Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving went off without a hitch this year and it was so relaxing and wonderful. Todd was going to be out of town on Thanksgiving so we went over to Kathys on Wednesday and had such a lovely meal. Everything was delicious and we had such a great time being together as a famly. The next morning we woke up to watch our traditional Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then went over to my Mom's to help with the giant feast over there. It was my families year to have everyone there including Joni's family so we had to set a very very long table. My mom was amazing and put on the perfect Thanksgiving Feast. It was fantastic. Then the next morning it was up and at em' early to drive to Preston for the annual cutting of the trees. Tob and I found 2 "perfect trees" quite quickly and headed back to the church for a fun lunch with all my cousins. I LOVE my cousins. LOVE EM LOVE EM. Aunt Connie and Uncle Ed are leaving on a mission to Texas so it was kind of sad saying goodbye to them..but they won't be gone too long and they'll be so great. Tate sat on Santa's lap for the first time and was so darling. We ended with the traditional snow ball fight with marshmallows! One of my favorite parties of the year. We also had a little family night where the kids made "Turkey's" and Cash decided to construct a "squirrel". So cute. We have so much to be grateful for and love the Holiday that celebrates that!

Toby and Cash's Birthdays!!!

I'm afraid with Toby and Cash's birthdays only being 3 days apart...they will always have to share Birthday Parties. But that's okay because there's even more to celebrate! For Toby's actual birthday my Mom watched the kids while I took him shopping at the Nike outlet and out to dinner at Rumbi. Then we celebrated with the Christensen's at their home with Cash and Teren's birthdays too and with my Family at the Institute again. We love it there. We do the same things every time but it never gets old. Basketball, pool, pingpong, the kids run around and ride their bikes, we eat and talk and play and then open PRESENTS! Toby got stocked up with all sorts of giftcards and Cash scored with another Avenger, Captain America, from his uncle Jordan. (He got the Hulk on his real birthday from his Uncle Josh) wipe-out the game, some new clothes,and with a blanket that I made him that honestly I was quite excited about. I saw the idea on pinterest and Michelle had made one for Trey so with it being Cash's birthday I was excited to do one for him. It's in the shape of a football and has BYU on one side and the football on the other. Pretty cute...plus being FIVE years old and all he was starting to grow out of his old one. Side note...elle lost the second of her two front teeth while we were there celebrating too. We had a great time celebrating these two boys of mine.

Cash is 4 No More!

How does this happen? How does my little boy go from being a little baby in my arms to a big handsome 5 year old overnight? It blows my mind. This year was an off year for a friend party so we just celebrated with both families individually. We had a great time having dinner at the Christensens and cake and ice cream. Cash loved opening his presents and even got a special boat from his sister Elle:) Loved his face opening that present. Then on his actual birthday Toby was out of town so I wanted to do something to make it special so besides the usual breakfast in bed and balloons on the ceiling (which really were on Elle's wall because he's been sleeping in there while we're trying to sleep train Tate) I decided to pick him up from preschool and take him on a lunch date to Wingers. Jordan met up with us and we had a great time eating together. That night some of my family came over to help him celebrate and let him play with his cousins. We had food, icecream, built a huge fort, and opening lots of presents. This kid could not be more special. Toby and I than our Heavenly Father for him on a daily basis. He shouldn't even count as having a kid because he is SOOO easy. He is so polite, obedient, sweet, helpful, happy, just a complete joy to be around. He is constantly asking me what he could do to help and he gives in to about every little thing his big sister wants him to do. Cash loves sharing a room with his new baby brother and is so good to him as well. The only thing we ever complain about Cash is that he doesn't know how to play by himself. Not that it is a terrible thing...he loves to be with someone...just hard to get things done sometimes. Cash is into everything AVENGERS, LOVES every SPORT just like his Daddy but especially basketball, he collects "Sports Guys" like its his job, Love the cougars, his favorite color is green, he loves getting his hair cut at Sports Clips with Toby,and wants to do a craft 8 times a day. Every time I drop him off at preschool and say "cash be good!" his teachers say..."We NEVER have to worry about Cash!". What an amazing little boy he is. The other day when we all got in the car after church out of no where Cash says, "is anybody thinking about Jesus right now? Cause I am." I LOVE you Cash Jay Christensen. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I couldn't be more thankful.

