Christmas

Well we are finally home from our Christmas in Utah. We had so much fun, but it was sooo cold, with a lot of snow. Perfect for Christmas, but I am glad to be back to a warmer climate. I am going to remember the best parts of each of the highlights of our trip.

Temple Square:

Dylan wanting to marry Livie in the temple, and asking random people to let him in.

Dylan thinking a real guy was a mannequin, and being amazed that he talked.

My kids loving the train ride up there, and anxiously awaiting the ride home.

Dylan and Livie loving the Christ pictures and the Christus statue.

The beautiful lights, temple and atmosphere.

Snow fun:

Watching Jon snow blow a sledding hill for the kids in the backyard.

Dylan and Emma's snowman with "sharpy" carrot teeth.

Dylan becoming a speed demon down all sorts of sledding hills.

Bailey Family Christmas party:

Santa Clause.

Livie running terrified away from Santa Clause.

Livie running back to grab her present, and then running away again.

The family pictures.

The cute gingerbread houses.

The wonderful cousins, Livie's "grills".

Spending time with a fantastic family.

Notice in the group shot, one of my kids is acting crazy and the other is picking her nose. My kids do not photograph well.

Christmas Day:

Seeing the kids expressions when they opened their presents and saw the bikes Santa brought them.

Hearing what the kids would give Jesus for a Christmas present, (Dylan would give Him a fire car, and Livie would give Him a white castle.)

Wii Games, especially the old school Mario Brothers.

George Sandwiches

Watching the cousins have so much fun.

Being with people I love.

The rest of the Christmas holiday:

Seeing Denver, Lexie, and Livie sneak a box of Wheat Thins and consume them.

Watching Livie and Lexie, and then my dad wrestle Uncle Cody.

Hearing the blessing my dad and Jon gave Livie when she got the flu.

Feeling the spirit of the holiday, and the spirit of our Lord.

Including a picture of Cody and Shi, since he thinks I never have him in pictures.

Also, here are some pictures of Livie and Lexie's first sleepover.

(At the bottom is a picture of Cody in his cowboy getup, now you have to love me Cody!)

Thank you Shi for enduring the girls that night.

More Snow!

We got so much snow yesterday. They actually cancelled school today. Dylan was home yesterday due to parent teacher conference, and so he and Livie were able to play together. They had so much fun! They couldn't stay out too long, because we didn't have any snow pants or boots, because why would we need them? The snow falling was beautiful, but I remembered what I don't like about snow. Everything that comes in is wet. From the kids clothes to the dogs. It doesn't go well with wood floors. But, we are going to enjoy it while it lasts.



We also made a gingerbread house out of graham crackers. Jon impressed us by making his own frosting, and then making some split level house. I am more of the slap four sides together with a flat roof, but the kids loved Jon's design. Dylan also made this candy train at school. It is missing a few pieces from it. The candy they used was delicious.

Let it Snow

It is an amazing day today. It is SNOWING! It is so beautiful. As I was talking to my best friend Melanie today, she said really, it snows on the sun? Not often, but it does. Livie is fascinated. She keeps asking to go play or go for a little walk. I love the Christmas feeling it brings.

Happy Birthday Livie part 2

To celebrate Livie's birthday yesterday, we woke up and opened presents first thing. I always hated to wait when I was young. She loved it and was able to play with her toys all day. She had her favorite breakfast of sausage and eggs. (And if you are wondering why she is wearing such crappy pajama's, it is because my washer broke on Thursday before I had a chance to do the kids laundry, and the replacement part doesn't come until Monday. We are down at the bottom of the barrell.)She picked one of her new outfits to wear and she looked so cute!
We gave her a few options to pick from and she decided to go and ride the Merry Go Round at the outlet mall. Livie loves horses and she got to ride it twice. We then let them ride on some of the quarter toys. (I love that such small things can be so entertaining to kids.) We went to a few stores including a hat store. It has some of the best hats!
When we got home we ate Livie's choice again for dinner, (Mac-N-Cheese and hot dogs), and then sang Happy Birthday and had cake and ice cream. I think she had a great birthday. It was very calm and relaxing with no demands. That is my kind of day.

Happy Birthday Livie

Happy Birthday to the sweetest, most compassionate and kind three year old I know. We love you Livie!

