Christmas countdown

The last month was quite busy and filled with Christmas related activities. I'll try to run through them quickly but you know how long winded I can be. I just want to remember all the fun things we were able to do. As posted in the previous post it started with gingerbread houses. Scott and I then went with some neighbors to the Messiah sing-in at the tabernacle. We go every year, a tradition I started with my dad back in high school. What beautiful music and a joy to once again share it with friends. Next on the agenda were Christmas lights in downtown Ogden. We were watching Ginger's kids and then Scott's mom and brother joined us. What a fun yet coooold night. The next morning I took the YM/YW of my ward to the CCC to do service with the food drive. What a rewarding experience and I can't wait to take my kids there when they are older to teach them that some people don't have as much as we do. After the service project was the ward Christmas breakfast followed by cleaning the church. A whole weekend of service. That night was the Roberts Christmas party which is always fun filled with good food and fun games. The following sunday we sang in the choir for the Christmas cantata. We were grateful to our sacrament meeting babysitters who watched a tired and unhappy Paige and a sleepy Ashley. What a joy it was to partcipate. We then met up with the choir members for a dinner at the choir directors house. The week of Christmas was filled with lots of fun too.


Monday- dinner and catch-up with our good friends from all over the country. We're so excited to have the Wright's coming back to Utah. There was a lot of laughing and it always feels as if we'be never been apart. Tues- Our good friends, the Crofts, were in town for dinner along with one of Scott's old coworkers. Wed- we found out that Scott's dad had gangrene in his big toe which had to be removed immediately so he went down to the VA for surgery which they did the next morning- Christmas Eve. What a scary and sad experience. He did fine throught the surgery but not a fun way to spend his Christmas. Thanks for everyone's prayers that day. We were grateful that the toe was all they had to take. (Thanks to the Stone's for watching the girls while we were down visiting Scott's dad) Christmas Eve night - we went to Logan for my family festivities of soup in a bread bowl, potatoe bar, the nativity story, jammies, and Christmas stories. I love our family traditions and was glad that they would delay it while waiting for us to return from the hospital.
Christmas morning - We got up and had the girls go through their stockings first. Paige really liked it and Ashley just liked watching Paige. Paige was super excited about her coloring book and lipstick from Santa. As they opened presents from us, Ashley really enjoyed the gift wrap. She did play with her rings a little bit but not as fun as the paper. Next we made a yummy breakfast of french toast for the family. On to the gifts. A success all around the room. Thanks to grandma for making it another wonderful Christmas.




That evening - Scott went to the hospital to visit his dad. I gave the girls baths and then we played with all their new toys. Not a typical Christmas, but a nice one spent with family. Saturday - was our adult party with the same group of fun friends. We missed not having the Whelan's and the Winzeler's but we still had a great time especially with not having to look after the kids. Since we couldn't spend Christmas with Scott's family due to the surgery, we decided to delay it and hold the party the following Sunday. Family is very important to Scott and I and we thoroughly enjoy the time we get to spend with our families. We are so glad that Scott's dad was able to enjoy that day with us even if Scott had to piggy back him down the stairs.




What a wonderful Christmas season.

Gingerbread houses

This year we started a new tradition of making Gingerbread houses with Grandma Armstrong. Here are some pics of Paige diligently decorating the gingerbread house while sampling the decorations at the same time. You might not recognize my mom without her makeup on but it is her smiling at all the grandkids.

Ashley 6 months (almost 7 months)

I am such a slacker in posting an update on Ashley. Consider this post for both her 6th and 7th month (in 6 days). I can't believe how fast the time has flown. She is getting so big and is quite the butterball. She weighs 14lbs 14oz. and is 26 inches long. Ashley is so much fun. She is so full of happiness and smiles the minute she wakes up until she goes to sleep. She cries only when tired or hungry. She is so curious and wants to touch or hold everything that you have. She just barely started rolling over from her back to her front. She has such incredible flexibility. Her feet are contantly in her mouth. We have to ply them away just to get her diaper and pants on. She can say "dadadada", "mamamama", and "babababa". She has started sitting up but will gradually lean too far forward and can't bring herself upright. She's like the leaning tower of Ashley. She has finally started using her binky but find her thumb in her mouth every once in a while. She has started eating fruits, veggies, and cereal. She loves eating and can't inhale it fast enough. Her roly, poly cheeks are a testament of that. She loves her exersaucer and just laughs and "eats" all the toys on it. We love our little Ashley and are so lucky to have her in our family.

