Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas! We sure did. Christmas was especially fun with Milly being two this year. From the moment the first present was layed under the tree, she was overcome with joy and said, "Open presents!" We would remind her with each present that when it was Christmas, we would open presents. She was so patient and did not try to open any of them. She probably thought Christmas would never come, but it did, and it was a great and abundant Christmas. We are truly blessed. Milly was especially excited when she woke up and Santa Clause had brought her a big bag of nicely wrapped up gifts. The only part that could have made it better would be having Tyler here with us. We miss him very much, but thanks to web cam, we were able to see each other open gifts and be a part of each other's Christmas that way! So now Christmas is over, and today I spent the day cleaning and organizing and putting away all of me and Milly's Christmas stuff. We received over a foot of snow here in Star Valley since Christmas Day, and so we will be playing in the snow lots this year! We are very excited!

Milly's First Haircut

I know it's horrible that Milly is over 2 years old and just received her first hair cut! I was really not planning on cutting it, either. But here is how this came about. Milly's hair was finally getting long and I knew she needed a trim, but I have just been putting it off. My sister has been bugging me to cut Milly's hair short, and I of course said no. She said, "well at least give her a trim." So I consented to let her trim Milly's hair. Well, my sister later confessed that she put Milly's hair in a pony tail and cut the end of the pony tail, thinking that it would give the hair a nice even trim. Well, the whole middle section ended up being 2 inches smaller than the rest of the hair, so I had to chop the rest off, so now Milly has short hair. She is still adorable as ever, though!

More Top Tens...

Top 10 reason why I love the Christmas Season:

1. It's the one time of year that music and reminders about the Savior are accepted most everywhere you go.

2. Spending hours making Christmas treats and delivering them to neighbors

3. Having someone knock at your door and delivering a plate of goodies to you

4. The Inspiring music that reminds us of the most important things in life

5. The smell of a fresh, real, Christmas Tree

6. Getting Christmas Cards and pictures from friends and family

7. Shopping sprees where I have an excuse to spend lots of money and buy lots of gifts

8. The Magical feeling in the air

9. Family Gatherings

10. Amilya going around singing "Jingle Bells" and saying "Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!"

A time for Gratitude

Thanksgiving was great, but would have been better with Tyler. We spent dinner with my Mom's side of the family, and spent the rest of the Holiday being lazy, watching movies, and went and got a Christmas tree On Saturday. We actually had some snow, so we put the little kids in sleds and walked up in the mountain, cut a tree down, and drug it to the truck. Yes, we are real pioneers. Of course Thanksgiving is always a time to reflect on what we are grateful for, so here is a small list of my gratitudes:

1. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who is so thoughtful and so full of strength and courage.
2. I am grateful for wonderful parents who continue to teach me so much, love me, and put up with me even though I am 24 and still living at home with a very busy and curious 2 year old.
3. I am grateful for Amilya and her sweet spirit, her energy, her creativeness, and how loving she is. If she senses I am hurt, she is sure to say, "You OK Mama?"
4. I am grateful for my health and strength and two healthy legs, which are two things I took for granted for not too long ago.
5. I am grateful for all of my siblings, including my in-law siblings; they are all incredible people.
6. I am grateful for beautiful Star Valley, the mountains, and the 4 seasons we get to experience here.
7 I am grateful for friends who love me despite my weaknesses and are such incredible examples to me.
8. I am grateful for time to actually sit here and write this.
9. I am grateful for my talents and my love for music that inspires me everyday.
10. I am grateful to be me, despite my many weaknesses and trials.