Christmas in Wyoming

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas this year at Mitch's parents' house in Wyoming! Since it is an 8 hour drive to get there, Santa came a little early and brought Marin a new portable DVD player so she wouldn't go nuts in the car. She was so thrilled and calls it her "DVeedio player" (cross between "video" and "DVD"). We had to trek through some snow, ice, and heavy wind but we made it there Saturday, December 20th. Mitch's brother and sister's families and their combined 8 kids also stayed at Mitch's parents' house so it was a full house! His other sister lives up the road with her 6 kids so with Marin there were 15 grandkids running around, playing, screaming, laughing, eating candy, opening presents, sometimes fighting, but mostly having a blast all week!


We went to Mitch's grandma's house for a large (I'm talking 65 people) Christmas Eve dinner and little program. Mitch's oldest sister EmRee asked Marin to come up and lead the music for the program. She got pretty into it... here is a little video I took with my camera (sorry no sound, I told you I need a new camera!)


Here are a couple of pictures in case you didn't feel the urge to watch the movie...


Then, as tradition goes in the Moncur family, we headed home and Santa had already come (he likes them best I think)! This is what it looks like when Santa comes to 15 kids in one room!

Marin was so excited for Santa to come (because her parents totally psyched her up for the whole affair) and really enjoyed opening her presents, as you can see! Thanks to my mom, we really didn't have to buy Marin much this year!


Okay, I shouldn't have, but I just had to post this picture because these horrible candid shots are the story of my life! Whenever I go through our pictures after an event like this, without fail there are several pictures like this of me! I believe I am trying to get a Tinkerbell doll out of it's box. By the way, what is the deal with dolls being secured to their boxes so thoroughly that it takes an hour to finally get them out!?


Marin's favorite presents came in her stocking...candy, chips, Cheetos! All the junk food I don't normally buy. She had to take a break mid present-opening to eat her Cheetos and Doritos at the same time...


Well, Marin really cleaned up this year. This is the toy box that Mitch built for Marin and I painted. It turned into quite the project, but it matches her room perfectly and is so cute!
Okay, I know this is the longest posting ever, and has been mostly about presents and Santa, but I really didn't forget the true meaning of Christmas I promise. My favorite part about Christmas was getting to spend time with Mitch's wonderful family, who are such good examples to Marin. We missed JaDee and Nicole's family who recently moved clear to ALASKA, and JanaLee's family who were in Texas this year. And I can't let this post be done without listing some of the things I am so grateful for this year...

1. Both Mitch's and my families. Our kids get amazing grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins-- and we get amazing parents, sisters, brothers, and nieces and nephews!
2. For my 2 red-heads-- Mitch and Marin!
3. That our little nephew Bridger survived a very scary, lengthy pediatric ICU stay for an infection that almost took his life this year. We are still praying for him and his complete recovery!
4. For Mitch's secure job that makes it so I can stay home to raise my little Marin.
5. For the chance to add another little girl to our family!
6. For my primary calling that has taught me a lot this year (especially patience!)
7. That my sister Avree moved to Logan this year... woo hoo!
8. That my brother Jaren served a mission in Brazil and came home this year!

This is not an exhaustive list of course, I have many, many more things to be grateful for. These are just the big ones coming to my head at the moment. I hope next year my list will include "Marin being potty trained!" and "That I lost all my baby weight." Here's hoping! I hope everyone else had as merry of a Christmas as we Moncurs did!

Gingerbread House

Tonight for family night we made a gingerbread house with Marin. We were going to make gingerbread houseES, but as we got going, we decided one would be plenty! Of course, Marin enjoyed eating the candy much more than actually decorating the house. I made the "glue" (seriously though, royal icing is pretty much sugar glue) and Mitch piped it all over everything while Marin and I told him where to put it. Marin actually did have the attention span to get into decorating it as long as I told her what we were making (i.e. the fence, the door, the sidewalk, etc.). I think we'll make it a tradition. Maybe someday our houses will not have a gaping hole through the roof and be made out of actual gingerbread!

The "fence" was my idea. Isn't it lovely? Oh, and this is Mitch's creepy little snowman (or penguin?). I think Mitch should quit taxes and become a full time sculptor.


Remember I am 6 months pregnant and pardon my chipmunk cheeks!

Little cheeser! It is tough for me to get a good, non-fake-looking smile from Marin these days! And I do believe I have a pretty dang good-looking husband, even if he is pushing 30!

Christmas!

For my whole life I have been SO into the Christmas season and this year is no different. It has been even better because I have my own child who, for the first time, actually understands Santa Claus and presents and gets so absolutely thrilled over trees and lights that you can't help but feel the Christmas spirit! Seriously, wherever we go Marin practically screams how "boootiful" the lights on houses are and in the stores she'll scream "Mom, look at the boootiful Christmas trees!" Even in Walmart, where the tree is less than beautiful. I have been much anticipating Christmas morning when Marin gets to open her presents and have really had to hold back not getting her too many things (kids toys are inexpensive you can really get carried away I think). Anyway, my mom gave Marin this darling Christmas outfit, complete with little black sparkley Mary Janes and a cute little black pea coat (not pictured, but I will definitely get some professional pics taken soon). We made a Christmas paper chain today to count down the days until Christmas just like we used to do with my family when I was young. And we have many more Christmas activities planned. Ahhh, I love Christmas traditions so much and, well, I am just thoroughly enjoying myself this Christmas season!! Hope it's the same for the rest of you!

Thanksgiving update

Better late than never...

Well, I only set off the smoke alarms once while cooking my Thanksgiving dinner so I'll consider it a success! Actually it was for the recipe below and the veggies weren't even burnt, just a little dark on the bottoms. They were so yummy! Thanks Martha, seriously I am going to make them a bunch this winter because it's a really healthy recipe too. You all should really try it. I have a whole bunch of butternut squash from my garden and that was my favorite. Avree's little baby Spencer was right in the middle of his nap when all the alarms in my house went off! Poor little guy was probably scared to death! I also found another Martha recipe for the turkey that turned out yummy. I made some herb butter (just mix butter and fresh herbs) and rubbed it underneath the skin of the turkey (side note: it was pretty dang disgusting to reach my whole arm up inside the skin, but not as disgusting as sticking my hand up the turkey's butt and cleaning it out. In the middle of getting it all ready I had the thought, "wow I can't believe what I'm actually doing right now.") But... it really made the turkey really yummy and browned it nicely. I forgot to charge my camera batteries so Avree took a bunch of pictures for me, I'll post a few when she gets them to me (don't let the suspense kill you). I have the coolest family, it was great spending time with all of them, especially in my own house! It's the first time I haven't had to travel at least 6 hours for a Thanksgiving in the past 8 years. It was a whole lot smaller than I'm used to-- only 8 adults, but it was one of my favorites yet. And the best part-- we had SIX pies for only 8 of us. Yeah, that's right! My mom makes the best pies ever!