Christmas fun

 There are several things that we do as family traditions for Christmas and then there are some things we just add each year.  One think we added this year was going to Thanksgiving Point to see the Christmas lights.  If you don't know what Thanksgiving Point is, it is a place with tons of activities and shopping.  It has the greatest pumpkin patch and is always tons of fun.  We have never gone since we have been here for the Christmas lights so it was something I wanted to since this may be our last Christmas in Utah.

 Im glad that we decided to go.  It was nice to just drive along the path in our HEATED car.  I know I know....the lazy way of seeing lights but it was so nice to be warm so we could enjoy the pretty lights.

 If you live in Utah and have never been to see the lights, you need to.  It is $8 per car but soooooooooooooo worth it.

 Then on to the traditions.  Every year I get Noah a gingerbread house and he gets to build it then eat it.  I found this really cool one at Big Lots and so we decided that tonight would be a great night to do it since tomorrow we will be at my brothers house for Christmas Eve dinner and movies and then the next day is Christmas.

 We needed a little assistance from dad on putting it together.  They had so much fun.

 Only one problem.........IT WOULDN'T STAY TOGETHER!  So we ended up just eating all the candy and trashing the rest.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Maybe next year we will have a little more luck. 

Family Fun

 We decided since we don't have a ton of time during each semester to do a ton as a family, while Chris is on Christmas break we have wanted to do tons of FAMILY  stuff.  We decided to go bowling this afternoon.  Let's just say, we need some practice for sure.  The first game we played nobody made a score higher than 100.  That's pretty bad huh?  Anyway second game Chris and I both made it over 100 but barely.

 Noah is the cutest little bowler and he had a blast.  He kept telling me that he wasn't doing very good so I told him it didn't matter as long as he was having fun.  Once I told him that he decided to just have fun and not worry too much about our scores.  He did really well.

 The bowling alley was packed.  I guess everyone had the same wonderful idea that we did.  So many families with their kids just having a good time.  It was nice to see.

I am going to enjoy this next week spending time with my two favorite guys!  Then we are on to our final semester at BYU!!!

Temple Square

We made our annual trip to Temple Square.  This year Chris' cousin Nichole was able to come with us since she was visiting us before she headed home to Virginia for the holidays.  The lights are always so beautiful although pictures at night a little harder to get to come out just right.  I love going to see the lights at the Temple.  I remember as a child my parents would take us to see the lights at the Washington D.C. Temple which was always so nice.  Temple Square is absolutely amazing at Christmas time.

 Of course you have to get this picture every time you go, right?     I absolutely love the Salt Lake Temple and enjoy visiting often.  We got lucky this year as it wasn't too cold.  I remember last year it was freezing and I couldn't wait to leave.  This year it was cold but totally doable.  I didn't want to leave.  I could have stayed all night.  I am so glad that we are able to give Noah these

great memories and traditions!

Have you ever seen a cuter couple.  I am so grateful that my husband loved me enough to take me to the Temple when we got married.  I love that we can be a family forever!  He is the best and gives us so many great opportunities and I just love it!

 So Noah was going to make sure he wasn't cold.  He looks like he is going to rob a bank but I promise he is not.  It was funny, Noah asked Chris why he wasn't wearing his.  I can only image the looks we would have gotten had Chris and Noah wore those wonderful ski masks.

Merry Christmas from The Smiths!!

Getting ready for Christmas

I have been ready for Christmas for awhile now.  I shopped early and put the tree up early.  I love to shop for Christmas because I favorite part is giving gifts to others.  I wish I was rich cause I would buy everybody I know something.  I just love it.  I do most of my shopping online because I hate fighting crowds and long lines.  I do not shop on black Friday specifically because I hate the crowds and the rude people who come out to shop.  I got Chris the most amazing present ever and can't wait to give it to him on Christmas.  I also of course went overboard on Noah again this year.  This will have to stop once we adopt a child.  I made gifts for all of my sister in laws and got my mom and mother in law a great gift too.  I thought about it and realized that ever year I buy for my husband, son, parents, in laws, nieces and nephews, and make something for all of my sister in laws but I never get anything for my brothers or brother in laws.  OOPS!!!!!!  Maybe I will be nice next year a get them something special.  So I absolutely love decorating and so Christmas is one of my favorite times of year cause I get to decorate my house in such fun ways.  I have tons of Christmas nick nacks and love them all.  I have a specific way I like to decorate the tree and Noah is so great at helping.  I started collecting the St Nicholas Village and have a few pieces and add to it each year.  I LOVE IT!  I also found some really cute BYU ornaments and a BYU nutcracker.  They are awesome.  I think this year after Christmas I am going to buy another tree so that next Christmas we can have two Christmas trees up.  One for me to decorate all by myself and one for Noah and Chris.  That way I can have a very fancy one!  We need to plan a trip to Temple Square to see all the lights.  It is amazing there and I just love it.  We are also doing Christmas Eve dinner at my brothers instead of doing it on Christmas.  Christmas we will open presents, go to church, and then hopefully skype with all of our families.  I am hoping next year we will be closer to home and can make a trip home for Christmas.  We will see if that works out for us or not in February.  Anyway, the wonderful part of having all of the shopping and decorating done early is that I can now totally focus on the true meaning of Christmas which is the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I hope that each of you will also take time to focus on his birth and the amazing sacrifice he suffered for all of us.  Merry Christmas to all!  Stay safe!