Christmas Is All Around Me...

Christmas is really the best time of year! With Christ, three little boys, family, and Santa you really can't go wrong. We drove down to Logan, Utah on Christmas Eve morning and made it to Grandma Weston's in time to see Santa! The boys were able to tell Santa what they wanted before it was too late. Marcus asked for a train, and Tyson asked for a box in a box. Yes, you read that right a box in a box! We then went over to Brian's parents for a beautiful dinner and re-enactment of the birth of Christ. The boys loved dressing up and it was fun to watch them understand what we are really celebrating. We then set out stockings, cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer and went to bed.

Christmas morning was perfect...Santa delivered! It was great, Marcus got his train, and Tyson got his box in a box! It was so wonderful we got to be with family and even got to talk to all our missionary siblings - Richard, Adam, and Maryn. Our life is great!

*Guess what movie this title comes from.

Happy Birthday Marcus

Birth One

Two

Three

Four

I can't believe it Marcus is now four years old!! It still feels like I just got married, and we now have a four year old! He really is the best boy ever. He is always so willing to share everything. Today he would open up presents and assign which present was his, Tyson's, and Carter's! I love how he is always thinking of his brothers. He is the best big brother! We are so glad he is part of our family! Happy Birthday Marcus! We love you!

Grandmas!

Tonight for Family Home Evening we had Grandma Anne come and join us. It is always fun when Grandma comes. We have her over once a month for dinner and FHE, and the boys LOVE it. We ate dinner and Carter didn't want anything when I fed him but when I let him out he went straight to Grandma Anne and he ate all her food! She loved that he would only eat for her.Then for FHE we read from Luke and used the Playmoblie Nativity set that their Grandma Zoe (my Mom) gave them. They have been playing with it all week and love it. Carter doesn't normally get to play with it because there are small parts, but tonight we gave him some animals and he had a great time.Then made canes that Grandma Kathie (Brian's Mom) sent . It sure takes a lot of focus. But the results are worth it!

We sure love our Grandmas, thanks for all the fun...Grandmas really are the BEST!

Christmas Visitors!

This past Friday Brian's brother Spencer brought his sweet girlfriend Alicia all the way to Eagle, Idaho so that Brian and I could go Christmas shopping. Yes, I do know we are VERY lucky people, they live in Logan, Utah - about a 41/2 hour drive. And listen to this...we didn't ask them, bribe them or even force them. They just thought it up all on their own.
The boys were so excited when they arrived and had them running around outside playing football.

We went to Chili's for dinner the boys LOVE the chips and salsa,

and loved the company even more.

On the way out they even had a good train of "whoopty-do's." It looks like Carter missed out on the fun, but don't worry...He had a GREAT time too. Thanks for coming Spencer and Alicia. We love you!

Thanksgiving...Finally

My brother Jake got home from his mission the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Brian wasn't able to take off work but the boys and I got to go to the airport to pick him up. It was really fun for them, and way exciting for ME!! They have been praying for Jake several times EVERYDAY since he left. They did know who he was, and understood that he was getting home from his mission, but were still a little shy around him. I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures but I am so proud of Jake and the wonderful mission that he served. It is so nice to have him home and he gave a great homecoming talk.

For Thanksgiving we went to my Grandma Westons. I can't help it each year I eat at least 3 servings of YAMS!! I love those things, especially when they're candied...yummy! We also got to spend time with Brian's family. Families are really something that we are thankful for, we just can't get enough of them. Thanks for the great week in Utah everyone!! Now we can't wait for Christmas!

Portland, Oregon

We have been wanting to visit Chris and Hailey for sometime now and this past weekend we were able to get away. It also happened to be the same time that Drew and Jill were visiting them too (we got a little visit from them before and after their visit from Chris and Hailey's, sure glad we are on the way!). We had so much fun and we can't believe how beautiful it is there. The first night Hailey made us some homemade pizza that put my pizza to shame :0( I think I have learned her trick now...we'll see. Saturday we went to Eagle Creek for a breathtaking hike :0). It was the most beautiful hike we have ever been on. There was water at every turn.

On the opposide side of the creek you would see beautiful waterfalls like this. On the trail side you would be walking underneath this, getting showered with little streams. The boys loved it! They didn't want anything to do with Brian and I though...It was these two who the hulligians perferred. I can't blame them though, they're pretty cool!And to tell you the truth...We wouldn't have been able to go on the beautiful, amazing, gorgeous hike without them.Jill, Drew and Cruz provided us with a yummy lunch as well as good company.This was punch bowl falls, the destination of our hike.We then made our way to the coast, which was about two hours away (perfect naptime) and made it just in time to see the sun go down...And have a little dinner at Mo's.We didn't stop there though, when we got back we went swimming! The boys were loving it with Chris and Hailey and even though it was way past their bedtime they didn't whine ONCE!! I was impressed and glad we didn't just put them to bed. On Sunday we went to Chris and Hailey's ward. They were all so nice, and LOVE Chris and Hailey. It was fun to hear from them how wonderful Chris and Hailey are, and know what great people they are. Thanks Chris and Hailey we really had a BLAST!!

Random

These pictures are from a couple days ago, I just forgot to post them but this is Marc's new favorite past time. Brian taught him how to play and now he always wants to play and be on the "Twins" and makes Tyson be on the " 'ankees." It is was fun to watch them play. They really just like to hit the ball and run around.

Tyson ended up using a stick for a bat. They really have a "ball!"Carter got the real baseball but didn't do much but throw it around. He likes to do what his brothers do.

We got a Target Magazine in the mail the other day and I hid it at first but gave it to Carter to entertain him, I soon found Marcus and Tyson going through the pages. It was a little flashback for Brian and I; we remember pouring through magazines picking the toys we would just love to have for Christmas. I told them they should pick some things out because Christmas, and Birthdays are coming up. They were thrilled, and picked out a whole lot!

Marcus also suprised me with this. We got an activity book in Sun Valley and Marcus was looking through it with his pen and found this page. Later I was looking at all of the things he had done and he turned to this page and explained that he was writing the numbers with lines. I was shocked! He got them all right except 6 which would be right if you count the inner and outer lines. I was really proud of him!

Happy Halloween!

Oooooo, ooooo, here is our family friendly ghost! He is a "nice ghost," and LOVES to trick or treat!Tyson the tiger! His roar is ferocious, and he may steal your candy so watch out! Carter the pumpkin sure had a lot of fun in the trunk watching all the trunk or treaters! He was loving all the entertainment and I was too.
The "Trunk or Treaters"!

Our scary family! Brian didn't dress up because he said his Halloween obligation had been met through pumpkin carving and trick or treating.

Pumpkin Time!

Last night for Family Home Evening we carved our pumpkins. Marcus and Tyson had picked out some great pumpkins a while ago and they were excited to make them into something. Marcus didn't mind getting a little goop on him but Tyson didn't want to even touch it. I made him once and he looked at me and said, "Now can you wash my hand?" We had the boys choose what they wanted. Marcus chose bats, a Mommy one and a Daddy one. We didn't let the boys "carve" them but we did let Marcus draw a good circle around his bats.

He was very proud of his work!

Tyson chose a ghost pumpkin, which he held my hand to "help" me make his.

And Carter...lets be honest, he didn't do anything to help but he did like to play with it after. He had a happy Frankenstein. It sure was a fun night together. FHE is GREAT! Thanks Daddy for really doing all the work.