Lights at Temple Square

This past weekend, we hooked up with our peeps, the Nortons, for a fun evening together. We met in downtown SLC for a little grub and lights. We went to the Olive Garden to eat. The Nortons had some gift cards there (as did we...but we couldn't find them, darn it!) so it was the restaurant of choice. When we were first friends with the Nortons, we frequently went out to eat together. In recent years, as our families have expanded, we have eaten IN instead, lol. It was really fun to go out again together.

We were smart and beat the rush by showing up at Olive Garden around 3:30. They were able to get us a nice big table in our OWN, private room! We also had two servers and the manager came in to introduce them and make sure we were happy. It was soooooo great. They just kept bringing baskets and baskets of breadsticks. A couple of my kids came over and said, "I'm done Mom"...before we even got our food, lol! By 4:30 the entire place was PACKED so it was awesome that we got there when we did. The kids were able to get up from the table and run around if they wanted (without bothering anyone) and we all dumped our coats in a big pile in the corner. I couldn't imagine a more perfect time going out to eat with ten kids!

After we finished dinner, we walked to temple square to see the Christmas lights. They were certainly beautiful, but we made a sort of fatal error. We went on the night of the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert. :( It was so incredibly packed with people that we could hardly walk. Most of the people were bustling past us quickly, which made it even worse. It was like trying to keep track of ten little kids in the middle of a rushing river. We were able to see some of the lights, but finally just gave up.

We headed back to the car after a quick ride on the Trax. LOL. We were just riding one block on it for fun but we tried to get off early (the train stopped and we thought it was our stop so we all stood up and gathered around the door). It was NOT our stop and when it suddenly took off again, we all sort of fell into each other and the back of the train. I think the other people on the Trax thought we were pretty cool. We looked like pretty savvy Trax riders. :)

All in all, it was a pretty fun night. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the lights. I love them, but it was just so crazy and the kids were whining and stuff. I need to go out one year with just Joe and I. :)

Gideon waits to be seated. Even though we got there at 3:30, it was probably 20 minutes or so for them to get our room ready. The kids were impressed that it was so fancy, which was fun. :)

Teancum and Caleb wait

It's a good thing that we were the only ones waiting!

We stuck Bekah and Helaman on the end together. They have SO much fun playing. They were silly and laughing. It is crazy to see how big they've become!

Our table! We put the kids all down on one end with the grown-ups (and the toddlers) on the other. It was great!

The kids insisted that I take a picture of them outside of the Channel 2 newsroom, lol. We watch Channel 2 News a lot and always see people in the background. We watched the weather man with his green screen and the newscaster reading the news!

We made it to the temple!

Hannah by the reflecting pond

My Lizzie, Bekah, and Ammon

Sarah (6), Teancum (4), Gideon (8), Hannah (9), and Lizzie (8)

The Norton fam

The Boyers

Traditions with a Headache

Holiday traditions are some of the very best parts of the year. We love our little family traditions and the memories they make. Each year, we have a special night where we eat dinner by candlelight, followed by a Christmas reading, and decorating the Christmas tree. As we prepared for this year's dinner, however, Hannah started getting a migraine. Poor Hannah Bay suffers from migraines a lot. She probably gets one nearly every week. She has a medication she can take when one comes on and things have been MUCH better since she started on it. It often completely eradicates the headache. This time, however, she was still suffering a bit. We decided to go ahead and do the dinner, but wait and do the tree decorating the following night. We didn't want anyone to be in pain and miss the fun! It made things a little different, but still fun.

Dinner by candlelight. Bekah kept trying to blow the candles out as we were eating. :)

Poor Hanny and her migraine

I forgot to buy candy canes this year. I'm such a goober sometimes! The kids were excited to decorate!

