SANTA and TEMPLE SQUARE

We took the kids to the Spaghetti Factory last Saturday night for dinner and than to see the lights at Temple Square. Thanks to Michelle and Dave Bagley for telling us about the Santa that sits outside of Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square, our kids were able to see him with no lines. If you haven't seen Santa yet it is a great place where no one is there trying to sale you pictures they take and you can take your own. It was such a fun night to spend out on the town with our kids. The traffic was crazy that night so we parked on 500 South and took trax in the FREE zone. The kids thought it was great fun riding trax.

SADIE...almost 6.
She asked Santa for a MUSIC STAND...she said it is what Sister Bennett puts her music on at church. Maybe she is practicing to be a chorister one day...who knows. WILL...9 years old.
He asked Santa for some SOCCER GOALS.

JAKE...11 years old.
He asked Santa for a LONG BOARD.

RACHEL...13 years old.
She asked Santa for some CLOTHES...she must be a teenage girl.

Such little CUTIES...boy are they getting big.

I just love, love walking around on temple square to see the lights. We didn't make it there last year because everynight it just seemed too cold. I am glad we went this year. The lights were GORGEOUS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!Only "8" days until Christmas :)

ATTITUDE

My parents spoke today in the Westminster Students Ward they have been serving a mission in for the past two years. They were released today so they had them speak. I was really glad we went. It is so good for our kids to hear the awesome testimonies they have of the gospel. My mom spoke on ATTITUDE and what kind of an ATTITIDE you have determines what kind of days and lives we lead. She said there is one thing we all have and it is our own ATTITUDE. My mom is the most positive, giving, loving person I know. She has had to endure alot of physical problems in the past few years but no one would ever know. She never complains and just serves and is always happy. Throughout my life we had several different people live with us from 3 months to 4 years because of their family circumstances or needing to be closer to the U of U. My mom is constantly having people to dinner. Whether it is an elderly person, young student with no family in town, newly married or just anyone she feels like entertaining. I wish I could give 1/2 what she does. She is the best speaker (something I didn't inherit). She speaks and people just hang on to her every word. She is the best mom and would do ANYTHING for her family. My dad spoke on his love for the gospel and his family. He is also a very good speaker and when he speaks people just like to listen to what he has to say. He is definately more quiet than my mom but boy does he know alot about the Book of Mormon. He also is the most giving person and would do ANYTHING for his family. This past weekend he had A GRANDPAS sleepover with 12 of his 17 grandkids. He does it once a year and the kids love it. They all sleep in the family room (including my dad) and watch movies. This year he had them paint ornaments and took them to a guy that lives in his neighborhood to see his "18" snakes (which the kids loved). He even took them on Saturday morning to his ward breakfast where they got to eat, do crafts and see Santa. It is a great break for us parents to get a night off from the kids but more importantly it is fun for the kids to spend a night with Grandpa. I love you MOM and DAD. Thanks for making me realize what is important in my life and just being YOU.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Rachel was messing around the other night and I loved this JibJab she made. It makes me smile :)

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/I665BxH8UkiPQIMYi8R8


WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and
A FABULOUS NEW YEAR!!!

OH...CHRISTMAS TREE

We had a great time again this year searching for the perfect Christmas tree. We went with Mike's friend from work and his family up by Evanston, Wyoming to find our tree:

$10 license fee
$30 gas
$20 lunch in Evanston
Watching Mike cut down our Christmas tree = PRICELESS!!!

What a fun tradition that I hope to keep doing for many, many years. We decided to choose a smaller one this year since last year we had to cut off about 4 feet when we got home. Now if we can only keep it alive until Christmas :)

BEFORE
CUTTING

AFTERWe walked down by a frozen river on our search for the tree. The kids had a great time sliding and skating on the ice.

and FALLING!I had to put a picture of me so that my kids would remember later that I was there.Even Diesel came along.Mike's friend brought 2 four wheelers that the kids had a great time cruising around on. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

RACHEL

JAKE

MIKE and WILLMIKE and SADIEDECORATINGThe finished PRODUCTOnly "21" days until CHRISTMAS!!!

Happy "9th" Birthday...WILL

WILLIAM ROBERT DEAN =

Fun, Energetic, Good Friend, Happy, Sensitive, Good Student, Kind, Sporty, Honest, Handsome, Smart, Trustworthy, Awesome, Good Listener, Loving and most of all...
A GREAT BROTHER AND SON!
We LOVE you Will!!! Thanks for being such a GREAT kid :)It was the boys "NON birthday party" year so we took the boys and a few friends Rock Climbing at MOMENTUM in Sandy. They had a really great time. It sure makes it nice to have both Will and Jake's birthdays in November... and that they each like the same things.

Brayden Davies, Ezra Jefferies, Will, Logan Davies, JakeThe boys birthday cake.
Our friends the Wittwer's were in town for Thanksgiving so we got together with the Wittwer's and Denning's on Will's actual birthday. It was great fun seeing them and having them help us celebrate Will's big day.

THANKFUL

I am THANKFUL for so many things: A Loving Husband, Great Kids, 2 Supportive Families, Awesome Friends, Diesel, Mike's Job, Health, A Testimony, A Home, Food, Miracles, Prayer and Most of all Faith in Jesus Christ.

Our lesson in relief society yesterday was so touching and it really made me start to think. It was about Faith in Jesus Christ. We talked about things in our lives and the ways we can handle them. It is so true if we have good attitudes and know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us and we live the way they want us to, we will be blessed. I am not a depressive person but in the last few months I have to admit I have been a little. I don't know if it is the business of Christmas or what, but I have just been a little down. Sometimes I think I don't want to go to church and I don't feel like exercising today or doing the things around the house that need to be done. I have taken some time and just laid around and not been productive. Although it was nice to be lazy a few days, I realized it just isn't me. I quickly started to enforce scripture study again with my kids & Mike. I set some dates on the calendar to go to the temple. I really believe that when we do what we should we are happier. I know that I CAN take some time for myself but I also need to remember to make sure I am doing the things Christ would want me to do. In our lesson we talked about we teach our kids to be good students, good athletes, good at an instrument, good friends, but have we taught them about Faith in Jesus Christ? I want my kids to know that I do have a testimony of this gospel and it has brought me so much joy in my life. I love my Saviour and am trying to be more like him. I am glad that I am done with most of my Christmas Shopping because I really want to enjoy the month of December and not have to get caught up in the traffic and shopping. I want to slow down and enjoy this Holiday Season and remember whose birth we are REALLY celebrating. Sister Jacobson gave us a bookmark yesterday in relief society that had this quote: "If in the end you have not chosen Jesus Christ it will not matter what you have chosen"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May you all be THANKFUL for the many blessings in your lives.

Happy "11th" Birthday...JAKE

JACOB MICHAEL DEAN =

Fun, Quiet, Shy, Smart, Good Listener, Adventurous, Daring, Sporty, Good Student, Handsome, Obedient, Honest, Good Friend, Trustworthy, Awesome, Loving and most of all...
A GREAT BROTHER & SON.
We LOVE you Jake!!! Thanks for being such a GREAT kid :)

(Gotta love the FREE birthday dessert at Red Robbin.)