Christmas Day 2012

I just love Christmas!  I mean, who doesn't?  This is our traditional "photo on the stairs."

At this point the kids haven't seen any gifts yet:)

 Christmas Breakfast!

 Chase is the HARDEST person to buy gifts for!  He never gives a list... NEVER!  The good news is that he is extremely grateful for whatever he gets.  For not having a list, Santa did pretty good this year!

Chase got an RG III jersey

Christmas Eve 2012

A week before Christmas Jeff and I got the influenza.  It was BAD!  We were both literally holed up for an entire week!  I mean like, miss school sing a longs and class parties sick!  Thank you to Kim who literally raised Jordan during that time!  While I was sick Reagan sent this across the street.  It was my favorite thing ever!! The last line says, "here is a cookie to make a bad day better!"  I love her!!!  

By a few days before Christmas I was feeling better.  So we got busy doing everything we should have been doing the week before.  Here are Jord and Mannie decorating Gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve.  

 Our neighbors and good friends brought some reindeer in.  We went to pay them a visit on Christmas Eve.  They were really cool!  Thank you to the Brown's!

 We kept with our usual tradition of going to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Christmas Eve.  As usual Santa paid us a visit! Jord is SO cute!

 Here is Taylor looking like she is 17!  She is only 12 but before we know it...

 I love my Mitchy!  I can only imagine what he is telling Santa!!!

 One of my favorite parts of Christmas is having Chase home.  This year he was home nearly a month! It was so delightful!  

 Taesha is working a lot of hours (you go girl) so we were so thrilled that she got Christmas Eve off!

 We felt it a huge blessing to have Grandma Pickett with us on Christmas Eve!  I just love this photo!  

 All the rest of us!!

 We always have a talent show on Christmas Eve.  Taesha played her guitar.

 Jord sang Silent Night!  It was very tender!

 Mitchy played the guitar and did a beatboxing performance that will make me smile for years!

 Tay played a song from the "Nutcracker" on her violin.  She is getting SO good!  It was beautiful!

 We also had our Nativity program.  Aunt Jill wrote a new program this year and it was awesome!!

 Mitchy was Joseph.  I love how MaeMae is looking up at him!  So sweet!

 Grandma and Grandpa gave both Taylor and Kendall official WNT jersey's with their names and lucky number 7 on the back.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!! 

 A holiday isn't complete without some Kinnick love!  This little boy absolutely delights me!! I can't get enough of him!  

 After out party we headed home and opened our Christmas Eve Jammies.  

All 5 of my kidlets in their jammies!  What a blessing to have them all here!  We absolutely soak it up!!

Happy Birthday Jeff!!!

 Happy Birthday JT!  Today "Jeffy" turns another year older!  I am grateful for Jeff all of the time but today I have been especially grateful.  He seriously is the BEST MAN!  I feel blessed and overwhelmed by the privilege of being married to him.  Jeff has done more in the last year than I have done in the last 5 years!  He continues to work hard and travels a lot.  He has had a great year at work and continues to sell millions of ifrogz products around the country!  The sacrifices he makes for our family are endless.  Jeff is the best father in the world.  He supports all of the kids in whatever they do!

 This year Jeff and Mitch traveled with our extended family to see the Denver Broncos play!  They had a great time.  We also made countless trips to Bear Lake, Saint George and other random spots following the kids in their activities.

 Jeff is FUNNY!  He makes me laugh every day!  This is Jeff and his brother Bob pulling a famous "Morgan" face!  So funny!

 Jeff continues to run and this year his RAGNAR team placed like 27th overall or something insanely good like that!  He is always active, whether is be running, snow skiing or our new favorite this year spending time on the boat.

Jeff is the best family man I know.  I love when we spend time with his Mom because I see so much of her in Jeff.  Jeff is such a supportive husband and every day I count myself the luckies woman alive to be his wife!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Chaser!

 Happy Birthday to the "best oldest kid" ever!  I can't believe how time flies.  When Jeff and I met Chase was 16 and today he turns 22.  I would have loved to watch Chase grow up!  I feel blessed to have had the time I have had.  It seems like just yesterday Chase and Jeff got into Chase's car and drove cross country to Virginia to move him to college.  Today he is a Senior at Virginia Tech.  In one week Jeff and I will make what is likely our last trip to visit Chase at school (other than when we go to his graduation).  I CAN'T wait to see him.   There are so many things about Chase that I adore.  He is a hard worker!  He worked full time this entire summer (other than the few weeks off after falling of scaffolding)!  Adam gave him a job working for him and we were so grateful for that.  Thank you Adam!  Chase learned a lot!  Chase also works hard at school.  His program is NOT easy and he puts in hours and hours at school.  He is a great example of diligence!

 One of my favorite things about Chase is his relationship with his dad.  They are SO much alike.  They are both funny, relatively laid back and super considerate.  Chase has turned into an incredible adult!  Sometimes, one some random weekday, or late at night I will get a nice text!  It truly fill me with joy!  Chase puts up with me.  I worry, get over protective and do all those things that drive kids crazy.  Especially adult kids!  When he leaves after the summer I cry on his bed and text him and tell him to come home!  He totally wins a medal for putting up with me!

