New Year's Eve Couch Potatoes

We are blaming it on being in a tiny apartment but this year's Holiday theme at the Seamons' home is COUCH POTATO!!! LOL
We had a way laid back- watch TV and play on electronics and snack on food ALL day - New Year's Eve!
We did pop open some Mormon bubbly, eat our teeny weenies, woot-woot and kiss at midnight. Happy New Year!!!

Everyone stayed up with us this year. We each waved around a sparkler outside while we listened to fireworks round town (we didn't realize that they sold and allowed fireworks in Helena on New Years- next year year, baby!) and got out glow sticks for the countdown. It was quite a colorful end to our year!

Toothless Baby

At dinner tonight, Glory was showing us how loose her bottom front teeth are. As she was showing us, she basically pulled one out. Brett grabbed it before she swallowed it. LOL She was so excited!!!! My baby is getting so grown up!!!! ;)

Two minutes later---- We asked to see how loose her other one was getting. It was pretty much just barely hanging on. So Brett grabbed it and out it popped! Holy Moly!!! TWO TEETH in TWO minutes!!!!! Crazy. Now we have a toothless baby in our home. (Although don't call her that because it makes her sad. ;)

She was so excited to wake up to 2 gold coins! (and she was praying that the Tooth Fairy would leave her tooth so she could take them to Show-n-Tell next week. Luckily, the Tooth Fairy can hears prayers as well LOL)

Scripture Study Salon & Finishing the Book of Mormon

This is a common scene each night as our family studies the scriptures together. We call it the Scripture Study Salon. LOL

Also- our family set a goal for each individual member to read the Book of Mormon this year. Well-- by the skin of some of our teeth- we DID IT!! By either reading or listening, we each entirely finished the Book of Mormon in 2013.  Now we are planning a Disney Cruise as a bonus for completing our goal. Wahoo! Go us!

Figi's Drawing

Each year for the last 9 or so years, our family orders one of our Holiday meals from Figi's. A couple of years ago, we decided to make it a Family Drawing. Everyone gets to go through the catalogs we get from Figi's and cut out the item they'd like to order. (It has to be under $50 and have meat & cheese in it) We put them in a hat and last year's winner gets to draw. We order it for Christmas and either eat it then or for New Years. Yum!!!

 This year's WINNER was Victoria!!

December Trip to UT: Family Fun

Besides all the parties and activities, it was fun to just hang out and spend time with family. Thanks to all those that made time for us. We love you all! It was so awesome to see you!

(and a special thanks to the Rasmussens for cleaning up after our sick kiddo. So sorry!)

December Trip to UT: Shauna's Griswald House

One of Shauna's Christmas traditions is to find outrageous lighted houses similar to the famous Griswald house. She even made it part of our Family Christmas program this year. There were some pretty cool, crazy houses that people found. After the lights at Temple Square, she took us by one of her choices. It is CRAZY!!! Pictures don't do it justice but she totally should have won. The owner came out and visits with people and hands out candy canes. The kids even got a Christmas book from him. AWESOME! Thanks Shauna for taking us! We loved it!

December Trip to UT: Lights at Temple Square

Believe it or not- our kids have never seen the Lights at Temple Square for Christmas. Shauna joined us while we got to admire the splendor of the lights. They are so beautiful! It is an impressive sight.

And the magnificence of the Temple. I adore this temple!

I love taking pictures of temples especially the Salt Lake Temple. Here's a  few of my favorite shots of the Temple I took this time:

December Trip to UT: Crump Party with Paintings

Grandpa Randy & Grammy had a get-together tonight for us to see everyone. We got a special treat when Grandma Karla brought Bestemor with her.
We had a yummy dinner and visited.

Played some games:

and Grandpa gave the kids their Christmas present. He painted every grandkid a painting of their favorite animals with a card explaining their meanings. They are so amazing!!! Thanks Dad- We love them!

