It's the most wonderful time of the year

I love Christmas time!!! One of my favorite things about Christmas is traditions... one of my favorite traditions is looking at Christmas lights every night of the season. One of Rob's favorite traditions is eating sugar cookies (requiring him to make them.) So, of course being the wonderful parents that we are, we have forced these traditions onto our kids. So far they seem to enjoy them although that could change as they get older, for now we'll take advantage...

Briggs and Owen at the ward Christmas party sitting on Santa's lap. This was before the power went out. That might be the first and the last year they put Rob in charge of activities.

Frosting / Eating the sugar cookies

Ali taking it all in. Don't worry next year you can help

Two serious cookie makers

One of our favorite Christmas houses to visit. Could be southern folklore but they say this house was in USA Today as one of the best decorated houses in the country. It is unbelievable how many lights they have along with a real santa, and free popcorn, hot chocolate, and candy canes.

Owen LOVED the lights this year. It was fun to watch him get excited about them

Ali with dad, liking all the lights at the beginning. By the end I think she got a little too over stimulated.

Happy Family

Thanks for Thanksgiving

This year we went to Phoenix for Thanksgiving. The boys had so much fun in the pool that they would wake up in the morning get in as soon as they could talk someone into going with them. The weather was wonderful, we ate Thanksgiving dinner outside. Chareese and Richard received their endowments while we were there and we were also able to see lots of friends and family. It was great.

The whole clan in the hot tub

Hanging out on the couch after a long day of fun

Shelley, Richard, Briggs, Rob

Richard, Lindsey, Rob

Alisa, Danika, Brooke

Two little fishes...Briggs and Parker

Owen, Bailey, and Briggs, coloring in their Christmas Coloring books

The kids in their Christmas PJ's

Ali and her 2nd cousin Paisley, hard to believe they are only 9 days apart

The boys trying to break Ali into loving the water as much as they do

One of Owen's favorite things...getting thrown up in the air and landing in the pool

Briggs with Uncle Rowland, likes being thrown too

Ali and Uncle Richard

Grandpa Bob and Briggs

Swimming in the middle of November... Only in AZ

Sweet little Ali Kat

AHHH!! Sharks in the water!!!

Fearless Owen

Briggs!?!?!

Where did the Fall go??

Okay, now that we have made it through the holidays (and then some) I will try to get updated with all our events that have gone on the last few months...

The beginning of November Rob had to go to Ashville, NC for work. Ashville is a little mountain town (Referred to as the Park City of the South) about an hour and a half away. Rob had a two bedroom suite, so the kids and I decided to tag along for one of the nights...




The boys and the neighbors playing in the leaves...

The free-loaders

Briggs and Ali are smelling something, but Owen doesn't seem to mind


The "Hot Tub" Don't worry they are all wearing their swimming-suits and Rob is wearing his sweater!

These two can always find entertainment, even under a
hotel night stand




Ali, is not sure what she thinks about it


A hotel, a hide away bed, and sleeping bags...
What could be better!!!

Ali's Blessing

Ali was blessed on Nov. 1st. I had the idea to take my wedding dress and have it made into a blessing dress. Seeing that I will never wear it again, I thought at least I would be able to get some good use out of it. A lady in our ward was willing to take on the LARGE project and lets just day she did a fabulous job. My dad and Pat came out for the blessing and Cousin Matt, Carrie and their family came down from Charlotte for the day. It was nice to have family here for the event.

The After

The Before

Our sweet little Alexandria

The layers and layers of dress

We are a happy family