Christmas, Christmas and More Christmas

WHAT????...... It's OVER?????

Aubree is quite disturbed that Christmas is over. She asked me "What are we gonna do now Mom?" And I happily told her... REST!!!! Well that lasted about 10 minutes. We played from the second we woke up yesterday to the second we went to bed (at midnight, might I add). I am just glad she likes all of her toys. We had a great Christmas and were just very thankful to be together.

This is Christmas Day... We had Nate's family over for Christmas dinner it was fun except for the turkey was a little shy about coming out. An hour and a half behind schedule is no big deal when you have a house full of people waiting to eat (yeah right!!!!). Martha would have shot herself I am sure!!!

Nate's cousin Katy and her husband Jon

Jade, holding Coco and Aubree's new babies.
Dustin and Braunson playing his new PSP

Hannah Montana-live in concert. And yes Aubree did dress herself

Our sweet baby Molly

Aubree showing off her cupcake maker she got from Grandma Trish and Grandpa John

She is giving Grandpa a thank you hug!! She had the best manners, I hardly ever had to remind her to say thank you.

Grandma Trish, holding her newest Grand Babies Grandma and Grandpa Weaver came over in the morning to make sure Santa brought everything she asked for. The night before at their house they gave Aubree a Tinkerbell MP3 player. She put it on in the morning to show them and if anybody talked to her she would scream back at them that she couldn't hear you. We were all rolling, it was so funny! She thinks she is pretty dang cool with it though.

This is our new baby, Booey Bear. Yes it is a monkey but her name is Booey Bear, don't ask me

I have the cutest family!!! I just love them.

Aubree wrapped up 10 things for Molly, she unwrapped each of them and took them outside 1 by 1 and buried them. We seriously don't know where any of them are.

Aubs showing off what Santa brought, we all love this kitty so much!! It is just like having a real kitty but better. It NEVER, EVER turns off or sits quietly, we love it!!!

Booey in her new bed

Santa came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He even ate the cookies that Aubree left him, she left one plate for him and one plate for Mrs. Clause. She said that she hopes Santa took Mrs' Clause's cookies to her and didn't eat them.

This is the scene on the way to my Dad's on Christmas Eve. She had to get a nap in I guess.

Christmas Eve is so fun. It is chaos from beginning to end but that is why it is so much fun. There are kids and presents and food everywhere. We love it.

My brothers Bart and Shane, Shane's wife Steph and their son Kade

My step-mom Karen showing off her new super cool IPod

The adults played Christmas Charades and the kids watched the original Santa Clause is coming to town.

Thanks Dad and Karen for everything!!!

Taryn got a cell phone FINALLY!!! Yeah!!!

Jeff, Keri and Tavis

Karen, my sister Stacy and her husband Rob

Bart and his son Devon. Devon hasn't ever been able to come over on Christmas Eve before and it was awesome to have him there. He fit in just like he had always been there.

Aubs and Kam-this was Aubree's Christmas dress when she was 21 months old. Kam looked so cute in it and I love to see her wear Aubree's clothes.

This is the food and cookie that she left for Rudolph. We have learned that we have to set it out before we go to my Dad's because she is always asleep when we get home. Santa's milk and cookies (the extra plate is for Mrs. Clause)

She even left him directions of who's was who's

She is so cute

We made reindeer food for her pre-school friends this year. It was so easy and she had a lot of fun.

And who doesn't like to lick the beaters?.....Aubree. I know she is weird but she told me it's gross. She didn't mind sticking her fingers in the bowl but she just didn't want to lick the beaters. We will have to work on that one.

We hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas!!! All of our love to our family and friends!!!!

Thankful doesn't cover it...

I just wanted to tell everybody how much their prayers and thoughts helped over this roller coaster of an event. God works in mysterious ways and does things in our lives to teach us. I have learned, taken notes even. I know that prayers work and bring comfort, God loves us. Nate and his Dad and Brother are all home safe and sound. I have had him in my life longer than without. I wouldn't know how to breath without him. He has such an amazing family too. I never knew strength until I saw the way his Mom handled this situation. She was stopping at nothing to make sure that her boys were coming home. I don't know how she did it but I know she was strong for Jade and I. If we felt she was panicking it was only for a split second and quickly returned to rock status. I want to especially thank my Dad and Karen. I am not great at keeping a level head and without you guys I would have been a true mess. My friends Heidi, Natalie and my sister Keri: I love you guys and thanks for everything. And of course my brothers, DJ and Shane. I love you guys so much and I am so thankful you went out there, knowing I was getting up to the second information helped me keep some of the hair on my head instead of pulling it all out. I just want to shout from the mountain tops thanks to everybody. I can't believe how many people came out of the wood work and were ready to leave without a second thought. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!!!

And Nate: If you think you are ever going hunting again-you've got another thing coming. I love you more than you can ever know!!!!!

