Resolutions.....

Well I'm definately not one of the people in this world who make a long list of goals to accomplish over the next year and then see myself fail at most with really good intentions (If you are one of those lucky few who accomplish them all you are amazing and kudos to you.)... I usually have a couple that I try to work on though out the year and that seems to be what works for me. I love that it's going to be a new year and we get to start .... "Fresh." I love that I can choose to set a goal at any time and work on it. I think my favorite this past year has been to journal the happenings of my family and my life through this blog. It's kind of huge for me because I'm not a good journal keeper. Another goal has been to not be so scared of what others think of me. I feel I've truly been the geniune goods and if people had a problem with me I'd hope that they'd either come to me to work out our differences, I'd swallow my pride for 2 seconds and appologize for my wrong doings or let things go a little bit better. I can honestly say there has been only one or two times when I've let things get the best of me.

Now, for my one or two goals for the next year.

First, I would like to be a better Mother. (I know as parents if you are I think everyone puts that down.) I've had some truly amazing experiences as a Mom, but I want more.... I'm greedy when it comes to that. Who wouldn't be. I need to make those experiences happen more often.

My second goal, Which is really a family goal is to be better at scripture reading as a family. We sat our kids down last Sunday and asked them what time they'd rather read scriptures and they chose before school in the mornings instead of at bed time. Yikes for me.

(Earlier to rise is going to be added to my goals now.)

HEE HEE...

My last goal is a huge, huge challenge for me and that is to quit swearing...... Chris is going to read this and probably laugh hysterically at it but I really want to try to stop the terrible, no good, filthy habit. So wish me good luck on that one because like all bad habits this will be very hard for me to do.

(Yes, I'm putting this down. Oh boy, now the cats out of the bag.... Yeah I swear. Sorry to offend any of you.)

So, we wish you success in all that you accomplish over the next year with hope that you do whatever you set your mind out to do.

Terms of Engagement!!!(Sorry for all the post's in the last 2 days)

While Chris' sister was here in town for Christmas she asked if I'd take her engagement photo's. So we went out by my home. We got some really great shots. I've been waiting to take a silouetted picture of a couple kissing forever...... I finally got it and i'm pleased with the results. My favorite of the shoot is the way overlit pic with them in the tree's. I loveeeee IT!

Pictures with Grandma......

While we were visiting Chris' family the day after Christmas I took some pictures of his Mom with all of her Grandkids. It's the first time in 3 years that they've all been together at once so we jumped on that opportunity. The pictures turned out really well except for..... My little stinkers decided to be the kids that they'd be giving the photographer (Me) a hard time. Oh well at least I can take them out for a re-shoot for their kids shot.

Big 50!!!!

Dad I love your gut's...... Hope your Day was good. We had fun surprising you a little tonight.

Fun At Christmas & Lot's of Pictures!

We've been very busy at our home and since last Tuesday it's been go go go....We've had some sort of gig at our house for 3 nights this past long weekend (Christmas Eve, Christmas Dinner & My Dad's big 50 party.) and I'm really tired of dishes, food prep. and cleaning over and over again, but I'd do it all over again ...... NEXT YEAR!!!
Our yearly tradition's continued on...... the kids got to open one present from Dad and Mom on Christmas Eve which is always a new pair of pajama's.
We then read the story of our Savior's birth and then The Night Before Christmas, we put out the kids letters to Santa with cookies and Egg nog and milk. We also put out carrots, water and reindeer food for the Reindeer.

My Kids were once again spoiled rotten for Christmas we can thank the Grandparents in our lives for most of that spoiling too. My kids had the most enjoyable faces yet. It was sooo fun to see their little eyes sparkle. It was quite funny to see the kids jump up and down with excitement for their gifts. They also had buggy eye's in disbelief that they got a couple of the things they'd asked for. Our kids were thrilled that Santa left a letter for them too and then they read the part about them being a little bit better over the next year or else they'd get a big lump of coal and they knew he was serious. We really enjoyed each other and the opportunity to spend some much needed time with Daddy.(We'll be sad when he goes back to work tomorrow.)

My BEAUTIFUL and Incredible Wife!!!

Obviously this isn't Autumn writing this, unless she really likes to talk about herself, but as most of you know she isn't one to ever do that. That would be really weird. lol

Merry Christmas everyone. This is Chris (Hubs). I don't typically write on our blog. Oh wait! I never have. Anyway, Autumn always tells me I should add something. So here it goes... As most of you know, I am truly the luckiest man EVER!!! I get to have Autumn as my wife. She is the love of my life and my "Dream Girl". I am so blessed to have her as my much better half. She is the one that has always believed in me when I didn't and couldn't believe in myself. She has always been there for me through everything. She has been my cheerleader on the sidelines. What an incredible person she is, and as you can see, very talented. You should see the food and goodies she makes for me, WOW! I never knew someone could love someone as much as she loves me. It has made me come closer to her and love her back more than I ever thought I was ever capable of doing. Because I have such an amazing wife, every day I pray to my Heavenly Father thanking Him for sending me such a beautiful, talented, gorgeous, sexy, incredible, phenomenal, funny, goofy, and loving person. I couldn't ask for anyone better than who I have been given. I love her so much and I still get butterflies when she reaches to hold my hand in the store, wraps her arms around me, or looks at me in a certain way that I can see how much she loves me by the sparkle in her eyes (cheesy I know). Speaking of which, she has the most beautiful blue eyes. I am so grateful this holiday season because of the sacrifices she has made for me and our kids over these last few months. She is EXCELLENT with our kids, even though some days she may not feel like she is. Our kids are very lucky to have such a wonderful mom.

