Tis the Season....To be BUSY!!!

So I haven't posted for a couple of weeks..not because I don't have anything to share but because we have been busy...like everyone else at this time of year! Christmas is fast approaching and everytime I have a few minutes of free time to blog I quickly think of something else I need to get done while the girls are napping. Then before you know it they are awake and need my undivided attention. We have had a fun December and Tali is really into Christmas this year. Kenya loves the Christmas tree and the ornaments, but doesn't really understand the concept of Santa Claus bringing gifts. Every few nights Mark calls and pretends to be Santa and talks to Tali....she loves it. She tells him she wants a scooter because she doesn't even have one at her house, then he tells her to be a big girl and help with sister and Santa will see what he can do! It is the highlight of her day. Here are a few things we have been doing lately:

• Went to temple square and looked at the lights
• Drive around the neighborhoods and look at lights (getting some good ideas for next year!)
• Deliver Christmas gifts
• Went to our ward Christmas Party
• Hosted my family Christmas Party
• Made Christmas Sugar Cookies & ate them


• Tali went sledding down our driveway


• Went to Mark's parents' ward Christmas Party


• Made a gingerbread house

We have had a fun December and can't wait for Christmas and the New Year! I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!!

Playing Catch Up!

What was she thinking?? I finally had some free time to get caught up blogging..I hope you enjoy all the posts! But it didn't come easily. I got the memory card out of the camera to put into my laptop. Well I couldn't get it to go in, I tried and tried. Then I ask Tali "what have you done to Mom's computer?" Nothing she says. I turn on the light and look inside the slot to find pennies jammed into it. So after digging them out with a paper clip I am back in business. So I asked Tali "Why would you put pennies in Mom's computer?" she replies "I wanted to."

Christmas Season!

I have always loved the Christmas season. I love that my dad puts up all his lights even though none of us are at home any more to help. The grandchildren love it. I love the inside decorations that my mom and dad put up every year. It is so much work and they do it just because. My girls were in awe this past weekend watching it all come together. I am so lucky to have such great parents & grandparents they are to my children.The North Pole...aka Grandma & Grandpa's

Inside the North Pole!

Kenya with Grandma watching the train go around the tree!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Fillmore. We always have so much fun and have a hard time coming back home. Our plans were to return home on Saturday morning early, well we decided to stay for all the festivies Saturday night. I am so glad we did we had fun spending one more day with the family. The girls were able to see Santa for the first time this year and as you can tell from the pictures Tali did not like it. As we were getting closer to the front of the line she kept telling me "Mom, I don't want it." Kenya didn't mind it at all!Tali did NOT want to see Santa.

Kenya with Mr. & Mrs. Claus

Aunty Cheryl & Crosley

Grandma with Hailey & Tali...I think you two are too heavy for Grandma.

Tali & Hailey all bundled up!

Grandma, Hailey & Aunty Cheryl on the wagon ride. I have to share this little tidbit...so Mark and I decided to take the hayride while the rest of the family took the wagon ride. We were in front of them and as we were returning to the unloading zone the wagon was having a hard time getting the horses to turn around. Well in the end we all got off safely. My sister tells me the horse that was pulling their wagon had hit my moms parked car while turning and dented in the bumper and scrapped the paint....TOO FUNNY!!
Kenya on the hay ride.
Dad & Tali on the hay ride.

UTAH vs BYU

So if you have been by our house lately you would know which team our family cheers for..The UTES!! We were so excited for this game. Since we were not able to watch the game in person we decided to go to Mark's parents house and watch it with them and have a little tailgate party before the game started. We had a blast even though the majority of Mark's family was cheering for BYU. Our team won so what could be better than that?

The girls ready for the game!


I spent the morning making my "to die for" sugar cookies! Cookies anyone? They were perfect for the game. Yes the BYU fans did eat them!

Kenya & Aunty Ame (BYU fan..Boo!)
Cutie Kenya & Wyate (BYU fan...boo!)

Tali & Uncle Sam's "BIG TRUCK"

Tali loves BIG TRUCKS!! Whenever we see one while driving she always points it out to us. One afternoon Uncle Sam stopped by in his big truck & Tali was able to get in and of course Mark snapped some pictures. This was the highlight of her day. Thanks Uncle Sam!Tali & Weylin
Benson, Tali & Weylin

Tali & her new baby!

Here is Tali with her new baby! This is the one she picked out for being potty trained. It crawls and giggles just like sister she said!

Another.....Its Official!!!

Tali is potty trained!!! YIPEE!! I don't know who is more excited me or her. One less to buy diapers for and I couldn't be happier. I just started on Monday, making it really fun for her. She hasn't had any accidents for 4 days now. She filled up her potty chart with stickers so we had to make a trip to Walmart tonight and buy a new baby. I am so proud of her! I will post pictures soon of Tali and her new baby!

Its Official!!

Kenya is CRAWLING!!! I never thought this day would come. She could get anywhere she wanted to by rolling and turning her body. This girl can roll like no other! But today she started crawling. She is so cute!

HALLOWEEN.....

Halloween was a GREAT day for us. It started out by having Mark off ALL day.....YIPPEE!!! This doesn't happen very often for us so we were exicted. We decided to get dressed up as a family and take the girls plus one (my niece) to our works during the day. We first stopped by Alta View and then it was off to the U. Tali, Kenya & Kadee looked so cute all little animals. Kenya and Kadee did great riding in the stroller and Tali wandered around getting a bag full of candy. Mark and I had fun dressing up as well.

Mr. & Mrs. James Brown!

Tali's cute little giraffe butt!

Then it was time to get home and put the finishing touches on the haunted house aka KrEePrRS. Mark did a great job as always and the kids loved it. The following pictures are some of the scarers of KrEePeRs!!

So this guy sitting in front of the garage....no one knew who he was...SCARY!! I kept asking Mark "Who is that?". Mark had no idea. Mark would ask him questions and he would not give up his identity. Whoever he was it was a great and scary addition to KrEePeRs.

Some of our trick-or-treaters

The Pela clan & Jasmine

The line of trick-or-treaters waiting to get into KrEePeRs!!

Our nephew Wyate turned 12 on Halloween...HAPPY HAPPY BIRHTDAY!!

Sorry for all the pictures but as you can tell KrEePeRs was a success and we had a great time. Thanks to all those who came and left scared! We are looking forward to next year.

We have the BEST Primary Class!!!

Last week Mark and I decided to have an activity with our primary class. We thought about carving pumpkins, playing Halloween games, but ultimately we decided on making Halloween sugar cookies. I made a bunch of Halloween shaped cookies earlier in the day and then when the kids came over they were all ready to be decorated. The kids had a blast making them their own, and using TONS of frosting and sprinkles!! We had so much fun having them over for a little activity outside of church. Not everyone in our class was able to make it but those that did were able to take home lots of cute cookies and of course eat a few in the process!!