Oh christmas tree...

This is what Mylee did the whole time we set up the tree. Little turd! She was so excited and fell asleep on us after trying to find the best deal at 4 different lots! Courtesy of her dad.

Like I said....this boy has to have everything in his mouth. Only one shattered ornament this year. I was in the office editing and I hear this break and then his little voice saying uh oh... how do you get mad at that?

Since Mylee was asleep the entire night we did the tree we saved the star for her to put on the next night. She was so excited!

The night the tree got all decorated. He loved the train!

Chubs eating a celery stick from the delicious wings we got from Wingers.

Layne worked up quite the appetite since we went to 4 different tree lots this year! He wanted to find the best deal! It's so funny how kids change things. Our first year of marriage we got in a huge fight cause I didn't find the perfect one at the first place we looked and now it's him doing it! We let Mylee pick out the tree this year. I kinda put my foot down with the ones she really wanted. They were so small Layne said we could set it up on the table. Really? That was one of the dumbest ideas I'd heard in a long time so it got shut down real quick. hehe. We had so much fun out looking for a tree though. Mylee found this one and we brought it home and decorated it in no time. I think I'm addicted to smaller trees! So much less work. We decided that every year we are going to stop by for some wings from Wingers and make hot chocolate! Such a fun night for us. I love this time of year and making fun memories!

homeless

Layne and Mal.

Mylee and Malorie....she loves her cousins! I'm so glad she has a bunch around her to grow up with!

Ok.....so this was one of the funnest nights and coolest experiences I've had in a long time! My sister and her husband are the ward missionaries and leader in their ward. They had a guy names David that was there for a bit but ended up leaving up to s.lake. He ended up getting baptized and they have kept friends with him. I left my camera out in the car for this part but if I can get ahold of Shels picts I'll post some later. They invited a bunch of us family up to go and take clothes and shoes and a bunch of other things needed to a homeless shelter house. This is where David is living. We got there and the workers were telling us how they are all vets that have served in war for us and from what they have seen they kinda have gone mental abit. There was this young nurse that was so cute. She was in her 40's probably. They told us that she served as a nurse. These people here don't have family or friends that come around. They have pretty much nobody! We got there and set out all the clothes and goodies for them to come and see what they could use. I was put back in place and realized how blessed me and my little family are and how easy it is to get caught up in thinking you need it all. There was one little lady, named Audrey. She had on a pair of shoes that she found in a dumpster 5 years ago! They were getting holes in the toe and completely worn. We didn't have any her size so we told her we were going to go back up and bring her a new pair. She said that would be nice but hers were still pretty good too. I about died! This is the same lady that hasn't had a visitor in over 16yrs! She loved the little kids too. None of them took more then what they needed and were so grateful for what they received that night. We took all the kids and I'm so glad that they were able to have that experience. I thought about leaving mine home cause they aren't old enough to really know but I'm so glad I didn't cause they lit up around them. They loved the little ones. The nurse told us that she had to go do some artwork and came back with my sister a thank you note that she drew a picture on! Layne helped one guy that was close to being blind. Layne told him he could take whatever he needed to go ahead and look around. He said that would be kinda hard cause he can't see so he walked him around and got him a good pile. Also there was a man with a long silver ponytail. We walked in and started setting up and he went in his room and put on his nicer shoes and came out with 2 dark choc. candy bars for the kids! You know, I probably would have been alittle nervous with them out on the street and it sure taught me a big lesson. I will look at them and recognize that they are there and go out of my way alittle more now for people like that. I think it is amazing that they went to war for our freedom and now have a life like that. You never know peoples real stories. I told Layne after I would love to know their background and there real stories. Probably pretty interesting! It's so funny how when you go and serve and think you are helping them out so much, you learn so much! It was an experience I am so grateful for and hopefully we can go up there alot more times. After that we went and got pizza and decided to brave the cold and go see the lights. It was so much fun! Thanks Joel and Shel for inviting us and giving us that experience!

randomness

Derek is a crack up right now. He has to have something in his mouth at ALL times! He crawls around and if he needs to hawl it with him he puts it in his mouth and off he goes. I love this boy!

I'm trying to teach My that she needs to make her bed. This was one of the first times she made it and was so proud after!

Just some random picts of the kids. Mylee is completely obsessed with horses right now. She has to have everyone in the house to play with at all times. So funny their stages they go through. I love listening to her imaginary play. She puts them on time out and gets mad at them and I sit and crack up cause she sounds just like me with her. Kinda sad!

light parade

We love taking the kids to the light parade every year. We are pretty lazy and usually just stay in the truck and watch it from there but this year we went to eat before and got there alittle late. We ran out, leaving Derek asleep in the truck and caught the end of it. Mylee has always loved this! I love having my own little family to start traditions with.