Salt Lake City

We took a fun trip to Salt Lake City to see the temple square christmas lights and hang out as a family.  We also meet Dads good friend Empy with his family there and walked around and talked with them.  It was so fun to see the beautiful lights and see the temple with the kids.  Ryan keeps saying that we need to start a family tradition with the kids and I think this should be it.  We had a lot of fun.  

I couldn't believe how cold it was walking around outside and how busy it was.  We went to go and eat and everywhere we went had a huge wait and so we just went to the mall food court.  We ate and then found this cute little play area for the kids to play around in while we talked some more with Ryan's friends.  

Max was over tired and was very wired.  He really loved the egg and if anyone would get in it besides him he would pull them out and and or growl at them.  He was being so funny, but wasn't really acting like him self  I think it had something to do with not really getting a nap and being up past 10.  

We stayed in a hotel that had a 24 hour pool so the kids were so excited to go swimming as soon as we got there even thought it was 11.  We all went for a little while but I only stayed for about 20 min with Max.  They all had a blast and we were all so tired we slept in the next day to 9.  It was great.
While we were in SLC I was able to go and see my Friend Sadie.  I was so happy to see her and it made me feel so much better to know that she was still doing well, and looked amazing as always.  She was so positive and just the same ole Sadie.  She talked about how she felt so bad that she was being so spoiled with kindness when she knows that everyone has trials and just because her trial is something that everyone can see and is a hard trial it was hard for her to accept when she knows that everyone else is also going through their own trials and may also need help.  I had to hold back tears because I knew what she was saying but at the same time I feel like her trial is one worth people reaching out and doing nice things for her.  She is such an amazing person and I love her so much.  She really is AMAZING.
On our way home from SLC we were blessed in so many ways.  The roads were horrible, and it was raining and so slushy and I noticed that our flat tire light had come on.  But we didn't stop to check it until Brigham city.  We were so lucky we didn't have something happen on the highway and that we made it that far because we found out we had a screw in our tire which gave us a flat.  We stopped at Walmart and had it fixed before we went to rest of the way home.  I called the hotel we stayed at because they were doing construction and let them know that they must have nails and screws in their parking lot and they were nice and ended up giving us our room for free.
As soon as we got home Ryan and I had to drop the kids off and then run back to Logan to go to a Game night a Chases house.  It was just for adults and it was a lot of fun.  I love getting to spend time with our family at this time of the year and getting to play games are so much fun.  

This last sunday Adison came up and gave this to Ryan.  She said, "The top picture is the stable, the far left picture is baby Jesus, the next one is Mary, and this is Joseph and these other two are the Leopards"   the way she said it was so cute.  She is such a fun girl.   

Basketball

Alexis had her first basketball tournament, and they did alright.  They got beat the first game, and then they won the second and then lost the third.... They improved each game and are getting better each year.  They are really fun to watch and they all just seem so big out there.  I still can not believe I have a girl this old.  

Alexis and I were able to go and do some shopping after the game while Ryan helped Chase with some house stuff.  I can tell that this girl is going to be a little shopper..... I may be in trouble.  (what am I saying.... I have already been in trouble with this girls for a while now)

Elizabeth saw the egg nog in the store and said we had to get it because it reminded her of Grandma and Grandpa Merrill.  It is so hard to not have them here this time of year.  It just isn't the same without them.  They are such fun party animals and they are the glue that holds us all together.  We didn't even have a Merrill family party this year because they are not home.  But we are planning on having a HUGE one when they get back.  

Ward Christmas Party

We had a nice ward party this year and we were able to take our neighbor Shelby with us.  The kids all ran around and played and had a great time.  We ate a great dinner and everyone brought a salad or desert and then the main dish was chicken, potatoes, and rolls.  There was lots of yummy food.  I was so sad that not a ton of people came this year.  The ward party is usually packed with everyone, but it was maybe about half as full as it usually is.  

We were also very sad that there was NO santa at this ward party..... I had a few words with Ryan about that and so I am crossing my fingers that next year there will be a santa.  ha ha.  I love to get a picture of the kids with Santa and this is the only place we have ever gotten them in the past.  I am to cheap to take all my kids to the mall and pay to sit on Santa's lap.  

Coloring Contest

Preston does a really cute coloring contest between each of the stores in town each Christmas.  My kids LOVE to color every single picture and have me take them around and drop them off.  It took forever this year because Brytlee and Adison really colored every single page in their books this year.  Brytlee won at the floral shop.  And she was so happy to win.  She got a cute little bear, some candy, and a stocking.  They also take a group picture and it goes in the paper.  

Adison looked so cute all ready to go and see what she won... she could hardly wait. 

Brytlee's group picture

Max also won.  He only colored like two pictures so I was very surprised that he won.  

Adison won at the vet clinic and she got a cute little barn filled with a pig, cow and a horse I think..... Max and her both love it.   

I was gone to Logan so Uncle Chase was nice enough to go and pick up Max and take him over to have his picture taken for the paper.  He also won a cute little coloring book and a pillow pet.  He was a happy boy.
I felt so bad for Elizabeth because she only colored 5 pages but she colored them so good.  I thought for sure she would win because she put so much time into each picture and she did a great job.  It is the last year that she will be able to do it also so that is a bummer.  My friend sheena also saw Lizzy's pictures and she couldn't believe she didn't win.  I guess it is also good for them to win some and lose some.