Temple Square at Christmas

  After Christmas was over we decided that we needed to go to temple square to see the lights because this would be our last opportunity for 4 more years since they are redoing the grounds and the temple there.

So we did it right! 

We headed straight to dinner at the historic Lion House restaurant first, and then bundled everyone up to head out into the night.

And when I say everyone, I mean everyone! Even little Easton got bundled up to go and see the lights! (Except he ended up sleeping through most of them..but that's OK. ;)

  The Lion House Restaurant is right there on temple square, and so right when we were done with dinner, we headed right out into the night.

 The temple is always beautiful to me, but especially at Christmas time!

 (And of course EVERY picture we take these days, my boys all stand on their tippy toes to try and be the tallest one in the photo.) But that doesn't ever go very well for them with Riley in it. ;)

  The Johnson family, Christmas 2019!

 The sweetest couple ever. :)

 The Trickett family 2019!

 The best husband ever! ;)

  After seeing the lights we went into the visitor's center to warm up and use the restroom, and then all of the older kids left with Carew and went across the street to the Jazz game! We had tickets for them and knew that it would work out great since we were already downtown.

 We also took the opportunity to mug on our little hunk of love!!!

 And we even got proof that he LOVED it and that Lolli is his favorite! ;)

See that little grin?? :)

 Kesslyn was the only one that didn't go to the game, and I think she really loved having some attention all to herself. It gets a little hard to compete with so many people around!

 The lights were beautiful, and so is Kierra. She makes the most beautiful momma ever!!!

 On our way back to the car, we stopped inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and visited the Giving Machines!

 We each took turns choosing an item to donate to people in need all around the world. I'm telling you our church is AMAZING!!!

 Kesslyn chose to give Art Supplies for little children...

 Who knew that giving could be so sweet??

 Riley and Kierra gave too, and it just felt good. :)

 In these Giving Machines you can give anything from drinking water, to chickens and cows, to dental care and eyeglasses. I love the creative inspiration of the Giving Machines..whoever thought of this idea was inspired and I love it!

 It was a really great way to end our night, and also to let the Christmas spirit linger a little longer...

 I loved every minute of Christmas this year and am already excited to see what family traditions and fun next year will bring! 

Christmas Day 2019

 It was almost 10:00 on Christmas morning before my children were all awake! They must have been exhausted because that is one of the latest starts on Christmas morning that I have ever seen! 

And of course it started off with everyone excited and having fun, laughing, and dogie piling too!

 Having all of my children together was the highlight of everything for me! And that sweet new grand baby Easton made everything so so sweet. 

 It was his first Christmas, but I'm sure that all he cared about was the lights and sounds, and getting plenty of milk to drink! :) I LOVED watching him stare at the lights. He's a child after my own heart! :)

 Watching Kierra and Riley enjoy him and all of the excitement of Christmas was a real treat too...

 And of course my little girls still make everything seem so magical, and the excitement in their eyes just makes me so happy! They loved all of their gifts, and the squeals and laughter that accompanied all of the opening will forever echo in my mind...one of the most magical parts of Christmas!

 I loved spoiling all of the kids though, big and little!

 (But really especially the littles!!! ;)

Love these crazy ~ messy haired teenage boys of mine too!

 They are best friends and I love it!!!

 Kesslyn got the dolly that she had asked Santa for!

 AND the Frozen dress up dress and matching shoes! ;)

 And baby Easton's great Grandma and Grandpa came to visit too!

What a treat and what a fun Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve this year, my family gathered at Tiffany and Colby's house in Bountiful. It was really nice to get together with my brother Craig too, and to have all of these cousins reunited for a little while!
(We also started out the day by going to see the new Star Wars movie but I didn't get a picture of that.)

After we shared a delicious dinner together, we gathered in the family room for some fun and games, because nothing is more fun than a little competitive fun backed up with some gift cards, right?? :)

We unwrapped layers and layers of wrapping paper while rolling the dice, which took forever because Tiffany and I are master wrappers... :)

But it was just plain fun to watch everyone having a good time together.

