Tis the Season...

Christmas was so fun this year. I know Avery is still too little to realize what was going on, but it was fun to get excited with her. She learned how to roll on Christmas Eve (which I am sad, I want her to stay little!!) and it was so funny cause Jake and I got all excited and were clapping and apparently we scared her because her bottom lip turned upside down and she started to cry! We were just so excited!!
Christmas Eve we spent at my mom's house. We kind of got off to a late start, but once everyone got off of work we sat down for a delicious meal! It was so yummy! I think we all ate way too much! We then opened gifts. After the mess of wrapping paper we went down to watch the Reflections of Christ...amazing if you haven't seen it. The music and pictures are beautiful! and of course the nativity! Our Nativity is always interesting...we never miss having the essentials, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, but there are always some extras that we aren't really sure what they are!! It is fun though and we all have a good time. Thanks for all the nice gifts and the partay!!

Christmas morning was fun too! Jake's parents had come down from Idaho and were staying with Josh. Every year their family comes over for breakfast so they came over around 7. I was not quite ready to get up but was excited for Avery!! We opened presents and it was so fun to watch Avery! I didn't think she would get into it as much as she did! She wasn't that thrilled about the clothes we got her, but she was so excited for all the toys! She loved it!! It was so fun to watch her! In all Christmas was a success and I am secretly thankful it's over! It was fun, but it seems like it is always crazy!!

Christmas!!

Avery with Santa!!

Olsen annual gingerbread houses!! Thanks mom!!

So, I'm not really sure why this year has felt more stressful than other years. Maybe because there has been more going on all at the same time...who knows! The parties have been fun and Jake has actually gotten more into them this year which has made it more fun for me too!
Jaymie threw an ugly sweater party which turned out so nice! We did fondue and had a smoked turkey which was amazing!! As we were leaving Jake was laughing and telling me that my sisters are so funny. I asked him what he meant (which I could only imagine! You let Beckee lose and she cracks herself up, which is sooo funny!) He said that Beckee asked Jaymie to ask her what she was doing, and her reply was (as she is eating fondue) "I am fonduing what are you doing?" and then cracks up!! I can totally see her doing that! She is hysterical! (just ask her!!) Just kidding, I love that she can let her hair down and just be her! It was so fun to be with them. Here is a picture of my family's beautiful sweaters! Thanks Aubrey for letting Jake wear yours!!


This past Sunday we had our annual cousin Christmas party. It ended up at our house this year and I was surprised to see that all 50 of us could fit in our basement!! I look forward to the craziness every year and I think the rest of the cousins do too!! (I'm not sure what all those circles are!! They look like dust!?! gross!!)

Rules are: Anything you have done has to be in bold. How much have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Middle school orchestra!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland :)
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty-(does flying over it count?)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (only once and I was totally liying and I am almost certain they knew I was!!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (two incomes were great!)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (who hasn't?!)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (Do mormon ads count?!!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Far too many!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (NO! and I am totally ok with that!)
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (I try to forget that date!!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (does a digital scrapbook count?)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I didn't actually kill it, but I was the one that spotted it and then it got shot. The first and last time ever going hunting!!!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

47's not bad!! I would love to do many more of them!!! Italy is next!! i tag whoever feels like they want to do it!

ELVES!!!!! Who knew?!!

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Festival of Trees

This year we went to the Festival of Trees. I haven't been in a really long time and it was fun to go with Beckee and her kids, and Jaymie. I love spending time with them. It is interesting to me the different feelings I had when I left. I left a little somber this year. Working up at Primary Children's has definitely given me a different perspective on life. And to fully understand that a huge event like Festival of Trees is so needed for a non profit organization. Primary's hasn't turned one child away from care since they opened. That is incredible to me. Not that they haven't turned anyone away, but the fact that there are so many donations. People are very generous and it doesn't go without notice. These little families need the care for their child so despirately and some just don't have the funds to pay for it. I have seen those dollars hard at work. It is pretty incredible.
We were reading some of the stories on the back of the plaques to read more about why the tree was done and some of them were patients up at Primary's. It is pretty amazing that people can go through such a rough time in life and still think twice about giving back. I don't know why this year was so different for me. I have been a million other times. Maybe it's because I have a daughter of my own and hope that I never have to use those funds, I don't know, but I have gained a better appreciation about the act of giving. What a great way to help those in need. I am truely blessed.
I love the Christmas season. It is so fun to have Avery even though she has no idea. The holidays are so fun with her.