Christmas Lights in Ogden

Nate and Ben went hunting and DJ is sick so being the awesome Mom's that we are we decided to take the kids to pizza and then to see the lights in Ogden. I am glad we had the chance to go before it snowed and got too cold. We all had fun even though keeping tabs on the kids was kind of hard. They were really excited and wanted to see everything which means they were on the run. Makes for nervous Moms in downtown Ogden. Thanks Kenlee and Bubba for going, Aubree had a blast!!!

Christmas Time is Near.............

**Polar Express**

Last weekend we went to the Polar Express in Heber with Nate's brother and his family. Aubree loves playing with her cousins Braunson and Coco. We decided to make a weekend of it and stayed overnight at the Homestead Resort. We really had a lot of fun. They have a "Crater" that we swam in, its a natural hot spring and looks like it is down in a volcano shaped hill. It was pretty cool for a one time thing. We went out to eat and went swimming again in the regular hotel pool. I would love to post some pictures of the actual Polar Express event but some body, and I won't mention any names..... (JADE), is not sharing any of the pictures that she took. Of course just because I got a new camera doesn't mean that I remember to take it to the important places.

We aren't really sure where this new fashion idea came from but after we couldn't stop laughing she thought she was the funniest thing ever (she kind of was). She even helped Coco get her outfit put together just right.

Thanksgiving 2008

I know it's been a month since I have posted anything but I have had some technical difficulties in the camera department. My poor, poor digital camera that we got when Aubree was a baby that is a true dinosaur took its final picture. We had to put it in a home and get a new camera. It has been a busy month too. We went to Disney on Ice and had a activity at Aubree Pre-School, all of which went un-photographed. Needless to say we are back in business just in time for THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Thanksgiving couldn't have been more perfect, well maybe, if Nate's family had been with us too. We are on the every other year routine and this year we were with my family so we went to my Dad's house. My Dad and Karen go above and beyond to make the holiday special. All of the food was delicious and of course we all ate way too much of it. We have had a tradition in our family for as long as I can remember. After we eat we always do some kind of Christmas craft project, like making an ornament or a decoration of some sort. Now that I am all grown up and we all have kids of our own we keep the traditional alive, but it's kind of hard coming up with new ideas every year. I don't know my Aunts did it for so long. This year we did gingerbread houses and kids were in heaven. We had nine kids and nine gingerbread houses spread out all over and the table was an inch thick in frosting and candy. We sat around playing games and hanging out. I even brought a book about Thanksgiving and what we have to be thankful for and my Dad read it to the kids. The big boys said it was "torture" but the little kids loved it. At any rate it doesn't hurt anybody to take a step back and remember what they are thankful for on this holiday. I am thankful for so many things, of course my husband and daughter on the top of my list. I am married to most amazing person ever!!! He loves us so much and finds a way to show me everyday. Aubree could not have a better Dad. She is the light of his life (and mine too). She is getting so big now and I know that I am supposed to be teaching and guiding her but it is amazing how much I learn from her. She is a precious little girl that I thank God for everyday. I am thankful for the rest of my family too, we don't see each other as much as we should but I love all of them. I am thankful for my wonderful friends. I have been blessed in my life and have always had a lot of friends. Life wouldn't be the same with out you. I am thankful that I have a home and a job, a lot of people in our country are struggling with these basic things. I know I have a great job and work for great people, I am just lucky to still have somewhere to go every morning (even though I don't always get there in the "morning"). Enough blubbering from me. I hope you all had as good a Thanksgiving as we did. Christmas is right around the corner..... Good Luck!!!!

Thanksgiving Pics

Off to Grandmother's house we go......

There was a "kids" table this year, for Aubree, Madi and Ryker. Aubree was pretty excited to see that her salt and pepper shaker was Tinkerbell. My step-mom Karen collects Disney salt and pepper shakers and Aubree loves them.

This is my nephew Tavis, he getting so handsome but too grown up.

The kids at the kids table.

My Dad and Karen fit out entire family on one table (a really really long table) by clearing out their living room and dining area.

My oldest sister Stacy.

Story time with Grandpa.

Madi and Jeret. Madi looked like Shirley Temple, she was adorable.

This is Karen taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. It was kinda funny, guess you had to be there.

From left to right-Kyle (Kiera's "friend"), Kiera, Aubree, Ryker, Tara and Baby Kam on the bottom.

This is the beginning of Gingerbread House building. So fun!!!!

My nephew Kade.

Aubs and Bubba.

Nephews - Tavis and Payton

My neice Taryn, she is sooo cute!!

Jeret, my sister Keri and Madi

Kam was just tuckered out, she had to take a rest.

Aubs taking a break with some rootbeer

My cute husband - Nate. Trying to work off that extra turkey.

Grandpa and Aubree

My brother Bart and Kamryn