5 Month Pictures

This post is going to be short and sweet- here is the link to view Nolan's 5 month pictures from Sears. I think they are adorable!!!

https://www.searsphotos.com/?shareid=S205925287l6XCPT4556Z

Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts

This past week has been filled with fun Christmas activities. I've almost felt like I'm back in Utah with my family. (Boy do I miss them!) We had a sleep over with Gabe and Caleb where we made and decorated sugar cookies- more ended up on the floor than on the cookies.

Brennan and I have been baking up a storm. First, we made White Chocolate Chocolate Cookies which are a new personal favorite of mine. Brennan is turning into a mini Don because, just like Don, he now just wants to eat the cookie dough instead of baking the cookies! The next night we baked cinnamon rolls and peanut butter bars to take to Don's work for a Christmas treat. While we were baking, Brennan and I sang Christmas Carols to Nolan. Nolan thought we were the craziest people, but he just smiled and laughed the entire time. That night, we received a large ice storm that shut down the schools, so when Gina and I delivered the treats, we had the entire entourage in tow! There were more of us than of people working for Don. All in all, it was a great week with lots of love and baking!!

Snow!

This weekend we received about 3 inches of snow- just enough that you have to shovel it. Well, we all know that I'm not going to get out and shovel (as evident by the many times I've gotten stuck just outside of the drive because I'm too lazy or running too far behind to shovel). Anyway, because I didn't want to shovel, Don and Brennan went outside to shovel out the Mercury so we could go to Ben and Gina's to eat dinner and play Settlers. And we all know that nothing could keep Don away from Settlers!!!

Hearing Don, I grabbed my camera and took some pictures- Yes, there was some shoveling going on between the snowball fights and snow angels!

Better Late than Never- right??

Nolan and Gram
Nolan's 1st Thanksgiving
Such cute Brothers!!
He's such a happy baby!!

Now I know that I'm not the best on keeping up with things- there are so many things that I've started on and done well for a month or so and then just give up, but this is not going to be one of those things!!! Between Thanksgiving and Brennan's school and Don's work, and Nolan's everything, I just haven't found time to slow down and write, so I just decided that I would make time.

Right now seems like the perfect time to just write- It's snowing outside. The first snow of the season and the first real snow I've seen in years. I never knew that I'd miss it so much or that it would bring back such vivid memories. Memories of growing up and playing in the snow. Memories of snowy nights and long conversations with family and friends. Memories of Christmas' that I thought I'd forgotten. I can feel the childlike anticipation for Santa and the reindeer. I can feel the spirit of Christ and peacefulness of the season. But most of all, I feel the COLD!!

Last night, Brennan and I went with our neighbors Ginger, Jacob, and Haylee to see the Stake present "The Light of the World" (a church presentation of the birth of Christ). I went expecting to see a so-so production and have Brennan not watch the play. It was much better than I expected and Brennan watched in amazement at the chorus and actors singing about the happenings before Christ was born. He was full of so may questions-"Where is God?", "Why are there angels" and the most common question "This is non-fiction, right mom?" (chalk that up to school). I answered all the questions I could and came to a realization that I have a very inquisitive child who will take what I tell him as the law and never question it. I realized what my mom has been telling me about all these years. Teach him about Jesus. So I explained to him about the birth and why we celebrate Christmas. He was full of questions (but then again, when isn't he?) and every answer I gave him he took as the full truth. I was amazing to see such understanding in such a small child.

Since moving here, I've come to realize just how much I've been blessed these past few years. I've been blessed with such a large family to love and such amazing sisters!! I've been blessed to have such wonderful true friends in my life who are always willing to do anything to help out. I've been blessed with luck!! Luck in finding a job in Houston- luck in finding a great husband- luck in having great in-laws!! I'm not saying there weren't trials and really tough times in my life (we all know there were), but I have realized that I've been given a lot.

Okay- enough with the emotional part (it makes me cry because I think of mom), so I'm going to post some cute pictures and I think that you'll like them as much as I do!!