CHRISTMAS CARDS

One thing I am going to miss about December is all of the cards we get in the mail...unfortunately now it is just junk mail and bills. I love, love LOVE Christmas cards. This year we were sent so many and our door was over flowing. I don't know if it is because a lot of people get them printed at Costco and they are a little bigger, or what... but we LOVED them. Thanks to all our friends and family that sent us cards this year. Those that didn't...hopefully we will be on your mailing list next year :)

Mike just set up our new scanner so I decided to go through all our Christmas cards we have sent out since having kids. It has been fun looking at the changes in our family.

"1996""1997"
Love our hair...and the fake fireplace at JCPennys...AWESOME.

"1998"
This year we sent out a birth announcement for Jake since he was born on November 19th.

"1999"

"2000"
Another convenient year for a birth announcement since Will was born on November 27th."2001""2002""2003"
This year we had Rachel draw the cover and the inside of the card. I forgot how cute it was...I think I might need Sadie to do something like that...maybe next year.Love the "comma" after the "e"...so CUTE."2004"

"2005""2006""2007"
This was the only year I couldn't find. I looked up our account at Shutterfly and it was still in our file. I had to take a picture of our card on the computer... I am so glad it was still there. "2008""2009"Here's to MANY more years of CHRISTMAS cards to come!!!

CHRISTMAS ... a look back

I was looking through some of our old Christmas pictures the other day and I just had to put them on my blog. I could only go back to "2002" since that is when we got our first digital camera. I am getting ready to print my blog book for "2009" and I wanted to get some pics of old Christmas' in my book. It has been so fun looking back and seeing how the kids have changed.

CHRISTMAS "2002"

Will (2 yrs) and Rachel (6 yrs)Looks like Jake (4 yrs) isn't so sure about sitting on Santa's lap.Temple SquareCHRISTMAS "2003"

Will (3 yrs) and cousin Parker Dean (3 yrs)

Cousin Taylor Dean (8 yrs) and Rachel (7 yrs)Jake (5 yrs)Jake's Preschool program.CHRISTMAS "2004"
Temple Square

Sadie (11 mos)

Dressing up in Nativity clothes in Heber.

Rachel (8 yrs)

CHRISTMAS "2005"
Sadie (almost 2 yrs)

Will's Preschool program...
notice he has the same vest on Jake did at his preschool program.

Jake (7 yrs) and Adam Murdock (7 yrs)

Last Christmas in our house on Blossom Tree Lane.
We moved December 31st, 2005 to Evening Star Drive.

CHRISTMAS "2006"
First Christmas in our house on Evening Star.
Christmas Eve at the Dean's.

Temple Square.
Rachel (10 yrs) Sadie (3 yrs) Will (6 yrs) Jake (8 yrs)Christmas Day!
Grandma and Grandpa Nelson were on their mission in Chile for Christmas "2006". These are the hats and scarf (Sadie) they gave the girls.

Morgan Murdock, Sadie, Annie Murdock, Lindsey Nelson, RachelOnly "2" days until Christmas :)

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.