Christmas Cheer...

Our tree is HUGE! It took 3 days (seriously) to decorate. We ran out of lights 3 times! Darin helped me put the lights on the middle part of the tree and well that was about it. The tree was so massive that by the time I was putting the bulbs on I was just throwing them on to get it done. I love BIG trees but I don't think I like decorating them. :)

It reminds me of the tree in Dr. Seuss' Who Ville. Nash loves our Christmas tree, and always asks for the lights to be plugged in. The lights on the bottom half are very temperamental and often did not stay on. Nash was good to inform me when this happened. The kids in my PlaySchool liked the tree too. One child whose family didn't do a tree this year because of little children in the family would stare at it and say: "Miss Christina all I want for Christmas is a Christmas Tree." :)

Thank you to those who sent us Christmas Cards! This was another favorite of Nash's this year he loves to look at all the pictures of friends and family...as do I!

I am so thankful for my mom and dad. They sent us this bouquet of flowers for Christmas. It came on a day where I was struggling a bit. It brought a lot of Christmas Cheer into my heart. Thank you!

Santa #1

Our last night in Blanding we went with Koen, Sadie and Ash to the Blanding "Tree for All" to see Santa. I was a little nervous about Nash meeting him as this is what happened last year.

Koen went first. He was pretty serious about asking Santa for "2 things dangerous." I never did hear what the 2 dangerous things were....yikes. :)

Nash did so well he didn't mind Santa at all. I think he thought he was meeting another Grandparent, since we had been doing that a lot lately. :)

Sadie on the other hand was NOT excited to sit on Santa's lap and would barely get near him.

But they all were excited to get a candy cane!

Saying Goodbye...

Goodbye's are always the hardest part of vacations! We had so much fun in Utah and we were so happy to spend a week with both families. Thank you very much for having us!

My dad and mom took Nash and I back up north to get on the plane in SLC. My dad had a load to pick up in Tooele so Nash and I jumped in the sleeper for the 4 hour ride. I thought it was a great idea considering I could turn on Toy Story 3 and I could go to sleep. Ummmm NO! Nash loved looking out the sleeper window and was so excited to be in Grandad's truck that there was NO RESTING! :) I am glad he got to experience a trip in the truck. It was always my favorite way to travel.

The Shop...a little boys heaven

Nash LOVES my dad's shop...I don't know if it all the grease, dirt, rocks, kitties or all of the above! My dad and brothers were working up at the shop a lot during the week so we made a couple appearances and Nash LOVED IT!

Probably because he loves Granny and Grandad

These scary homeless looking people are my brothers. :)

This sign cracks me up, considering that it is mostly my brothers and dad that work at the shop. :)

CAUGHT YA!!! Nash isn't allowed to go in the drop deck thing because of all the grease down there. Look who is trying to be sneaky!

The shop is on the outskirts of Blanding with a good view of the Blue Mountain. That is why I like going to the shop!

Kitties...

We tease my dad of being "Lord of the Dogs" I think he is also the "Lord of the Kitties" now too! Nash loves going to my dad's shop because of all the kitties. I think they have doubled since we were last there. I hear they have made MANY trips to the vet!

This picture makes me laugh. My brother Cody was holding this kitty and Nash wanted to touch it. He leaned in to look Cody in the eyes and was saying "Share, Kitty, Share" (that is what he calls Cody, Uncle Kitty)...haha.

It was so exciting to see what color of cat would come out of that little hole in the door.

Nash loves going to Grand-dad's shop to play with the kitties!

Cousins and Quilts

My mom babysits Koen and Sadie during the week so we were able to have some playtime with them. It was so fun to watch Nash interact with his cousins. He did not hold back at all and it seemed his confidence grew when he was with them.

Nash found a dinosaur! ...imagine that. :)

He also became more independent and brave, he learned to climb the jungle gym without being connected to my hip! ...yeah!!!

Of course he did his regular running in circles around the playground.

Such fun memories with cousins!

My mom is a huge quilter! While we were playing at the park my mom had me go into the visitor center to take a picture of her quilt that the had on display. Isn't she incredible!

Finger Puppets...

I was going through a chest in my old room and found a bunch of finger puppets I had purchased on my mission in Uruguay.

Koen, Sadie and Nash had fun listening to the stories and then retelling them in their own way.

Somehow in Koen's story people ended up kissing.

Or riding/getting run over by the train...very theatrical!

I am so glad I found these. They have been so great to have during church. A very quiet toy that Nash enjoys. :)