The Best 15th Anniversary Gift!

December 22 was my 15th wedding anniversary!  Since we are on Christmas vacation from school I was enjoying a lazy day when my husband reminded me with sweet salutations what day it was. 

Work being what it is in the final quarter, bigger celebration plans are being postponed until January.

We did attend the temple and had a lovely dinner out at my new favorite restaurant, La Jolla Groves in Provo.

However, the best present of all came from the four wonderful children we have raised in those 15 years! They placed Hershey kisses in a heart on our bed and filled it with treats the neighbors have been dropping off as Christmas gifts.  They made a card and waited anxiously for our return.

Cute drawings and sentiment too! 

 The next morning (because they forgot on the actual day) they made us breakfast in bed.

Love the bowl of sausages with two forks!!

Fifteen years of marriage is amazing, adding four awesome kids is a priceless blessing.

Love My Family!!

What a Guy!

Glen and I have been married almost 15 years (6 days till the anniversary) and it is fun to see the ways we have grown together and developed as individuals and as a family.

Glen is my best friend and one of the things my friends know about me is that I love flowers!  I don't think there is a flower God created that I don't find fascinating, if not breath taking.

For years now Glen has been traveling for business and on his own he decided to bring me something after every overnight trip.  I can count on my hand the number of times he has neglected to do this and he usually rectifies the issue quickly. 

For the record, I love the flowers, but what I love most, is knowing he is thinking about me and what makes me smile!  I married a great man!!

Kid Date Night

Our kids are great (proud parent alert!) and they are constantly earning awards and special treats for their good behavior.  Unfortunately most of these certificates expire before they are put to use because even if one child gets a meal for free, we have three others to feed.  It seems crazy to some I'm sure, but we try to be frugal when it comes to eating out, hence the problem with "free" meals.

So I finally decided we don't spend enough time with our children individually. We have a full life and try to encourage supporting each other in their sports or dance when applicable.  Glen and I are very good at taking the time for a weekly "date" of our own. 

Now we are adding one more thing to the list, but I think it is a good thing!  Ben was the first to go out with mom and dad and use his award for "Student of the Week".  The food was great and the company excellent!

Charity Nativity

Last year around this time some neighbor friends of ours invited us to go to a local "Living Nativity" for Family Home Evening.  We arrived at the designated church parking lot where shuttles (actual buses or horse trailers with makeshift benches) were organized to take us up the hill to a family farm area that they converted into "Bethlehem".  Upon arrival we were greeted by Roman Soldiers on horseback and directed up a path that led to a barn housing people portraying villagers in ancient occupations.  Live animals, including sheep, horses, donkeys and camels completed the scene.  After leaving the main barn we followed a candle lit path to a second barn that was watched over by carolers singing reverent Christmas music.  This barn sheltered Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus and had the sweetest spirit imaginable.  After leaving the warm shelter of the barn we were treated to hot chocolate and a description of this events beginning and purpose.  They also left a sing-up sheet for anyone interested in helping the following year.  We were excited to sign-up and that brings us to today!

We were blessed with the opportunity to be a part of this special presentation.  We each dressed in costume and played a small part representing villagers of old.

Near the end of the evening I snuck away for a minute to visit the "Baby Jesus" in the other barn. The tenderness of that moment still touches my heart.  

I am grateful for this time of year where we are able to focus on the great birth of our Savior and the miracles that surround this event.

Let us remember the Reason for the Season!

For more imformation on this event check out their blog:

http://www.thelivingnativity.blogspot.com/

Snow Prints

Winter may not officially be here, but the snow is! 

On this cold snowy morning our little kitty took two steps out the front door and turned right back around!

Still Eating Turkey!

We were on our own for Thanksgiving this year, and although we missed our special time with dear friends, kickin' back in the pj's all day was appreciated by some.  I was in the kitchen much of the day, but I didn't mind. I love every traditional Thanksgiving food!  However my family does not, so I'm still eating the left overs.  I don't know if it is even safe at this point, but they are almost done, and I'm still alive. 

After the big meal, the kids and I played a fun game of Settlers.  A celebration of the early pioneers to this country and there efforts in settling the land for our enjoyment many years later.  The competition is getting better and I no longer win every game.

I'm grateful we have a holiday dedicated to the many blessing we enjoy, and Grateful I Am!!