Cookies, Cookies and More Cookies!

Well, I started our annual making of the Christmas Cookies. I made 4 different doughs on Sunday and started baking them yesterday afternoon. I've made all but one of the doughs. I made Soft Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Mint Cookies, and my Aunt Winnie's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies (tradition). The last ones I have to bake are another version of Gingerbread cookies, but these ones I will roll out and use cookie cutters to make cute little gingerbread people.
Mason was helping Tyler with the sugar cookies and Tyler asked Mason for a kiss and I caught this perfect kiss on camera. Eye's closed and everything. Cute!

The sugar cookies are a cookie that we make every Christmas. I made them as a child with my mom. And they have become our families favorite this time of year. It isn't Christmas until we make those cookies.The kids love to help, Preston helped press down the sugar cookies with the colored sugar and Mason helped with all of the dough making by turning off and on the mixer and adding the flour. Tyson helped by eating the cookies! :)

Now tonight we have to put them all together on plates and take them to the neighbors.

Playing Catch Up

Well since I haven't blogged in almost a month, it's time to play catch up. And I have been officially called out by Tracie to get my blog on. So here you go.
See below for a bunch of new posts all the way back to Thanksgiving.
Enjoy!

Fiesta Friday

We've started a new weekly tradition. Our family loves mexican food. And we end up eating it at least once a week. So we decided to make it something we do every Friday. And we call it Fiesta Friday!!!

We did our first official Fiesta Friday this last Friday. We invited HayLee and Justin over. Tyler went all out. He got us hats and cute Fiesta plates. Tyler made amazing carne asada steak tacos with homemade salsa and guacamole and homemade chips. We did our left over chocolate fondue for dessert. Yummy!
Fiesta!

Fondue and Decorating the Tree

On December 1st we had our annual chocolate fondue night. This is the night that we have chocolate fondue with tons of fun and yummy things to dip into the chocolate and we decorate our Christmas tree. The boys love this tradition and so do Tyler and I. The chocolate fondue was so good and we dipped 0reo's, gingerbread cookies, apples, pineapple, manderine oranges, coconut marshmellos, pretzels and I'm sure I'm missing something, but it was yum-o.

We invited my mom and Joe over. My mom had just flown in from New Y0rk and stopped by on her way home. The boys loved sharing this experience with my mom. This tradition is one that my family used to do when I was young and since I am a die hard chocolate fan, this was one that I made sure we continued.

The boys each took turns putting the ornaments on the tree. We don't have a lot of ornaments, but they ones we have are special. And we supplement with silver and red bulbs. Tyler put the star on the tree. This is the star we bought when we first got married. Almost 10 years ago. It is a pretty sad star and is barely holding together. I think it will be retired after this year.

Tyson disappeared into his room and came out with presents for the boys. He is so thoughtful. They opened the presents and gave their brother a big hug. It was really sweet.

Then when we were done decorating, we read from our 24 days of Christmas book. You start on December 1st. It has a scripture, song and a story for every night up until Christmas Eve.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

On December 1st we woke up to the best thing ever. SNOW. I love the first real snow of the season. It was snowing all day. We found all of the snow pants, gloves, hats, and coats and as soon as we got our chores done, the boys went out to play. They had so much fun. They were making snow angels and throwing snow balls at each other and diving in the snow.
We went to watch the BYU football game after this and Tyson played in the snow at Grandma and Papa's house with uncle Taylor.
They love the snow and it's so fun that they can play in it now and actually stay outside for more than a few minutes. We have already seen more snow here than in the town we used to live in. There was rarely snow there. And we have had so much snow that the boys have already made their first snowman. I'll have to post later of more pictures of them playing outside when it isn't snowing.

Handsome Boys

A couple Sunday's ago, Tyler took these pictures of the boys right before church. They look so handsome with their church clothes on. Tyson hadn't had his hair combed yet, but he still looks very grown up. Preston loves getting dressed up nice and getting his hair combed. Very handsome.

Fun in the Tub

The boys finally talked me into letting them use the tub crayons. They had a blast. It came with a sponge duck that cleaned the crayon off. So they were coloring all over and then cleaning it off. They were in the tub until the water went cold. Very entertaining. I wrote their names on the side of the tub and they thought that was so cool. I also put color tablets in the water so they were swimming in orange water.

Thanksgiving Time

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We had a houseful of 14 people. Sheri and her family, (except Jeff who was working, fighting fires) Jeff's Mom and Dad and Sister Leslie. My family, my mom and Joe.

We had tons of great food. Tyler made the turkey and his now famous potatoes (yum!). We also had a smoked turkey from the Sm0kehouse and a bunch of other yummy sides. My mom came over the night before to teach Tyler how to make her stuffing and it turned out yum. I think yum was the theme of Thanksgiving.

Michelle and her family came over after for pie. OH my. We had so many pies. I should have taken a picture of the pie table. We could have each picked a pie and had it to our selves.



The table. We had 14 people in our dining room. We surprisingly fit. Mason and Jake in the corner.


Sheri took this picture of us all inhaling our food. It went in so fast. It takes so long to prepare and then its gone in a flash!

Greg and Vickie relaxing.

Joe helping us keep ahead with dishes. Life saver!
Tyler and my mom putting the finishing touches on.