christmas favorites

Today in my sunday school class we didn't have much time for a lesson cause sacrament ran way over so i read them "christmas sweaters" by glenn beck and talked about enjoying the true spirit of christmas and christmas traditions that we have in our families(i teach the 10 and 11 year old girls) and they had some pretty fun answers of things they enjoy with their families...but it really got me thinking about all of the christmas traditions that i enjoy and Tonight we made sugar cube houses as we do every year at grandmas and we got home I started thinking about all of the things I love that we do at christmas and what christmas means to me. here are a few things i came up with....
1. I love the smells (yummy cinnamon, baked goodies, and christmas trees)
2. I love the smiles on everyone's faces...christmas puts everyone in a better mood.
3. I love my Savior and I love that there is not just a day but really a whole season that is dedicated to celebrating His birth, life, and love.
4. I love the feeling that I get everynight when we read christmas stories before bed.
5. I know that most people hate how commercialized christmas is...but for me when I start seeing christmas decorations and everything the day after halloween i start getting in the christmas spirit and what's wrong with that...i feel happier, jollier :-), and in a more giving and service-minded mode...i should really keep my house decorated year round.
6. I love christmas movies...last night we watched it's a wonderful life.
7. I love picking out perfect presents for everyone i love.
8. I try to get really crafty during the holidays...and i love doing crafts! especially when they turn out good enough to give as presents.
9. I love chocolate making day at grandma's....yummy homemade dipped chocolates to eat!
10. I do not like the 5 lbs I put on eating chocolates and other yummy goodies... or losing it after I make my new years resolutions
11. I love teaching Casen about Christmas and doing all of the firsts with him...decorating tree, caroling, putting up lights, wrapping gifts, seeing santa...
12. I have to admit that I do love getting gifts.... I love getting new, fun stuff. However I also love giving gifts and watching faces when they open their hopefully perfect gift from me:-)
13. I love doing the 12 days of christmas...especially when we are able to chose a family that really appreciates it...this year we are doing it with my mom and started tonight...it's fun and exciting to hopefully brighten someone's day with fun goodies and gifts every night.
14. I love Christmas Eve....acting out the nativity, santa claus, christmas pj's, everyone at grandma's, cards and games, yummy homemade mexican food(especially the red chili)!

I love christmas!

If you have not read this book, you should...it's really good and is what everyone's heart needs for christmas.

ThAnKsGiViNg!!!

Wednesday night at 11:30 Zach got off work and we headed off for Utah, I love driving at night, casen slept the entire time, it was beautiful! Zach got us to Utah safe and sound to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. Thursday we headed to Bluffdale for dinner at His Uncle Rich's house and we had lots of fun with some of his uncles and their families. This picture was taking at Rich's house..thanks Christy and Rachel.

burke and rachel pemberton

over the weekend we were able to go to st. george for zach's brother's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and reception and a really fun day overall. Burke and Rachel are a beautiful couple and we wish them a best. The whole trip was great except the drive there,six and a half hours stuck in the car with a 14 month old who didn't even sleep a half an hour, it was horrible!
Here are a few pictures from the temple, luncheon, and reception.

Chaco Canyon

This week we went to chaco canyon with our friends Blake and Martha Finch and their cute boy riley. i had to go for a class that I'm taking and we had so much fun! we left thursday drove the four and a half hours to middle of no where new mexico and camped out...it was so cold...and went sight seeing friday morning and got home friday evening at six. it was worth it though, chaco canyon is home to multi-storied indian ruins that date back to 1200 AD and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. if you ever get the chance to go, do it, it's worth it!
here are a few pictures from our trip and the ruins.
daddies & sons

Casen & Riley

me and casen

looking out over pueblo bonito

looking around gallo campground

freezing cold casen

pueblo bonito

Zach & Casen, Blake & Riley

isn't she pretty...

I dont know if anyone remembers this dress, probably not, but it was my prom dress sr year. ellen rae bast modified it for jaime's first homecoming and it turned out so so cute!! look at those shoes!

casen loves balls!

here's casen aiming and throwing a ball!! he's a pro!

elder kyle hauser

today was my baby brothers farewell...and it was great, his talk was wonderful, and the spirit was so strong. but it's also been a very bittersweet and emotional day, kyle cried through his whole talk and so did a lot of other people. i am so proud of kyle and jealous of the people of argentina that they get to spend the next two years with him, but i wouldn't want him to be anywhere else. me and him have always been really close, probably because we have so much in common and i am going to miss him so much.