i'm going to disneyworld!

On Thursday, Bart and I took his little sister Sadie to the Magic Kingdom at Disneyworld while Grandpa and Grandma watched Kade and Ky. We had such a great time! The weather couldn't have been nicer, and it was fun to go without pushing a stroller around, or trying to convince two toddlers that standing in line for anything might be worth it. We ate pineapple ice cream near the Tiki Room, Cream Cheese filled pretzels, tacos, and ice cream bars.

Bart and Me starting the day in front of Cinderella's castle

Bart and Sadie were caught cutting in line... :)

Can you tell who that man sitting in the rollercoaster is?

Here's a blurry picture of Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, who rode Goofy's Barnstormer just before us. I sure noticed all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones posters and post cards and t-shirts in the gift shops more after seeing him there!

There were a few too many people there that day, but we still got to see and do so much and we had a great time!

Cinderella's Castle at night. We couldn't stop looking at it.

Me and my sweetie at Disneyworld

The gang. What a fun, memorable day! We sure hope Sadie had a great first visit to Disneyworld!

to a wonderful christmas day!

Bart and I have been so excited for Christmas morning all month. We knew that the boys would be so entertaining to watch as they opened all their gifts. And there were a lot of them. Bart and I got them gifts, Grandma and Grandpa Adams sent a bunch, Grandma and Grandpa Miller bought more, and "Santa's Elves" left a bunch on our doorstep Sunday night. (Thank you so much whoever you are!!) I thought at some point one, or both of the boys, was bound to have a tantrum over not being able to open someone else's gift, or that what their brother got was better, etc. But, they were so good. They got excited about each and every gift they got, loved watching everyone else open their gifts, and said thank you to each person who gave them the gifts, even if those people were not there. The funniest thing they kept saying all morning, even after all the gifts were open and they were playing with their new toys was, "I'm so excited! Mommy, I'm so excited!"

The rest of the day we relaxed, played with our new "toys," and ate a delicious dinner that Bart made. He also invited a recently widowed woman in our apartment complex who was all alone for Christmas, to have dinner with us. She livened up our evening and we are glad that she could be with us.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Christmas Day so special!

Kade with the dump truck from Santa

Ky with the firetruck from SantaKy dunkin' the ball in his new hoop

christmas eve

Bart's family flew in on Christmas Eve. After we got reacquainted, we had a delicious chili dinner and acted out the Nativity story. Kade was a shepherd, complete with a baby sheep, Ky was a wiseman, (and didn't want to take off his costume the rest of the evening), aunt Sadie was Mary, Grandpa was Joseph and I was an angel. Then we watched a short video of the Nativity story, and Mr. Kruger's Christmas (a holiday favorite!) while the boys colored a picture of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Then we put out some cookies and milk for Santa, sprinkled Reindeer Dust on the front lawn, and put the boys to bed so Santa could come.

Grandpa telling the Nativity story

The Wiseman Ky bringing a gift
The whole cast

Sprinkling Reindeer dust on the lawn so they would know where to bring Santa Claus

christmas party

We went to a fun Christmas Party at our friends, the Rees', last night. There were lots of yummy appetizers, and Berries on a Cloud for dessert. The kids made "Reindeer Dust" (dry oatmeal with glitter in it) to sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve so the reindeer know where to come, had a fun gift exchange, and decorated sugar cookies. The adults helped and visited. It was fun to get to know some more people in our new ward, and fun to celebrate the season with friends.

Ky and Kade with their friends, Maddox and Isaac

Me and my friends at the party

christmas questions

I stole this from my friend Meghan's blog. Thanks Meghan!

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial? I wish I could afford a real tree. We spent $16.99 on an artificial tree the first Christmas after we got married, and it will have to do until I can afford to buy a real one each year. You just can't beat the smell of a real one!

