Derek had to work today, so the kids and I just spent the day hanging out. Cohen has really  been into watching "Monsters University" since we got it for Christmas, and loves to watch it with his new Sulley stuffed animal. I think it's too cute!  I also caught Taylor standing on her tippy-toes looking out the window in my bedroom. She kept telling me, "Look mommy! A house! Look Mommy it's a car!" I wish she could stay little forever.



After the kids went to bed tonight, Derek and I ran in the new year by playing games, enjoying chips and queso from Chili's, and watching "World War Z."

It has been a while since we've been out to Roosevelt, so we decided to head out there for the weekend. The kids had fun playing with their cousins, and we had fun playing games with mom, dad, Ben, and Deb. We also had a good time visiting with Grandpa and Grandma Roberts. It was a quick weekend, but we are sure glad we made the time to go.

We had SUCH a great Christmas this year. We started out the morning with the kids sleeping in until 8:15 am! I did the kids hair, (something that my mom always made sure was done before we were allowed to go see what Santa brought, so I guess I'm just carrying on the tradition.) then we came downstairs and too see if Santa came... and he did! He brought Taylor a princess palace and Cohen a Cars ramp. They were both very happy with their gifts. They also had fun checking out their stockings.






We enjoyed opening presents the rest of the morning and playing with the kids and their new toys. We felt so thankful for everything that we were given. Derek got a new Dewalt drill from his dad, some iTunes gift cards, a new razor, a new electric toothbrush, and some clothes. I got a Ninja blender from Sandi, a new lens for my camera from Derek, a curling iron, some clothes, and some new kitchen tools. The kids got lots of fun toys to play with, Cars 2, Monsters University, and some cute clothes too. The rest of the afternoon, we had so much fun just lounging around playing with the kids. That evening dad, mom, and Crystal came out, so Aaron and his family and Eric and Eva came over for some stew and we had a great time spending time together as a family.

Poor Cohen woke up Sunday night with a fever and a cough. We are hoping that he will be feeling a lot better by tomorrow to enjoy Christmas. He seems to be doing a bit better today.  I spent the day baking cookies for Santa, and making rolls, ham, and cheesy potatoes for our Christmas Eve dinner. It would've been nice to have Derek home with us today, but he had to work.  Luckily, he was able to make it home by 4:30 pm though.

We had a yummy dinner and then we let the kids open their Christmas pajamas. They were both really excited and couldn't wait to take a bath so they could wear them. When baths were done and the pjs were on, Derek read the Christmas story from Luke, and the kids had fun pretending to be Mary and Joseph.







Taylor then helped me write Santa a letter and picked out which cookies to set out for him. Then the kids went to bed. Which they did better than we thought they would considering how excited they were about Christmas coming the next morning.

I was so excited to give the kids their Christmas Sunday outfits this morning. They looked so stinking cute! We were excited to finally be able to spend the Sunday before Christmas at home in our own ward. The only other years we've been home to do so, we all had the stomach flu and weren't able to go. We are also very excited that this is our last Sunday going at 1:00 pm church. After going at 1:00 for almost a year last year in our Provo ward, and then this whole year we are so ready to move to 9:00 am!

We left for Vegas Thursday after lunch.  The plan was to leave after Taylor's class sang at school, but the weather took a turn for the worst, and we decided to see if we could get ahead of the storm, so she missed out on her performance. We stopped in St. George for dinner with Grandpa and Grandam Denney at Red Robin.  We always have a good time with them. The kids were excited to get to Vegas, and as soon as we turned into Eric & Sandi's neighborhood, Taylor and Cohen both started talking about Papa's house.

Friday, the kids opened up their gifts from their grandpa and grandma and had fun playing with them through the day.  Taylor got a Sofia the First dress up dress with a Sofia doll, and a Tangled Play-Doh set. Cohen got a Noah's ark (since he is always wanting to play with Sandi's nice one) and some Play-Doh with rolling pins. They both got a mini trampoline together.

That afternoon, we had Derek's cousin, Alex, come over and watch the kids and we went to "Saving Mr. Banks" with Eric and Sandi. We absolutely loved this movie! It made us all want to come home and watch "Mary Poppins."  We fed the kids dinner when we got back and then Sandi came with us to drive through the holiday lights at the Speedway.  The kids loved it, just as we thought they would.

Saturday, Derek sent me with his sisters for a surprise pedicure. We had so much fun! Afterward, went to lunch at Que Mas with the whole family. After lunch, we exchanged sibling gifts and then loaded up the car and headed back to Utah.

It has been a tradition of ours to drive through the lights at Thanksgiving Point for the past few years. Tonight we finally were able to go.  We swung by Macey's after dinner and picked up some pumping chocolate chip cookies for a treat and then headed over to Thanksgiving Point. The kids had a blast. I just love the Christmas season with kids.

Tonight for FHE, we decided to make graham cracker houses. The kids thought that it was so much fun. Taylor loved helping put candy on them after Derek or I assembled them. Cohen mostly just wanted to eat the frosting, and would scoop it off my the handful and just shove it in his mouth.

After we got done doing that, we watched a few clips on the true meaning of Christmas on the Mormon Channel and sang some Christmas carols.

Taylor is always my buddy in the morning when I am getting ready, and usually hangs out on my bed while I shower and do my hair and make-up.

Friday morning, Taylor wanted to hang out in her bed for a while, but also wanted Willis in with her. She thought it was so much fun. I'm not so sure that Willis agreed with her though. Haha!
This morning, we babysat Loganne for Ben and Deb while they got some Christmas shopping done. Taylor was in heaven. That girl sure loves babies and she especially loves her Loganne. She is such a good baby, and we enjoyed having her around for the day.

Cohen is such a fun little boy, and I am so lucky to be in momma! Here are some of my favorite pictures of him this week.

He put all his stuffed animals in a pile, and then came and grabbed me to take a picture saying, "Cheese!"

Using his roller coaster as a slide for his action figures.