Christmas 2009

Okay, so I'm a little late getting this post done. But better late than never, right? We had a fun Christmas, here are a few pics of what we did!
Christmas Eve.
V. making chocolate milk to set out with the cookies we made for Santa. At one of her visits with him, she asked him what his favorite cookie and drink is. His reply was Chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies.

Christmas morning!
Santa drank all the Chocolate milk and almost all of the cookies! The key next to the plate is one that we hang on the doorknob outside the front door on Christmas Eve. Since we don't have a fireplace or chimney, this is how Santa gets into our house!

Last year V. asked Santa for a Momma and a Baby bear. Which she got. All V. asked Santa for this year, was a Papa bear. Which she got!

Dumping out her stocking!

V.'s excited face as she unwraps her toy story Woody and Buzz. For some reason, this year, she really has been into Toy Story and really wanted the toys for Christmas!

Playing with her new favorite toys!

We went to Steve's parents for the rest of the day.
Steve's parents gave V. a sleeping bag, compass,and flashlight for Christmas that match the theme of her gifts this year!

V. wearing her cousins crazy hat! We all had so much fun hanging with family!

Oh! And I better add that the week before Christmas, V. and I went to the Nutcracker ballet here in Blackfoot. This was V.'s first year going. My Grandma used to take my sister and I every year when we lived in Utah. Anyway, V. loved it! The entire first act she couldn't take her eyes off the dancers! She says she wants to go again. YAY! I love the Nutcracker, and I'm glad she does too. Now we can make this a yearly tradition!

Our trip to the North Pole!

This last weekend, we went to Boise to see Steve's new nephew! He's had two new nephews born in the last week and a half! But one lives down in Phoenix, so we won't be able to see him for a couple of months. But we had fun going to Boise and seeing the other cute little baby!
While there, we rode the North Pole Express! It took us up to the North Pole to see Santa and get milk and cookies. Then, it brought us home. It was perfect! It was snowing the whole time, there were carolers, we were able to get some hot cocoa, and just so much fun!
Here are some pictures of our trip....
Steve reading V. the book,"the Polar Express".

V. and Steve sharing secrets!

But most of the time, she was content just to stare out the window at the passing scenery!

We didn't get a pic of V. with Santa at the North Pole, because Steve took a video instead. But we did get a couple of pics of us at the North Pole.

V. catching snowflakes on her tongue while waiting to see Santa!

Me and V.

Steve and V.in front of Santa's workshop.

On the way back to town, Santa came on board the train. V. ran up to him. No matter how many times a year she sees Santa, she's always excited to see him!

My Little Angel

Just thought I would share the pic. I took of V. in her Christmas dress. I took pics today so I can send some to all our family members. Isn't she a darling? I love her to pieces!

The Christmas Tree Fantasy

On Friday, I sang at the Christmas Tree Fantasy in Blackfoot. Steve took some video of it, but I'm not going to post it! I hate singing in front of people. But I LOVE singing Christmas songs! Luckily for me, there was hardly anyone there to hear me. So I was relaxed and enjoyed my self.
Yesterday, we took the Primary to sing at The Christmas Tree Fantasy. It was my idea, so I was in charge of getting it all set up and everything. However, we found out that some of the kids wouldn't be there because they had basketball. Our pianoist was at basketball as well. So the primary music conductor played the piano, and I ended up leading the kids in song! They sang well, but quietly. But I think they had fun anyway! Steve took a picture, but all I see when I look at this photo is my big butt! HAHA!
{V. is in the front row!}

And, of course afterwards, the primary paid for everyone to go thru and look at all the trees. Well, the kids got in free, because they had been singing. But we paid for the parents to go as well. Then the kids went downstairs and had story time with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Then they got to sit on Santa's lap, and they offered free pictures. Which we got. But I also took some of my own!

it was very fun! After everyone left, Steve, V, and I sat down in the little cafe they have and got some hot cocoa and a cinnamon roll to share. It was all very tasty!
That night, we went to the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center where they were having the Annual Community Church Choir concert. Different churches from around Blackfoot participate in it. My Stake choir was singing, and I sang with them.
It was a long day, but full of fun and got us in the Christmas mood!

You want what for lunch?

The other day, V. and I were trying to decide what to eat for lunch.
"Do you want a ham and cheese sandwich?", I asked. "No."
"How about a grilled cheese sandwich?" "No."
"Well, how about mac and cheese?" Again, she said,"No."
"What do you want?", I asked.
" umm...Can I have a case of diarrhea?"
......................"What do you want?" I ask confused.
She replies,"You know, it has cheese and sour cream on it."
"Oh!", says I, " Do you mean a Quesadilla?"
"Yes," she says," A case-of-dilla ." { she has a look of concentration as she tries to pronounce it right}
Boy, this one sure got me laughing!

The end of the month

This past month I have had this Thankful list on my side bar.The goal was to add something I'm thankful for each day of the month. The Month is now over so I need to remove it, but I didn't want to lose the list. Each day, as I wrote down one more thing I was thankful for, I realized how very blessed I am.
Some of you may not know that we have been trying to have another baby for about 2 1/2 years. In the last 14 months I have had three miscarriages. They have been very sad and emotional for me. But I'm so grateful that because of what the gospel teaches, I know someday I will get to meet those three little spirits that I lost. I don't know if this is the way it happens, but I choose to believe that those pregnancies were those spirits' chance for a mortal body. I believe the spirit enters a body at the moment of conception. For some reason, God took those spirits home. Maybe they were too good for this earth, I don't know. But I believe that they are now in Heaven, with Him, waiting for us. Because Steve and I have been sealed in the Temple for not only this life, but here after, any and all of our children are sealed to us. Even if I didn't carry them full term. And we will always be a family. Like I said, when it comes to miscarriages, I'm not sure how it happens and works out. But this is what I 'm believing. That those spirits aren't lost to me forever. That this was their chance to come to earth. And now they are watching over us and waiting until the day we can be reunited again. This has given me hope, so I don't despair over the failed pregnancies. I know this is not the end.
I want to thank all my family and friends. You all mean so much to me! I'm grateful I have each and every one of you in my life!
Now that I've gone off onto a different subject, the main reason for this post is so I can copy down all the things that I have written on the side bar that I'm Thankful for. Now I can come back and read it anytime, and remind myself how very blessed I am. Because I am blessed.

I give Thanks for...
1. My Savior, Jesus Christ
2. Eternal Families
3.The love of my Daughter
4.The love of my Husband
5.My home {Thankful I have a roof over my head!}
6.My husbands job
7. Being able to be a Stay-At-Home mom
8.The gift of being able to be a mother. I'm thankful the Lord has given me such a beautiful angel to be my daughter!
9. My Parents
10. Modern Medicine
11. My Talents
12. My Freedom
13. Music
14. Laughter
15. Friends
16. The gift of Sight
17. The gift of Sound
18. I know this will sound cliche, but I'm thankful for the pitter-patter of little feet! I love hearing my daughter run around the house!
19. Chocolate!
20.Our food storage
21. My wonderful Husband!
22. The Priesthood. And I'm grateful my husband is worthy to hold the Priesthood.
23. A warm bed to snuggle in!
24. Modern transportation.
25. Steve's, V.'s and my good health.
26. Memories!
27. I'm Thankful for the gospel principles I believe in. They give me such hope and comfort
28. I'm grateful for the nights I get a good nights sleep.
29. I'm Thankful that we have food. We have never had to worry about where our next meal will come from. We've always been able to provide for our family. I'm so Thankful that we can take care of our daughter.
30. Love!