December

I  realized I didn't post a single thing in December so here is a recap.

December started with Tyler's 26th birthday. He had finals all week and spent the day studying but I made him take a quick break in the evening so we could go out. Thankfully my little sister and her hubby came out to provo and watched my kiddos for us!

The weeks before Christmas were spent at all kinds of festivals and family activities, Jess's graduation, and making Christmas presents.

The friday before Christmas was my family's annual Christmas party up at my grandma's. A good time was had by all. Yummy food and good company.

Tyler, Ben and Matt were the three wise men ha ha

Then we spent the rest of the weekend at my moms till Christmas. Christmas was so fun this year. My family decided to do an all homemade Christmas. So almost all the presents we gave to each other were homemade. My mom went all out! Her presents to the grandkids were amazing!!

My mom made Layla a Table house.

She made little Tyler a collapsible fort!

Tiffany and I made my mom a TeePee for the grandkids.

Some of the gifts I made the kids.

I had Tiff for Christmas this year and made her a clock. I made several other gifts but didn't get pics of them. They all turned out great. It is a lot of work to do homemade gifts but I really enjoyed doing it.  

Sophia was much more into Christmas this year but after opening a few gifts she just wanted to play. She definetly was much more excited though. Joel just didn't know what to think but smiled happily through the whole process!

Christmas PJs

My mom made the boys all robes and do-rags for their annual Christmas Nerf gun war!

Sophia ready to fight!

One of our Christmas traditions is to go to a movie Christmas day. It was Sophia's first movie in a movie theater, (last year we were in Ely so we didn't go to one) She did so good! Whenever it got really loud she would say "MOM Whats going on?!" ha ha I think she was a little stunned by the enormity of the whole thing. We even took Joel and he just slept through it. He is a champ.

It is also a tradition at my parents house to deep fry a turkey Christmas day and have a big dinner party. We don't do much Christmas eve just finger foods and eggnog usually. We do our big meal Christmas afternoon, It has actually turned into quite the extravaganza! This year the guest list included my grandparents, Shelby's inlaws, Briana's Inlaws, and a few friends. If you ever don't have anywhere to eat Christmas day or don't want to cook come on over!

The rest of the week was spent playing games, eating, shopping, catching up with old friends and just spending time together.

Sophia trying to steal Ben's pillow

Layla loved baby Joel! 

The day after Christmas we headed home for work. The very next night we headed back to my parents because my brother was in town. He had to work Christmas day so he came out after. We went and spent the night bowling and eating then headed home for work again. Good thing my parents only live an hour away ha ha.

We spent two days home then headed to Ely for New years. Hanna and Eric were in Ely too and we spent the weekend relaxing and visiting with family. New years eve we had lots of food and played dance central on the Wii. I think it is the first year since I had kids that we stayed up till midnight!

It was quite the month and we had a lot of fun!

~A

New Years

     This year for new years we went to grandpa Bohns in Logandale. Since we were in Ely already the drive wasn't to bad. I did take pictures but they were all of Sophia and none of them were of the actual festivities. So I will just do picks at the end of the post.

     We got to Logandale Thursday. Friday we left Sophia with dad and Saundra and I went into St. George and had an entire day of shopping! It was a lot of fun! We hit all the after Christmas sales and had lunch with Grandpa Bohn's sister aunt Milli. She is a super funny lady! Saturday Tyler got his turn to go into Vegas with his brother and test drive cars.

     Saturday our cousin Megan and I spent the afternoon making cookies and brownies and potato skins. When everyone got there we  ate and ate and ate. I am telling you this family knows how to pack down the food! ha ha It's always a good time though. I did not make it to midnight. I haven't for a few years. We just visited and looked at some old pics which was really fun. Sophia did not stay up even close to midnight. hopefully she wont for a few more years.

    Tyler and I have both made a few new years resolutions. I try not to make to many and I try to make them realistic so that i can stick to them, so here are mine.

1. Exercising, taking over all good care of my body. Along with that strive to have good self esteem. I am not perfect and I understand that but sometimes I can be hard on myself.

2. Eat at the dinner table every night. And along with that be better at planning meals in advance (have a menu for the week). My table is often full of my latest project so a lot of times we end up eating in the living room. I think it's really important to sit down as a family for dinner every night so I am making it happen!

3. Spend more quality one on one time with Sophia. I know what you are all thinking, I am a stay at home mom right? Well I want to be better at having fun little activities planned for us, like play group, or going to the park, or putting a puzzle together, or doing  craft together, things like that. Where Sophia can learn and have fun at the same time.

4. Going to the temple more often. Tyler and I are pretty good but we could get a lot better!

5. Quality time with my husband. We get so caught up in life sometimes we forget to just take a couple hours for us.

So there it is, my list. Not to long, not to unrealistic. I think it will be great to work on these! So anyway enough of my ramblings here are some cute pics of Sophia. When we were at grandpa Bohn's we went on a walk with Saundra afterwards Sophia and I played outside. In grandpa's yard there is this little bunny statue and Sophia thought it was her personal pet! It was so funny! She would sit next to it, put her arm around it, kiss it, feed it, pet it. It was so stinking cute!

     She also found that stump and had to use it as her little personal chair. She had to carry my camera bag around as her little purse too! I sure have a girly girl on my hands. 

              ~A