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For Christmas we went home to CA to be with family. Every year we alternate Christmas Eve with one family and Christmas with the other. This year was different in that it was the first year that we would spending the holidays without my mom. B/c of this we spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day at my dad's house. All of the kids were there and it was a really special time despite not having my mom there. My dad made all of us a shadow box that included a poem he wrote about my mom, a picture, and 1 of the flowers from her casket. He also put together an amazing slide show of our family put to music and then gave us a statue of a mother holding her baby. I will cherish these gifts as a remembrance of my mom. The holidays were difficult, but we still had fun as we remembered traditions growing up and spent time together. 
My brother and sister fixed up my dad's old wagon. He got this wagon when he was just a little boy. My brother and his wife have been helping my dad sort and clean things at his house and they found this. It certainly did not look like this. They got it re-painted and everything. It looks great and my dad was really surprised. 
Just some of the family. My nephew is in the back and my 3 nieces in the front. My sister (not pictured here) just had another girl...this gives my dad 4 daughters, 1 son, 5 granddaughters, 1 grandson...I think he's doomed to be around girls his whole life, but he loves it. Note: If you can believe it or not, the little girl in the middle is 2 and the little girl on the right is 1....they are so tall, cute, and we loved seeing all of them! 
A present for Ryan from Santa. 
Our little cutie!
After years of school, we are done! Billy graduated on Thursday, 12/17 and we couldn't be happier. After 4 years for Billy's undergrad, 4 years for me, and 2 more years for Billy's master's degree (year-round) we will no longer have to write papers, study for tests, complete projects, stay up late doing homework, and pay for tuition. It was a glorious day and a wonderful feeling. I am so proud of Billy and how hard he worked to complete school. With the demands of work, family, church, and friends he worked hard to graduate so he could provide for our family and allow me to stay home with Ryan. Thank you Billy for all you do for our family. Ryan and I love you so much! 
It looks worse then it really was. It hurt, it swelled, but it didn't stop him from missing any games.
Ryan went to see Santa this week. She didn't cry, but certainly didn't know what to think. She's really cute and we love her! We are excited to celebrate her 1st Christmas!
While this isn't an actual picture of the trailer in front of our house, it looked very similar. For Billy's graduation gift we decided that we would pay someone to complete all the landscape work that needed to be done at our house. With so many things going on, Billy hadn't had time to do any yard work for a LONG time. We had trees that needed to be trimmed, shrubs that needed to be trimmed, a palm tree that needed to be restaked, weeds, drip system that needed to be adjusted, etc. Our yard didn't look horrible, but we definately had plants that were overgrown. In Billy's defense, it was hard to find time to keep up with the yard. We don't even own the right tools to do the things they did. So, for Billy's graduation he got a whole new yard. They had 2 guys that were here for 6 hrs. working! Now that Billy graduates this week he promised that he would maintain everything they did. It looks great, we're happy, and as Billy put it, "It's the best money I ever spent!"
This book came out a long time ago, long before President Monson became our prophet. I saw this book sitting on our book shelf and decided this would be the next book I read. It took me a little bit longer than I wanted...mostly because Billy decided he wanted to read it with me at night. It was a great book. This book truly inspired me. It made me want to be better, to be a better member, wife, mother, daughter, etc. If you are wanting a good book this winter, this is it!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving over at my sister Natalie's house. We also had some friends that came too. It was a lot of fun relaxing and spending time together with family and friends. It was also wonderful having Billy off of work for a few days. Ryan loved it. Billy and I used to cook a lot together before Ryan came along. Now, it's usually me cooking and Billy playing with Ryan. On Thanksgiving I was cooking all morning. During Ryan's nap Billy helped. It was fun being together in the kitchen. We made: pecan pie (Billy's request), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and homemade rolls. Everyone contributed to the yummy feast we had.
As I contemplate on the season I have a lot to be thankful for. While there is not any possible way I can write everything down, here's just some of the things I'm thankful for:
1. The gospel of Jesus Christ which allows us the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father someday.
2. The atonement which allows me to be forgiven of my shortcomings.
3. The Temple and temple blessings.
4. The opportunity that Families can be Together Forever.
5. A wonderful mother who is doing a special work!
6. A father who is giving and has taken on the responsibility of filling 2 roles.
7. A husband who honors his Priesthood and loves me just the way I am!
8. Billy's job that puts a roof over our head, food in our bellies, and allows me to stay home with our sweet daughter Ryan.
9. A beautiful daughter who is healthy and brings me and her daddy TONS of joy! I love her so much!
10. Good health.
11. An education that has allowed me to further my knowledge and made me capable of helping provide for my family if needed.
12. A husband who will graduate in 2 weeks! Yeah!
13. The library: here's to free DVD rentals!
14. The Biggest Loser workout DVD: you're probably laughing, but the DVD gives you a great workout!
15. My eternal family!
For Christmas we went home to CA to be with family. Every year we alternate Christmas Eve with one family and Christmas with the other. This year was different in that it was the first year that we would spending the holidays without my mom. B/c of this we spent Christmas Eve and part of Christmas day at my dad's house. All of the kids were there and it was a really special time despite not having my mom there. My dad made all of us a shadow box that included a poem he wrote about my mom, a picture, and 1 of the flowers from her casket. He also put together an amazing slide show of our family put to music and then gave us a statue of a mother holding her baby. I will cherish these gifts as a remembrance of my mom. The holidays were difficult, but we still had fun as we remembered traditions growing up and spent time together. 
My brother and sister fixed up my dad's old wagon. He got this wagon when he was just a little boy. My brother and his wife have been helping my dad sort and clean things at his house and they found this. It certainly did not look like this. They got it re-painted and everything. It looks great and my dad was really surprised. 
Just some of the family. My nephew is in the back and my 3 nieces in the front. My sister (not pictured here) just had another girl...this gives my dad 4 daughters, 1 son, 5 granddaughters, 1 grandson...I think he's doomed to be around girls his whole life, but he loves it. Note: If you can believe it or not, the little girl in the middle is 2 and the little girl on the right is 1....they are so tall, cute, and we loved seeing all of them! 
A present for Ryan from Santa. 
Our little cutie!
