December Highlights

Dec. 2nd Ward party

Dec. 3rd & 4th The Hive Boutique

Dec. 5th Baby Flint & Baby Oliver's baby blessings

Dec. 9th Leila Birds last home show for the year

Dec. 10th Adult family night @ McConkies

Dec. 13 Christmas dinner party with G&G McConkie

Dec. 16th Melissa's Ornament Soie

Dec. 17th John Shmit concert with Becky and Nate

Dec. 18th Eli's friend Birthday party and the McConkie Christmas party

Dec. 20th Eli' 6th Birthday, Cultivate Christmas meeting and Matt's work party

Dec. 21st Party @ our house with our neighbors

Dec. 22 Last day of school and the kids Christmas concert

Dec. 23 Drop off gifts to the hospital and Meet with high school friend @ the Mandarin

Dec. 24th (the kids and I)Stayed at home for wrapping gifts (Matt)Finished Christmas shopping. Matt made a awesome dinner, the Elves dropped off p.j's, kids to bed, Matt and I stayed up doing last minuet Christmas.

Dec. 25th Wonderful, relaxing, joyous day with family

Dec.27 Baird Christmas party

Dec.28th Baby shower for my friend Paige and after Christmas shop @ Target

It truly has been one wild and crazy month. Each year I can't belive how fast Christmas come's and go's. This year we decided that in loue if neighbor gifts we would host a party at our house, invited our closest neighbors to donate with us, toys to the children at the U of U burn unit. I chose the Children at the burn unit because when my Dad was burned he was in the hospital for about a month, I saw a lot of childnen there. Witnessing what a painful, long recovery burn victems have made me want to give to the kids.

I had everyone leave there donations at the front door, due to Walts love of toys and presants.

Three of my most favorite people in the world! Erica, Melissa and Macey. I am so gratful for all the support and love thease three amazing friends give to me. We sat around drinking hot chocolate and wasel, eating yummy treats, and visiting. It was a great night.

(I wish I would have been better at taking photos that night. I don't have any of the other neighbors.)

I am so grateful to have such wonderful neighbors. We had so many people donate toys. This is our basket at the end of the night. A lot of people who couldn't make it to the party dropped of toys earlier in the day.

It was a lot of fun hauling in all of the presents. Good thing Matt has super human strength. He carried the bulk of it. Each kid carried in there gift they had selected at the store. To be honest I was really worried about walking into the burn unit again. I think the excitement of my children helped to keep back the memories of seeing my Dad in so much pain. Once we got in to the burn unit, we visited with some of the nurses and doctors while we placed all the gifts under the tree. One of the nurses asked us if we would like to give one of the gifts to a little one year old girl. We selected the Elmo doll Hyrum had chosen from the store. Once we started to walk in the room, I saw all the equipment, I couldn't go in. I stopped walking and a doctor asked me why we chose the burn unit. I HATE when I cry. Once I start I turn into a balling wreck. It's like braking a dam. I sobbed out that my Dad was in a accident and had spent some time there. I told them how I remembered the kids. I told them my Dad is fine and had a very successful recovery. That was basically it. I just couldn't talk any more without crying. I don't know why I couldn't talk about it with out crying my eyes out. They were very nice. One of the nurses was there when my Dad was. Over all it was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Russ and Amy Porter, Kristi and Cole Sondrup, Matt and I, Laurie and Ben George

I always love when we get to see Matt's group of friend from high school. We usually get together around the holidays. Some live out of state for work. We met at the Mandarin this time. YUMMY!

We took this photo Christmas day at my Mom's house. It was so nice to have us all together. I miss Kali so much I choked back the tears when I saw her.

My mom made ginger bread houses with my kids this year. One of my favorite Christmas memories is making gram cracker ginger bread houses. Of course they had a blast.

Hyrum Christmas morning with his new super hero outfit. No more tying beach towels around his neck. Not that he ever minded.

Every Christmas eve the Christmas Elves leave p.j's on the door step. This is a tradition all we all look forward to. My photos are backwards. The bottom one is the p.j's all wrapped up and the top one is the kids sporting their new p.j's. Walt was really sleepy.

Jane with her snake (she named it Buddy) that Santa brought her.

Walter just wanted to open presents, he didn't really care what was in them. It was really sweet when he opened one from Hyrum he said, "cool, thanks Hyrum. I love it." That is probably the cutes sentence he has ever said!

Eli and Hyrum with their Santa gifts.

Whew, what a month!