Layton Christmas Party

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Since my Grandma Layton passed away the holidays haven't been the same and this year was the MOST different. But it was still fun just not like the parties of my youth. My Grandpa and his wife decided to have our Christmas party at Chuck-a-rama. I know right? We usually have a great spaghetti dinner. Not this year. So we met at the Chuck a rama in Ogden last Saturday and half the family wasn't even there. Because of work and other commitments. My Aunt Michelle, Uncle Dean, cousins Kylee (her husband Sam), Jordan, Landon, Shelby, and my Aunt Sue were the only ones there when we got there. Because we had a high chair we had to sit on the end. Sue sat with us but we felt a little excluded from the rest of the group but what can you do? When we were all done eating my Aunt Lor her husband Lee, and my cousins Jenn, James and their kids came. They filled in the gap in the table. They we did a white elephant gift. If was fun. I got a candle. Jon got a box of chocolates, Cason got coloring books and crayons, and Weston got a box of hot chocolate mixes and cups and you may think of bummer. But not Weston he LOVES hot chocolate so he was THRILLED! Weston was the present hander outter or so he thought. And everyone was sweet enough to let him open their gifts. Then you had the opportunity to steal someone elses present once. No one stole ours luckily. It was a pretty nice time just not what I grew up with and I definitely miss our old parties. Oh well time to grow up I guess. Weston's present
Aunt Sue helping him open it.

On a side not it was so cute that Weston was my Grandpa's little buddy he hung out with him for most of the dinner.

Me on the way there. I get sick of no pictures of me so I randomly post some now and again. Sorry!

Gingerbread House

Weston had read a Christmas book that had a gingerbread house in it so he got the idea he wanted to make his own. We were at Walmart a few days later and of course Grandma had to oblige. He got his "candy house" as he likes to call it and was so excited to make if for days. So finally last Saturday we made the candy house. Don't mind the scary pictures of me. Now you know what I look like in the morning with no makeup scary scary sight. Doing the windows
Weston decorating the window.

The final product. He did a great job and I must admit this was my first attempt at one as well. Notice the candy cane fence. Weston was insistent on that.

He was having such a blast

Stopping to pose for a picture or two.

What a stud. Him and Cason have been known to steal a few pieces from our house. We no longer have a bush outside the front door. And part of the fence is gone.

O Christmas Tree

As you know we always have to have a live tree, and Jon always has to cut down his own tree. It really is fun going out in the cold and finding what we think is the perfect Christmas tree then cutting it down. Our tree stays alive much longer and we can get a HUGE tree for so much cheaper. This year Weston was so excited to go and pick out his Christmas tree and decorate it. We had decorated the house a week earlier and Weston was such a helper. Cason on the other hand was such a helper at undecorating the house. So Weston had been asking everyday when we would get our tree. But we had to wait until a Saturday because it is dark by the time Jon gets home from work. On Saturday we bundled up and went tree hunting. We tried a new place this year. It was a little more picked over but after a lot of going back and forth we found our tree. Here it is:Jon and Weston making the final selection.
Getting ready to chop her down.

Weston posing with his tree.

Cason feel asleep on the way to getting the tree. He looked so grumpy falling asleep.

Weston all ready to go.

The finished product. Isn't she beautiful? Weston kept telling me it wasn't beautiful yet because he hadn't put all the ornaments up. When we finally got everything up then he said it was beautiful. It was so neat to tell him about each ornament and have him understand the importance of them. And then he was trying to tell Cason. How sweet is that?

My little decorator.
(don't mind the pj pants that clash withi his shirt lol)

BYU vs. UTAH

The Saturday after Thanksgiving was the big BYU vs. Utah game. And we of course had to watch. It was a very disappointing game even with us winning. Utah could have done much better. But it was fun to watch Weston cheer for his utes. Jon watching the game in his gear.
Weston enjoying the snacks.

Me in my gear. GO UTES!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to have dinner at our house. My mom and I shopped all the week before so we had everything that we would need to make our feast. Then the day before we made all the pies and the stuffing. On Thanksgiving day I went and got my mom and we put the turkey in, started the potatoes and the rolls. Then we just relaxed. We had a delicious cheese ball and crackers, and a veggie tray. We ate, relaxed, and planned our attack for Black Friday. It was a nice relaxing day and lots of fun. My mom, Weston, and I
Jon carving the delicious turkey

Weston ready for his feast.

The spread.

Thankful For.....

With Thanksgiving on Thursday its time that I wrote my post about all the things that I am thankful for. Due to the fact that my pictures loaded randomly they will be listed randomly not in their order of importance.

