Friday Night Lights

Our family date night down at The Gateway for dinner and Christmas lights:

Christmas Cheer

We are thinking about sending this out for our Christmas card this year. What do you think?

Click here.

( It is the cheesiest but I just can't help myself. The kids beg me to watch over and over again and because I am powerless against them I seem to keep giving in...:)

Recent iPhone Pics

Oh, it feels good to laugh! And these kids are the perfect source:

We call this shot "runnin' robot" after aunt Heidi's description of Bean as a robot so filled with energy and excitement that he is moments away from bursting and breaking down :)

The first round of dress-ups one day over at my mom's. Just wait they get oh so much better...

see what I mean?

Thanksgiving Day showers--waiting for the water to heat up before getting all wet.

On Sunday we came home from church and immediately went down for naps--all 4 1/2 of us :) And we slept soundly for 2 full hours. When we woke up we made good use of our happy moods by making Christmas sugar cookies!

Love These Images

From the December issue of Domino--(thanks again for my fun birthday gift Heid!):

Christmas Past

Christmas 2004:

Bentley's first Christmas

Christmas 2005:

my sweet little stitched up Christmas boy :)

Christmas 2006:

Caroline's first Christmas

Christmas 2007:

Now I Feel Ready

My laptop's iTunes and car radio have been playing Christmas carols for about 3 weeks now. And I have been preparing and gathering and shopping since October. But, now that my home looks and feels and smells like Christmas, I am really ready to celebrate--to revel in all that the holidays represent.

During the past few days, I have been contemplating the birth and life of my Savior with more gratitude, more faith and many small prayers to my Heavenly Father throughout the day. I am in need of His love and grace more than ever right now--and in very real need of those blessings for so many around me. I would be lost without His gospel and the truth it brings to my life. What a beautiful gift this Christmas season is.

On Monday night we decorated our home for family home evening:

draping garlands on the staircase

trimming the tree

rediscovering our Christmas book collection

which Caroline totally loved...

taking a silly family picture via the timer

photographing tree ornaments (a very addicting pursuit--aren't Christmas trees stunning?)

Our Thanksgiving

After spending Wednesday night at the cabin with the entire Smith clan, we headed down the canyon for a feast with the LeBarons.

Thanksgiving morning

Trusty meal makers working away

Baby Mamas! My sister-in-law Maggie is expecting in January

Gracie the teeny tiny poser!

Bentley enjoying the tasty food

and me enjoying my tasty little nephew!

Back at the cabin, the kids were delighted to try out Grandpa's new hot tub

3 cute boys

little fish

darling girls

Totally tough guys

Besides trying to split our time with both families, which is always tricky and a little stressful, we had a lovely, busy, food-filled day. As always, I enjoyed the time we took to share our gratitude and thankful feelings. We did this up at the cabin with our "thankful tree" and also after dinner one by one around the table. It all reminded me, yet again, that I have so much and am a very blessed girl.