Breakfast at McDonald's

Oh yes, it must be Christmas Eve Eve! Well that is what we call it anyway. Every December 23rd we go to the AF McDonald's for breakfast. My parents started this little silly tradition about 35 years ago!! It just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't get our once a year trip to McDonald's. Well as you can imagine our family has definitely grown as the years have gone by!
I think we drove all the people crazy there that morning. As you can tell by the pics all the kids had a blast. Thank you Mom and Dad for the great breakfast...more like the great tradition!!!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!

I don't remember the last time we had this much snow for Christmas...I love it!! Mitch was so excited to get out and play. Of course he had to help his dad plow the snow!!

Ashlynn's Christmas Dance Program

Ashlynn had her dance program on December 13th. She did really good. She danced to "Tiki Room." It was such a darling a dance!
After the program Santa came to visit! Good thing because this was the one and only time they got to sit on Santa's lap this year...I know what horrible parents we are!!! All Mitch cared about was the candy canes in the basket! Ashlynn on the other hand, well she had a few things to discuss with Santa!

Ashlynn and Sami Jo

Ashlynn and Grandma Debbie

Ashlynn and Daddy

Our Christmas Progressive Dinner...

Each year we have our traditional "Progressive Dinner." This gives us all a chance to see each others houses decorated for Christmas, and to get a picture of all the kids by every ones Christmas tree. So what we do is start out with appetizer's. This year it was at the Carson's home.

Matt and Mandy's Christmas Tree

In the past we have had just three houses to go too, but now that Quint is married we have four homes. My mom is always in charge of bringing a Christmas book to read to all of us. Usually we have her read it at the dinner home. So this year having four homes we decided to have a "Christmas story house"....luckily for me, that was my house, I didn't have to worry about a thing!!! That's okay I don't feel too bad seeming I had to do the dinner last year!

Grandma reading the story

Uncle Shawn telling his own Christmas story...more like teasing!!

The Carley Christmas Tree (you can't see much of it!)

After the story we headed to Shawn and Aimee's house for some dinner!!

Shawn and Aimee's Christmas Tree

After dinner we headed to Quint and Jen's for some yummy dessert!!

Quint and Jen's Christmas Tree

Wow, what a night! I think everyone had a great time. I know I did!!!

Happy Thanksgiving...

I love Thanksgiving. Its such a wonderful day to reflect on what I am truly thankful for. I want my kids to know what a special holiday this is. It seems that Thanksgiving just gets past by, it goes from Halloween right to Christmas. It drives me crazy. I have quite enjoyed my Thanksgiving decor and I'm sad to see it all go. Don't get me wrong I do love Christmas, I just wish we could all take time to really enjoy the one holiday that isn't about worldly things....just family and being thankful!! Oh, lets not forget the turkey and pie!!
So I asked Ashlynn what she was thankful for, this is what she said...
-My teddy bear
-My Family
-My Toys (of course!)
-My Bed
-My Pajamas' and Clothes
-That we have a House
-Myself (I think this one is very important)

I asked Mitch...
he said, "I don no" Then with a little help from his sister he said...
-Toys
-Bed
-Ball Game (he came up with that one on his own!)

I came up with 10 things I am thankful for. The list could have been a lot longer but I decided to just stick with 10, so here they are....
-My Husband
-My Kids
-My Family
-My Home
-The Gospel/Our Savior
-Our Freedom
-Girls Night Outs!
-Family Traditions
-Date Nights (when possible)
-My Friends

Normally we eat at my parents house for Thanksgiving, but this year we went to Quint and Jen's house. It turned out really nice. We had really good food and a lot of it!!! It was a really good day!









I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day....Happy Thanksgiving!!!