictures after dinner.

This is how the men work off dinner

This is how the little ones enjoy their time after dinnerOur clean up crew! :)Carter really enjoys his Aunt Susan!

After their movie, the Grandbabies really became ACTIVE!!

I love this picture, it shows both babies personalities very well.

Carter- ON the Go Always!

Jessa- So sweet and calm!

Abbi is always the best play buddy!!

Playing Balderdash is the BEST!! Especially with Dad and Jesse!!

The kids found a fort to play in!!

I had to get evidence, YES that is my Mom and Dad talking TOGETHER!!

I didn't get a pictures of the rest of the weekend. But we sure did have a lot of fun as a family. We went sledding, trap shooting, and played at Outer Limits all in one day (Friday)!! Oh it was a GREAT day!!

I spent the night at Tesha's house, because Dad had to catch a plane at 9 AM in SLC!! But it was totally worth loosing sleep!! We talked all night with Dad, got 2 hours of sleep, talked for 3 hours on the drive down, then had the best sisterly bonding talk on the ride home!!

When I got home, I got kids ready for Bradey's family Thanksgiving dinner, then I was able to get a couple of hours of sleep, and headed for some in-law bonding!!

I am so grateful for the wonderful family that I have been blessed with. We have come a long way in the past few years, and it LITERALLY has been a miracle! It's interesting because through ALL of our trials, we have become closer as a family. I am a truly blessed wife, mother, daughter, sister, and granddaughter. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for my family!!