Where's the Line to See Jesus

Maybe a little cheesy...but I liked it...

Christmas 2009...A picture is worth 1000 words

There are so many pictures to share of Chrismas Eve and Christmas, I decided to try posting them a new way (click on the collages to make them bigger) I tried making a slide show...but I can't figure that out apparently!

I'll keep the words short...just enjoy the pictures for what they are

CHRISTMAS EVE

Check out these cute babies watching Grandma's train

New Jammies for all, and getting ready for Santa!!

CHRISTMAS MORNING

oh so much anticipation and excitement!!

Grandma Dever came and we had lots of fun (but mom forgot to take pictures...grandma Dever did though...maybe she'll send us some and I can add them) But even without pictures, it was one of the best parts of our day!! We really loved sharing our chrismas morning with her!!

Then it was up to Grandma& Grandpa Walkers...Thomas waited patiently for his turn, and Robert really liked playing with curly ribbon!!

The funnest part of the trip to grandma's was the surprise she had waiting for us...

First we had to line up...

Then we had to listen to the rules...


Then we were surprised with new toys and even more presents to unwrap!!

This was the level of excitement with each opening... (and when we were down to three presents left...they knew they were for Gavin, Hayden, and Ethan...come up soon and see the new toys guys!!)

Then there was only one present left...?what to do?...Grandma had a great idea...EVERYONE open it at once (I thought for sure she was crazy...but it was FUN!!)

All in all a GREAT Christmas was had and Thomas told me today as soon as spring summer and fall are over...it's time for Christmas again...I think I'll need that long to recover!!

Traditions...

One of my favorite traditions we have, is the ornaments on our tree...

Dave came up with the idea when we were on our Honeymoon in Annapolis Maryland...we found this beautiful ornament and that's where it all began...

We decided to give each person in the family a new ornament each year (usually right around Thanksgiving when the tree goes up)...

Here are this year's ornaments...

Dave's

Mine (Dave say's I'm his angel and the green wings represent me getting better at taking care of our garden and stuff like that)

Michael's (my boy LOVES BYU)

Thomas' (he really loves cats!)

Robert's (We will put a picture of him on his first chrismas in the middle)



We also decided to get ornaments from anyplace we've traveled that year

we have a lot from here!

Disneyland!!

Family vacation to Salt Lake


I just LOVE getting the ornaments out each year...it is one of my favorite things that I do to get ready for christmas...I open the box and memories come FLOODING back...

Our first kiss (on Mt. Kissamore...we had smores after)


Michael's First grade gift to us (his handprint)


How much Thomas LOVED the color orange


Some just make me laugh...


Some make me cry... (my favorite ornament from Grandma Walker's tree)

How much my hubby likes to BBQ


Moving into our new house...



Dave's first "real" job...


Each ornament has a memory with it...I LOVE it!!

Even the Star has a memory...it looks like one we saw in the Browning center when Dave and I went to the Nutcracker...I looked for it for 4 years! (had foil covered cardboard until then)


We of course started with just a couple of ornaments and needed other things to fill it up like candycanes, and other types of ornaments...now we don't even hang them all...the tree is getting crowded!

Someday maybe I'll have a pretty, shiny, coordinated tree somewhere in my house...but I'll always have a tree like this somewhere too!



Of course, my favorite thing under the tree is this :)


The plan is to give the boys their ornaments when they have their own homes...sounds like a good idea...but I'm not sure I'll be able to part with them!!

The reason for the season...

This is my new favorite decoration this year...well I've had some of the decorations...just added to it this year

The Nativity, Dave bought me a few years ago...(I want to add the wisemen someday)...this year I added the sheer sparkly fabric and the lights...


The picture of the temple is one an old roommate gave me. I went through the temple to receive my endowment on the 23rd of December, so she gave me this picture of the Salt Lake Temple and the lights on temple square. I will always remember how wonderful that day was and how fun it was to walk out of the temple then walk through the lights (It was a big decision for me to go through the temple just for me...no mission, no marriage...just for me...(little did I know that is a few short months...I was going to meet my eternal companion...go figure!)


The three small pictures are new this year..They are Simon Dewey prints of Mary holding Jesus, Jesus in the manger, and Joseph holding Jesus...I really love them (and at 1.50 a piece...that's a new decoration in my budget!)


