Happy 30th Birthday Tyson!

Today is Tyson's 30th birthday! I am sure there will be more pictures coming up later, but for now...I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to the love of my forever! ;) Even though you are old!

The Busiest Time of the Year (Part 2!)

So here are pictures from what we have been doing for the past week! There's so much more that I don't even have pictures from!

Decorating for Christmas!
So the day after Thanksgiving we put up our Christmas Decorations! Becca loved our new tree, and so do I! She comes down and says "Tree! Pretty!" every morning.

Our stockings...me and Tyson's are from our childhood...I think he needs a new one!

I love, love, love my nativity!

I have been so pleased that I can decorate my coffee table now that Becca is old enough to understand not to touch the stuff!

Our new tree. I just LOVE it!

I love decorating our home for Christmas! It makes me feel happy! We have stuff in the kitchen and outside too! It certainly is begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Writer's Group Christmas Party

Me and Sara!

Melony, Erin and Ruby.

Little Ruby. Look at those eyes! She is so cute!

Me and Ally!

Jamie and Julie. ;)

Sara, Carolyn, Carla and Erin!

It was such a fun night! I love these girls so much! They are so much fun and so inspiring!

Ward Christmas Party

Then we had our Ward Christmas Party which was lots of fun!

Becca enjoying her cookie!


Mom and baby!
Our family!

Becca, not so sure about Santa...I don't think she could have leaned any farther. At least she didn't cry!

Food Fun

Lately Becca has decided that spreading her food all over her face is more fun than eating it...here's a few shots.

Applesauce all over her face and hair!

Chocolate from a cookie...um plus this picture is just hilarious! Look at that smile!

It's the Busiest Time of the Year! (Part 1)

With the coming of the end of the year always brings the best and buisiest time for us! I thought it was time to catch up some pictures and goings-on in our lives. It really is amazing how fast it builds up!

Of course as always the center of our life is our sweet baby girl. She's not so much a baby any more!

I love being home with my girl! I love that I am here to watch her grow bigger and bigger and to enjoy her fun personality!

My favorite game! Where's Becca?

There she is!

Look at that little model in the making. She is getting so big!

We get lots of these close up pictures cause when Becca sees the camera she gets in your face. Here she is donning her tissue box hat!

Shocked face!

This is Girl's Night Out for Dialma's birthday. Yummy Texas Roadhouse! Erin and Dialma!

Me and Sara.

Dialma being a good sport sitting on the saddle to get her ice cream!

Yes, In-N-Out in our very own home! It was so great!

That smile is just so great! She is FINALLY saying Cheese for pictures...someitmes.

Ha ha. I was so happy to catch this shot. These are her silly eyes. She will do this anytime she wants a laugh.

This was time #3 seeing the movie. This poster was close to the ground and it was just too perfect of a chance. Don't worry, Tyson just laughed at me!

Thanksgiving morning! Happy girl eating some fruit for breakfast!

The table all set!

The feast! I forgot to get pictures of the adults in attendance, but it was really fun and we had so much food and it was all great!

Becca in her cute silky shirt, thanksgiving bib and shoveling in the food. Picture perfect!

Coming up next...Christmastime Craziness!

A Favorite Christmas Memory

I have no idea why I thought of this memory tonight on my way home from the grocery store, but I did, and wanted to share it.

One of my favorite Christmas memories was the year my dad got us all in the car (and by us all I think it was my mom, my sister -- maybe one of the younger of my brothers and/or a brother home from college, and me) to go get our Christmas tree.

First dad stopped at the Pasty Kitchen on Katella and we all got hot pasties (an English food like a bread dough completely stuffed with meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. Then you dip it in gravy as you eat it! Soooo good!). We were on our way with hot food in our hands and Christmas songs being sung by dad as he drove.

And we drove up to LA to a train yard. I remember getting out and wearing hat and gloves (I thought the Mid-December weather in Southern CA was so cold!) we went and stood on the old train tracks with a bunch of other people for a Christmas tree auction.

They pulled the trees one at a time off an open rail car cut its ties, twirled it around and took bids. It was exciting, it was fun, and we got the most beautiful fresh tree that had been shipped down from northern CA.

We tied it on top of our brown Ford Van and started the trip home. With only one stop on the side of the freeway to re-tie our treasure to the car, we made it home in safety.

I love this time of year. I love my memories of my dad and Christmas. It is so bittersweet to know that this year I won't be hearing him read Luke 2. Or watch the joy on his face as he watches his grandchildren enjoy the delights of Christmas morning.

But it almost makes me more grateful for this time of year. For the birth of our Savior and the knowledge I have that I will see my daddy again someday, and that I can be with him forever to relive those memories with perfectness.

Merry Christmas Everyone! Remember what this time of year is really about and cherish your family.