CHRISTmas

For some reasons this year has felt different as I have been preparing for Christmas. I've been doing all the same things I always have and we had the tree and decorations up by the first week in November, but still something has been missing. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to figure out but in all the business of this time of year I have forgotten the most important part of Christmas- Christ.
Last night was when the change began. I finally watched the Christmas video that has been popping up on my newsfeed for days. It was exactly what I needed to see and showed me what exactly what I was missing. Then tonight I went to a relief society meeting and the whole thing was centred around Christ and especially remembering him this time of year. I got some great ideas of how I can make the rest of this Christmas season more about the actual reason for the season.
I am so grateful for the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. I'm grateful for the Christmas season and the opportunity it gives us to focus our lives around Christ and all he did for us. I love the trees and decorations and the excitement of finding the perfect gift for someone but even more than all of that I love my Savior. I love what he did for each one of us and I love that because of it we can live again with our families and be with them forever!
I hope to focus my life around Christ more this month and also throughout the coming year.

If you'd like to watch {or re-watch} the video that changed my Christmas you can find it here :)

out with the old and in with the new

2013 was full of ups's and downs for us.
We have enjoyed our time in Saskatoon, Moved to a bigger and brighter house, had an awesome summer with each other and our families and have enjoyed our ward and new callings.
This year however we lost two special members of our family- My cousin Brynn and Rope's Grandmas Dixie both after battling cancer. We are so grateful for the wonderful example they gave us of loving and living life to the fullest everyday.

With this in mind we start the new year with a renewed motivation to always be improving ourselves. This year I have learned so much and have grown spiritually. I am more aware of how much I need and rely on my Heavenly Father everyday and this has helped me to develop a better realationship with him. I am grateful for the experiences I have had in my life and how they help me to recognize and appreciate all the ways I am blessed.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Alberta! We went to the movies, out to eat, watched Basketball games at the sugar bowl, played monopoly, catch phrase and heads up and ate a lot of treats.

We had some good laughs and some good cries- we are so blessed with such amazing families.

We are excited to see what 2014 has in store for us.

Annual Christmas Eve pyramid

One of my Favorite gifts this year- a homemade
dough artnativity from
Ropes Mom

My other favorite present from my Mom.
Rope LOVES the red and I can't wait to use it :)

Trying out Rope's present from his parents

I guess we're hunters now :P

Christmas time

One more week till Christmas Day! We are so excited to finish up school/work and head back to Alberta to celebrate with our families... Can it be Friday yet?!?

Merry Christmas everyone!

most wonderful

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year.

This year we set up our tree November 2. Yes I am one of those people.. And I am happy to be one! Our Christmas tree makes me happy so I think why wait!? I am loving how cozy our house feels with the tree on, I love having our beautiful nativity set up and I love all the red, green and gold.

I'm enjoying all the pre-Christmas prep but what I'm looking forward to most is going back to Alberta and being with our families. The last couple months have a lot of ups and downs for both of our families so we are so grateful for time this holiday season to be with them.

My family is all pretty big on Christmas and Brynn was one of the biggest fans of all. She loved to be cozy, she loved to get the tree up and start listening to Christmas music as soon as she could and she especially loved to give. She was a huge example to me of always remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

I'm grateful for this time of year and the chance it gives us to re-evaluate our lives and remember what is most important. I'm grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ, the miracles he performed during his life and the perfect example he set for us to follow.

Our Holiday

Rope and I had a GREAT couple of weeks over Christmas. We spent lots of time with both of our families going back and forth not missing any of the fun. Here are a few photos highlighting our time back in Alberta.

Love these little girls! It was sooo fun to spend time with Ropes nieces and nephews.

Annual Pyramid {we switched it up a bit this year}

focusing on BINGO

Christmas Morning :)

MyBEST present from the BEST husband

Ice Fishing at the Cabin

preparing for next year- can't wait to use them!

learned how to crochet.. again.. and I'm currently working on some boot cuffs

Tradition

For the past I don't know how many years I have had the chance to either watch or be apart of a live nativity pageant during the christmas season. There's just something about being there with the live animals and people that makes it extra special to me. Last year Rope and I got to play Mary and Joseph in the live nativity for the Taber Stake. It was so nice to do with all my cousins, aunts and uncles and family. I even got to ride on a donkey! For the short amount of time that I had to be on the donkeys back it made me realize how extremely uncomfortable it is. Sitting sideway on its back there isn't a lot to hold on to, it makes it impossible to brace yourself so it takes a lot of balance to stay on it. I could not imagine travelling a long distance on it.. while also being pregnant! Knowing this makes me even more grateful that Mary was able to endure it all, and without complaining. She really must have know he was the Son of God.

Since we didn't get to watch or participate in a live nativity this year.. 

We watched This instead.

Merry Christmas 

a little something

I've been feeling guilty for the last couple days that I haven't posted anything in 2 1/2 weeks. {even though i'm pretty sure I have about 3 people that read this- but thats ok because I like to do it! And I don't want to get out of the habit}

Today while I was at the dollar store with Amy we were in the check out and we looked down at Trey and he was praying.. It was adorable. I don't know what triggered in his little head to say a prayer at that time but i thought it was so sweet to hear him going through his little prayer... after he noticed we were looking at him he did it a couple more times, because he could tell we thought it was cute, but even then it was even more precious.
I'm so happy that Rope and I get to be close to Trey and Claire and be apart of their little lives.. there's nothing sweeter then seeing Trey get excited to see Rote or calling out for Brookie when its time to leave.
One of the major things Rope and I have in common is the love we have for our families and that we LOVE to be around them doing whatever :)
We miss our other little nieces and nephews and can't wait to see them in a few weeks along with the rest of our family!

Well now its time to be with my little family and watch a Christmas movie while sleeping under the Christmas tree...