::CHRiSTmas 2012::

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I finally got around to uploading all my pics onto my computer...I use to be on top of this, and now I am a slacker. Maybe its because I have 2 kids now, who knows?? This was Wyatt's first Christmas so I had to get a ton of pics:) Jordyn was so excited for Santa this year and it was so fun to see her get into Christmas. I explained to her the whole meaning of Christmas and she was very interested in baby Jesus. Now that I have kids and a family of my own, I've really come to realize the importance of our Savior, and gained an even stronger testimony. I want my kids to always know the importance that is to me, and I hope one day they can realize it for themselves. Life really is all about family and being together! I am so thankful for my wonderful parents who raised me and their great examples they were to me. One thing I also learned this year was how much work really goes into spoiling your kids on Christmas:) Oh my gosh, I can only imagine when they get older, and sneakier. Jordyn wanted a Barbie house and getting it up the stairs without making a noise was hard work. I was so worried she was going to wake up. we somehow managed it , and it was all worth it seeing her face on Christmas morning. The kids had a great time opening presents. Of course Wyatt didnt have a clue what was going on, he was just happy with the boxes:)

Christmas Eve we headed up to Uncle rick's and did our Traditional Norwegian celebration. We always have a great time. This year we decided to have the kids act out the Nativity scene. They were so cute and did a great job, for not having a clue what they were doing:) Then the Norwegian Santa came AKA Uncle Rick and delivered toys for the kids... It's so neat being able to carry on this Norwegian tradition, and always being able to remember my sweet Grandma Kari:) We Love and miss her so much!!

Christmas day we woke up at 7;00, and couldn't wait to see Jordyn's face! She loved her Barbie house and was in heaven. She told me this is what she always dreamed about:) The kids were definitely spoiled by Santa:) Then we got ready and headed up to Grandma tootsie's for her famous breakfast. My Grandma is amazing and spoils us so much!! She buys all year long and is so creative with her gifts. She never stops, and the Grand kids get Christmas all over at her house. I am amazed at how much my Grandma does, I hope to be just like her when I am her age.

Then after Grandma Tootsie's we headed to my parents. My Mom is also amazing!! Seriously I have a lot I have to live up to. She always has things so perfect, and food is always baking and ready to go. She whips up all these yummy snacks and treats and then the kids and ourselves get spoiled again. I seriously don't know why we even buy things, we get enough just between the two Grandparents.

 Then we headed off to our final party at Grant's brothers house! We had a yummy dinner and it was nice to relax and let all the kids play. They were all having so much fun, and then we opened more presents from Grandma and Grandpa. The kids were so exhausted and crashed as soon as we got home!

ChRisTmaS FesTiVitiEs!!

The whole month of December is jam packed full of fun!! I always tell myself I am going to try and simplify things and it seems it just gets crazier! I wouldn't have it any other way though;) I feel so blessed to live the life I have. I have an amazing family, and I thank the Lord everyday. We have so many fun traditions and parties that I can't wait to pass down to my kids. It's what makes the holidays so fun, and what we look forward to every year. Here are some photos off my phone throughout the month, and I will post a more detailed one of Christmas and the kids...

TeMple SquAre, ChRisTmaS DecOr and thE Elf ViSit...

The Holiday season is rolling around fast!! There are so many fun things that we've been up to already.. We already had our first Christmas party, and Jordyn and Wyatt were able to sit on Santas lap! Jordyn was pretty hesitant at first, but then she warmed up to him;) As for Wyatt he loved Santas beard and kept trying to pull it.

We also made it to temple square and the kids loved seeing the lights. We decided to go early this year and it was perfect weather and not to crowded. Jordyn was able to see the Nativity play and loved it;) It truly is amazing, and reminds you what Christmas is really all about.

The day after Thanksgiving we got our Christmas tree up and Jordyn loved decorating it. She did such a great Job! Then the following week a sneaky little elf made an appearance at our house. His name is Jingles, and he toilet papered our Christmas tree and left a sweet note and book for the kids;)
Jordyn is so into Christmas this year and really wants a Barbie house with an elevator;) I guess we'll just have to wait and see!!0

::ThAnKSgIvInG::

There is SO much that I have to be thankful for! This year more than others
Thanksgiving really stood out. I take for granted a lot of things that I've never really thought about.
Grant was diagnosed with a kidney disease in June called Polycystic Kidney disease. Basically he has little cysts that grow in his kidneys. It may affect the function of his kidneys later on or it may not. If it ever got bad, worse case scenario he would need a kidney transplant. I struggled with this for quite some time, and I had the hardest time talking about it. All I could do was think about the worst, and it made me so upset. I seriously thought my life was over. I finally realized that you never honestly know what curve balls life is going to throw at you, but you really just have to be thankful for what you have and take each day at a time. I am so thankful for our health that we take for granted. Yeah, it sucks knowing Grant had this, but really it could be worse. I just had an instructor from hygiene school die at the age of 37 from Colon cancer. I know Grant will be fine, and we can take many precautions to help his kidneys;) I am truly glad we found this out so we can prevent many things,
and Grant can a lot of things to help.
I am so thankful for each and every day I get to spend with my husband and kids. They are my world and I couldn't imagine going through life without them in it.. I am also thankful for the wonderful families that Grant and I have come from. They have shaped us into who we are today. Life is a gift that we truly cannot take for granted.

::Halloween FuN::

Halloween came and went so fast! I love this time of year, and always look forward to all the many things it brings. Jordyn wanted to be spider girl(a pink one of course)! Wyatt was a cute little frog. We had a great time hosting the Halloween pumpkin carving this year with my family the week before halloween. Then on Halloween night we took the kids trick or treating and went to my sisters after for dinner and treats. Jordyn was so fun this year and really got into it;) Grant was Clark Kent and I was Wonder Woman.

Jordyn also had a cute little Halloween parade at her preschool! She did so good with her little part and sang her little heart out;)

FuN in the SnOw!

We had our first big snow storm a few weeks ago!! We got a ton:) it was so pretty, and the kids had a blast playing on it. This was Wyatt's first snow experience, and he loved it!