BOOOOO

Paisley loves to scare and get scared. Tonight she was doing the funniest thing. She would run really fast over to the side of the chair, as far in the corner as she could get, and just stand there. So I would sneak around the front and say boo. She would laugh, then do it again. We did this for a while. Soon enough we were playing hide-n-seek. I didn't know you could have so much fun with a 14 month old. It keeps us entertained while Chase is at work I guess.

New Beginnings

We had our New Beginnings tonight for Young Women's. Our Young Women President's mother-in-law (Jeanne Hall) came and spoke to the girls about Testimony. She did an amazing job. She told about her conversion to the church.

We did a shoe theme. We collected 1 shoe from each girl and had them displayed on a table. We asked the girls how their testimony compares to a shoe... is it too wide, too tight, too big, too small, etc. In the end we wanted the girls to learn that they can make their testimony to fit like a glass slipper. Anyhow, it was really good... totally cliche here, but it really was a good program.

Our Stake Young Women's president spoke to the girls about the new personal progress books and the importance of personal progress. One of our Young Women who just recently received her medallion bore her testimony and a member of the bishopric gave the closing remarks. It was a nice, spiritual boost that I so needed. It made me think about my testimony and what I need to change.

I love the gospel and I'm so thankful to be a member. I'm thankful for the opportunity it gives me to serve others. I have personally found that I'm TRULY happy when I'm serving others.
What a great night!!

Curious George...

I think this is only the beginning. We have a curio cabinet in our living room where I keep all my Precious Moment figurines. Earlier today, I'm not sure where I was but I wasn't in the room, Paisley opened the curio cabinet and took out my figurines and had them laying on the floor. I ran in and told her NO, and put them back inside. Well, later on this afternoon, I had to run outside and put the car seat in the car because I had to take Paisley up to my in-laws while I went to Young Women's. When I came back, she had them all out again. So I put the foot rest in front of the cabinet so she can't open it. I think we'll be moving it downstairs.
While my in-laws were watching Paisley, my mother-in-law (Lori) had showered and came out in her robe with her hair wrapped in a towel. Paisley looked at her and started crying. She went to my father-in-law(Drew) and wouldn't let go. So Lori went and took the towel off her head and combed her hair. She came back and Paisley was still terrified. I guess it took a while for Paisley to act herself.
So a little while later, Drew was in fixing himself something to eat and Paisley was opening all the cupboards and getting into things. So Lori took her into the play room and shut the door and stayed in there with her while she was on the phone. Lori turned her head for a minute and Paisley had climbed on top of the little plastic picnic table. When Lori noticed, she dropped the phone and went to get Paisley off the table. What a little stink!
I've been thinking about all the words that Paisley can say and I'm going to try and remember all of them. Lets see how I do.

Mama
Daddy
Ball
Bye-bye
Nana
Dee (a.k.a Cheese)
Dog
Bird
Duck
Deer
Bear
Baby
Sues (a.k.a Shoes)
Socks
Nink (a.k.a Drink)
Night-night
Car
Book
NO
No (a.k.a Nose)
Bath
Moo
Arf
Ba
ohne (a.k.a phone)
More

She is so smart. She's learning how to understand some sentences. I'll ask her to go get a book from her room and she'll do it. I'll ask her to bring me a particular toy from across the room and she'll bring it to my. I'll tell her it's time to eat and go get in her chair and she'll go stand by her chair. I'll tell her it's time for a bath and she'll go to her room so we can change her clothes.
She has 8 teeth now. She has a big one coming in on the bottom, right hand side of her mouth. She'll let you brush her teeth now, but not for too long.
She keeps me on my toes but I wouldn't trade being able to stay home with her for anything in the whole world.
On a different note, Chase started the Bachelors of Nursing program on Monday. It's a hybrid program so he only goes to the school a handful of days throughout the semester. The rest is all on-line. It's only 3 semesters, rather than 4. This will allow him to continue on if he wants to go to P.A. school or do the nurse practitioner program or whatever else he chooses. He's been really stressed. He's going to do a great job because he's smart, dedicated and he's got his priorities in order. I'm so proud of him and all the hard work he's done for Paisley and I. He's made it possible for me to stay home and not put Paisley in daycare. I love him so much. He's an example to me and to Paisley. We are blessed to have him in our lives.

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas. Paisley slept in until 8:45. While I was showering, before Paisley woke up, I thought to myself, 'I know we're the last family in the state to be waking up after 7:30'. Santa came and brought Paisley lots of fun things. He brought her a big puppy... stuffed of course, a big bouncy ball, a popcorn push toy, clothes and jammies, 4 Disney DVDs, a doll and some books. I don't think she quite knew what was going on, but she sure had fun though.
Paisley and I gave Chase a new snow camo rifle. He was thrilled! Paisley gave me a new red flat iron. Chase, with help from my Parents and in-laws, gave me a new log bed. I didn't expect it, but I sure do love it.
After we exchanged gifts with our little family, my parents came over for Christmas breakfast. It was so nice and relaxing having them come in because we didn't have to wake Paisley up and she got to stay in her jammies for a while and play with her new toys.
Grandma Kenna and Grandpa Roger gave Paisley some clothes, toys and super cute books. They gave Chase a new camo jacket from Cabela's and a $75 gift card. I got a new jacket and of course the bed. We gave my Dad a Deseret Book gift card and my Mom a decorative ladder from The Quilted Bear for her front porch. Paisley gave them a calendar that I scrapbooked.
After Breakfast we headed down to West Valley to go to Grandma and Grandpa Harvey's. We had some food and exchanged gifts with my extended family. Then we headed home and went to Grandma Mitchell's for some food and to visit Chase's Dad's side of the family.
It was a busy day, but it was so nice to spend it with family. Chase was scheduled to work but was able to dock, so it was nice to relax on Christmas night. We watched Forever Strong. Santa brought that for me in my stocking. It's an awesome movie.
Here's some pictures from Christmas day:

Paisley's face is so cute in this picture.