Decorating

That's my boy!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Bekah and our "onion ball" which was renamed the "resurrection ball" this year. :)

Joe gives a nice little speech each year about the true meaning of Christmas

The kids seem to be enjoying Joe's speech :)

After the kiddos had gone up to bed, I noticed that the decorations on the tree were very bottom heavy, haha. Some year, when my kids are grown, my tree will be aesthetically pretty, but for now...it is simply beautiful :)

One Special, Holy Night

For the past couple of years, I have been hearing of a local live nativity in the area. I keep wanting to go, but it only runs for three days (Friday, Saturday, and Monday) at the beginning of December and I missed it each year. Since I was being very "on top" of things this year, I had created a holiday calendar a month or so in advance and was able to find out the dates. I am soooooo glad I did! It has to be one of my favorite things we have done for Christmas in a long time. It was close to our house, totally free, and really, really special.

It was a very chilly night when we went, but that really only made it even better. We drove to a church parking lot, where we were then transported to the farm via hayride in a horse carrier. This family had recreated Bethlehem as it must have been at the time of Christ's birth. We wandered through Roman centurians, shepherds watching their flocks, camels and donkeys, citizens of Bethlehem playing games and working wood or making bread, and finally found our way to a sacred stable. There we found Mary, Joseph, and the tiny Christ child. Outside, women were singing carols above us to symbolize the angels that were there on that first Christmas night.

As the children reverently approached the small family, I heard Hannah gasp. She had thought the baby was a doll, until he stretched a little. He was so tiny, a true newborn. All the kids could feel that special, sacred feeling. Since that time, we have been able to better talk to the children (especially the youngest kids) about what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph and the sweet baby. What a wonderful experience!

After we finished visiting the manger, they provided FREE hot chocolate for everyone. It was so much fun. On the little card that they give out to explain how they started doing this, the family tells a sweet story of a little boy who came through with his family. After they were finished, he asked his mom, "How come every year we go to see Santa, but this is the first time we have been to see Jesus?" I am so glad that we were able to "go see Jesus" this year. :)

Happy sisters, excited to be on our way!

We were very bundled up for our big adventure

We made it to the farm!

As we made our way to Bethlehem, we stopped to visit with this Roman tax collector. Caleb was VERY nervous about everything. He was not interested in petting the animals and really preferred to be carried whenever possible. Bekah, on the other hand, could hardly be contained! She wanted to run everywhere and touch everything she possibly could. :)

We all tasted unleavened bread for the first time. We had mixed reviews from the kiddos.

Bekah checkin' out the wool spun from the sheepies

Shepherds watching their flocks by night didn't mind if we stopped by to pet their little lambs.

A couple of wise guys (Ammon and Joe) visit with a camel brought by the wise men. :)

We were all amazed to think that Mary rode on a donkey like this one while she was "great with child."

We finally made it to the stable, where we found Mary and Joseph and the babe, lying in a manger.

After we visited the baby, we started to leave. Bekah grabbed my hand and said, "Baby! Baby!" and dragged me back to see Him again. It was so sweet.
Enjoying our hot chocolate on a very cold winter's night

Melt my heart

The hot chocolate was...well...hot! LOL. Bekah took one sip and then Joe couldn't convince her to try it again.

And, yes, I really was there too! I can't wait to make this an annual tradition. What a special night. :)

Temple Time

Last week, the young men in our ward went to do baptisms at the temple. Ammon was so excited and the girls were in awe that Ammon was going to get to go to the temple! Since Joe is in the Young Men's Presidency, he went as well. They both said it was an awesome experience, being together in the temple. I wish I had been there! Ammon said that he felt so good inside. I love my two strong Priesthood holders! :)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Oh wait...I guess it was more like a month before Christmas, haha. Last week, we decorated the house and set up the Christmas tree. Bekah is at such a fun age for the holidays. She doesn't really remember last year, so it is like everything is new for her. She ohhhhs and awwwws about EVERYTHING! Sharing Christmas with children is so special. I love this time of year! I took a few cute pictures of the kiddos that I just wanted to share. :)

The girls LOVE to lay under the tree and look up at all the lights...at least for now while there are no presents under there!