Ashley asleep while sucking on her toy

Here's what we've been doing for Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving season, I have a lot to be thankful for. I look around me and realize what I have been blessed with. I start with my number one blessing, my husband! He works hard, he's kind, he loves his family, he has a close relationship with our Savior, and most of all he loves me unconditionally. I'm blessed with two beautiful daughters who fill my days with a huge amount of joy. I have an incredible mom who impresses me with her strength every day. I have great inlaws who have hearts of gold. I love my job and the people I work with. Not many people can say that. I have a deep and unfailing testimony of my Savior. I know he lives and he died for me. I believe that I am partaking of his true gospel and he preserved the Book of Mormon for me to read today to help me through the ups and downs in my life. I know it's true and it is a gift that I am thankful for.
Right before Thanksgiving, Scott and I had a gift certificate for the Anniversary Inn. We dropped the girls off with Ginger, Scott's sister and started a heavenly weekend spent together. The first part of the day was spent shopping (an activity I enjoy immensely). Then off to the Inn to check in. We weren't terribly impressed with our room but couldn't complain too much due to the cost (free). Then off to drunch at the Garden at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Yummy and a beautiful view. We then headed down to the SLC temple to go through a session. I think it was one of the most spiritual events I've been given in my life. I listened so carefully to the session and felt my Savior with me as I pondered life in the Celestial room. Scott and I then decided that we didn't want to go anywhere so we rented a couple of movies and went back to the Inn. We were so lazy soaking in the tub and lounging in bed. It was the best. The next day we went to lunch and talked about life and changes we needed to make and things that we were doing well. I appreciate a man who knows me and wants the same things in life that I do. Then off to Ginger's to spend some time with them and then take the girls home. What a wonderful and great weekend with the man I love.
The night before Thanksgiving is our annual Turkey Bowl. We went bowling with some of our friends which Scott has been doing almost every year since he was in high school. We always have so much fun and Paige loved it.

Ashley in her turkey hat

The next day was Thanksgiving. We were able to talk my mom into coming down so she stayed the night with us. We were up early with Scott fixing us a yummy breakfast. Then I took on the challenge of making rolls from scratch. They were so gooood, if I do say so myself. Then off to Ginger's to partake of the rest of the feast. It was all scrumptious. A day spent with great company and fun games played. I'm posting some pictures of the girls with their turkey hats made at daycare. Paige was so excited to wear the hat all week long.

Paige making rolls


The next day (or should I say morning), we thought we'd attempt the midnight sale at toysrus for Megan. We got there and the line was forever long so we turned around and came home. Not much shopping done but we did get the house decorated. Paige loved decorating the tree and thought the Christmas lights were "magical". Now the Christmas season begins. I plan on focusing more on the Savior and giving "meaningfull gifts". I also look forward to teaching Paige the true meaning of Christmas.

Decorating the tree

A year already

(Thanks for letting me borrow this picture, Megan)

Since I use my blog as a journal, I wanted to take a post and reflect on the anniversary cummemorating my dad's death. He died a year ago on Nov. 10th. I thought the day would be hard but I found an amazing amount of peace was with me. I took the girls to Logan so we could spend the day with my mom. I didn't want her to be alone. We ran some errands and then took a visit to the grave. Like a year ago, it was a beautiful and mild day. We pulled out a chair and spent quite a while sitting by the grave and enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. I then dropped off the girls with my brother-in-law, and a couple of my sisters and I took my mom to dinner at El Sol- one of my dad's favorite restaurants. My mom guessed what he would order and we sat and shared some memories of him. It was a nice evening followed by a run to Sam's Club.
I miss my Dad so much. I think about him when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I'll pick up the phone to call him and ask him something or I expect him to walk throught the door on his lunch break. I remember his smiles and his goofiness (the pic above where he was making me laugh so hard). I am a silent mourner and find myself crying for him in the early hours of the morning and when I'm alone. My heart constantly aches for him but I find peace and solace in my firm testimony of eternal families. I will see him again. I did find out some interesting news that day. My dad never served a mission and was always sad about that. Someone posted on Megan's facebook that dad was instrumental in her family joining the church. He also made an impact on a new couple in his ward when he was placed as their home teachers. The couple lived in the retirement community and were inactive. My dad's quiet friendship and example helped activate them. What a gift for me of knowing he truly served a mission here on earth without even realizing it.
I love you, Dad and know that you are happy and free from the toils of this earth. I look forward to the day that I will see you again.

Family Pictures

We have an empty frame on our wall for our family picture and we keep talking about filling it but hadn't gotten around to it. We finally got our acts together and found some clothes that would match each other (I know, not a requirement but I think it looks good anyways). Since Scott is a poor student and this semester has been extremely tight financially, we couldn't afford to use any of our friends who do their own photography. Instead, we borrowed (sorry mom and Heather for causing a problem) my dad's camera. My brother-in-law, Trent, took the shots. It was a beautiful day with the only hitch being the runny noses both the girls had. Enjoy, they sure turned out great! Thanks Trent.

Halloween fun

The trick or treaters

Paige, the butterfly, flying at the trunk or treat




Halloween was spent in Logan this year so Paige could trick or treat with her cousins. Paige was a fairy princess butterfly (I know, you have to stretch your imagination a little bit) and Ashley was a clown. We trunk or treated at my mom's ward and then headed to her cousins neighborhood to trick or treat. Ashley helped her aunt Megan hand out candy while Scott and I took Paige around the block. Paige was so funny because she tried to help herself to all their candy. She had such a great time and now we have candy galore which we've been using as poopy treats.