Mmmm... fruit snacks!

Chase is opening his new gun.

And here it is!

A new flat iron!

Paisley likes my flat iron too.

Paisley and Grandma Kenna.

And here's the new camo jacket.

Paisley was so cute down at my Grandparents. She loved climbing in the boxes.

And here we are after all is said and done.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went to Drew and Lori's for dinner and our family gift exchange. We had soup in bread bowls for dinner... which was super yummy. A tradition in our family is to have all the kids act out the Nativity, while one of the adult boys narrates. Paisley was a Shepherd, well, was supposed to be a Shepherd. She didn't stand still, of course, since she's only 14 months, but it was worth a try. Her costume didn't really look like a Shepherd either. Better luck next year.

However, the Nativity is such a special addition to the evening because it allows all of us to stop and think about the TRUE meaning of Christmas. This year I found and read this book called Christmas, do you hear what I hear by Paul H. Dunn. He talked about not getting caught up in the busyness of the season, and slowing down to actually focus on the true spirit of giving. He told a story about a boy named Jim.
Jim's father lost his job. They were very poor. Jim had a younger brother named Jerry. When Christmas approached, Jerry was the only member of the family who had any money. He mowed lawns during the summer and kept all his earnings in a piggy bank on his dresser.
Jerry had the mentality of a 6 year old. He looked different than all other kids his age. He also had a speech problem.
Jim and Jerry were best friends when they were very young. However, once Jim started school, he started to notice that Jerry was different that all his friends, and this bothered Jim. So much that he was embarrassed by Jerry. One day at school Jim yelled at Jerry on the playground and said to him, 'Look you stupid lookin' creep, why ya gotta follow me around? Leave me alone and go home.' Then Jim slapped Jerry and he went home crying.

There was only one thing Jim wanted for Christmas and that was this beautiful watch in the jewelers window, with a gold band. On Christmas morning Jim ran downstairs and opened his present, only to find a sweater. He was not happy about this and yelled at his dad. He noticed that his dad was tired. He had been up all night with Jerry because he was sick with pneumonia.
Jim and his dad walked into Jerry's room and found him mom sitting on Jerry's bed, she had been crying. They told Jim that Jerry had a gift for him. He thought it would be some homemade, butcher paper gift. Jerry wobbled over to his closet and pulled out a square, sheet of paper that had written on it, 'To my big brother, whom I love the most.'
While Jim was reading the card, he noticed the broken pieces of Jerry's piggy bank in the corner. Jerry reached under his bed and pulled out a box. He wiped his nose with his sleeve, then stood there with his arm stretched out, 'Warwy Kwishmas, Shimmy.' He opened the box and there it was, the gold watch, the one he couldn't take his eyes off. Then Jerry gave Jim a big hug and asked, 'Shimmy, where my pweshent?' Jim looked at Jerry, over to the broken pieces of his bank in the corner, at the watch, then back at his questioning eyes, and he didn't even have the courage to tell Jerry he'd forgotten about him. He just grabbed him and cried.
Jerry never lived to say, 'Happy New Year.' He died two days later.

This story pulled at my heart when I read it. I've since shared it with Chase and Paisley, and my Young Women class. I wanted to post it on here for all of you to read and for me to re-read over and over because the spirit of Christmas shouldn't just be at Christmastime, but all year long.

Look closely and you'll see the distinct line where the ornaments stop. Paisley just couldn't keep her hands off the tree.

It's just a little bit crazy on Christmas Eve.

The shirt Paisley gave to Grandpa Drew... 'I love Cheese Bens'.

Santa

Oh Dear! These pictures are pretty self explanitory. I honestly didn't know how she would react. Hopefully next year she'll be a little more excited to sit on his knee.

Temple Square

I love Temple Square! I love going down there anytime... spring time, when there are flowers galore and, of course, Christmas time. This has been a tradition in our little family since the beginning of time (a.k.a. 5 years). We ALWAYS go to the Spaghetti Factory first and then to see the lights. I remember going as a little girl and walking across the street to ZCMI and Crossroads mall and looking in the windows at the huge Christmas houses made completely out of candy. However, they no longer do that, so those are just fun memories.
Anytime we go, it's always crowded! Every year we see someone we know. Which actually, I'm surprised we don't see more people we know with how many people go. We kind of hurried through it this year because it was EXTREMELY cold. We enjoyed ourselves, nonetheless.

Christmas Village

Every year in downtown Ogden the city sets up a Christmas village. It has small houses that are decorated for Christmas, with lots of lights. We enjoy going and then going out for dinner. This year we went on December 17 and we went to Lagori's for pizza afterwards. Luckily it wasn't super cold that night.