Christmas Day

 Christmas morning brought with it a beautiful blanket of freshly fallen snow...

a white Christmas just like we love!!!

I worked quietly in the kitchen making the Christmas morning casserole 

until all the children woke up around 8:00...

 In their Christmas jammies, we had a family prayer, took pictures by the tree... 

 ...and by their stockings and their gifts from Santa. :)

 With today being the Sabbath Day and church at 11, we all decided that it would be best to open up stockings and then save all of the opening of the presents for after church.

This was kind of a gift in itself trying to show the Savior that we honor Him first, and that we could spend all the time we wanted later opening and admiring the gifts without even having to rush!

 Everyone found something in their stockings that they could use for church from, jewelry to belts, to gum. :)

 Then, we took a family picture right after church was over. It was so beautiful outside with all of the snow!

 The sacrament meeting program was full of beautiful Christmas songs sang by the choir 

and some sang by the congregation. My heart was touched as I sang praises from my heart 

to my Lord and Savior, that tiny infant King!

 As soon as we got home we took a few more pictures by the tree...

 ...and had no need for mistletoe :)

 (One of my very favorite places to be...wrapped up in his arms! :)

 Granted wishes for Christmas kisses! :)

 My beautiful children :)...by the fresh cut tree...

 ...and in our sleigh!!! Brotherly love...

 ...and the sisters too! :)

 Mr. and Mrs. Clause! ;)

 And one of my very favorite times of all...family dinner!

I set the table beautifully for breakfast but never took a picture. Then for dinner, we all gathered for a simple, warm, meal of lasagna, french bread, and salad. 

Silly family always loves to be silly for my pictures!!!

All day long we were together, opening gifts, playing together, and then that evening we were visited by Grandma and Grandpa Trickett, and Clint's brother Chad and his family visiting from Texas.

It was good to be together and have a day to enjoy one another. 

This life is a gift, let alone all of the goodness that comes right along with it...I don't know how I will ever be able to repay  my Heavenly Father for all of the blessings that we receive. My cup is overflowing with love and gratitude for the good gifts that He gives. I love my Savior and love the Christmas celebration and the memories made together as a family...

Merry Christmas sweet family!

Christmas Eve!

 It's Christmas Eve...

the children are all in their beds, the presents are all under the tree, 

and it's snowing outside!!! :)

Beautiful thick snowflakes to welcome Santa...but more importantly, The Newborn King's birthday!

 Sweet little Kambriella set this note out next to the milk and cookies for Santa :)

She was so excited for him to come!

 Our night consisted of...crazy Christmas "Minute to Win it" games like "Get the Gingerbread Cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands!

(Xaxton, far right, was our winner!)

 We also played "Pick up the Gift Bag" with your teeth!

Dallin is soooo good at this game! Look at how low the bag got to the ground and he could STILL reach it with his teeth while balancing on one foot! A~ MAZ~ING!!!

 Kierra had the most grace and best form...keeping her toes pointed all the time! ;)

 Carew had some of the best "almost wipe-outs"...but seemed to catch himself pretty good every time before biffing it!

 See what I mean? :)

 So funny!!!

 Gavin seemed to be the most careful and cautious...a FIERCE competitor!

 And Clint of course was the most COMPETITIVE!!! 

Stretching before EVERY attempt at the grab!

 And though Kambriella was the smallest competitor, she put up the best fight! 

She ended up taking 2nd place to Maicen!

 Maicen did great and found that his gymnast abilities were coming in handy after all! ;)

 Kambriella chose a GIANT hollow Hershey's Kiss for her prize!

 And our "Marshmallow Snowman" building contest was a hit!

 And all the while we were playing games Santa was watching!!! He knocked on our basement window and the kids all went running to find Christmas pajamas left on the front porch! Cute and comfy kids!

(Except Kierra was on the phone talking to her boyfriend Riley who went home for Christmas in Colorado :)

Don't worry, she still got her P.J's! :)

It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm heading off to bed...but not before expressing my love and gratitude for the sweet little baby that grew into no ordinary man... and did more good for me, my family, and all mankind than anyone else that ever has lived!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday!

My heart is full and I can't wait to celebrate His birth on the Sabbath Day! What a treat and a delight! :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Trickett Family Christmas Party

 The Trickett Family Christmas party was a big hit up in Wyoming at Tammy's house this year!

Despite the FREEZING temperatures (*9) we bundled up and went outside to do some sleigh riding!!!

 Kambriella with cousins Alora and Brier :)

 Gavin with cousin Desiree :)

 Kambriella with cousin Ella

 Desiree giving Alora and Kambriella a big push to get going down the hill!

 Carew :) riding on his ORANGE sleigh...(his favorite color!)

  Drake, Carew, Desiree, Alora, and Kambriella making the human train!

 After sledding, everyone came into the cozy warm house and decorated their graham cracker Gingerbread houses and sugar cone Christmas trees! This is a favorite tradition of Clint's family...all the kids love the fun, creativity, and especially EATING them all when they are done! :)

 When I saw Kesslyn decorating her little tree with Papa and Daddy, I thought I saw a little glimpse of a little girl's heaven!!!

 Getting her fingers into the treats and not even being told "No!" :)

 She looks so serious in this picture, but she really did LOVE it!!!

 Having Kierra there was a real treat too since we don't get to see her that often anymore...