Ipod Tag

iPod Tag
Directions:
1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. No Cheating.. you must write the name of THAT song. No matter what.

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Play My Music by Jonas Brothers (I am such a geek)
2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Lucky by Jason Mraz (this one is so true!)
3. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Just Friends by Gavin Degraw
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Call Me When You're Sober by Evanescence (This would work if I knew a lot of drunk people.)
5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?
You are the Love of My Life by Jim Brickman
6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Two People Fell in Love by Brad Paisley
7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
If You see Her by Brooks and Dunn (I guess I can be hard to reach sometimes.)
8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Best I Ever Had by Vertical Horizon (Oh so true, I am the favorite, well I would be if I lived in Utah)
9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
I Don't Wanna Be by Gavin Degraw (This is true, I usually finish it with I don't wanna be without a job!)
10. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
My Last Breath by Evanescence (I wouldn't mind if my last breath was taken when I was with her.)
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Rock star by Nickelback (That's right Jon, I think you are a rock star!)
12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Love Bug by Jonas Brothers
13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?
No Good Deed from Wicked. (That is a little scary)
14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Eternity by Jonas Brothers (I really only have like four Jonas Brothers songs, but they are all coming up!)
15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
So Close by Jon McLaughlin
16. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Revolution by Jim Sturgess
17. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Like We Never Loved At All by Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill. (I guess if I never loved Jon that would suck pretty bad.)
18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Bad Day by Fuel (I do try to hide those.)
19. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Perfect Situation by Weezer (perfect!)
20. WHAT SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Raise it Up from August Rush
Thanks for the idea Janet and Emily! This was a fun tag.

Opportunity Village

Last night for FHE went to the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. Pulte had given us free tickets so we were all for it. Opportunity Village is an incredible place where all the proceeds go to helping people with special needs. Unfortunately for us, the night was horrible! I have a cold so I wasn't feeling the best, and the words to describe our kids were overstimulated, and crazy! We think Dyl is ready to handle situations like this, but the lights, sounds and all of the people were just too much. Therefore, I will just post some pictures and we will try again next year.

O Christmas Tree

This year we set up a little Christmas tree for the kids and let them have a free for all with the ornaments. They took their task very seriously and had so much fun. When all of the ornaments were on the trees, Dylan thought we needed some more. But I think if it had any more on it it would topple over.

The Nativity

For family home evening, Jon and I watched the 5 minute Nativity movie with the kids, and then we reenacted it with their Little People Nativity set. They both seemed to love the story, and understand the message we were trying to get across. After we were done with the story, Dylan asked if he could tell the story to us. He started repeating the story in very impressive detail. Jon and I were beaming with pride. Then the Wise Men came to give presents to Baby Jesus. What happened next, knocked our pride down a few pegs.

Dylan: Then the wise men come and take baby Jesus away. Then they lock Him in the chokey.

Ummm, yeah, that wasn't exactly the story we tried to get across. I guess we need to keep working on that.

Thanksgiving

We had a really fun Thanksgiving vacation. We started it out in Provo, with Jon's family. Dyl and Livie were so excited to see Emma and Gavin. Dyl was feeling a little antsy on Sunday, so we took him up to Bridal Veil Falls to hike around. It was soooo cold! But the kids loved it.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Jon's family that night. Livie loves all of her girlie cousins. We took the kids to Gardner Village and Dylan especially loved the store with all of the little houses and villages.

We headed up to Tremonton on Wednesday and started the second half of our vacation. Thanksgiving day was wonderful. It was so fun seeing everyone and watching the kids with their cousins. We made some darling crafts which the kids loved. I started goofing around with the pipe cleaners and made myself a crown, which started a trend. All of the kids wanted one. Livie had her first sleepover with her cousin Lexie, (pictures to come, once I get them from Shi,). She did so good. I had a hard time with it. I wanted to go get her, but I'm glad she had so much fun. She and Lexie are already planning another one for the Christmas vacation.

Friday, Cody and Shiloh took Dyl and Livie to ride horses. Livie is a natural. She even rode one bare back! She didn't want to get off and share the horse.

That night, my whole family left the kids at home and went to see the Forgotten Carols. We had a great and entertaining dinner at the Coppermill, and went to see the show. We finished off the night with pie at my parents house. It was so much fun, although it is great to be home. We had so many good times, and I am looking forward to Christmas!