Feliz Navidad....

there's a snake in my boot!

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blaine's viewing the note santa left for him...








Wow....what a day, right?? Blaine came into our room at about 1:30 saying "There's a wagon out there!". He went back to sleep and was just as excited the second time around, lol. It seems like we were really spoiled this year...Blaine especially! It was great to spend some time together as a little unit, it's been a little crazy for the past couple of weeks but I think we're finally normalizing. A huge thank you to Oma, Papa Dennis and Aunt Alayna for the amazing gifts - it is loved by all of us! Another thank you to Grandma Ginnie for really making Christmas possible! Thanks to Mom and Dad V who gave Blaine a Toy Story Woody doll that is now a constant companion to our little one (who needs siblings, right? haha). But most importantly....the biggest thank you goes to Heavenly Father who sent His son to us. He IS the reason for the season!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!!!

merry Chrsitmas eve....

blaine licking the spoon that we mixed Santa's cookies with....

a Christmas letter....

blaine and his "girlfriend" rose....she sure knows how to handle him, lol....






Many apologies for not having sent out Christmas cards this year! Would you be ok with a Christmas blog post instead? I'm going to imagine that you're feeling the spirit of the season and you said yes :).

Michael, Blaine and I attended our ward Christmas party last night. Good food, great company....wonderful time! The primary children provided the musical entertainment and they did a really good job.

After it was all over and we were feeling a little sleepy, someone told us about this Live Nativity happening behind our local grocery store. Remember that I just said that we were tired? Anyway, we decided to go at the last second and I am sooooo glad we did! It had to have been the best Live Nativity I've ever seen....they gave us coins at the entrance and reminded us that we needed them to pay our taxes in Bethlehem. But if we were feeling generous, we could give our coin to one of the needy (which, if Santa is reading this...I chose to do :). They had built a miniature Bethlehem on the hill and it was so realistic! Real camels were led around...we viewed the Wise Mens' procession and we even bartered trade with a carpenter. At the very end, we were led to a stable behind the inn where we saw Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. Angels, shepherds, wise men.......it was AMAZING! How easy it would have been to pass up this opportunity in favor of an early night at home. I am just so glad we didn't.

~Merry Christmas to you all~

what's been happenin....

want's to be "cowboy woody" we he grows up, at the moment...



blaine's new haircut...albeit it's rather bed head just then...



We've been pretty busy these last couple of months. Mike's getting ready to graduate, we've been planning our move and we've been trying to raise a 3 year old that hasn't been getting nearly enough attention from his parents :). Hopefully that will be remedied come Christmas time! So please be patient with us when we don't call or email very often. And if we do actually call or email, please do not mind our tetchy and terse behavior. Just know that we really love you all and less hectic times are on the horizon!!

a snow day....

Well, it's snowed for the past 2 days here in BV, but this morning was the first time we were able to frolic about in it. The sun was shining and we were all in great moods....ahhhh glorious! I'd forgotten how fun snow could be~