The smile of admiration on her face describes EXACTLY how she feels about her too... :)

LOVE!

 This little house was the only one that I got a picture of, but they were all so cute and creative!!!

(I believe that this one was Dallin's :)

 ...And Kesslyn is still pretty much in heaven...:)

 Christmas Angels Kesslyn and Kierra :)

 Christmas Angels Kierra and Kambriella with Kambriella's beautiful Gingerbread house :)

 Angel sisters Kesslyn, Kierra, and Kambriella

(Carew, Cohen, and Dallin)

After the sledding and decorating, we played Christmas "Minute to Win it" games!

The competition is always intense and the games always fun and crazy!

After we played all the games, we had a gift exchange, ate dinner, and gathered up our treasures for our 3 hour car ride back home. Lucky for the kids they were able to go up to Wyoming the night  before with Grandma and Grandpa Trickett to have a sleep over with their cousins. That was a great way to make their celebration AND the magic of Christmas last just a little bit longer!

We LOVE our family so much and LOVE being together with all of them!

It may be loud, crazy, hectic, and even HOT (maybe all the body heat??) when everyone is together, but we definitely wouldn't have it ANY other way!!!

Merry Christmas Trickett Family!!! :)

A Date At the JAZZ Game

 These pictures are the worst ones I think I have ever seen, but the ONLY proof of the fun night that we had last night! Shane, my mom (with her eyes closed :) Me, Clint, Tiffany, and Colby all went to the JAZZ  game together! It was a good game, but the JAZZ ended up losing by 1...One of us MUST be bad luck ;)

Everyone met for dinner before, but Clint and I were running behind so just had dinner the 2 of us, but that's quite all right with me since he is my favorite anyway. :)

Also, Clint's sister Laura was at the game with her son Cohen, and so was Mitt Romney and Orrin Hatch.

We met up with Laura after as well and brought Cohen home with us to spend a couple of nights since the kids are on their Christmas break now and there is NO SCHOOL!!!YEAH!!!

I'm looking forward to these next few days to spend with my family and enjoying some special time at Christmas! I love my family so much. They mean EVERYTHING to me!!!

AND, I'm especially excited because we will ALL get to be together again! KIERRA COMES HOME TONIGHT!!! She'a been away at BYU loving it there...but I'm so glad that she will get to be with us for a little bit once more!!! :)

O Little Town of Bethlehem

 Christmas is for kids...

And I consider myself to still be a kid at heart, and I LOVE Christmas!!!

After dressing in old Bethlehem style and attending our ward family Christmas party, we came home and Kesslyn very instinctively found her "comfy" spot, RIGHT on Kambriella's face!!!

This girl is hilarious, and her actions speak VOLUMES...she OWNS the place!!!

Cute, silly girls. :)

 My cute friend AshLee made this authentic wood burned sign written in Hebrew for part of the decorations for the ward party. She is so talented at EVERYTHING she does!

 Our theme was O Little Town of Bethlehem and the Relief Society was in charge of the "Bakery" or the desserts. I think we did a pretty good job if I do say so myself!

Merry Christmas to everyone in "Bethlehem!"

Be His Hands

 Yesterday was a busy day...just like every other day. :)

2 of my close friends were on my mind and I was glad at the chance to get to do something to help. 

I took dinner to the one knowing that it would help not only her physical state of healing and recovery, but her heavy heart at having to miss an important family funeral as well. 

Later I was able to drop off 4 gallons of milk on her front porch since those little errands and things are impossible for her to accomplish right now.

Then I went to deliver a small gift to my other friend and found her laying on her couch with a migraine among 5 busy little ones... I quickly took the baby and held him for a while...he laughed at me and snuggled me and it was a treat. I left and went and picked up some Coke and brought it back to her since she said it would help with her migraine...

It's funny how Heavenly Father works through us. He says we should be "His hands" but we also have to be listening for the promptings that He gives us to let us know who needs us and when...and then we have to actually put OUR hands to work to get HIS work accomplished.

I'm so grateful for His light and love in my life, and for the loving hands that serve and love me and my family.

We are all in this together and it's so good to know that we are NOT alone.

There are many loving hands out there, including our own! :)

A Life Full of Love and Light

 Life is so full and everyday feels like a grand new adventure!

Being side by side with the love of my life through it all is my very most favorite part of it all too...

It doesn't ever really matter what exactly we are doing, but one thing is for sure~whatever it is,

we LOVE doing it together!!!

We have been married for 22 years and have spent 23 Christmases together!

THAT makes me feel like the luckiest girl on the planet! :)

Clint has always been so good at making me laugh and smile and feel loved and important...I love that in his patriarchal blessing it says that "the great blessing of his life will be that he and his wife will have the same goals and that we will spend our time on doing the things that will be of the most worth for our family."

That is the 100% truth.

Everything we spend our time on, we try to emphasize the gospel, the importance of gratitude and the love of the Savior in our home with our children.

Our home is one full of love and light...and I LOVE IT!!!

And 22 years after our eternal marriage in the Logan temple, look at the life we have made, the family we are raising, the smiles on the faces, and the love in our hearts...it is beautiful, and it is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father. I love Him and my Savior Jesus Christ, my sweet family, and Christmas time! 

My gift in return is my heart full of love and gratitude...Merry Christmas!