Working Towards Eternity

Yesterday we went to the Louisville Temple with two other couples and their families. The women watched the children while the men did Initiatories and then we switched. After doing our temple work we walked the temple grounds. It was a beautiful day. A little overcast, but it was in the 50s. This was the first time that Vincent had come to the temple with us.

It was nice to have an opportunity to teach Vincent about the temple while we were there. Vance took him in to the main desk so he could see the inside and hopefully feel the sense of peace. There was a couple there who were having their wedding pictures taken and so we talked about being sealed as families. I am so grateful for the many blessings I have, and right at the top of the list is the knowledge that my family will be together forever.

Walking the temple grounds.

Vincent and his best budy Lincoln. These two are only a month apart.

Our family at the temple.



Daddy and Liza all snuggled up.

I told Vincent he couldn't walk on the knee wall. He then proceeded to bend over and tell me that his fingers could walk on the wall. He's so smart and such a stinker!

Everyday Fun

Vincent built a maze out of the chairs at Grandma Adams' house. He did it all by himself too. As you can see, he was very proud of his creation.

A tower that Vance built for Vincent.


Eliza watching Daddy and Vincent playing in the snow.

My Daddy working at the computer.

Grandma Adams and Vincent playing bear house.

Santa Came!

The children slept soudly the night before Christmas. I, on the other hand, hardly slept a wink! I was so excited! This was the first Christams that Vincent was aware of what was going on. He woke up Christmas morning just as I was coming down the hallway to wake him up. I just couldn't wait any longer! The poor thing stubbled down the hallway still half asleep. When he saw the kitchen it took him a minute before he realized what he was looking at. Then he snapped awake and wanted to play. "It's just my size!" And the rest of the morning was just as fun. He fingerpainted for the first time that afternoon too.

The kids loved their gifts. Vincent got the trash truck...

...And the kitchen he wanted. He loves to clean it! Now if only he'd clean the real kitchen. Hmm. A mother can dream I guess.

Eliza eating escargot.


Vincent opening his gifts.

Eliza playing with her gifts.

Santa Delivers But Does Not Assemble

Once the kiddos went to bed Vance and I had a long night of assembling gifts. The worst was the toy kitchen.

Yes, all these boxes held only one kitchen. It went from this....

....to this!

The Christmas tree after Santa came.

Christmas Eve

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to go out for dinner with my parents. After dinner we go back to our house and open a couple of presents.

Daddy and Vincent sharing a drink.

Eliza opening her gift.

Vincent's gift

The first Santa cookies! I was way more excited about this milestone then Vincent was. However, he was concerned about Santa's reindeer. He wanted to leave carrots for them, but since we didn't have any he had to settle for candied nuts.



Our fireplace with Santa cookies!

The Proposal

A few days before Christmas I helped my Nephew propose to his girlfriend. It was a magical evening. These pictures are from the dinner and dessert portion of the evening.

I had bought a bouquet of flowers for the table but when I put them in the vase they were too tall. As they say, "necessity is the mother of invention" and this is what I came up with. I was very proud of myself.

This was the table setting.

The place setting.



Dessert

The proposal. I know, I'm a genius! Though that was debatable as Peri and I were trying to put these edible letters together.

Oh, the answer was yes! Minor detail. ;o)
The whole evening was a TON of work for Peri and I but we pulled it off.

Dear Santa,

This was Vincent's first year to visit Santa at the Danville Winter Wonderland. They decorate a whole park with lights and then Santa is in the park's community building. We had planned to drive through the park and then see Santa, but Vincent started having a panic attack when we diden't stop at the building right away. He insisted that we see Santa first. He was terrified that Santa would leave before we got there. The whole way to the park we practiced what he wanted to say, but as you can see he was still very nervous. Very excited, but very nervous. (He asked for a kitchen and a trash truck)