St George Mini Vacay #274 (it could be more:)

We will NEVER get tired of this place! I could go every other week and be happy:) We love St George so much. It was so nice to go and get away from the cold for a bit and just enjoy our little family. We just relaxed, ate, shopped, and hung out with the Kelsch's. I crashed one of Michelle's craft nights and she was so amazing to help me cut out these darling pajamas to sew for my whole family. I seriously love them and am so excited to get them done in time for Christmas. She also helped me with a darling advent calendar for my kids. LOVE HER. Tob and Cash went running together one day...can't believe how fast Cash is and how he can just keep running forever...even up hill! We may have found something he could be really good at in the future. I love these kids and husband of mine. There's no where I'd rather be than with them. We have so much fun together eating at the Egg and I, getting take-out, watching movies, and swimming. I'm blessed. Very Very blessed. Plus, look how cute Tate it. It's ridiculous isn't it??

The 2012 Presidential Election

Not that this is something that I really would like to remember, but I do feel like it was such a big part of our lives this year that I probably should have it documented. Toby and I were huge Mitt Romney supporters. Not only does he share our values but we both honestly believed in his ability to turn this country's economic problems around. This is the most involved in an election I have ever been. I really studied the issues and both of us become so emotionally involved that when Nov 6 came and went and he didn't win...there isn't a better word that describes how we felt than devastated. I cried. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. I can only imagine how Mitt and his family was feeling. In fact Toby and I were both so down the day after that we both felt like we really needed to get away and we packed our little family up and headed to St. George. So there it is. Obama won. He gets another 4 years to do more of the same that he's given us the last 4 years. UGH. Seriously blows my mind. I have to believe that Heavenly Father must have another plan for Mitt and for all of us. I could probably go on and on for hours about my feelings on this subject but this is it in a nutshell. Super disappointed. Feeling the need to get lots of food storage. Positive I need to pray for the future of our Country and for my posterity.

Halloween Festivities 2012

Wow! October is always such a crazy month with all the Halloween things we have going on! Between going to Gardner Village to see the witches, the school Halloween parade, the Wimmer Family Halloween party, Cash's Preschool party, Family night halloween parties, playing in the leaves with Grandpa,and then of course Halloween night we stay pretty busy. Elle was a darling little Indian this year, and Cash really wanted to be the Hulk. I couldn't pass up on this costume. And then once I saw the little Captain America costume...it was all over:) This year my dad bought all of us kids tickets to go see the Witches perform at Gardner Village. It was kind of funny because all of us moaned and groaned the whole way there and weren't looking forward to it at all...and then as we were sitting there none of us could wipe the smiles off our faces! It was FANTASTIC!!! The actors and actresses were hilarious, the music was incredible, they put on quite a show!! Dad showed us up on that one. We'll definitly be going again next year. Can't get enough Halloween!!!!

Elle's Reflections Contest!

Last year Elle participated in her reflections contest at school but did a very rush job and didn't place so Toby promised her he'd help her the next year to take more time and do a better job. Fast forward to now. Tob kept his promise and went and bought her lots of supplies, helped her with the idea, and sat by her and she constructed her masterpiece:) I think it was a little difficult for him because he really wanted her to take her time, get the lines straight, and do things a little bit nicer, but she had her own ideas and wanted things very much her way. She's a very creative little girl. It paid off! She won an honorable mention ribbon and some candy and she was thrilled to have her name read off and walk up on stage! Next year we're shooting to move on the next level. Love this girl.