Christmas at grandma and grandpa Lee's

We are so blessed with such a wonderful family. Tj's parents are more than generous and giving. They spoil us like no other and we are so appreciative of everything they have done for us and for all they give us. Christmas was wonderful. Filled with good people, laughter, the Spirit, love and more gifts than anyone needs. 

We had our usual Target run to buy gifts for our gift exchange which is always funny with the Lee siblings. We ate Chinese food on Christmas eve and the kids opened all of Bob and Mona's gifts  (I would love it if she only gave one gift per child). We talked about Christ's birth and how we should involve Him and think of Him in our daily lives and not just Christmas time. How we should think of Him not only in the past as a babe but our Savior right now.

After the kids went to bed we all stayed up late talking and putting the magic together. The morning came very early and the kids really had to put their patience to the test while they waited for everyone else to wake up. On Christmas morning there were two deer sitting out on the golf course out the backyard and the kids thought Santa has left two of his reindeer. It was so sweet to see them.

The kids were so happy with what Santa brought them. Tallie-moterscooter, Chloe-art easel, Lexi-scooter, Kasen-Tonka truck. As for me, TJ always out does himself and spoils me so much. He got me a Kindle that is only for books, a pair of boots I had had my eye on for so long that I never even considered buying because it was just silly. 

Next year I really want to re evaluate our traditions and simplify and add in more Christ to our Christmas. I don't remember one thing I got as a kid on Christmas morning. I remember the feelings and memories I had with my family. I remember the time when I was about 9 or so and my dad pulled me away on Christmas eve and we went on a walk around the block, just the two of us and it was magical. Something I will never forget. 

I want to create that with my kids.

Christmas Pictures

I love these kiddos! And I love seeing them in their Sunday best!

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa DePriests

It's always fun to go home and have all of my family there and to stay under one roof where all of the cousins can play. The weather was so nice. Tessa and I put together a 5K family Turkey Trot. We wanted to do something fun with everyone and hopefully create a fun memory. We wanted to make it as legit as possible so TJ made awesome bibs, Tessa supplied medals and we had water stations set up with a start and finish line. The day before we each decorated our race shirts which everyone thought was so much fun. I was so happy that everyone participated and Tandy and Christian were our camera crew and drove along us and snapped our pictures. It was a lot of fun and who knows, maybe it will be an new tradition. I think the kids thought it was cool and I loved how grandma and grandpa ran too. It was great to do something active together. We ate a lot of food and played outside, went to the park, played card games and the kids made a lot of loom bracelets for all. My dad even brought jewelry home for all the little kids. He wanted to take the adults to the shop for some free jewelry but we ran out of time. DANG! We also got to go to the church and play basketball which is my favorite tradition. We all went to see Frozen at the theater. And I hear it was a really good movie but since Kasen did not want to watch it we hung out in the hall. It was really good to see Cody and for the first time in a long time I think I saw a tiny light in him. He seemed more alive and actually stuck around the house and hung out with us all which has not happened in years.

We also had to hit up Dion's for the worlds best pizza!

It was kind of sad this year knowing that Christian might not be around for next year's depending on school and Camryn will be out on his mission. I hate when things change and I hate when kids grow up.