Pope Mansion Christmas Party

We joined the Marsdens tonight for their 3rd annual Christmas Party at the Pope Mansion. We got to eat and visit in their beautiful home.

 And we even had a special visitor who brought everyone a gift. Merry Christmas!

Reeder's Alley Photo Op

I had the opportunity to take pictures for our friends this afternoon. We went up to Reeder's Alley - this cute little old street towntown. It was a perfect backdrop (even in the rain). I think they turned out pretty gorgeous. Love these people!

Fesitval of Trees

We took most of the family up to the Festival of Trees at the Civic Center.
The trees were quite pretty.

The music and dancing was impressive.

But the kids loved the Children's room the best. We spent tons of time in there. They made Christmas spiders, snowflakes, and gingerbread cards. They got their face painted. And we all decorated cookies. Fun times!

RS Christmas Expo

Our Ward Relief Society had a get-together today. They called it the Christmas Expo. I helped by doing a craft project for the ladies. I think they turned out way fun. I love how they were all different but everyone loved them! So fun!

We also had a Pinterest table where you could bring a few things you have been working on and share the directions with others. Here's a couple that I brought. Aren't they darling?

Figi's Drawing

Every year we ordered some meat & cheese from Figi's. We LOVE it!!! Everyone in the family (except last year's winner) picks something they'd like to order from the magazines. We write our names on them and tear them out of the book. We place all the choices in a baskets and then we do a family drawing for this year's winner. This year's winner was Glory! She was one happy girl!

Go-Kart Sledding

Brett bought the kids a sled so he could pull them around the yard behind the go-kart. They had snow much fun!

{Unfortunately, Brett took a turn and busted up the sled. Oops! Enjoy things while they last, I guess!}

Hunting Boys

Brett took Justice out hunting quite a few times this season. Justice is not old enough to shoot but it was good practice for all the waiting and walking & some quality time for the guys.
They never got anything which was a huge bummer! And this was the only time that Brett took any pictures. Who lets him take pictures? GROSS!!!!

It wasn't a complete loss though... Every time they went out, they came back with a couple tree stumps for our fire-pit. I'm so excited!!! It's gonna be awesome this summer! {I didn't take a picture of them until it snowed but you can see how many they brought back. Thanks guys!}

Headless Turkey Feast

HI-JACKED BLOG-MY AMAZING WIFE!!

It doesn't happen very often, but yes, this blog has been hi-jacked.  I am always grateful for my great wife, but just wanted to put it in writing this Thanksgiving.  She is beautiful, amazing, talented, smart, funny, organized, diligent, a finisher, creative, a great mother, and just out of this world.  She has a beautiful smile and mesmerizing eyes.  She does make me a little sick because she still has her girlish figure after 4 kids and 18 years of marriage and doesn't work out much.  She just got done organizing our whole basement.  What would have taken a man a year and a normal woman a week, took her just one day.  She is very caring with our children and teaches them about discipline, studying, hard work, sticktuitiveness, financial management, and Gospel principles.  Besides serving her family, she is also very active with her calling at Church and will help a friend or stranger at the drop of a hat.  She'd give you the shirt off her back if you needed it...now that I think about it, I'd like the shirt off her back:)  She is also a great kisser.  I love you lady.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is one of my favorite photos of her.

Thanksgivings Past

When I was a novice Scrapbooker, I started a scrapbook for each Holiday. The idea behind it was that we would pull it out during each of the Holiday festivities and remember all the years past. Such a cute idea! Go me! I even scrapbooked every Holiday from our younger years to our first Holidays together- all the way to 2004.
This past week, I have been looking through my old Thanksgiving scrapbook. I realized that the transition period between these amazing scrapbooks I started and when I commenced blogging got jipped. SLACKER!
I decided that I needed to remedy that. I pulled out piles of pictures from each of the missing years. But then what???? Unpack scrapbooking supplies- ie. scissors, paper, stickers, glue? Oh heavens NO! Way too much work! LOL So I scanned in pictures and went to work in my scrapbooking program. I finished up 2005 to 2008. Then discovered I would be way sad if I just ended the Holiday Scrapbooks there. So, I pulled things off my blog and got all caught up (using my journaling from my blog as well)!!! I called around and found a copy place that would print them for me for a really good deal. And magically my Thanksgiving Scrapbook is complete! I'm so excited!!!!
To get you all caught up from 2005 to 2013, here are my Thanksgivings past! Enjoy! ;) [You can click on them to see them larger]

 2005:

2006:

2007:

2008:

2009:

2010:

2011:

2012:

2013:

Happy Thanksgiving! Love the memories!