'Tis the Season

We have been having fun celebrating the holidays. The kids can't wait until tomorrow! We went to Manti last weekend for some family Christmas parties. We had a great time visiting, playing games, sledding and of course eating. The only thing I got pictures of was the sledding. There is a great hill in Manti that you can drive up and sled down, it is over a mile long and you get going pretty fast. Max and Maddie weren't too fond of the snow spraying in their faces as you go down but they kept asking to go again :).

The kids on the way up the hill

I had to sacrifice myself to get these pictures! I went ahead so I could get some pictures about half way down. I was going so fast that the only way I could stop was to steer myself into the snow bank!

The sledders starting to come down the hill

Sharee, James, Charlie and Rosie

Max and Bret, you can't tell by the picture, but they are going pretty fast!

On Monday for Family Night we decorated Gingerbread Houses (actually graham cracker houses). We got messy, and the kids got on a sugar high, it was great!

Trimming the Tree

We had a fun time decorating the tree this year. Both of the kids are old enough to help. After we had it all decorated, Bret and I were putting out other decorations and the kids set up some stools and were sitting watching the tree. It was so cute, Max had is arm around Maddie and they were admiring their work.


They are so excited for Christmas this year! And I will be too once I get all the shopping done :).

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We spent the weekend in Manti and we had a fun and full weekend. Thanksgiving Dinner was delicious with everyone pitching in to make it. We were kind of lazy with our camera but thankfully my Mom got some great photos and I got copies from her.

After our dinner had digested, we all gathered around for some yummy pie. We had Pumpkin, Cherry, Apple, Blackberry, Chocolate Cream and Sour Cream Lemon.


Then we played some fun games. Catan is one of our favorites to play when we get together.


On Friday we had a birthday party for cousin Charlie. He opened presents and we played some party games.


Then we went to the Manti Light Parade. The kids had fun seeing the floats go with all the lights. They stayed warm in the back of Heather's van while they watched.


On Saturday we went up in the mountains to get our Christmas tree. It has become a tradition to get a tag in Manti and cut down our own Christmas tree. Bret and Uncle Andy went and found the trees and then we brought the kids up to "find" the trees.


We also took the kids to Wal-Mart to see Santa Claus. They were so excited to see Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. It took them about 20 seconds to figure out that it wasn't Santa, it was their Uncle James dressed up like Santa!

The weekend then had a happy ending (especially for Bret!) as we watched BYU beat Utah in overtime. It was a great game!