Autumn, I love you. Thanks for ALL you do for me. I hope you're not embarrassed by what I have said, but I felt I needed to tell you.

Love Your Guts,

Chris

Merry Christmas!!!

ST. George....

This weekend we went to SUNNNYYYY...... St. George..... Oh no wait..... Not sunny Cold and snowed on St. George. My Grandma and Grandpa S live there and are currently serving a mission there too, so they cannot leave their mission. SO my extended family went down to them and my aunt Jo. We had a ton of fun. The kids swam at the indoor pool in their community. We also took a tour of the Tabernacle with the greatest missionaries in the world.... (My grandparents. I'm Bias!!!!)

What a beautiful place. Things of interest to me were:

That the original chandeliers were a 1,000 lbs a piece and that they have iron scroll work in them with the initials S & G. The originals were doing damage to the roof so now there are replica's of them in the building.The glass window's in the building had a harbor tax of $800.00 which in our day is about $36,000.00 and a single member of our church donated his gold coins that he'd been saving to pay for $600 dollars of the amount. The tabernacle has had every new prophet except for Joseph Smith speak from it. There is an eye in the middle of the room which means "an Eye single to the Glory of God." The spiral stair-cases each took one year to complete by one single worker. He later died while working at a different place at the tabernacle when he was in his 70's. Also, the chairs up in the balcony are chairs from the Salt Lake Temple... Some of which have stars stamped out of the wood.

(I was listening Grandpa and Grandma.)

We had yummy food all weekend and I absolutely loved the scones we had this morning.

It was fun to celebrate Christmas with them a week early. I'm sooo glad we went and got to spend some time with everybody and thanks for the Ride's Dad and Aubs we really appreciate it.

A Baby Changes Everything!

I absolutely love this song!!!! It really brings home the true meaning of Christmas to me.... Pause my playlist, then enjoy.

Yahoooooeeeeee!!!! My Computer is Fixed.... Here's what's up!

So this is what we've done this last weekend....

Some cute jolly fellow from our home was at a Christmas Party dressed as you know who? To bad I didn't get to kiss him there!!! Then the kids really could see Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.

They were told before hand that he was going to be a helper, but they kept calling him dad in front of the other kids and he kindly ignored them and I told them that it really wasn't him. Next, Daddy took the kiddo's to our ward party because I woke up on Saturday with the nastiest junk and an eye infection. (Haven't had one of those since I was little.) What a good dooby Chris is. I really appreciate all he's done for us lately and I don't tell him as often as I should. Sorry Hub's. Lastly, It finally snowed! Yippeeee.... Kind of. I love the snow just not driving in it or getting sick kids from the fluctuation from all the temperature's. I do love to look and admire it from the inside of warmth. (my house.) I also love to watch the kids play endlessly with the little white stuff.

coming to you via... LapTop

once again my dang computer is on the fritz..... argggghhh. Oh well we have lot's to blog about with pictures too....

TeMpLe...LiGhTs!

For Young Women's this week we took the girls down to Temple Square. It wasn't that cold, but I forgot to take my gloves from the truck and we seriously drove around forEEEEEVVVVVEEERR

to find spots to park at. It was a lot of fun though. Here's a couple of shot's. I liked.

Igloo Living & Gingerbread Houses.

Sassy is learning about Native American's in history right now and she was required to build an "igluviak"

Igloo

A shelter for Inuits (Eskimo's)

I was quite impressed with how little help she needed and it turned out great.

Grandma P also brought over a ginger bread house for the kids to put together with her and Grandpa. It turned out really great too. This is the finished result.

The dumb Mom that I am didn't get a picture of them making it. Me of all people..... Who takes pictures of the littlest of things forgot to get one of that. (Oh Well you win some you lose some.)

Poster's....

My Bro-ans Sis in law wanted a poster for their little guys room of some of the pic's I took a couple of months ago....
(They are Bronco Die Hards)
I think it turned out good!!! I did 2. One w/

a black background and orange writing and
one with a blue background and orange writing...
Which do you like???

Proud Moment

Sassy had a performance on Friday night....

Let me give you the scenario. She was the only girl in her class who was going to do the dance. The other girls took the month of December off. She learned it on Tuesday. We practiced on Wed. Thur. and part of Friday and then she had to perform it. She did a great job. She was almost crying before because she was soooo nervous, but she did an amazing job and we couldn't be more proud of her for sticking with her promises and commitments.

Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet

They came!!!They Came....
Mom & Dad got yummy chocolate coverd marzipan and the Kiddies got a chocolate letter.

S.Claus! A couple Traditions... And Happy B-Day Mom & Grandpa.

We have a tradition that is many years old....

Santa visit's a family party that we go to every year. This jolly old fellow has been a favorite of mine FOREVER!!! My kids have all gone through a time period when this man scared them to death. This year he is loved by all my kids. Boo Boo kept asking when it would be his turn over and over agan. My kids know that the "Real" Santa is busily working in his special shop in the North Pole and that especially during Christmas time he can't leave so he has special

"Santa Helpers" to fill in for him, But their excitement was so cute.

They have also recently come to the conclusion that Santa has special hidden camera's in every room of our home and is carefully watching them via his elves in a special camera room in the North Pole...... and we told them that they were absolutely 100% correct. He has eyes and ears every where.

We've also had several conversations about the Savior. Why we celebrate his life, ministry and sacrifice for us. Several deep questions have come from Gussy. I am truly amazed at the great questions he comes up with such sincerity.

We also are trying something new this year.... I went to a Relief Society activity this last week and we were given a small wooden present with a bow, bell and believe tag. I hope I'm saying this right if not someone correct me.

The present is the gift of self.

(We are supposed to give an act of love or service to someone in our family each day.)

The bow stands for being wrapped in unity.

The bell is for the shepards staff (We all need to come to the Savior.)

So we are doing an act of service for a person in our family and whoever has the service done for them get's the present next and passes on a good deed for someone else. My kids think it's pretty cool.

Sinterklaas and Swarta Peet are going to come tonight ..... WE HOPE!!! My Grandma is from Holland and she usually gives us each a chocolate letter for our names each year, but since she's serving a mission I decided that we'd put out our wooden shoes and see who will come tonight. You can find out about this Dutch Tradition at:

http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/christmas-traditions-around-the-world-ga7.htm

I also remember my grandma putting yummy chocolate wreaths on her tree for us to find and eat when we'd visit on Sunday's. You can visit the Dutch Store in Sugarhouse at:

2696 E. Highland Dr.

It's the one with a windmill on it..... You Can't Miss it.

for yummy goodies from the Netherlands or online at:

http://www.olddutchstore.com/

Also Pirate O's in Draper carries Dutch Yummies.

11900 S. 700 E.

A Big Birthday Shout Out To My Mom and Grandpa..... Love your Gut's. Thanks for everything. You guys mean the world to us. Mom your the best Mom and Grandma in the World. Grandpa thanks for being such an amazing, fun, spiritual person.

Cookie Exchange ... a little late.

We had a cookie exchange with some of my extended family in the first part of November. It was a lot of fun and we got to try some really yummy recipe's. My favorites included: Peppermint Butter Cookies from one of my Aunts & Pistachio Lime Cookies from one of my cousins. Sass was in complete heaven because she absolutely loves cookies, dough and frosting. I was worried she was going to get sick from all the stuff she ate, but she didn't. (She has a lead stomach) It was fun to take her to something with out the boys for once. She was very well behaved too.

I needed to read this...

Stand A Little TallerDo Not Despair!!!

All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

-D&C 122:7

"We are in a period of stress across the world. There are occasionally hard days for each of us. do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you. Do not let the prophets of gloom endanger your possibilities."

Gordon B. Hinckley

Fear and Faith!!!

Well this last conference I heard the phrase "Fear and Faith cannot co-exist in the heart of man together." (Well I'm not quoting verbatim... But it stuck.) I've heard this before several times.... Just this time it really hit me. I keep thinking of this phrase when I am really really scared. Is that glimmer of hope that I have keeping my faith alive? I'd sure like to think so. I keep praying that I will continue to have the faith necessary to pull through. Sometimes I forget that we may need to pray to have a continued faith. So I'm reminding myself....

FAITH..... FAITH..... FAITH.....Faith!!!!!!!!!

It will work out.

Card SHARKS!!!!

My children have learned some new games....

Go fish, War and Slap Jack!

Now let me preface this.... Growing up Hubs and I played cards and board games with our families in many different forms and it has carried over into our own life together. So naturally, as I have been laying in bed the past few days He has taught our kiddo's a couple of games. For the most part the kids have gotten along quite well while playing.

Sassy seems to think that saying:

"badda bing bang bong" helps her to win and her little facial expression when she wins a hand has been caught on camera.... The sly parents we are.

Gussy won on his first try with out help on go fish!!! Go figure! He's the lucky little person in our family. It's the S-Family Gene I tell ya. (One that I most certainly didn't inherit.)

Boo-boo likes to sit on the table and help his Dad or watch and who knows he might be the next M.I.T. Card Counter..... (J/K)

So if you need easy, cheap entertainment might I suggest a game of cards to you and yours.