Lunch With Uncle Craig

 In between basketball games for Gavin's Christmas Basketball tournament, we were able to meet up with my big brother Craig for lunch at Firehouse Subs. :)

He is such a funny guy and every time we are together we laugh and laugh...it reminds me so much of all of our good times together growing up as kids. We were always best friends. :)

 My kids all love him too. He is always full of jokes and laughs and tickles for the little ones...

He makes them smile and feel so loved. :)

 Later on that night, Clint took all of the boys and a couple of their good friends and went to dinner and then the Jazz game. They had a ball and laughed A LOT!

That is one of the most very common threads in this awesome family of mine...SMILES and LAUGHTER!!!

I love this awesome bunch that I belong to!!! :)

He Melts My Heart!

 When Clint got home from work the other night, I was busy with the baby and all of the other crazy things that moms have to do, and so of course he stepped right in and got to work.

He is always so willing to come home and do whatever is needed to help me out and lighten my load...

He is so good to me. :)

I came into the kitchen to find him preparing our dinner since I had fed the kids earlier and was just waiting for him to get home to eat.

I had an immediate smile put on my face as I saw what he had made for me...

my own Boboli pizza in the shape of a heart. :)

It doesn't take much to make me happy...in fact, it's all of the little things like this that mean the most to me!

Clint, you are amazing. 

You are my best friend, my everything...and YOU warm my heart...literally!!! :)

 How did I get so lucky to be married to such a good guy who loves me more than anything, and puts his family and God first?? You make me so happy...words just cannot describe how much you mean to me, how much JOY you bring into my life, and how many smiles you put on my face. ~ How much laughter you add to the day, and the happy spirit that permeates from the walls of our home...

kind of like the aroma of a fresh baked pizza...;) 

Thank you for all that you do for me, and for showing me just how much you love me in so many little, and yet so many important ways!!!

I. LOVE. YOU!!!

Kierra Goes To Colorado

 Kierra and I woke early this morning and made it to the airport by 5:30 am...

I was dropping her off on what I would consider to be a GRAND adventure!!!

Kierra's boyfriend Riley Johnson surprised her during the Christmas break and bought her a ticket to fly to his home in Colorado to meet his family!!!

They met back in August when Kierra moved to Provo to attend BYU, and Riley was in her ward. She called me on the phone and told me that "there was this one cute boy who was really tall...and that the Spirit was so strong when he blessed the sacrament."

That was her first impression of Riley...all good! And now, here we are, 4 months later...they have gotten to know each other, became friends, went on dates, have become "boyfriend & girlfriend," and now have moved on to meeting each other's family!

Hmmm....what could the future possibly hold for these two???

Time will tell :)...

Needless to say, Kierra was extremely excited to be heading off on the plane! These two little love birds couldn't hardly stand to be apart from each other, and they were so excited to get to spend the next 5 days together. I can't wait to hear all about it when she gets back! :)

I love you so much Kierra, and couldn't be happier at the joy that is in your heart!

You deserve it!!! :)

Our Christmas Gift to Each Other...

 For Christmas Clint and I don't usually exchange gifts for each other, but instead, we give each other a gift more valuable and very priceless to me!

The gift of a night away with just the 2 of us! I.LOVE.IT! And quite honestly, I am going to start making this happen more often! Hopefully 2017 will be the year of a monthly get away tradition for us! :)

This is the Anniversary Inn Bed and Breakfast where we stayed in Salt Lake.

 Our room was called the "Enchanted Forest." And I loved it!

The words on the wall say...

"Mirror Mirror...YOU are the fairest of them all!"

I had Clint stand in just the right spot to see his reflection for the picture. :)

 Then he took mine. :)

 There was this cute little corner nook that said "Charm me with a kiss..."

 ...and so he did! :)

 The bed was very high up and surrounded by trees to make you feel like you were in the forest...

We actually had to use the tree roots like a ladder to climb up onto the bed! It was very romantic! :)

 Then, in the morning when we woke up, we had breakfast delivered right to our door, which was so nice because we didn't have to get ready or anything! We just put on our robes to eat and then when we were done we climbed the tree roots to get right back in bed! :)

 Our breakfast consisted of a homemade ham and cheese croissant, a side of bacon, fruit and yogurt granola parfait, apple juice, orange juice, and hot chocolate. It was delicious! :)

We soaked in a large jetted bath tub, talked, and relaxed for quite a long time...

I told Clint as we were getting ready to check out of our room and head home that I felt like a queen! ...Very pampered and quite spoiled, because the night we had enjoyed was not a necessity, but a luxury, and we were blessed and fortunate enough to be able to enjoy some amazing adventures like these where we get to rekindle our relationship and put each other first.

So much of our time gets divided among our other responsibilities and obligations that times like these are truly priceless! The best gift that I receive ALWAYS has to do with loved ones...and THIS GIFT was my favorite one, with my MOST FAVORITE loved one!!! My sweetheart, my eternal heart throb!

I love you Clint!!! Merry Christmas!!! :)

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!