We had a wonderful time over Christmas spending time with family and friends in Wyoming and Utah. My brother, Brett, has been in Korea for a year and decided when he got home he and his family would fly to our moms in Utah for Christmas this year. We were so excited we were able to be there too! The boys were a lot of fun to hang out with and so much fun to watch open presents on Christmas morning.
We started our trip in Wyoming and spent a few days there with the family. There wasn't as much snow as there was last year and it wasn't too cold either. Last year I froze so this year I was so worried about being cold and my feet freezing. I packed lots of layers.
We really enjoyed hanging out with Amanda, Craig, and Honor. Isaac took to watching lots of Phineas and Pherb with Honor. I have to admit, it is pretty good. We had a discussion about what television shows children like to watch and how some of them parents can not stand. So Isaac said our children will get to watch Phineas and Pherb and they will like it, since he has a say so in what they will like.
We also got to see Annie and Jesse and meet Gabriel (Biel), and Annie's mom Lucia. It is so nice Lucia could come spend so much time with them after Biel was born. I have been working on my Portuguese the past year or so so I tried to talk to Lucia a little. I still have so far to go, and really, I just need to try to talk everyday. It is just so much easier to communicate in the language you already speak. I want to be more fluent though, so I try to make Isaac practice with me. We just need to be more consistent. And Biel is adorable. I am amazed at what a good baby he is.
A few days Isaac and I went driving around to photograph. I am such a pain. I really want to create fun images so we went out looking. We came across three bald eagles just hanging out. It is rare to see a bald eagle, but three in the same place is even more rare. It would have been nice if we had come upon them about 15 minutes earlier when the light was really nice in that spot. I took pictures anyway, but they would have been so much better with better light. Isaac is such a good sport about driving all over the place with me so I can create images. I just love him to pieces.
We even had a little Christmas before we and Amanda and Craig left for our other families. Honor was so cute in her Tinker Bell outfit she got for Christmas.
Then we headed to Utah. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with the family. On Christmas eve we read stories and the boys each got to open a present.
Brayden wanted an Angry Birds puzzle so Brett told him he was getting one. He kept asking if he could have his puzzle and finally on Christmas eve was was able to open it. He knew what he was getting and still when he opened the present and it was an Angry Birds puzzle, he was surprised and excited.
Tristan wanted to learn to play chess so Isaac taught him and they enjoyed playing. Tristan was picking the game up rather well.
Brayden also wanted to play chess since his big brother was doing it. His attention span wasn't very long, but he did try his best to concentrate.
I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was when Brayden was opening a present and asked what he got. Brett said, "You got a box." And Brayden enthusiastically replied, "A box! Awesome!" If only we all could be as excited as a three year old about getting a box for a present.
Brett and Barbara are expecting in May. The day before they flew out to Utah they had the ultrasound that told them if they were having a boy or girl. I really thought they had a cute idea of telling what they were having in a present on Christmas morning. So they wrapped up little presents for the moms and when they opened it they found out what it was. Mom was so cute and excited. She is very excited to be getting another grandson. Yay for them!
We also got to go horseback riding with mom's friend Larry. The boys were a little hesitant at first because horses are so big, but they finally conceded to give it a try, and they loved it.
The rest of the trip we enjoyed time with more family and friends. We went to Temple Square to see the lights with Jamie, Jeremy, and Easton and Amanda, Craig, and Honor. The kids were bundled up nice and snug. We joined up with Scott and Celeste and wandered around.
We also got to visit with Cy, Brit, and Michelle. It was nice to enjoy their company.
And we took a trip down to the Manti Temple. We love to go to the temple. We are grateful for the blessings of the temple and that our family can be together forever.
I'm so glad we were able to visit so many people this year. Who knows what will happen when Isaac finds full time employment, so we enjoyed the time while we could. We love our families. They are so wonderful and we are so grateful for them, their examples, and love.
We started our trip in Wyoming and spent a few days there with the family. There wasn't as much snow as there was last year and it wasn't too cold either. Last year I froze so this year I was so worried about being cold and my feet freezing. I packed lots of layers.
We really enjoyed hanging out with Amanda, Craig, and Honor. Isaac took to watching lots of Phineas and Pherb with Honor. I have to admit, it is pretty good. We had a discussion about what television shows children like to watch and how some of them parents can not stand. So Isaac said our children will get to watch Phineas and Pherb and they will like it, since he has a say so in what they will like.
We also got to see Annie and Jesse and meet Gabriel (Biel), and Annie's mom Lucia. It is so nice Lucia could come spend so much time with them after Biel was born. I have been working on my Portuguese the past year or so so I tried to talk to Lucia a little. I still have so far to go, and really, I just need to try to talk everyday. It is just so much easier to communicate in the language you already speak. I want to be more fluent though, so I try to make Isaac practice with me. We just need to be more consistent. And Biel is adorable. I am amazed at what a good baby he is.
A few days Isaac and I went driving around to photograph. I am such a pain. I really want to create fun images so we went out looking. We came across three bald eagles just hanging out. It is rare to see a bald eagle, but three in the same place is even more rare. It would have been nice if we had come upon them about 15 minutes earlier when the light was really nice in that spot. I took pictures anyway, but they would have been so much better with better light. Isaac is such a good sport about driving all over the place with me so I can create images. I just love him to pieces.
We even had a little Christmas before we and Amanda and Craig left for our other families. Honor was so cute in her Tinker Bell outfit she got for Christmas.
Then we headed to Utah. We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with the family. On Christmas eve we read stories and the boys each got to open a present.
Brayden wanted an Angry Birds puzzle so Brett told him he was getting one. He kept asking if he could have his puzzle and finally on Christmas eve was was able to open it. He knew what he was getting and still when he opened the present and it was an Angry Birds puzzle, he was surprised and excited.
Tristan wanted to learn to play chess so Isaac taught him and they enjoyed playing. Tristan was picking the game up rather well.
Brayden also wanted to play chess since his big brother was doing it. His attention span wasn't very long, but he did try his best to concentrate.
I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was when Brayden was opening a present and asked what he got. Brett said, "You got a box." And Brayden enthusiastically replied, "A box! Awesome!" If only we all could be as excited as a three year old about getting a box for a present.
Brett and Barbara are expecting in May. The day before they flew out to Utah they had the ultrasound that told them if they were having a boy or girl. I really thought they had a cute idea of telling what they were having in a present on Christmas morning. So they wrapped up little presents for the moms and when they opened it they found out what it was. Mom was so cute and excited. She is very excited to be getting another grandson. Yay for them!
We also got to go horseback riding with mom's friend Larry. The boys were a little hesitant at first because horses are so big, but they finally conceded to give it a try, and they loved it.
The rest of the trip we enjoyed time with more family and friends. We went to Temple Square to see the lights with Jamie, Jeremy, and Easton and Amanda, Craig, and Honor. The kids were bundled up nice and snug. We joined up with Scott and Celeste and wandered around.
We also got to visit with Cy, Brit, and Michelle. It was nice to enjoy their company.
And we took a trip down to the Manti Temple. We love to go to the temple. We are grateful for the blessings of the temple and that our family can be together forever.
I'm so glad we were able to visit so many people this year. Who knows what will happen when Isaac finds full time employment, so we enjoyed the time while we could. We love our families. They are so wonderful and we are so grateful for them, their examples, and love.
