Christmas

Christmas was a big day, so fun to have a 9 month old and a two year old at christmas time. Both boys were so happy and excited, it was a special day. :) A very busy day, but very special. We were surrounded by family,food, and christmas magic.
I almost dreaded christmas this year. Knowing we had no money to spend on presents, feeling bad that my kids wouldn't get all the stuff they deserved. We have had a tough year, and I felt like Christmas would emphasize that. Although, to my surprise, it did the opposite.

On Christmas eve the doorbell rang, I was helping Ryder in the bathroom, and Rob was just coming in the house from the garage, he was putting car seats in the car, from the truck, so we could go look at lights with the boys. So no one hurried to the door, both figuring the other one would get it....

Well when we finally made it to the door, we were surprised, shocked, grateful, amazed. There on our door step was many gifts all addressed to Ryder and Rustin. My boys had a very good christmas because of this anonymous secret santa. I am very grateful that someone would take the time money and effort to make my boys have a good christmas, and be able to receive things they needed and wanted that we did not have the means to provide....

I realized there have been many tender mercies to help us through this tough year, I was reminded I need to focus on the blessings we have received and not the hardships. :) I am very blessed to have the family that I do. We had a very good christmas-and it wasn't about the presents at all.:)

Some pictures of Rustins first hair cut when he was 6 months old

Making Christmas cookies

Rob and I received a cookie press as part of our wedding gifts almost five years ago when we got married. We have packed it in and out of 3 kitchens, and never used it.

The other day we saw some cookies that looked like they were made using a cookie press, so it made me want to use ours, and be festive for christmas!

We finally broke out the cookie press, the food coloring, and made some festive green christmas cookies using the cookie press.

Ryder loves to help.

It made a ton of cookies, Our cookie jar is over flowing. I need to take them to people or something so I don't eat too many?!

I bagged some up in some cute christmas bags for Rob to take to scouts with him yesterday for his scout boys. The problem: only 2 boys showed up for scouts yesterday out of 10 boys! So we still have lots of cookies!

Story Time at Christmas Time

Rob got home Dec 19th at 630 am. He was able to use some vacation pay and come home early, but still get his eight hours. He came home and slept a few hours. When he woke up we went to story time:)

They sang some christmas versions of common songs. They read a christmas story, they sang songs, and Santa came to visit. They also had cookies for the kids to decorate. There were gumdrops, and mini reeces, and mini m&m's for the kids to put on their cookies. It was fun. The below pictures are of the kids at story time and Ryder being proud of his decorated cookie.

I'm glad we can go to story time. It's a fun outlet for Ryder, even though every time we go we have a mini-disaster. (yesterday rustin pooped through his outfit, the one time i forgot extra pants, and he was wearing tan pants.... ) He has probably only pooped through an outfit like 2-3 times ever and ofcourse he does it when we are not home! The Last time we went to story time Rusty threw up all over himself and me. (I had an extra outfit for him that time, but not for me!)hopefully if we keep going the disasters will stop....here's to hoping:)

Snow in Hurricane!

Ryder has loved playing in the snow.

He loved seeing it snow, he loved seeing snow on the ground, and on his slide, and on the mountains.

I haven't let Rustin go out much in the snow, but I can't help letting Ryder. So I bundle him up, and let him play til his hearts . :)

The sad thing is he doesn't know that snow here, is not normal, and may not occur like this again. But for now he's enjoying it.

Pictures of snow at our house and around our house, pics of Ryder in the snow, and pictures of Ryder helping his dad shovel snow. :)

December 2nd

On Monday dec. 2nd we had a busy day

We went to Rob's Work Christmas party where we watched Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, got a free, very beautiful christmas tree, enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate, and the kids were able to sit on santas lap. Ryder was excited to see santa. Rusty was scared and cried.




After Rob's work party Rob went home to bed, and me and the boys headed to st george.

We had hawaiin hay stacks at Mary's house.

then went to the live Nativity at Tuacahn.

We were glad the weather wasn't too cold.




It's nice participating in events that focus on the true meaning of christmas. I want to instill in my boys the real reason we celebrate this time of year. I am glad we were able to go.

After the Nativity we rode the train around the grounds of Tuacahn. Ryder loves/ is obsessed with trains. So the train ride was really exciting for him.






A picture of Rusty at Ronda's house, where we went for hot chocolate after Tuacahn.





A Picture of Ryder in front of our big pretty tree we got from Rob's work:)