A List for Tuesday

Five Things I Did Today That I Haven't Done in a Long Time

1. Stay up with a crying baby from 2am on (he's sick).
2. Spend hours talking to my cousin Christina.
3. Eat at Fat Jack's (now called Roy's).
4. Walk around Snow College Campus.
5. Eat 7-Layer dip.

Gingerbread Fun

We made gingerbread houses with the Morgan's and then again with the Davis'. Mine did not win any prizes, but I liked the way they turned out. What do you think?

This was my trial run, I ran out of green lifesavers.

Notice Chris's house in the background. His suffered from an "avalanche."

Favorite Picture Friday

Monkey butt!

A List for Tuesday

Five of my Favorite Christmas Pictures of Dutch
(in no particular order)

1. Dutch in his Uncle Joshy outfit

2. Dutch in his Santa suit

3. Dutch in his Santa hat

4. Dutch under the Christmas tree

5. Dutch's first time seeing the Christmas lights turned on

A Christmas First

One of my favorites

Another favorite

Dutchie looks drunk

Today Dutch had a Christmas first. He went and saw Santa Claus! It was really fun! Okay, I'm exaggerating a little bit. The half hour in line was not fun. The people behind us who had no concept of personal space were not fun either.

When Dutch sat on Santa's lap he was a little confused, but soon understood that he was supposed to smile and laugh. He was SO happy! Santa kept tickling him and making him laugh and the pictures turned out so cute.

I don't remember ever going to see Santa when I was little, but I am glad that I took Dutch to do it!

Preparing for Christmas

This will be the fifth Christmas that Chris and I have celebrated as a married couple and Dutch's first. I have had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit because some of my favorite parts of the season are decorating, baking, writing a family newsletter and shopping for gifts; none of which I've been able to do.

Last night I sat very still and watched the fire in the stove downstairs and thought about all of the things that I am so grateful for: I have a husband who is willing to be broke right now so that we can be better prepared for life in the long run (and who is so handsome, to boot!). I have a son who is beautiful, happy, and the most well-behaved baby I've ever heard of. I have a dog who has every reason in the world to be bitter and hate people, but has yet to find a person he doesn't love wholeheartedly. I have in-laws who are willing to let us invade their house so that we can afford to stay for as long as possible. I have family spread through this entire world who I still manage to stay close to.

While I am still having a hard time feeling the Christmas spirit, I am trying to keep that attitude of gratitude in my heart. I wish I had the money to spend on my boys and could buy them everything they want and need, but I can't. I wish for so many things that are impossible, or not possible this year, but I can't dwell on that.

This is the only Christmas I'm going to get this year and I'm not going to waste it by dwelling on the negatives.

Favorite Picture Friday

Sadly, there is no picture for today. My laptop is being weird and won't connect to the internet so I can't upload my new Dutch pictures that are SO cute and Christmas-y. Hopefully I will be able to post some next Friday!