We also played the wrapping paper roll game, and the gift bag game that ALWAYS leaves me amazed!

Just look at HOW LOW Dallin can go to pick up this little scrap of gift bag with his TEETH while balancing on one foot!!!

Kesslyn made the top 3 in the bag game with her mad balancing skills too..;)

But by far the MOST impressive is Riley! He can go as low as Dallin every year, and he has it harder because he stands so much taller than anyone else! He's 6'4" and can hover inches above the ground while balancing on one foot! 

Now THAT is impressive! Way to go Riley!

After we finished up at Tiffany's house, we headed home where we had a visit from Santa who brought the kids Christmas jammies, and then we read the story of Christ's birth in Luke chapter 2 while we "acted" out the story. The kids made great animals and shepherds, and we even had our own baby Jesus. :)

I just can't believe that I forgot to take any pictures!

Anyways, Christmas Eve was a treat, and we even got to bed earlier than normal! ;)

The kids couldn't wait for Christmas Day!

Mother of 10

 Although they are not all here...this week I am a mother of 10!!!

These kids are silly and funny and crazy and good.

Life is full and busy, 

but life is still so good. :)

A Holiday at the Cabin

 One of my most prized possessions are family photographs. :)

And this Christmas having my whole family together just HAD to be documented with a family photo on the Sunday before Christmas right after church while we were all dressed up!

(And thanks to modern technology and my new Galaxy S10 Note cell phone, I  set my cell phone on the kitchen counter, held my S Pen, and pushed the button!)

Voila! A family photo with all of us in it! :)

I love it. :)

 Then, after we were all changed out of our clothes, we loaded up our coolers and our cars and headed to the cabin for some quiet time away.

 We watched movies and played games and did Come Follow Me and ate dinner together, and then Monday morning we were all up early for some fun.

 Shooting guns is always a must when we are at the cabin!

(But we don't shoot the bows and arrows in the winter because we tried that before, and we ended up losing arrows in the snow.)

 Warming up with hot chocolate and enjoying treats is a must too. :)

 Everyone enjoyed cuddle time with Easton...;)

 and Dallin was even lucky enough to get him while Kierra took a turn shooting outside with the boys. :)

He was in heaven. :)

 Kambriella and Kesslyn spent some time sledding in the front yard and down the driveway...

 ...and their momma that is SUCH a good sport took them for a few runs down the driveway in super speed as I ran pulling them and then let them go after they built up enough speed to pass me up!

 These simple moments are always some of  my favorites, and they always bring back such good feelings and memories of when I was little...

 ..and I love that the cabin provides those same simple opportunities for my kids to enjoy being kids. :)

 Here is a picture of Kambriella and Kesslyn after Kambriella pulled Kesslyn all the way up the loooong driveway! :)

The boys also took the side by sides out for a ride in the snow...

 I need more of these carefree days and for them to last a little longer and not go by so fast...

It was a FUN holiday break!

We LOVE the cabin!

 And we ALWAYS love cuddling with Easton. :)

Walking Each Other Home

I saw this sign and just fell in love with what it says, because this is exactly how I feel.

We all work so hard every day to just do the best we can, and love each other along the way...

I have been planning an activity with the sisters in our ward that will take place tonight, and I want nothing more for them to feel this way about themselves, their roles as wives and mothers and ministering sisters, and to finally give themselves a break and realize they are amazing.

Wish me luck. :)

5 Generations

 On Saturday December 21st, 2019, right after the Trickett family Christmas party, we took advantage of everyone being together and took a 5 generation picture!

It was so amazing to see...

 To little Easton, these people are:

Great great grandma Clements, Great Grandma Trickett, Grandpa Trickett (or "Pop as he will go by ;) Mommy Kierra, and Baby Easton!

What a neat thing to have, and what sweet people that we love!