Christmas Happenings

We had a great Christmas. JJ was so excited to discover that Santa actually comes and leaves presents, it wan't just something we talked about. This is his wagon that he got from his Grandma and Grandpa Pyper. He has been on several walks and loves just sitting in it.

Golf clubs from Uncle Alex are also a hit, although he likes to hit the ball under the couch and make someone go get it.

This is his tool box, with the screwdrivers. Santa did real good with this one. The screwdrivers go everywhere with us.

Santa also brought a guitar so that JJ can play Rock Band with Daddy.

Big Jeremiah got Rock Band 2 from his amazing and very cool wife, so we've spent a lot of time playing together. It's been lots of fun. We look forward to get our Rock Band on with our family in Utah as well.

Hope you all had a great Christmas too.

Visiting Santa

So we're here in AZ enjoying some beautiful weather. It's a little colder than normal for AZ, but much warmer than UT. JJ is enjoying playing outside. Before we left, I got all the Christmas cards mailed out, the treats baked and delivered and the bathrooms cleaned.

We also visited Santa right before we left. Unfortunately, I lost the really good picture, so you'll have to make due with this.

We had been practicing what we would ask Santa for. That morning when I asked him what he would ask Santa for he said his usually "screwdrivers." Then he continued, "want a Dremmel, want a drill, want a fire engine, want a choo, choo," and on and on. I didn't realize that he "got" what asking Santa was all about. It was pretty funny.

As soon as we got to Santa he busted out with his list of things. He wasn't scared at all. After, we rode the train. He loved it.

So, we wish you all a very merry Christmas. Please don't freeze. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

... here at our house anyway.

We put up outside lights and the Christmas tree.

We're going easy on the decorations this year, because I don't have anything to set decorations on. We've moved all our furniture out in the past year as JJ has gotten more mobile and destructive. What you say, a toddler boy being destructive, I just don't believe it. Sadly, it's true. I did wrap some empty boxes to put under the tree so that if he does destroy them, it just doesn't matter. And for those who are saying to themselves, why put anything under the tree, I say, because it's Christmas and I need to see presents and it makes me happy. Sorry for the bad pictures, I need to find out what setting my camera needs to be on to take pictures of lights in the dark.

Draper Temple Open House

We got our tickets today for the Draper Temple Open House. We are going Saturday January 31st at 10:40. After, we are planning a trip to our favorite burger joint. If you are local, we invite you to come with us, except you'll have to pay for your own lunch (we don't have enough money:). Just go to lds.org, click on Family History and Temples and keep clicking on the picture of Utah until you get to the Draper temple, then on the left is a button for Open House info.

Last night for FHE we drove by the Provo temple. Apparently the Mt. Timpanogoos temple is mamma's temple and the Provo temple is daddy's temple. JJ loves to see the temples and loves to sing the song, so I think he'll really enjoy going in. Last night he said, "open temple." So this will be an experience you don't want to miss. Get your tickets quickly.

Also, I just heard on the news that Elder Worthlin died. The older the apostles get, the more I just love their talks, probably because they include a lot of stories and his last talk was no exception.

Christmas is Saved

Last year Hersey's stopped making mint chocolate kisses. These kisses are what I use to make mint fudge at Christmas time. So this year I have been contemplating how to use mint extract to make mint fudge. Well, I was strolling down the baking aisle of my local grocery store and what should happen to catch my eye, but mint chocolate chips. For years I have been looking for mint chocolate chips so I wouldn't have to unwrap each kiss, but to no avail. But Hallelujah, this year Christmas is saved. At least the fudge part :)

A New Dishwasher

A couple of weeks ago, our dishwasher stopped washing dishes.

That's kind of a problem. It wasn't great timing, but luckily we found a great deal, had a coupon and pretty soon, we had a new dishwasher. Watching JJ help his dad and grandpa install it was so cute.
I love our new dishwasher except for one thing. Our old dishwasher held all of one days worth of dishes. Our new dishwasher holds way more, but we don't have enough dishes for more than one day. So we either have to run it partially empty or we don't have enough cups and spoons for the next day. Tough problem to have, huh?!?

Orange Plum Etsy Store

My sister-in-law Lis has an etsy store where she sells no-slip fabric head bands and baby blankets. The fabric she uses is so pretty, you should definitely check it out. The headbands are great because they don't give you a headache. I love them. Use the blinkie on my sidebar to get to her store and learn more.

Happy Birthday, Jeremiah

Thursday was Jer's birthday and since he won't blog about it, I will. I got him iTunes gift cards, lame I know, but it's what he wanted and he bought his Mr. Potato heads at Disneyland (I would have gotten those if he didn't buy them). We went to a yummy dinner at Carver's steakhouse with a gift card we purchased back in February when they were on sale and we had more disposable income. Go us!!! JJ was pretty bummed that there was no happy birthday cake or candles so on Friday we picked up a mini-ice cream cake from Cold Stone. They say it feeds two, but it would easily feed 4 and we cut it into 6 pieces, one for Friday night and one for Sunday. JJ felt better about that, but in the pictures, he looks a little worried. He wasn't, he was actually so excited about the candles that we had to blow them out as soon as Jer walked through the door. There was no waiting until after dinner.

Beautiful Weather

Today was a gorgeous day. Rainy and overcast. The perfect day to curl up in a warm blanket and take a nap (which I did, yay me!!). I thought I would post some pictures of last Wednesday, our first snow day.

It has snowed here before, but nothing that stuck.

JJ watched his day shovel the snow in the morning, so he thought he needed to shovel too.

Complete Sentences

Last Monday, JJ said his first complete sentence. "I want a knife." This said while he was eating his cereal. He has expressed more complicated ideas before, but this was the first time he used a subject, verb and predicate (with the correct article). Why he thought he needed a knife, I don't know. He did follow this up later with "I need a blanket." The English teacher in me is so proud.

Craft Blog is ready

So, my craft blog is ready for anyone who wants to see what I've been up to. For you non-crafty types, I won't be offended if you don't visit. See the link in the side bar, Jenn's Crafts.

New Blog

So this blog is still under construction and it will be a slow process, but I thought I'd let you know about this site I found where I got my blog designs www.simplyfabulousbloggertemplates.com. It had some really great stuff.