Tessa- 8 Months

These last 8 months have gone by way too fast with Tessa.  She is becoming the cutest little person.  She loves to clap her hands and has become quite a good little crawler.  She is loving all types of food, her favorite being bananas.  She is a very easy going baby and doesn't get too upset unless she's hungry or tired.  She is by far everyone's favorite and the kids still fight over who gets to hold her even though half the time she doesn't even want to be held.

Santa Claus

Visiting Santa Claus this year was a huge success! No tears! Although I was secretly hoping we'd get 3 years in a row with Bode.  They were all very excited to tell Santa what they would like for Christmas.

Temple Square Lights

Seeing the lights on temple square is one of my all time favorite traditions we do during the holiday season.  Bode was very aware of the temple this year and he kept saying to us how Mommy and Daddy got married in there and someday he's going to marry his little friend Ani in the temple.

Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra/Gentri

My beautiful niece London is part of the American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra.  She had the opportunity to perform with the group Gentri and Lexi Walker.  Kyle unfortunately had to be in Ephraim that night so Corbin go to be my date that night.  It's so amazing being in a room filled with so much talent.  Corbin loved the group Gentri and we ended up getting their Christmas cd and having them sign it.

December 6, 2005

11 years ago today I got this scar and a couple others. This one in particular is the one I see daily. It has been a constant reminder of that day. It has haunted my dreams and my thoughts on snowy days. It has always had a very negative association for me but this year is different. For the first time in 11 years I look at it and realize what I do have because of this scar. 

That day I was headed back to Logan with the intent on breaking up with Kyle because I was constantly feeling like every time I wanted to talk about the future or the next step he would say, "yeah eventually." or just kind of sweet talk his way out of talking about it.  I felt like we had been together for a year and if he didn't see a future with me it was time for both of us to move on. All the way up I continued thinking about how I was going to have to break up with him.  After my accident while I was in the hospital I would introduce Kyle to everyone and tell them that he's my boyfriend and that we were going to be getting married in May.  Apparently the shock on everyone's face was pretty funny, I however missed it since I was strapped to a table.  Any thought of breaking up with Kyle went out the window.  

Years later when we were discussing the accident it came out that I was planning on breaking up with Kyle that day and then he explained to me that he had already planned everything out and he was trying to keep it a surprise.  He knew that he wanted to marry me.   It's funny how God works and how his plans unfold for us.  

As my perspective has changed and I choose to look at it in a positive way it makes my scars ugliness look like beauty to me. As I have pondered on this scar I found this quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf that touched my heart. "God didn't design us to be sad. He created us to have Joy!" 

Sub for Santa-Liljenquist Family

This year we were lucky enough to host the Liljenquist family Sub for Santa.  As we were eating dinner we were discussing how long the family has been doing the Sub for Santa and we discovered that they have been doing it for 19 years now.  Kyle started it for his Eagle Scout Project and they have done it ever since.  It was so cool sitting around and listening to Kyle share his experience the very first year and to reminisce about some of the years the kids remember.  It is such an amazing tradition that all of us love.  This year we were able to shop for a family who has a young child that has cancer.

BYU vs USU Basketball Game

We got to take Corbin and Emma to the BYU vs USU basketball game at the Vivint Arena.  Utah State Basketball has a very sentimental meaning for Kyle and I so it's fun to include our kids on something that means a lot to us.

Emma's Winter Dance Recital

Emma's dance recital was at the Festival of Trees this year.  She danced to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  Emma of course rocked it up on the stage.  She has become such a cute little dancer and she loves performing in front of other people and she loves dancing at the same studio as a bunch of the girls from our neighborhood.

Christmas Pajamas/Christmas in Color

At the beginning of December we planned our evening to go to Christmas in Color and give our kids their new Christmas pajamas to wear through the month of December.  The night we picked ended up being stormy but that did not stop us and it was a beautiful snowy evening as we drove through the light show.  Tessa slept through it but the rest of us enjoyed ourselves.