Bekah first tried blowing out all the Christmas tree lights as if they were candles. :)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Warm Your Heart

My kids love sitting on the heaters. I used to have major problems getting them up for school every morning, but then I figured out the perfect solution. Every morning, I slip downstairs, turn up the heater (to make sure it is blowing strong), turn off any lights (except now I turn on the Christmas tree lights), and turn on some soft music before I get the kids up. I then wake the little sweeties up. I tell them that if they get up quickly, they can have 10-15 minutes on the heaters before school. They LOVE it. They jump out of bed, grab their blankets, and each find their own heater. They snuggle with their blankets and their heater and slowly wake up. When I tell them that heater time is over, they are all good about it. Things have been much better since we've developed this routine ( Joe claims I am just spoiling them, but I don't care, haha...things are much more peaceful and easy when I do it)

Last weekend, Lizzie was snuggling on the heater when Bekah noticed her. Bekah has never used the heater...we typically just wake Bekah up when it is time to drive the kids to school. I sat Bekah down on Lizzie's lap and she LOVED it! She said, "Ooohhhhhhh." over and over again. Haha. Even after Lizzie got up and left, Bekah grabbed her own blanket and stayed on the heater. She must be a Boyer, through and through!

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a fun Thanksgiving weekend. We drove up to Boise, stayed in a HOTEL (the kids were besides themselves with excitement!), and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There was lots of family, fun, food, shopping, and football. What more can you ask for? What a way to kick off the holiday season! :)

Em and Randon

Preston Francis Burton. I can't believe that Bekah and Preston are both 2 years old! It seems odd to me for some reason. :)

Randon's baby brother, David, drove up to Boise from BYU for the holiday as well. He is so much like Randon (which is a good thing, of course)!

We were able to see our friend, Charisse, a couple of times.

On the night before Thanksgiving, Em and I worked with the kids to make all the pumpkin pies.

Joshy, Karl, and I are workin' hard!

My cute girls in their aprons (and weird me, haha)

Aunt Emily with my guy!

Nana just LOVES those baby-types! Here she is lovin' on Ella

The next morning, Hannah helped Nana with a bunch of the Thanksgiving Day cooking. Here she is working on the stuffing.

What a great cook!

Lizzie and I were in charge of setting the tables.

Bekah and Papa

Mama working

I don't have any pictures of the food or anything, haha. I think I was focused on eating it at that point! Here is Ella enjoying her food

Bekah slept through dinner, but still seem happy :)

Karl and Caleb are cut from the same mold when it comes to electronics!

Nana got the "New Super Mario Bros" for the kids to enjoy over the weekend. They loved it (although they did fight about it quite a bit, lol. Guess it can't ever be perfect...)

I was recently trying to find shots of all my nieces and nephews and realized I have hardly any shots of Karl-Guy. I think it is because he is usually off play the wii, haha. I made a better effort this time and got this cute shot of him.

I was trying to take some pictures and Josh kept following me around saying, "Get me! Get me!" What a sweetie :)

Grandpa and Sydney

Addie is growing up so fast!

After dinner, the guys settled in to play a little Boise State football on the XBox. Looks pretty intense (not sure how that could be since I think they were playing Idaho, haha).

The ladies spent time checking out the ads for Black Friday. Donnetta, Emily, Mom, David (Randon's brother...what a trooper he was!), and I got up VERY early on Friday and had an awesome time shopping. We got everything on our lists! I think that was a first for me.

On Thanksgiving, the Richards, Sydney and Preston, and our kids went swimming at our hotel. Caleb did NOT want to swim. Here is a picture of him watching.

The hotel had this fun "little kids" pool. I think it was an awesome idea.

Bekah was a maniac! She kept watching the big kids jump into their pool so she would do it in the little one as well. Since she would land on her feet when she jumped, she would then dunk her whole head under so that it was like she had submerged herself, haha. I did actually bring a suit for her, but wasn't really intending on her getting in this night. Oh, well. :)

There was a big pool, too, of course! What a fun day. We were ready to hit the hay that night!