3.When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? I like the idea of keeping it up until New Year's day, but with the boys birthday on December 29th, we are going to make sure all the Christmas stuff is put away before then so it can just be their birthday.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it, haven't had it for a few years

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember a doll swing set I got when I was like 5. I don't remember many others specifically.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? Kade and Ky

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? One that I had no idea what it was. It took me several days of searching the internet before I knew what it was

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12 . Favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone, Charlie Brown's Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Homemade chocolates, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, my mom's Peppermint Delight

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High, but I love the radio stations that play nothing but Christmas music for a month. I listen to the radio way more that month than the rest of the year combined.

18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? We have done a lot of traveling for Christmas and I love it, but we are excited to stay here this year and have Bart's family come to us!

19. Can you name all of Santa's' reindeer? Yes

20. Angel on the treetop or a star? I've never had either, but I would like a star. I bought a wiry, glittery one this year, but even it was too heavy for our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, so I had to return it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning, except for the traditional pajamas on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Shoveling snow and scraping my windshield...oh wait, I don't have to do that this year!

23. What I love most about Christmas? The tradition of everything from music, to Christmas lights, shopping, parties, yummy food, etc. Also, the fact that it last for a whole month!

24. Favorite Christmas Tradition? Oranges, beef jerky and a toothbrush in our stockings, white elephant gift exchanges, etc. I am excited to start some traditions of our own with our new little family.

ode to kisses

A few years ago, I thought Hershey's Kisses were one of the best treats out there. Then, a few years ago, Hershey's came out with Double Fudge Kisses. Those were even better. A while ago I discovered the caramel filled ones, and the peanut butter filled ones. Yummier still. I had some Cherry-cordial Kisses last year, and was so surprised how much they tasted like cherry cordials, without the yucky cherry in the middle. But, this holiday season, I have bought Hot Chocolate Kisses (which I thought would just taste like chocolate, but somehow they have a "hot chocolate" taste.), Candy Cane Kisses, and Mint Truffle Kisses. There are no words! These are amazing. I like the Mint Truffle ones the best but they are all so good, and taste like Christmas. I don't think I am ever going to be able to eat a regular Kiss again. It makes me wonder: what took Hershey's so long to make different flavors?

batteries

I was just sitting here with the boys looking at some blogs, and the boys asked to watch the golf video on our blog. When I tried it, it didn't work and neither did the singing video. They both said they were unavailable, whatever that means. So we had the following conversation:

Me: Sorry boys, the videos are broken.
Kade: Fix it
Me: I don't know how to fix it.
Kade: Needs batteries. I'll go get 'em.
Ky: Try again mommy!

I can't believe my not-quite-two-year-olds are having these kinds of funny conversations with me already.

night in bethlehem

On Saturday night, we went to our church to the "Night in Bethlehem." It is this amazing production that they have put on the past few years. I know last year they had over 3,000 people from the Stake and the community come over the 6 days they had it last year, and this year they were planning for double that.You start out walking through town, with lots of different shops like they would have had in Bethlehem. There was a toy-making shop where the boys got a dreidle, a jewelry shop where the boys made a bead bracelet, a candle shop, where the boys looked, but we politely turned down a lit candle, because toddlers and fire don't mix. Then, every half-hour, they start a new performance of the nativity story. It was amazing. I really could have been a professional production. There was lots of beautiful music, sung by Mary and the Angel Choir. I was so touched. When the performance was over, we got to go pet the donkey with Mary (who was played by our friend Emily). Then we went inside for hot chocolate and cookies. What a fun evening, and a great opportunity to focus on the birth of our Savior, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Ky and Kade looking at the chickens in Bethlehem

Waiting in line to make a bracelet

Mary and Joseph in the stable, the New Star and an angel

by the bay

Here are a few pics that were too cute not to share. We took them last week downtown by the bay. Hope you are enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods!

While I am here ...

Tim Tebow for Heisman! Gators and Badgers both playing on New Year's Day! SEC and Big Ten playing for the championship! The Pac Ten fizzling out and BYU playing in a bowl game before Christmas (weak)! What a great college football season!