Mitzi's Winter Wonderland

I love going to my parent's house during the Christmas Season. My mom and dad go to great lenths to light up their house and decorate to the max. It is just so magical. The girls loved it. Hailey just said 'wow' over and over and Addy just stared at all the lights on the tree. There is no need for regular lights at this time of year because of all the Christmas lights they have. In fact, this year, they won money in their association for having the best decorated house. I just thought I would share with you a little of what their house looks like. Mind you, this is only a portion. Their entire main floor is decorated for Christmas. Even the kitchen! and Bathrooms! it's crazy. My mom has over 35 storage bins in the garage reserved for Christmas.. and a shed in the backyard full of all the stuff that doesn't fit in the garage! :-) Its amazing.






I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Angels

These are my Christmas Angels. Addy is just as sweet as can be. Hailey is precious and just loves her little sister to pieces. They looked so cute all dressed up for church on Christmas Sunday.

What a stinkin cutie. Hailey was cracking me up yesterday. She kept wanting to wear her light-up snow boots around the house, but was also refusing to get dressed. Then, kept playing with Addy's hat. So, of course I found yet another opportunity for pictures.

SHe is EXTREMELY happy about the snow and looks forward to looking out our window every morning to make sure it's still there. It's so fun to see things the way a child does again. This time of year is so magical.

Tagged For Christmas

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? A little of both.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Real trees make me SO nervous. Plus, I get too cold going out to try and find one. Never been the type to enjoy that part.
3. When do you put up your tree? growing up, we've always put it up on Thanksgiving Day... but I get too excited. Sometimes it goes up sooner.
4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime after Christmas. It always makes me sad.
5. Do you like eggnog? in moderation
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A new mountain bike
7. Hardest person to buy for? Nate.. FOR SURE
8. Easiest person/people to buy for? Hailey and Addy.
9. Do you have a nativity set? a plethora. It's a tradition that my mom started that every year, she sends all the kids a nativity. Sometimes, it's a book, others its and actual nativity, other times it's a picture with a story... etc. So, we have quite the collection.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. There's just something so fun about sending out Christmas cards and receiving them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a boyfriend I had a long time ago gave me a high five.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I LOVE christmas movies. Most of them are SO cheesy, but I love them. I don't really have a favorite.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I usually have my shopping done by the time December rolls around. Not this year... and it's stressing me out.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? EVERYTHING. I love holiday food.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night... by Celine Dion or Josh Groban or Mariah Carey. It's all good. Oh, and IL DIVO. They're good too.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We travel to Vegas every other year and stay here with Nate's family on the off years. Sometimes I wish we could just do Christmas at home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? There's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...and RUDOLPH! (thanks Carmen, just copied and pasted)
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Whatever is happening with presents is fine with me. Nate has BIG issues with opening presents any time earlier than Christmas morning.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I'd rather keep that to myself. Other than that, I get irritated when i'm out shopping and people are just being rude and greedy.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love it all. I don't have a favorite, but i'll post a pic of our tree.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? usually I have something specific, but this year, I don't know.. clothes... a new lens... ??? I really don't know.

Now I tag... Megan, Kristi, Claire, Emily and Shantel

Hailey and Santa

We had our ward Christmas Party tonight and it was a blast. The best part about it was our Santa Clause. He is amazing. And even better than that.. Hailey sat on his lap!!!!!!!!!!! We couldn't believe it. She has been excited all day to see him, but usually, for her, seeing is quite enough. The picture I got makes me melt. There's just something about Santa being in a picture with your child that is just magical.

Addy, on the other hand was out cold. She couldn't handle all the excitement and just cashed out. Thanks to our good friends John and Claire for helping us take care of our kids. I'm getting to a point with Hailey's busy-ness that I feel like hiring a nanny for events like this. We were pretty much having to hold her on our laps like a straight jacket. She was all over the place. Just too excited about Christmas and Santa, I guess.

I was given the privelage of taking pictures of all the children with Santa and it was so fun. I can't wait to have them printed for everyone. they all turned out so cute.

Good News for Hailey!

We got a phone call from the specialist at Primary Children's and they said that we didn't have anything to worry about Hailey's head. Apparently, with the spot on her head, it's very easy to break that skin due to a bump or scratch. On the other end, it takes quite a bit longer to heal due to the sensitive skin/scar that is there. Thank Goodness! Now we just have to wait and see what comes of little Addy's issue. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers.

Hailey and Addysen Update

Some of you already know, but just as an update, recently we found out that Addy has a heart murmur. Not sure how severe it is, however, serious enough that she needs to see a cardiologist. Her doctor was hoping it was just a flow murmur, which after listening before our LA trip AND soon after, he has determined that it may be much more serious than that. Flow murmurs are something that many people live with and it doesn't effect them.. it's very common. So, the fact they think she has a more serious type, obviously worries us. Her appointment has been set for January 26th at Primary Childrens Hospital. Thanks for all your prayers and fasting.

With Hailey, when she was born, had a small leison on her scalp. After looking at it closely, the doc sent her to see a dermitologist specialist who then confirmed that it was something called Cutis Aplasia. Nothing serious, and if we wanted it removed, it would simply be cosmetic, nothing more. Well, recently, we have noticed that the spot has re-opened, looking like a small scab on her head. Her doc asked me to take pictures of it, and if it hasn't improved by tuesday of this week, they want to take her back in as well. So, I just looked at it and it hasn't improved, or gone away. So, back to the specialist we go. Hopefully it's nothing, but wish us luck anyways. :-)