The busiest time of year...SO WONDERFUL!

Jenson Family Christmas Party - minus a few

We went bowling and then to lunch at Iggy's.  Grandma and Grandpa then took all the grand kids for a fun afternoon at their house and a sleepover.  Unfortunately, Mckelle had croup and Jace is just a homebody...so no sleepover for them.  But, it was still so fun for all of us.  Have I mentioned that I love having my parents close!!!

Here are a few pictures that highlight the fun!

Almost everybody...just waiting their turns. 

Me and my LITTLE man, Jace! 

Grandpa helping Mckelle...she loved it and talks about going again! The smallest size shoe they had was a 7, but she was adamant that she would wear shoes just like the rest of us. 

Jace just made a strike and was super excited! Mckelle really doesn't even look sick at all, but she was absolutely miserable every time she had to cough.

TEMPLE SQUARE

We made a visit to temple square and were able to see the lights, nativity, Cyprus High school choir performance, the newly renovated tabernacle, and the view of the temple from the Joseph Smith building.  It was so cold, but thankfully we could get warm inside the buildings and then go out and enjoy some more.

The whole clan

My kiddos! 

My kids LOVED having Aunt JerBear here...and so did I!!!

Another highlight from the night is that I went inside the temple thinking I would drop off my first list of reserved names from the new family search, but actually came out with my cards. I am so excited!!! That is a story for another time, but just to sum it up...these ancestors of mine found me...and need me to do their work!

CHUCK E CHEESES

My kids love this place and we usually spend HOURS there!  This is what we did on friday to ease that waiting of time for Christmas to come.

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY

We were lucky enough to have Brett's parents come for Christmas this year!  They came on Christmas eve afternoon, just in time for our traditional prime rib dinner!  We spent that morning with my parents doing our traditional breakfast and helping clean the church!  That night we let our kids open their gift of jammies and then put them to bed, and boy oh boy did it take them a LONG time to settle down and go to sleep.

The next few ones are from Christmas morning...after church.  We waited to do any Christmas stuff until after church and my kids were so good about it.  We had both my parents and Brett's parents and my sister Jerbear!  It was great fun!!!

Her own bike and a remote control helicopter for Jace...that we have already returned because it didn't work right...booo!  I hate that, but he got to pick out something himself and he chose a Flynn Mcmissil from Cars 2.



Overall, Christmas was so wonderful!  I have been a little crazy and scatterbrained!  Enough that I even backed into that garage door...aghh!!!  I just knicked it, but enough to make the bottom panel break off.  Luckily, I have the handiest husband ever and he has already fixed it.  He never even got mad at me (he just made some funny faces at me while fixing it)...he probably knew how much I was already beating myself up over it.  Am I the luckiest girl ever...YOU BET!  He is the best ever!  The Brad Paisley songs "Little Moments" sums us up pretty good (go listen to it on youtube if you haven't ever heard it)!  I do stupid stuff and he still just loves me!

What he is really thinking is..."This is way better than working on my thesis"!!!  Not really, but we won't even go there!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas just like we did and had at least one moment where they felt the spirit of the real reason of Christmas, Christ!  I am so thankful for Christ and all my sins he took upon himself so that I can be perfected and live with God again someday!  What a great reason to reflect on ourselves and do an evalutation of how we are doing to be more like him and to follow him more perfectly.

 

Good Packing Snow!

The other day we got a little bit of snow and it was just enough to make a snowman!  Mckelle was too cold, because we had already shoveled for awhile, and so she went inside, while Jace and I made a cute, funny looking snowman!  I enjoy the winters much more when it actually snows! I LOVE shoveling and playing with my kids in the snow...SO....please snow some more!

And I had to add the one of Mckelle hugging Jace, because just recently she has become more loving with all of us.  I know that sounds weird, but really she is such a strong willed spirit, that if she doesn't want to do something, she won't.  But really there is a tender side to her, too and we are trying our hardest to cultivate that in her!



Outdoor Ice Skating in a Winter Wonderland

I haven't been ice skating since I was in my teenage years (I think anyways because, I actually can't remember the last time I went).  But the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake has outdoor skating and it was seriously so ROMANTIC and MAGICAL!

 It was snowing just slightly and freezing cold, but it was just all around fun.  But even more FUN, since we made it a double date with our best friends...Shauna and Sam!

I had to put this one in here of Shauna and me because we were meant to be kindred friends!  We have been through the rough times and the best of times.  Logan was super fun and Stansbury has been...well, just an adventure!  She has definitely been an angel in my life and I am so thankful for that!

(tear tear as I write this...but enough of that...let's move on) 

And one more of my HONEY!  And yes, I call him that because his relationship with me is so sweet and yummy!  I love this guy so much!  We have been through some things that really have been hard and have only tried to tear us apart, but all in all, it has only strengthened our bond with one another.  I love him to ETERNITY and beyond!  Thanks for being so wonderful, Brett Eggett.  I LOVE you!

(tear tear...again...I know! I am so mushy right now...but really I am just THANKFUL)

Give THANKS

Just a list of the things I am thankful for...in no particular order!

My wonderful, handy, hardworking, handsome hubby!
My 2 beautiful and smart kids!
Having both my parents and Brett's brother, wife, and kids living within less than a mile!
Brett having a good job and time off to go see the family we don't get to see very often!
My in-laws that don't really seem like in-laws!
The beautiful walks I get to take when it isn't so cold!
My love for Christ and desire to be more like him!
Friends who listen and share and also make time for me!
The game Ticket to Ride (it probably is an addiction...guess everybody has to have at least one addiction)!
A grocery store that isn't 10 minutes away!
For the progress we are making on the big no no word that starts with the letter "T"...enough said!
My dishwasher, washer, and dryer...they work just as hard as I do...all the time!
The power of music!

I am sure I have missed a few, but those are the ones that have been on my mind lately.

What are you thankful for?

Heber Creeper and Gateway Discovery

Heber Valley Railroad

We went on a very cold Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa Jenson and cousin Daniel.  It was so fun for the kids.  Mckelle said "That was fun, Mommy" as we were getting into the car to go home.  The best part about the whole thing was the pretend hold up they had...I will explain later.

So, the day before we went, I mentioned to Jace that there might be a robbery on the train and he replied (as he usually does) with full faith that "Dad will take care of it"!  This little guy thinks the world of his Dad...he is always making sure I know that Dad can fix anything and can do anything! (it does get a little annoying sometimes, but it is kinda cute, too).

So when it really happened, Jace was so scared and really thought it was real.  It was priceless to see him interact with the situation.  He eventually realized that is was just play and his Dad didn't really need to take care of the situation.

Overall, it was fun...but I wouldn't spend the money to go again...unless my kids had never been on a train ride before.

Gateway Discovery

My kids LOVE this place and have a blast everytime they go.  This time we went with our best friends and spent about 5 hours there.  By the end my kids were EXHAUSTED...but, I think I was more than them!  Here are some of the highlights...

The BALL area

 Brylee and her cuteness!

The CONSTRUCTION Zone

The WATER area

GASSING UP & doing a little SHOPPING at the grocery store

Taking a BREAK & having a SNACK

checking out the HELICOPTER

building with the MAGNETIC SHAPES

 The blocks were at the end of the day and can't you tell how tired these girls look...Mckelle is definitely dazing!

A FEW OTHER CUTE PHOTOS

A little disclaimer...the boys (Tate and Jace) were so busy that I could barely get them to hold still for the few photos I got.  It wasn't because I like Brylee and Mckelle better...but aren't they sure cute!

Sorry so many photos...didn't realize how many I took...but here is one more of my favorite girl...even sporting her OU hat her auntie sent to her!