The red sign is one from the "after Thanksgiving dinner craft" a couple of years ago...it says "The Magic of Christmas is not in the presents...but in His Presence" So true...I am so grateful for this time of year and the chance it gives us to focus on the Savior and becoming more like him

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Randomness and pictures

My mind is far too scattered to put these together in a nice way...so I'm just going to share some pictures from our fun Christmas season (since we're into January now...I thought it was time)

Here are my boys getting ready to enjoy the "Nutcracker" by Ballet West. I think it was a little long for them, but they really loved parts of it (and Dave only fell asleep for a little while)

Being silly by the tree in the Browning Center...Why oh why can't their shirts ever stay tucked in!! oh well...who want's to see perfectly posed kids who are well groomed...right?!?!

After the "Nutcracker" we took them out to ElMatador for lunch/dinner. Here they are throwing pennies in the fountain...bring back memories anyone?! I highly recommend this place for taking kids...the LOVED it!!

I think I only had to take 35 pictures to get something descent enough to put on a christmas card. and I only gave out about 10 of the 30 I had (oh well) and If you didn't get one...that's because I don't have your address anymore...so e-mail it to me!!! (ngarrits@msn.com) or it could just mean I forgot...sorry!! (I still have a ton if anyone wants one...LOL)

This picture just proves that we did truly move into the right house...here is Dave on December 1st picking up leaves after work...yes...he drove around with the headlights on. (Grandpa would be proud!!)

This is the annoying sight we had to look at all season long...yes...that is the leg lamp in Adam & Sherry's window...it glowed so brightly that it kept us up most nights!! We'll get them back...WE GET IT NEXT YEAR!!!! Dave's never been so happy that I tortured him with all the old Christmas movies!!

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O.K....Now onto Christmas day!!!

Here are the boys anxioiusly waiting to go see what santa brought...we hung sheets up in the door to help them resist the temptaion to peek!! They thought it was cool that when the furnace turned on it blew the sheet out the door like a tent!! (they were very anxious at this point...they had been up since 4:15 and we made them wait until 5:00...that was a LONG 45 minutes!!)

I love their faces in this picture!! So much excitement!! You can also see a new years resolution of mine in this pic...getting rid of the clutter piles!!!

Michael checking out his stash...he was excited about the Rhino Rampage game

Thomas liked the Rhino Rampage game too...he told him "this looks like a good game to share!!" Now that's thinking :)

Thomas checking out his stash...he LOVED the Lincoln Logs the best!!!

Here's Michael modeling his favorite present...the cowboy hat santa brought. He LOVES his new scooter too!!!

The Santa Sack was a big hit (I found this bag at Wal-mart!! It even has a drawstring top!!) we put a garbage bag FULL of toys in it and the boys were THRILLED when they discovered Santa had taken the toys. I was so proud of their giving attitude.

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Well...that's it for the pics. All in all it was a great Chrismas season. I'm taking down the decorations now and hoping for a week or two of normal before the baby comes!! That countdown clock sure seems to be moving fast!!!

A new tradition

I heard of a new tradition that we're going to try in our family this year, so I thought I'd pass it along in case any of you wanted to try it too. It's called the SANTA SACK...and this is how it works...

Between now and christmas, the boys are going to go through all their toys and books and pick some to put in a big sack (if I get adventurous, I'll make one, if not we'll tie a garbage bag w/ a pretty bow) then we'll place it in the front room on Christmas eve so that Santa can pick it up to give to kids who need them (because everyone knows Santa is the BEST at knowing who needs something on Christmas eve.)

The boys seem to be excited about it...we'll see how it goes!! oh, and it is o.k for mom's to help load the bags while boys are at school too :) (and maybe toys that don't get picked up when asked may get added to the bag too!!) oooh the possibilities!!

Don't hate me because I'm festive :)

I just can't wait anymore. I'm so excited for chrismas...no I'm not forgetting thanksgiving...I'm just getting a jump start on the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (feel free to shut off the music if you need to!!)

...Visions of Sugar Plums danced in their heads...

This is how my boys fell asleep last night. Looking at toy catalogs, dreaming of all the things that Santa might bring them. I can so rember those days (wait...I still do that!!) Guess this is offically the start of the holiday shopping/wishing, dreaming season!! I say BRING IT ON!!! I LOVE this time of year!!!

(Michael got those cool glasses in primary...he's a secret "SERVICE" agent...but that's a whole other story!!)