Here's closeups:

Liberty's Wolf

Justice's Eagle

Victoria's Horse

Glory's puppy

December Trip to UT: Draper Temple

Brett and Shauna took a few of the teenagers to do Baptisms for the Dead at the Draper Temple yesterday. So neat! How awesome will it be when we can get a huge group together? We have lots turning twelve in the next couple years.

Then we decided to take our family up to it today so we could add it to our Temple Touching Experience. Yeah!

December Trip to UT: Molly's Baptism

We got to participate in Molly's Baptism today. It was so special we could be there. We're really proud of your decision, Molly!

December Trip to UT: Sadler Family

We visited Uncle Bud's house to check out his train set. The kids loved it!!!

December Trip to UT: Sledding

Charlene planned for us to do a little sledding while we were there. We had lots of people join us for a couple hours. SNOW much fun!!!

And a little hot chocolate afterwards at Grandma & Grandpa Seamons:

December Trip to UT: Family Pictures

It has been somewhere around 10 years since all of Brett's family has been together for Christmas. We took the opportunity to take some family pictures. Man!!! There are a LOT of good-looking people! ;)

December Trip to UT: Seamons Christmas Party

We decided to head down to Utah for the rest of the week to spend some time with extended family. Shauna planned a HUGE Seamons Christmas Party hosted by the Davis family. It was amazing!!!!
We started with a crazy fancy dinner. Cheri never disappoints. ;) It was complete with an Italian Soda Bar ran by the Davis boys and a delectable Cheesecake Dessert bar on the fanciest table you've ever seen.

Shauna had every individual family plan something for the Christmas Program. It was a hoot! The Laroccos planned Reindeer games and a Stocking Guessing game. The final Reindeers looked awesome! Us Seamons were on Music. We did our Bell Chimes and Name that Tune. It was very competitive and funny. The Hills put all the Griswald Light Houses together on a slide show [we all sent some to her] and we voted for the best one. The whole night was so much fun!

Garold finished the night by sharing a spiritual message. He read us The Living Christ. In between paragraphs, we sing songs. It was really special.

Afterwards, the Davis set up their Karaoke machine. It was hilarious. They even got Garold to sing a song. So fun!

Shauna had gifts for everyone. She gave each family a Nativity hand-made from another country. They were so unique and neat. She also got all the kids a pair of socks. They loved them!!!

What a fun night!! Merry Christmas family!

A-PART-of our Holiday excite-MENT

With us being in a tiny APARTMENT- We didn't get much out for Holiday decor this year. (which makes cleaning up way easy!) But somehow lots of things became APARTof our Holiday exciteMENT. Fun how it turns out that way!
We made some art projects. dressed up and used things we wouldn't usually use.

We missed our Fargo cupboard for all our Christmas cards but found an ugly wall to cover up with all our love letters.

I (Shay) fought about setting up a tree since it's so squishy but so glad I lost! We didn't get ANY of our regular stuff out but our tree turned out so darling! I loved it! It was from things kids made, our RS Christmas party, gifts we got and our Ornament Exchange.

Christmas Morning Magic

Christmas Day is Here!

Each Christmas Morning at the Seamons' home begins in Mom & Dad's bed. Snuggling, picture taking and a family prayer. Fun Memories!

Next, we checked out our new, awesome Christmas Stockings. They are way bigger than our previous ones but still managed to get filled to the top. LOL

We have been so blessed this year! We love to be able to see the kids excitement for presents and hope they also remember the true meaning of Christmas as well.

For breakfast, we decided to swap our regular Christmas Cinnamon Rolls Wreath for something more crafty this year. They turned out way, way cute but we had tons of leftovers. So I guess next year it will be back to the wreath. Guess we'll have to find a party to be invited to so we can bring our Christmas Donuts! LOL

The rest of our day was filled with playing with our toys, snacking, watching movies, eating an awesome Turkey dinner and hanging out together. What a nice day!

Christmas Card 2013

Here's what our cute Christmas turned out like this year!