V.'s Christmas dress

Well, the title says it all. This is V. in her Christmas dress. She was so excited to go to church today. It was the choir's christmas program today, that I'm a part of. Steve stayed home because he isn't feeling well. So V. got to sit up on the stand with me . She was such a good girl! She had a little gift for her nursery teachers that she couldn't wait to give them. And since she'll be starting primary the first of the year, today they let her attend music time with the primary kids to help her get adjusted to it. She loved being with the older kids!:)

So it was a nice time at church, telling christmas stories and singing christmas hymns, and remembering that the reason we celebrate christmas, is to remember Christ's humble birth, and the gift he gave to us all. Eternal life.

My Christmas Angel

I know I'm biased, but V. is so stinkin' cute! I had to post some pics of her! She is so excited for Christmas! She's been singing Christmas songs for a couple of weeks now. We've got Steve singing! Now, he loves Christmas, but is a shy singer. He'll sing in church and stuff like that. But this year, he is singing along to 'The Polar Express' music, Josh Groban, Bing Crosby, etc. At home! While doing stuff around the house! I'm just catching him singing out more this year then years before. I've turned him! Bwahahaha!! I will make a singer out of him yet! hehehe. He has a nice voice and I've asked him to sing with me in public, but he says no way! We'll see... One of these years he'll sing with me.:)

Putting up the Christmas tree

Well, this year we have

two trees. One in the

upstairs living room that V. and I did last month. And one in the downstairs family room that we did this weekend with Steve as a family. We had so much fun putting the tree up with him! V. loved hanging the ornaments and candy canes. This year we also made gingerbread men to hang on the tree.(a first!) V. loved eating them and helping me frost them. I'm so happy Steve is home for Christmas, we've really missed him around here.
I've painted and redecorated the living room while

he was gone, but he said he likes the change.:)
( I had to have something to do while he was gone!)

7 weird/annoying things

Alright, Danika tagged me. You little.... Anyway, I'm supposed to write down seven weird or annoying things about myself. Or something like that. And then tag seven more people. Here goes...

1) Things, like, always have to be an even number. If I'm turning up the volume on the t.v. I have to stop on an even number. If it's at level 5, I can't leave it. It will bug me. I'll either change it up one or down one so it's on an even number. If I'm handing out candy on Halloween, I hand it out in even numbers. This post is only supposed to be about seven things, but I'll either add one or subtract one so it's even!
2) I love to bake fruit pie. But I won't eat it! I hate warm, mushy fruit! But I'll make it for someone else to eat:) So I have no idea if I'm good at pie baking or not, I can't even stand to taste it! I relie on others to tell me if it's good or not.
3)I play with my hair all the time. I'll twist it around my finger and such. Steve always says I look like a ditz when I do that.
4)I state the obvious. It drives Steve crazy! It will be snowing outside and I'll say something like," wow, it's snowing outside!"
5)I try to advoid talking on the phone as much as possible. I don't know why, but I hate talking to people on the phone. I never know what to say, or how to end the conversation. Steve is the only person I'm comfortabe talking to. That's one of the ways I knew we were meant to be together, I was never nervous on the phone with him!
6)I never think before talking. Too many times I've been in a restaurant and I start bad mouthing our waiter, when everyone's like, "he's right behind you!" I've said things to people that have hurt or offended them. In my head it sounds okay, but once said out loud, I realize I shouldn't have said that. Then I try to make it better, but just make it worse. Sorry everyone if I've ever offended or hurt you! I don't mean to!
7)I'm so afraid of spiders! Even if it's a little one I'll make Steve kill it. The only time I will is if I feel it's threatening V. If it's in her room or her pool, and I can't wait for Steve to get home, 'cause then it'll be gone! But I won't sleep outside, unless I have to, for fear of spiders. I spray V. and me down with bug repellant. No, I practicially bathe us in it because I don't want any spiders to get us!
8)I told you I would add another one so that this would come out even numbered! I have a bad habit of cutting people off when they are talking. I have something I need to say and if I don't say it, I'll forget it! But I know it's rude and I apologize for it.

I'll work on some of these annoying things I do. I tag, Richard and/or Stephanie, Hailey, Katie, Lyndsey,Angi, Korryne, Jenna,and anyone else who wants to do this!

Our trip to see Steve!

We had alot of fun visiting Steve in St. Louis. It was so good to be together as a family again! Even though we had thanksgiving dinner at the IHOP, we didn't care because we were at the IHOP together. (cheesy, I know!) We saw alot of sights, and most of it was free which was nice.

This is V. with the base of the St. Louis arch behind her. What an impressive sight! There was a museum under the arch that we also went through. A nice family outing....

V. loved being with her daddy! They had a lot of fun wrestling and such. She is such a daddy's girl, and she has him wrapped around her little finger.

We went to Cathage, Ill. And saw the jail where our prophet, Joseph Smith was killed. This is the window he fell out of when he was shot. The feeling was...surreal.(sp) This happened so many years ago, and yet being there I guess kinda made it more real to me.

This is the Nauvoo, Ill. temple. We had so much fun in Nauvoo. We learned about how the saints lived during their stay here. We made a rope as a family, learned how to bake in a bustle oven, learned how to make a barrel, etc. We took a wagon tour of historic Nauvoo that was really neat. Agian, the feeling we had while here... I have gained more appreciation for the saints and all they went thru, for their faith in the gospel. Grateful, that now I can worship how I want without the persecutions they went thru. I don't know how to explain how I feel... I really enjoyed this part of our trip. I'm glad we drove up to Nauvoo and Carthage while we were visiting Steve.

On a different note... Steve is coming home this friday! YAY! He's home for at least awhile. There is a chance he'll leave again around Feb. But we'll wait and see. I'm glad that he had this opportunity to go back and do this job. I think he's really enjoyed the experience. We were hoping to get more paid off then we did, but are glad that V. and I flew out there. It was a nice family trip that we won't forget!

The North Pole Express

V and I went to Boise this last weekend. While there, we decided to ride on the Thunder Mountain Train's North Pole Express. We rode the train to the 'North Pole' met Santa, then came home. Me and V. waiting to get on board the train.

V. with Santa. The minute she saw him she yelled,"Santa!" And started waving at him. It was so cute!

She is such a doll! We had a lot of fun on this trip seeing family and doing fun Christmas activities. She understands about Santa this year and is always excited to see him. Her excitement over everything makes this time of year more magical for all of us!