Ringing in 2014

Ringing in 2014 was memorable!  We stayed at a cabin in Alpine, Wyoming with Grandpa and Grandma Wiscombe and Michael.  New Years is one of those holidays that, especially with little ones, can be underwhelming.  So much hype....and then....yay....drink my sprite and go to bed after midnight.  And if you are me, you are up past midnight EVERY night - so New Years is not that different.  So to welcome 2014, we went snowmobiling, sledding and visited Jackson Hole, WY.  

The girls had a fun time playing in the white powder.  Gracie got in a snowball fight with Jody - it looks like she was winning.  

Jody was the major photobomber during this trip...I mean, really...the Big Foot Pose.

Sienna's smooshy face...

While Jody and my dad were snowmobiling, I managed to cut open my finger while sitting in the truck.   Typical Brittany mishap.  

We drove into Jackson Hole one day.  On our way, we saw dozens of mountain goats on the hillside.  

 

Jackson Hole was fun, but super COLD!  We visited the National Elk Refuge and took a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the refuge, to get a close look at the elk.  

Sienna and her giant hands...

After playing in the winter wonderland, it was nice to come in and snuggle up.  The girls slept in these little beds in the upstairs loft.  

We enjoyed hot chocolate every night, as we cozied up to the fire.  

On New Year's Eve at 9:00 pm...the owners of a nearby cabin set off fireworks.  We watched out the giant windows of the cabin where we were staying.  The girls were mesmerized.  The fireworks were big and bright, and they looked spectacular against the falling snow.  But it wasn't a professional show by any means, so the delay in between each firework was longer than usual.  The girls kept saying..."Oh, it's over.  How sad!!"  Then another firework would light up the sky, and they would get SO excited.  "Hooray!!!  More fireworks"  Clapping and Squealing would follow.  This went on for 10 minutes.  It was really funny.  

Grandma W. made some delicious homemade soup to help us warm up when we were done playing outside.  Being pregnant - everything tasted different, and I felt quite nauseated the whole trip.  However, it was nice to get out of the Salt Lake Valley inversion and enjoy the beautiful blue skies.   

The cabin had a sledding hill, right out the back door.  Gracie had the time of her life on the tube.  My mom decided she wanted to join in on the fun.  This is not a surprise...she likes to be in on the party.  So off she went, down the hill....and she kept going across the road.  

Hold on for dear life, mom!

Papa made sure Gracie stopped at the bottom of the hill.  Good Times!

Christmas Day 2013

Christmas morning was a success!  The girls were really excited to see if Santa Claus had visited our house.  They were happy to see the Big Guy in the Red Suit enjoyed the cookies they left out for him.  Santa Claus left Gracie the ever popular 'Rainbow Dash' Costume - made custom by Mrs. Claus.  Gracie put the costume on and didn't take it off for days.  Come July - she still wore it occasionally.  And in October 2014 - she chose to wear it as her Halloween Costume.  It was a big hit.  Santa also left Gracie a Rainbow Dash Equestrian Girl Doll and a kid snow shovel.

Santa brought Sienna lots of My Little Pony toys including Princess Celestia who talks and a Fluttershy Equestrian Girl.
Santa Claus brought mom and dad a nice print of an oil painting, which we hung in our living room.
 

True JOY!  Gracie loves her Rainbow Dash Costume.

Santa brought Jody some Jazz tickets to watch the team play against Blake Griffin and the Clippers.  

After the Christmas Morning Rush, the girls played with their new toys.  Grandpa & Grandma Wiscombe & Michael came over and brought gifts.  Then we took a housewarming gift to Jeff and Lacey at their new home in Lehi.  Grandpa & Grandma Tait were there, and we enjoyed some soup together.

And then, just like that, it is all over.  And what?!?!?  We have to wait until next year for Christmas to come again? 

It's so easy for me to get lost in the craziness and commotion of Christmas.  Children make the season more magical...but they can also get caught up on what they are getting for Christmas.  And as parents, it's hard to not shower them with the toys they want.   Because you know they will be so excited in that moment.

We participate in Sub for Santa each year - this year we had the girls pick children, who were their same ages, off of the Angel Tree.  We took a special night in December to shop for these children and talk about them.  We hope it makes our kids think of others and the season, which is truly all about giving.  

I think many of us are like the Innkeeper in the story of the First Christmas.  Although we don't know specifics about the Innkeeper because the Bible doesn't say anything about him.....we do know that he turned away Mary and Joseph in their time of need.  I do not think the Innkeeper was necessarily hostile or cruel - but I do believe - he was busy.  Too busy to recognize the most incredible event was knocking at his door.

