It's a Wonderful Life!

I love Christmas! Always have. But the joy of Christmas with children in your home is just magical! Taylee is just starting to understand the meaning of Christmas. She even said to Kent one day this Christmas season "You know, daddy, Christmas is about spending time with our friends and family. Not just Presents." I was thrilled to see her understanding that Christmas is about more than just getting presents. She did inform me that she learned this magical lesson from watching Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas. Doh! Ah, well, at least she gets something positive from watching TV right?!

We were so excited that Skyler decided to spend Christmas Eve night at our house. It just makes Christmas morning soo much more exciting! Taylee and Skyler are adorable with each other. Christmas Eve is traditionally spent at Grandma Judson's house for what was once Kent's Great Aunt Melba's Christmas Dinner.

Can you tell, by the Gift Cards, that Skyler is getting tough to buy for?!



Taylee is still easy. Princess, princess, and more princess!

When we got home Taylee got to unwrap her Christmas Eve Jammies and pose for a photo before putting out cookies and milk for Santa.

 

 

Taylee let us all sleep til 7:15 on Christmas morning! Heaven! Somehow, she ran past the tree and her gifts from Santa 3 times before noticing what he had brought for her! Just enough time to wake up mommy, daddy, and Skyler and get nana and poppi on their way over to our house!

Her reaction when she saw her "Doc McStuffins Kitchen" (Check-Up Center, really!) was to say, in awe "I guess I have been good!" Priceless.

As usual, we were completely spoiled by all of our loved ones. We all have a new wardrobe, new toys, and are well equipped for some cold Broncos playoff games! We have already put most of our new gear to good use! Thanks Nana, Poppi, Grandma, and Grandpa!

 

Talking Olaf! From Frozen

Bronco Themed Christmas this year!! Errr.... Every year.

Who doesn't want new spatulas for Christmas?!

Kent's New Bronco Hat!

Broncos Snuggie!

 My super deluxe new Nike Dryfit, and My new Thermoball coat! Toasty warm!

 

Poppi's new shoes

 

Next Year's Christmas card! :0)

 

Taylee opening gifts at Grandma's

Taylee helping Grandma and Grandpa open gifts...

We had a wonderful Christmas morning, a wonderful visit to grandma and grandpa's, and a delicious roast for dinner at nana's. I worked Christmas night for the first time, and it turned out to be easier than I expected. Still, I look forward to next year... NO Christmas shift! So lucky, so happy, so blessed! It's a Wonderful Life!

 

Thankful for FAMILY!

This Thanksgiving we were surrounded by family! We were lucky enough to have Ginger, Garrett, and Aden, Grandpa, Denise, Damion, Zach, and Danny all come to Utah to celebrate the holiday with us! Not to mention all the family we have here locally! And I was even lucky enough to be off work for the holiday.  We are truly thankful to have such a loving family. Ginger, Garrett, and Aden arrived ahead of the pack and joined us in a trip to the movies on Wed before Thanksgiving to see "Frozen." We all loved it! Even if Kent did wish that there was just a little less singing!
The rest of the crowd rolled into town on Wednesday night. We gathered for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner and the good times were a rollin'!
On Thanksgiving morning I joined Amber and Amanda for the "Turkey Burn" at their gym. It's been a long time since I've worked out at a gym. It felt great to workout with a group! But the convenience of my basement gym still can't be beat.
After burning a few calories, it was time to start consuming some calories! We had our first Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Judson's house in the early afternoon. This was after we enjoyed cake and ice cream for Cody's birthday! Dessert first, right?! We tried to eat light... Not sure it worked.
We headed over to nana and poppi's for our second Thanksgiving dinner in the late afternoon. By evening we were STUFFED! But the family time was worth the pain! ;0) 

Too Cool Cody the Birthday Boy!

Kenzie, delighted to eat dessert first!

Taylee the Turkey showing off Grandma and Shelly's handiwork

Hustle and Bustle to get Thanksgiving dinner on the table

Post-dinner Relaxation

Bil and Sil (Brother in Law and Sister in Law ;)

Kent, chillaxin with his favorite kind of dessert

The Spur

We had a fabulous and fun opportunity to see our friend Darren play some live music in a bar in Park City called The Spur.  We booked a room at the Shadow Ridge, and headed out for a grand time.
Everything about our little getaway was fabulous. Our room was beautiful, and was super inexpensive because we just beat the opening of the ski season.  We headed out to dinner and ended up at the No Name Bar... Good drinks, good food, good times. A couple of hours later we headed to The Spur to see Darren and his band play. It was a blizzard in Park City that night, and really created a fabulous atmosphere for our weekend getaway. The cab driver who took us drunken fools back to our hotel even took a spin through the Burger King Drive-through and flipped a few donuts in the parking lot. Silly, immature, all-out FUN! We woke up to a beautiful snowy wonderland and had a delicious breakfast at a local joint in Park City. Too bad Amber had to pay for her over-indulgence the night before. Bummer. All in all, though, we had a great time!

Amber and Cortney - Cuties!

Cortney and Andy

Me and my favorite ladies

Poppi's Cheesy Birthday

We closed out October (or maybe started November...) with a birthday celebration for Poppi. He chose the Cheesecake Factory at City Creek. We headed down to City Creek anticipating a looong wait for dinner, and indeed it was. We took advantage of the extra time at the mall with a little early Christmas shopping. Taylee was completely enamored with the Disney store. Nana and I started planning for our return trip.
Dinner was delicious, fun, and as always, expensive! We love the Cheesecake Factory, but always leave wondering how we spent so much money!  I guess that is what birthday dinners are all about, right?! Thanks Nana and Poppi for the dinner treat!

Birthday Boy at Cheesecake Factory

Who needs birthday cake when you've got cheesecake?!

Poppi sporting ALL his birthday gifts at one time!

It's Been Awhile...

I'm Here! I am Alive! I will get to posting ... One of these days!