#1 Jobs:

In this ecomony I am so thankful for Jon and I's jobs. Though Jon's hours were slightly cut he still has his job. And though I have 30 kids in my class I still have a job. I am thankful that when so many people have lost their jobs we haven't. We have still been able to support our children. Action where Jon works
Ellison Park where I work.

#2 Family:
I am so thankful for my "little sister", all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. I have always had a huge appreciation for my family. I love spending time with them. But since my grandma passed away a few years ago it has really made me appreciate them more and miss the fact we don't get together as often. I really miss seeing them every few months, now I only get to see them every 6 months or more. I wish my kids had lots of aunts and uncles and cousins like I did growing up because they really are great!

Me and Charity (my little sister/cousin)

Auntie Kim, Sean, and Weston

#3 Grandma:

My mom and I haven't always seen eye to eye but she is so great to my boys. I am so thankful that even though I have to work my mom is able to stay home and watch my boys. Weston and Cason get so spoiled by their Grandma and I am thankful they have her in their lives as well as ours.

#4 Glasses:

Both my boys have nystagmus which causes their eyes to slightly shake. They also don't have the best eyesight. I am so thankful for the invention of glasses to help them to see better. Cason won't keep his on yet so this hasn't helped him too much. But Weston is great at wearing them. I can tell a big difference when he wears them and I am thankful that they have allowed my babies to be able to see all the things that we take for granted.

#5 Summer vaction:

Being a working mom I am even more thankful for summer vacation. Three months of the year I get to be a stay at home mom and just play with my boys and I love it. We try to fit in all kinds of activities and even just relax and be together. I am thankful I have a career that allows me to be a stay at home mom atleast for a few months.

Weston and I boating this summer.

#6 Being a mom!!!!!!!!

I don't even know how I got blessed to be the mom to the two sweetest boys. I knew being a mom was going to be great because I got a run at it helping raise Charity but I had no idea just how hard, rewarding, and amazing it would be! I love my boys with everything. Though I joke about wanting a girl so badly I wouldn't trade either boy for a million girls. Cason and Weston are both just so amazing they both have their own unique personalities and I feel so honored and thankful to be their mommy.

Cason

Weston

#7 Jon:

Jon is a great husband. We have really gone through a lot this year as a couple and had some real downs. But we are both commited to each other and our marriage as well as our family. We are both willing to change and work on our marriage. I am thankful for having him as my husband and for his love and support. Together we can do anything!

I mean what a stud!

#8 My mom:

I am so thankful for having my mom in my life. For a lot of years my mom and I didn't get along well and we really weren't in each others lives. But recently we have become good friends. We often do everything together (especially when Jon is out of town). I am thankful to have her clean, happy and in my families lives so much!

#9 Holidays/birthdays:

I just love celebrating all holidays and birthdays and since having kids its even more fun. I love seeing how excited Weston gets and I want to do everything in my power to create amazing traditions for him to remember like my family did for me. I just love it all. The decorations, the food, and the presents and any holiday or birthday.

And there you have it. I could go on and on and on..... But I won't these are the most important things that I am thankful this year for.

Trick or treating

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On Saturday night we went trick or treating. The day was really cloudy and then right before it was time to go it started to rain. Jon and I decided to put the canopy on the wagon and take the kids out. Luckily the rain slowed to a srinkle then disappeared. Yay! Weston has been so excited to go out. It was funny after about 15 houses he says, " I am sick of saying trick or treat and thank you!" We proceeded to tell him that if he doesn't say it then he won't get anymore candy needless to say he got over being sick of saying it. Cason was so funny he wanted to knock on the door just like Weston and so he would knock then sit on the step by the doors. He was cracking us up. Then he would say treat. After getting his treat.

Weston at his first stop.My cute trick or treaters

Halloween Party

Jon has been out of town the last three years for Halloween for work so I was so excited to have him home this year. Halloween is special to me and him because we met at a Halloween party 6 years ago and got engaged on Halloween night 5 years ago. Any way Jon wanted to have a party since he was going to be home. So Thursday night we decided to have one on Friday night. It was a lot of fun. I took the boys trunk or treating in my mom's ward and then came home to party. Our friend Carl brought his daughter, Lexi. Lexi and Weston played the whole time. It was so cute. I put Cason to bed and then we got to party too. We had great friends over and played some beer pong, and did some visiting. Definately a fun night but staying up until 4:30 only to get up at 8:50 with the kids wasn't much fun.

I was a 1950's housewife Jon was a deer hunter
I wouldn't mess with him.

My little penguin again sorry I just love him

Us again.

Angie as Captain Morgan

Roger, Kortnee and Bev

Ryan and Jon

My little partier enjoying the fire

Loved Tony's costume

Utah fan, Superman, and a kitty cat

He is so lucky he really didn't light those in my house

Kenton playing pong

Jon ready to pass out. Hate when he does that :(