His inn was full because a census was being held in Bethlehem. The city was bulging with people whose ancestors came from there. Since Bethlehem was the city of David, all those who were in the line of David were there, including Joseph and Mary.  Many people are like the innkeeper.  The chambers of their souls are filled with needless things--with stuff that doesn't matter. As a result, they miss Christ. Our society is filled with the unnecessary, the insignificant, and the meaningless. We spend a fortune to amass things so we can let our children fight over them when we die. And our time is eaten away by the demands our things place on us.  -- John MacArthur, "Grace to You"

So hold your loved ones closely.  Embrace your family - not things - not stuff.  Let Christ in.  In every aspect of your life - Let Him In.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ came into this world in the humblest of circumstances.  

He is the perfect example.  He Lives....and He Loves Us.  

Haul out the Holly...

We need a little Christmas.

Right this very minute.

Candles in the Window.

Carols at the Spinet. 

Christmas Morning is something special.  But the events and traditions leading up to the 25th of December create memories that will last forever.  Here is what we did in December of 2013.  

We picked out a Christmas Tree.  A real tree - something Jody and I started doing on our first humble Christmas in Butte, Montana.  There is something fun about seeing those evergreens strapped to the top of vehicles during the holidays.  The night we found our tree was FREEZING - a whopping 7 degrees outside.  BRRRRR.  The girls were still all smiles and super excited.  

I always love how the freshly cut trees smell...however this year...once inside our house, our tree smelled like marijuana or body odor...or something not good.  Remember, I was pregnant and smells were not my friend during this time.  

Nonetheless - it was a nice tree - a nice, stinky (to me, at least) tree.  

Gracie had her Christmas Dance Recital.  She was great!  As she walked off the stage at the Legacy Center, a lady on the tech-crew said, "Wow she really likes to shake it!"  Yes - she's not messing around with those hip shakes.  Both sets of grandparents came to watch her.  She had a big fan base in the audience. 

Before I had to go into work on a Saturday, we visited Thanksgiving Point to see the Reindeer and get a sweet treat at the malt shoppe.

There was Gracie's School Christmas Program.  ((Insanity))  Because there was nowhere to park, I parked in a neighborhood forever away...Sienna was with me and walking the speed of molasses.  I carried her blocks, and then we entered the completely full gym.  We went into the back of the lunchroom.  I zoomed my camera lens out as far as it would go...and this is the best picture I got.  

No face.  Some paper antlers.  Ha Ha!  

Just know I was there Gracie.  And that one song the Kindergarten classes sang... it was great!  

Then there were the parties.  While at Papa and Grandma Tait's house, there was a knock at the door.  What do you know?!?!  It was the Jolly Old Elf, himself.

Gracie collapsed from excitement when she heard the bells and saw Santa Claus.  She was REALLY excited. 

 Aunt Kylene and Uncle Greg gave Gracie this awesome craft/art set for Christmas.  

 Next up: a Christmas Party at Uncle Reed and Aunt Sandy's house.  Grandma Wiscombe organized a short nativity program for the kids.  Every family brought a soup to share. Jody made our soup.  It's one of my favorite tortilla soup recipes.  He totally helped me out by picking up a few ingredients I needed and then...he put it together.  He's awesome and such a huge help!   When I took a big slurp at the party - my mouth was instantly on fire.  Turns out, he didn't realize taco seasoning packets come in either mild or Super Hot...he grabbed the Super Hot one.    

And Christmas Eve....so magical.  We spent the evening making Grandma Wiscombe's delicious sugar cookies for Santa.

Gracie - Age 6

Sienna - Age 3

Holiday Kick-Off

We spent Thanksgiving with the Tait Side of the family in 2013.  As always, the food was a feast.  And this year, Grandma and Papa Tait treated us to a fun holiday kick-off weekend.  All of the Utah Taits stayed at the Little America in downtown Salt Lake.  The kids enjoyed swimming in the pool and going on a scavenger hunt that Papa Tait had set up for them in the lobby.   

 We enjoyed seeing the lights at Temple Square, which are always stunning.  Gracie and Sienna loved riding TRAX around town and looking at the Macy's Christmas Candy Windows.  Downtown Salt Lake City at Christmas Time is a beautiful place.  Papa and Grandma treated us to a yummy dinner and breakfast at the newly remodeled Coffee Shop at the Little America.

Saturday morning, we walked around the City Creek Shopping Center.  I was reporting that day...so I stayed downtown to head into KUTV.

But not before, one last ride on TRAX...which the girls LOVED!  

Cousins - Gracie and Nahla seeing the sights downtown.
Gracie carried her Tinker Bell doll with her during the entire getaway. I thought, for sure, Tinker Bell would get lost in the crowds, but Gracie held tight to her new birthday gift.