THE SANTA WITCH PROJECT

The video has been lightend to see Santa.

Always progressing

Ever since Brandon gave me my camera for my birthday in 2009 and I have been learning and evolving and trying to understand a little (very little) about the digital world. He has always been so encouraging and supportive of me learning about my camera and the programs for editing my images. I have photoshop elements and lightroom. I have so little time that all I can manage to do is youtube or google a video about how to make a collage or how to edit a pimple off my face. I would love to have a class about these programs and my camera and improve! Anyway, this whole long sentence stems from me recognizing a need. I have been posting photo after photo of the boys on this blog for too long, and it was high time I learned how make a collage. That way everyone won't spend an hour scrolling down my blog to look at the photos. Hopefully it becomes less tedious for everyone the more I learn! Here is my first photo collage made on my photoshop elements, and hopefully it only gets better from here!

First Christmas in Utah: Part two

I wanted to say how much I love this season because I have so many things to be thankful for, especially for Jesus and his sacrifice for me! I get agitated at the snow and cold weather around Christmas time, but I can be filled with some happiness by remembering and celebrating the birth of the Savior!

Christmas morning was really fun. Wyatt and I "spied" on Santa as he was putting gifts under the tree and eating his cookies! Then we woke up Dad to tell him about what we just saw. This was the neatest Christmas morning I have had since I was little. Wyatt is old enough to understand and be excited about it! I will never forget this Christmas!

The boy(s) had a blast opening their presents (it helped to break it up over two days).

Christmas 2010

The boys in their matching outfits (I love matching outfits!)

My great-Granddad Tolles saw how much preparation and effort my Great-Grandma put into wrapping, cooking, cleaning and hosting around Christmas that he decided on Christmas morning all the men should make breakfast and clean up afterwards! This tradition has been going on for about 60 years! And this was our fist year being able to participate! Here are the cooks!

Wyatt loves playing with my cousins (his second cousins)

We are all a little off on my side of the family, proof.....

Leeann and Shelly...Two of my awesome Aunts!

Brothers....

I am really thankful for technology, especially SKYPE. We spent so many hours on Skype talking to my and Brandon's parents and family! I am so glad they were able to be a part of it. Hopefully they will just move up here soon( hint, hint...both of you!) I loved watching Wyatt enjoy and understand Christmas this year. Only 365 days until next Christmas!

First Christmas in Utah: Part One

This is our first Christmas in Utah which means I got to spend it with My Mom's side of the family! It was a wonderful night!

The Grand kids got lots of Love from the Grandparents...

...and they got to raise you-know-what! (Thanks Sean and Leeann for letting them!)

Ryan was pretty popular and loving all the attention.

Good company!

My Aunt Leeann is seriously amazing and such a talented person! My Grandma is the sweetest Grandma ever! She makes every Grand kid and Great Grand kid feel so special. (she still makes me feel like that even though I am old, and I get to see her work her magic with my kids now!)

Aren't they sweet? This is Wyatt's Great Grandma Muffin and Great Granddaddy (Wyatt nicknamed them himself)

Then something AMAZING happened......

SANTA

came to our Christmas Eve party!

I think all these kids are on the nice list!

I can't believe he took the time out of his busy night to visit us!

I was so excited Santa came I had to give him a little smooch!

I am so excited to wake up with Wyatt tomorrow and see his excitement, but spending time with my family and people I love is an amazing gift from my Father in Heaven! We are so blessed!

SNOW DAY

Wyatt got ready to go and then said, "mommy I have to pee"

We made our first snowman! Minus the scraf and hat

Complete with carrot nose and berry mouth. It took about an hour to make, and the rain two days to destroy.

This is what the little guy did while we were outside. He is happy no matter whats going on.

Jolly Old St. Nick

I took my kids to Cabela's because their Santa is a million times better than the mall Santas. We had a photo with the mall Santa taken this year, but I was so disappointed with his outfit! No hat? No coat? I hate it! But this Santa is gorgeous!

Right when it was our turn the Santa asked a worker if he could get a water bottle because he was thirsty. So the whole time Wyatt kept asking Santa with a concerned look "You thirsty Santa? You need some water Santa?" So in a lot of the photos it looks like he is giving the stink face. He also kept saying "Santa you come to my house, and eat the cookies, and leave me presents, and leave a dog bone (for Luke), and go back up the fireplace and not get burned....." So it was hard to get a good photo with Mr. Chatter box!

Winter

Brandon has been able to enjoy the early snow this season and has gone snowboarding several times. Wyatt is always so excited when Daddy gets back so he can try on his helmet and goggles.



We went to see the Christmas lights at the Salt Lake temple the other day. It was beautiful!

Not only were the lights and temple spectacular, the temperature was an awesome 55 degrees! Amazing for a December night in Utah!

The boys and I appreciated the warmer temps! Both were pretty good for the whole trip!

This is the first year we have gone to see these lights and the grounds and temple were stunning! I'm so glad Brandon took us!