Christmas Fun...

We had so much fun this Christmas! We love our families and hate missing either for the holiday so we made sure we could be with both this year. We took a trip down to Ephraim to visit the Anderson's. The girls love going down there to see everyone. While we were there the girls decorated cookies.

My SIL Gussie had a special surprise that night. Her boyfriend proposed! 

We are so excited to have Preston in the family!

On Christmas Eve we had a family party. We played fun games and had yummy food!

Then Grandpa took the kiddos on a ride. They found about the only snow in the county!

Then we drove up to Utah county to have a little party with my family. The kids got to open more presents.

We read the Christmas story and the kids acted out the nativity.

Sophie was Mary and Timmy was Joseph. Here he is leading his wife on the donkey.

The kids wouldn't keep their costumes on or sit still...oh well, its tradition!

Christmas morning was so much fun. The girls were so tired from all the parties that we had to wake them up at 7:30. We had church that morning so we only opened our Santa presents before. Laynie was thrilled with her new bike!

 Sophie was excited about her Lala loopsy doll.

 The girls looked cute in their Christmas dresses.

 Of course we had to get a family shot! It was nice having Christmas on a Sunday. We were able to have sacrament meeting and sing beautiful songs and really reflect on Christ. 

 When we got back from church the Nana, Popi & Tim came over to open presents. The girls loved the puppet theater I made them! I was so happy about that!

 We had our traditional breakfast of cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole. Then Daddy spent the rest of the morning putting together all the new toys.

We spent the rest of our day in our pj's just playing with our new toys. What a fun Christmas!

Weeks 50 & 51...

Baby on Board...

We are so excited to be expecting baby #3! It has been a bumpy road the past year and a half trying to get this little one on it's way but we could't be happier! I have known I was pregnant since I was 3 weeks along. It has been torture knowing that long. It feels like the baby will never be here! I was sick before I even found out. I felt like the sickness was never going to end but I am 19 1/2 weeks now and feeling great. At 14 weeks I had these pictures taken of our little babe!

 This is the cutest baby I have ever seen!

At 14 weeks I was not expecting to find out the gender. Bodi was supposed to come to the ultrasound but had a meeting rescheduled at the last minute. So when I found out that we were having a BOY! I was shocked and a little sad that Bodi wasn't there to see the amazing news.

The girls and I devised a plan for Daddy for when he got home. I called him and told him that I knew...It killed him that he had to wait all day to find out. My girls love Cake Boss and had watched an episode with a gender reveal cake. So we made a blue cake and disguised it with white frosting. When Bodi got home he had to cut into it to find out what we were having. He was thrilled to say the least!{even though his half thumbs up doesn't give that impression} 

I am still in a bit of shock that we are having a boy. I don't know what to do with boys. I don't know what looks cute on boys or how to accessories. I don't know what to do with his room {thank goodness for Pinterest!} I am thankful that I still have 20 weeks to figure out what we are going to do! 

We do know what this little guys name will be. It was an easy choice for us. 

William James Anderson

He will be named after his Grandpa's William Anderson, William Carl Anderson, William Romney and James Rhodes. He has some big shoes to fill! 

Grandpa Rhodes...

My Grandpa James Rhodes passed away on December 13, 2011. He was one of the most amazing men I have ever known. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be his granddaughter and to have learned so much from him.

We are so lucky to have been able to see him a few weeks before he passed away. He called the entire family together to have a family fireside. My Grandpa was a United States Marine. I knew this all my life but never fully understood what that meant. I always knew that he had a great love for his country and wanted his family to have it too. Until the fireside I had no idea of his amazing service and bravery. He told stories of the famous people he knew and served with. He told us about his survival as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He told us of his 2 Purple Hearts and Silver Star. He told us of how his testimony grew because of his experiences. I feel so blessed to have heard his stories from him before he passed. 

 I am so thankful that my girls were able to know and love grandpa. They always loved getting big hugs and making him laugh. I am sad that my new little William will never know him on this earth. 

Grandpa's funeral was really nice. We cried and laughed as we remembered his amazing life. He was honored to have a the Marine Core at his burial. It was a very sobering experience. 

I love my Grandpa so much and will miss him deeply. I am so thankful for the knowledge of eternal families. I can't wait for the day when I can see him again, hear his big laugh and get a huge hug!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is the Place...

We love going to This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake. We had never been there during the holidays before. We loved it! We had the change to go with some cousins. We got to go with the Smith cousins and the Rhodes cousins. We never get to see John, Sally and the kids because they live in Kansas so it was so fun to be with them! Nana and Hannah came too. When we got there we got to meet 2 of Santa's reindeer. We think they were Dancer and Prancer.

 We got to make lots of fun crafts in one of the houses. 

 In the school house we got to learn some pioneer dances. The kids got so into it!

 We also got to see a live nativity, carolers and a train ride. I think the highlight for the kids was the Big Man! 

 Sophie got to wear Santa's hat! 

 Even little Hannah got to sit on Santa's lap!

 We had a great time. It was the perfect way to spend time with family and to get us into the holiday spirit!

Disney On Ice...

First of all I have to preface this by saying...I have always wanted to go to Disney On Ice. I had never gone to any ice skating show before...ever. {I blame my parents...just kidding!} When my Mom called and told me how to get some discount tickets I jumped on the opportunity. We invited our Smith cousins to come along with us. 

 The kids were super excited to be there. I don't think any of them had any idea what they were about to see!

 Of course we had to get ourselves some snacks. {Those snow cones were $12 a pop! FYI if you go to Disney on Ice bring your own toys and snacks!}

 Bowen loved it!

We had so much fun seeing all the characters and stories. Hope we can go again someday!