Chase is an incredible brother.  The younger kids think he is the bomb!  They all look up to him and always want to hang out with him.  He is definitely a great example to all of them.

Chase is athletic and dares do anything!  He snowboards and wake boards like a maniac.  He loved to hike and camp in the wilderness.  This photo is from this very day!  Cut himself in a flag football game and needed stitches.  Chaser will never say he missed out on life.

Happy Birthday!  We love you and are so grateful for you!

Jordan's Baptism!

On September 1st at 9:00 a.m. Jordan was baptized and confirmed!  It was one of the most wonderful, peaceful days in my memory!  Jordan was beautiful and truly felt the special spirit of that day.   She had so many of her family and friends there to help share the great occasion!  

 Here is a copy of the front and back of the announcement we sent out.  Jord picked out the pictures and colors.  Hollee Evans did the announcement and it was beautiful!

 Jordan truly looks like a princess.  Jeff baptized and confirmed her and did a beautiful job.  Jordie had been talking about this day for months and she said it lived up to all of her expectations!  Here are Jeff and Jordan prior to the baptism.

 Grandma and Grandpa were, of course, there to support Jordan!

 All the "littles" with Jeff prior to the baptism.

 Jord's good friend Avery came to support her.  Her friend Sicily also came but I didn't get a picture of her!

 Jord had great family support at her baptism.  Her Grandpa Elden and Grandpa Forsgren were the witnesses for the Baptism.  Her Priesthood support was incredible!  Jeff confirmed her and Grandpa Elden, Lance, Ryan, Shea, Adam, Bob,  Grandpa Forsgren, Ben and Bishop Brown stood in the circle.  Our Primary Presidency were there and so were her current primary teachers, Sister Lindley and Sister Simmons and her past primary teacher Brother and Sister Sorenson.  The Sorensons have a special place in my heart as they followed all of the girls Jord's age through primary for 2 years.  I think they were friends in Heaven!  Jordan's favorite school teacher happened to be there playing the piano and her daughter sang as part of the program, which was super "tender."

Here is Jord and Mannie!  Samantha is SO excited for upcoming baptism.  She was SO cute and supportive of Jordan.  These two absolutely make my heart swell.   The babies are getting baptized!

 Malee and Andres posing with Jordie.  Maelee LOVES her big girl cousins!

 Jeff's sister DiannaMarie drove down from Idaho Falls to support Jordan!  Her brother Bob and his family also came from Salt Lake but had to head back before dinner because their kids had to work!

 Here is my family minus Lance who was down at the gas station getting ice!  I have the most incredible family and am grateful for them everyday!  My Aunt Carolyn and Jen also came but could not say for dinner!

 Jord with Jeff and I and Grandma and Grandpa.  Every once in a while our Heavenly Father blesses me with a day that feels "perfect."  That is how this day was for me.  When I was helping Jord change after her baptism I wanted to keep her in that dressing room forever.  She was perfect and she knew it!! Those minutes were some I will never forget!  We are so blessed to part of such a pure Gospel.  Only the truth can create a peace that can permeate your soul!  Thank you Jord for providing all of us with such an incredible day and making such a great choice.   Thank you Jeff for being a worthy Priesthood holder and being able to perform these sacred ordinances and thank you for supporting Jordan in every way and loving in the way only you can!  Thank you to everyone who loves Jord!  Jord LOVES her family.  She stops at her Aunt Kim's house every morning before and after school just to check in, get a treat, a hug and squeeze the baby! Jord was born at a tender time, a time when her extended family stepped in and loved her like no one else could!  Those years have shaped her relationship with them forever!  I am grateful to that and grateful for the life Jordan has lived!  I can't wait to see what this cute girl throws at us next!  I love you Jord!!

Happy Birthday Mitchy!

 Mitchell turned 12 on August 30!  We were lucky enough to have Mitch with us on his birthday this year!  He and Jeff spent the day together.  Then we took the entire family (about 20) of us to Chuck-a-Rama.  Mitchell and the other kids had a blast!  Mitchy got a new air soft gun, vest and ammo, new scriptures, lego stuff and a gift card to Game Stop!

 Mitchy is the funniest, most loving kid!  He keeps us all in stitches with his hilarious one liners!!

 Jordan got to pick a "guest" to read a Christmas story to her class last year.  She choose Mitch!  It was SO darling.  He did such a great job.  He, Jordan and Taylor have gotten along SO well this summer!

 Mitchy loves his family!  He LOVES it when Chase is here and truly looks up to his older brother.  Mitchy is super fun and has some really good friends in our neighborhood.  The kids always ask Jordan on the bus when "Mitch will be here."  They love him!!!

Mitchy loves his cousins.  He and Hunter have became great friends this summer and "hung out" for hours and hours and had countless sleep overs!  Mitchy is so great to have here and every time he leaves our home is a little different.  Mitchy started building me a "lego creation" every time he leaves and he puts in on the mantle.  I leave if there until he comes the next time and then be takes it down and builds me a new one.  I sure love this boy!!  Happy 12th Birthday Mitchy!!!!