St. George

We took a quick trip to St. George. We really didn't do much, but it was fun just to hang out with my family. We stayed in a penthouse, which was so nice! There were 12 of us and we never felt crowded it was so big. They had a hot tub out on the patio...too bad I couldn't enjoy it. I thought Gavin would have fun it it, but he didn't want in AT ALL. Instead he wanted to play in the big jetted tub. Gavin loved spending time with his cousins and Grandma and Grandpa. I did get to go shopping at the outlet stores, which is the main reason why I wanted to go there...so it ended up being a great trip! I didn't get many pictures, but here are the few I took...

Gavin spent most of the time playing with the trains...he would have someone set up the track and then go "vroom vroom" with a car on it.

Eating Grandpa Bill's breakfast

One evening, the kids were off playing, and it was quiet for a while, so I went to check on them. I found the bathroom where Gavin's bed was set up. I don't know how Gavin got in the bed, but he was having so much fun playing in it with Braxton. They were playing house, and Kylie was the mom, Gavin was the dad and Braxton was the baby.
One night I put Gavin to bed. He went down really well, and I thought he went right to sleep. Abut a half an hour later, Braxton and Kylie came running in and said "Gavin got out of bed and is opening the door!" I went to check on him, and this is what I found:
I guess he figured out how to open the door, and thought that was way more fun then to go to bed.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a great Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas. It was fun to start new traditions and continue other traditions. It made me really think about my family and friends and I see how blessed I am to be surrounded by so many giving and thoughtful people.

DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS:
Here is Gavin with his advent calendar. Every morning right after breakfast he would point to the fridge and say "more"....meaning, "I want chocolate!" Each little window we would open each day and he would get a chocolate. Only one more day to go...

CHRISTMAS EVE:

We started this tradition last year, where on Christmas Eve, we would sit in our PJ's all day and watch Christmas movies, then enjoy a big Christmas Eve dinner. We watched Chipmunks (Gavin's favorite), Micky Mouse's Christmas Carol, Home Alone 2, The Grinch, and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. We then had a nice dinner of roast...yum! That evening we went to my parent's to have dessert and to do our gift exchange. We also read in Luke 2 and the little grandkids acted out the Christmas story. Gavin was a little shepherd, Damon was a wiseman, Braxton was Joseph and Kylie was Mary. They did a great job.

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Gavin had a lot of fun opening his presents and going through his stocking. He was so much fun to watch. He would rip open each present and with each one give an enthusiastic "Wow!".

Playing with his new toy...he loved playing with these at his cousin's, Andee and Nick, so I had to get him his own set.Yes, even the dogs got a present.

My mom and dad came around to each of our homes in the morning to deliver gifts and have breakfast. Here is Gavin opening his present from them. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

He loves his vacuum from Grandma and Grandpa

Showing off his new presents...

Later we went to Casey's parent's and had lunch and a gift exchange there. Gavin got this quilt and blanket for his big boy bed. It is so cute! It has his favorite thing on it...dogs.

Casey got a dart board from James and Charity. He was so excited to get it and has been wanting one for a while. He and his brothers had fun playing a few games. Casey was the champion.

Decorating the Gingerbread House

Gavin had a lot of fun helping me decorate the gingerbread house. He knew exactly what to do, and got pretty messy while doing it, but he had a lot of fun!

The side of the house I decorated....

The side of the house Gavin decorated....

Casey's Cravings

One thing I love about Casey is his random cravings. Today it was Popcorn Balls. Gavin had a lot of fun helping Dad make them.

Reading

Gavin was reading his book the other day, and of course, I had to get the camera out to take pictures.

He is saying "All done!"

Temple Square

We went up to Temple Square last night to see the lights. It was a little cold, but not too bad. Gavin looked so cute all bundled up. He didn't want to be held and wanted to walk around all by himself. He looked like a Sumo Wrestler walking around. He got a lot of laughs and comments saying he was so cute from people who would pass him.

He really wanted to climb the stairs up to the temple, but he was too bundled up to do it.

Logan and Camille

Apple Beer

After a long day at church, Gavin thought he'd come home, unwind, relax on the couch and open a bottle of beer...apple beer. It is his new favorite drink. I don't know what he likes more, the taste or the bottle.

Always laughing...

Gavin is always making me laugh. This is where I found him the other day... What a cute little decoration!

Congrats Logan!!

My little brother just got engaged yesterday! He is getting married on June 12th. Congrats Logan and Camille!

My Poor Boys

This has been a rough week! Poor little Gavin and Casey have been sick. Gavin had an ear infection and Casey had a cold. For the last day and a half Gavin has been sleeping so much. I haven't been able to get much done because he just wants to be held. Yesterday when I got home from work, this is what I found:

What a stinker!

The other night I was in the kitchen making dinner, and I heard a ripping sound. I thought the dogs were getting into something, so when I went to investigate, this is what I found. Gavin was opening one of his presants!! He was so proud of himself and came running to me with his new toy. This will be an interesting Christmas. Already he has taken two ornaments, which he calls balls and threw them and they broke, now this incident with the presant....What a stinker!

Thanksgiving Break

I have been having a nice Thanksgiving Break. On Wednesday we went to the Dinosaur Museum, and Gavin LOVED it. He would run from dinosaur to dinosaur. We had a nice Thanksgiving at my parent's house this year. It was just us, Autumn and Doug and Logan and Camille, so not a big crowd. Today I did wake up and went out Christmas shopping. I got quite a few gifts and was in the Christmas mood, so I came home and set up the Christmas stuff and wrapped presants. Casey and I then went on a date to see "Four Christmases", which was very funny. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Uncle Logan was hiding in the cave scaring Gavin. He thought that was so funny.

Making a mess in the sand.

Dusting for fossles

I had to take this picture of Gavin and Braxton on Thanksgiving. They were playing so good.

Christmas...here we come! Gavin was so helpful setting up the tree. He was so funny and would help straighten the branches. He loves looking and touching the "balls" (ornaments) and the lights.