Do you know anyone who is 100 years old....

and still alive?? I do. Her name is Billie Stoker and she is Mark's Grandmother. Last month she turned 100 years old and we had a big party celebrating her life! We had the opportunity to live with her for an entire year before we bought our house. She is a remarkable woman and has taught me a lot these past 11 years I have known her.

The monday before her birthday, the assisted living center she lives at had an openhouse for all of her friends and family. Andrew wouldn't leave his great-grandma's side the entire time we were there. He also sang Happy Birthday to her in a microphone in front of everyone present!

We had a big party for her the day before her actual birthday at our church. She had family come from California and SLC. It was a wonderful day!

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma! We love you!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The week before Christmas, Santa visited our house. Our boys must have made a good impression, because they were very spoiled this year. Not only are they going to Disney World, but they also got a motorcycle. And by a motorcycle I don't mean one of those big wheel battery operated contraptions, a MOTORCYCLE. Mark grew up riding dirt bikes, and this is just one area where I have had to compromise. James is in heaven. He is actually pretty good at riding it, but the poor kid hasn't had many opportunities because of the snowy, freezing cold weather. Their reaction to it was priceless. Christmas day we went up to Bear Lake and stayed at my sister in-law, and brother in-law's cabin. Last summer they built this beautiful cabin that the entire family can stay in. Our kids had a blast with their cousins. They went snowmobing and played games, and stayed up way too late.

New Years Eve we got together with our friends the Carlstons. We played games and the kids watched movies and played the Wii. New Years day, we went sledding! The kids had a blast! I was feeling sad because I had forgotten to take many pictures of Christmas, because i kept forgetting my camera, but half way during sledding I realized that my new phone that I got for Christmas takes fairly decent pictures. So here are a few of us sledding!

Every time Caleb went down he would say "more." Mark and I were cold and wanting to go home, but the boys kept begging to stay at least 5 more minutes. That is quite a change from a few years ago, when we couldn't even get them to go outside in their snow clothes!! Then we came home, made a snowman in our front yard, and had hot chocolate.

It was a great Holiday Season! Now we are looking forward to hopping on an airplane and getting out of the cold for awhile! Orlando here we come!

A few things I learned last weekend

*I could have 6 children if...
a. I had a bigger car
b. I had a bigger house
c. Mark never had to go to work

*Caleb LOVES his second cousin Samantha

*I'm pretty lousy at doing little girl's hair (heck, I can hardly do my own!)

*Singing jingle bells at the dinner table is A LOT of fun (even the babies got into it)!

Move over Thanksgiving...it's time for Christmas

I know I probably offended some people by the title of my post, because Thanksgiving is often times over looked because of the rush of the Christmas season, but honestly, I can't help it....I love Christmas!!! I never really appreciated Thanksgiving as a child, and as an adult not much has changed. Sure I love eating until I can't button my pants, spending time with family and friends, oh, and thinking about the Pilgrims and Indians and counting my blessings, but Christmas is just so much prettier!! I mean look at all the lights....they are everywhere and breath taking. Okay, so I'm only half joking.....but before I go on, I guess I should probably write about our Thanksgiving. We really did have a great time with family. We spend the day at my parents house, had a fabulous dinner, played some games, slept at my brother and sister in-laws house so we could wake up at 4:45am to hit some black Friday sales. I always wonder why in the world we subject ourselves to such torture, but it actually is pretty fun and we do get some good deals. Friday night we had a GNO by first eating at Zuppa's (very tasty), and then going to New Moon. I'm not a die hard Twilight fan, but I really enjoyed the movie. It's also fun just hanging out with many of the girls in my life, and I definitely deserve some girl time!!! ;)

So that was Thanksgiving, now on to Christmas! Mark and I did go a little over board this year, but it's just that since about September every little thing I buy for my kids I save for Christmas (any clothes they are in need of , shoes, even shampoo!). Mark purchased something very big for the boys this year that he is really excited about (more excited than me), but I won't disclose it just yet (in case my 7 year old happens to read this), and it really does deserve a blog post of it's own, for many reasons. Actually we have two big presents that each deserve their own blog post. Now, before I start to sound too materialistic (probably too late), but there is a reason why I do my shopping so early. Get all the shopping done in November and then for the entire month of December we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas, by teaching our children about the the birth of the Savior, and how it is so much more blessed to give than to receive. My siblings decided not to give each other gifts this year, but donate to toys for tots or another organization of our choice. My little family did this last year, and my kids still talk about how we gave the transformer toys away. I also love giving neighbor gifts. I know some people despise that, but it is something I look forward too. I have fabulous neighbors! My house is already decorated and I have been listening to Christmas music for at least a month already. Our kids have their chocolate advent calenders and their red and green paper chains to count down the days until Christmas! We have already watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas and The Grinch! Now I just need to start making some yummy Christmas treats!!!