Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas was wonderful this year! With moving the day after Christmas, I didn't get many pictures. Teresa is supposed to be email some so hopefully I can add more when I get them. We decided with moving, budget and just plain downsizing, to not get the kids a ton of presents. Todd and I had heard from a couple of places about doing only 3 gifts. That is how many the Savior received and we thought it sounded like a good idea to keep it that way.

The boys each got an outfit, a toy, and a book. They all seemed to like their presents and had fun playing with them all day. Titus got Nerf guns, TC got an ipod shuffle, Tate got a Kung-Zhu, Tanner got a Go, Deigo Go! truck, and Tobyn got a "Big" dump-truck. The hit was when Tobyn was given a Kung-Zhu pet (from the family exchange) to match Tates and they played all day.

I love Christmas, I love the feeling I get and I love being around family. I love remembering Christ and the meaning of Christmas! I especially loved being around the family this year because we are not sure if we will get back up there for Christmas this year.

I did manage to get a few Christmas Eve pictures, unfortunaly I cannot rotate one of them.

*ps these were taken in the newly finished basement of my Grandpas house (where we spent a year living)

A lot of my cousins and their families were back in town or have moved back to Utah from out of state and were there. It was nice to have a big variety of little ones to play parts in the Nativity.

My mom came down and spent the night with us at Todd's parents house. We woke up and Nic and Nichole came down to open presents with us. Even Justin and Kim were there. It was really nice to have the whole family there. Have I mentioned how great our family is?!

Let it SNOW

A few days before Christmas we woke up to this....

I was very happy to get a foot of snow before we left. It was very wet heavy snow, but it was snow. I love snow storms and the more the better! I think, besides the mountains, I will miss the snow the most.

We've found a house!

It's just a rental, we want to be able to get to know the area a little before we buy. I am excited! It has a community pool, so I don't have to worry about maintaining one or worrying about the kids around it, it is in my cousins ward, so we will know someone, and it has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, I think it will fit my re-finished table.....we move in on the 29th!!!

Moving

We have reserved the Budget truck, we have taken care of all the school paper work to transfer the kids schools, we have packed...oh- wait...we did that a year ago. But, we have no where to live...yet. I turned in an application and awaiting news. I hope to hear by monday if they will accept us or not. I hope so!

The house we have applied for is in a town called Celina. From what we hear, it is a good little town about 45 mins north of DFW. So we await the news...

Todd will be based out of Dallas, the question still remains when that will take effect, but all rumors have said that is will be sooner rather than later. I still think it's all a little surreal and I'm excited but a little nervous. We will be Texans before too long. CRAZY!

As usually I got out our Christmas cards, but probably spaced it on a few. I hope every one has a Merry Christmas! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. I have been so grateful to have you all check up on me while Todd is gone and to offer to help with the kids! I love how this time of year makes me feel and the time we get to reflect on Christ and his life.

Much to be thankful for!

This Thanksgiving was full of reasons to be thankful. We love being with our family and love the good food! The day is all about eating, visiting, playing games, and remembering what this time of year is all about. We are so blessed to have so much family around for the holiday's.

A few things we are grateful for:

-Each other. We have some terrific boys and wouldn't trade them for anything

-Todd's new job. We are so glad that things are moving in the "right" direction and he is going to be doing what he has worked so hard for.

-For wonderful family that has supported us through all of the transitions and school. We wouldn't have made it anywhere with out them.

-For the gospel. We are blessed in so many ways for all that we have. Heavenly Father has watched out for us and guided us in so many ways. We feel His and the Saviors love in everything.

-For fantastic friends. We have been so blessed to have such great friends. We appreciate all the fun times we have with them.

Playing games with the cousins

Art & Craft time

More family

We weren't sure if Todd would be in town for the big family dinner on Thanksgiving day so we did our own "little" family dinner while we knew he was in town. It was a lot of fun. Nichole and I had fun making the place settings and I loved making these cute little pilgrim hats. btw: they were SO much work, but I guess it was worth it :-)

Teresa and the girls working on dinner

The kids playing games while waiting for dinner

Say "Cheese!"

The "adult" table :-)

the "not quiet adult, but we are bigger than little kid" table

This Thanksgiving was pretty great. It was nice to be able to celebrate with Todd's family. We aren't sure if we can get back for many Thanksgivings so this was great! Btw, did I mention Todd's little brother Justin got ENGAGED the day before Thanksgiving? We are so happy to welcome a soon-to-be sis-in-law to the family!

I didn't do much Black Friday shopping this year, but I did have a chance to go to Dallas with Todd for 5 days. I did some house hunting and I think we have narrowed it down to a couple of places. I am going to start on the process today.

Todd got Dallas as his base and we are hoping to hear today when is start date is for flying out of Dallas.