Yay for SNOW!

Bryan brought out the FUN with his four wheeler and a sled!

Karissa and her friend, Sharisse.

Bryan pulling around the fun.

Kelsi and her snow bunny, Oreo.

Yay Oreo!
Yummy snow!

Jacob and Sam having snow wars.

WHEEEE!
(Sam, Jacob)

Sam with his friend, Max

Just Skating Around...

Sam LOVES his new skateboard, and he's been trying it out around the house, skating around everywhere!

Sam, Mindy

I KNEW I WAS ON THE GOOD LIST!

All of the kids were very excited to see what Santa had brought this year, but Sam was especially excited and even AMAZED at what Santa had brought him. As he surveyed the gifts, he was simply beside himself as he exclaimed: “I KNEW I WAS ON THE GOOD LIST!”

Sam got a 'Lego Star Wars Wii Game', a skateboard,
and a Moose Webkinz.

Karissa got a new I-pod nano!

Jacob got a very nice camera just like he asked for.

Kelsi got some very cute clothes to dress Oreo in.

And even Oreo got some treats from Santa.

We're sure glad ALL of our kids were on the good list! We love each one of our children and are very grateful to have them in our lives!

Christmas Traditions

(Bryan, Sam, Karissa)

(Mindy, Kelsi)

Four very SWEET looking gingerbread houses.

This year we started a new tradition of making gingerbread houses as a family, and it was a HIT! Every person in our family loved it and had a great time!

Another tradition we keep continuing...yet saying we won't again...is opening one present early on Christmas Eve...the kids won out again this year and each got to open a present the night before Christmas...very EXCITING.

Bryan and Sam having fun with Sam's early present...light sabers!

My favorite new tradition we started this year was our FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE PROGRAM. Each member of our family prepared something to share that reminded us of the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. Sam drew a picture of baby Jesus in the manger and told us all about it. Jacob played "Away in the Manger" on the piano. Kelsi shared a Christmas message from the Friend Church Magazine. Karissa played a Christmas song "True Light" from the Friend Church Magazine. I (Mindy) shared a Christmas thought about Christmas Blessings and Bryan read the Christmas Story to us from Luke Chapter 2. It was great to remember and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

Temple Square

We enjoyed spending the evening with our Taylor cousins at the Clark Planetarium, Temple square and the Primary Children's Hospital. Instead of getting presents for the Taylor cousins this year, we all donated toys to the Primary Children's Hospital.

Freezing...at temple square.
(Karissa, Jacob, Kelsi, Sam)

And today the weather is brought to you by...Sam and Jacob.

"Greetings from Mars"
(Brianne, Sam, Tiffany, Jacob)

In the Dome theater...ready for a seasonal movie.
(Karissa, Mariah, Kelsi)

How old is Santa?

Here's the question of the day from Sam: "Mom, how old is Santa? And what happens after he dies...Do we still get presents?"

Santa and Sam

Chicken Nuggets for Christmas Singing

I got to see Kelsi, Jacob, and Sam at the Christmas sing at school, they all did great...it was Kelsi's last year, she's growing up too fast for me...and she made me promise not to take pictures.

And Sam gets braver every year...except this year Sam was trying to talk to me instead of singing---he was trying to communicate to me that he wanted dino chicken nuggets afterward for singing so good. Kind of funny since he was talking instead of singing :)

I think Jacob was the most excited about singing today...
he had fun and did great.

We are all very excited for Christmas!
Jacob took some initiative and hung up outside Christmas lights on our bushes--looks great! And it's the first year we've had outside lights in a very long time.
This week I got to help out at school with Jacob's class Christmas party...fun times.