My New Favorite Christmas Book

So last night Shaun and I set a new record for our family--we had our fourth Family Home Evening in a row!!! We've been reading Christmas stories for the last couple of weeks and talking about our favorite Christmas memories. Last night we read "A Christmas Dress for Ellen." I couldn't even get through the story. I had to stop reading a dozen times so that I could pull myself together. I think it's one of the sweetest Christmas stories ever.

Making Plans

Shaun and I had our "Pre-Construction Meeting" on our new house today. We went through all of the choices that we made for colors and lighting and all of the rest. I really hope it turns out the way we're picturing it. Our house should be finished by June, but now that we've made the decision and are on our way I'm wishing we could move in tomorrow. I've posted a picture below of the granite we're using for our kitchen countertops.

And this is kind of what our kitchen cabinets will look like.

I won't bore you with anymore details, we'll just have to invite you over once we're all moved in! :)

My Husband, the Photographer

So Shaun had his last day of classes for the semester on Friday. Hip, hip, hooray! He needed an art credit for graduation so he took a digital photography class this last semester. He's actually turned out to be a really talented photographer (he won't brag about himself, so I'll do it for him). Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite photos.

Bowling with the Fam!

Last weekend my whole family was in town for Thanksgiving (OK, so Brandon, Janae and their two adorable kiddies--Avery and Mason--are the only ones who live more than 30 miles from my parents' house, but it felt like forever since we last saw them)! We did some serious hanging out, ate lots of turkey, watched Little Einsteins several times and even talked my dad into going bowling. I guess it wasn't the bowling that was so difficult to talk him into as it was the time we were going bowling. My dad is usually comatose by about 9:15p.m., but we pulled out the big guns . . . we told Avery (she's only three) that she could go bowling if she could get Grandpa Rex to go bowling as well. I don't think I've ever seen him cave so quickly. Anyway, it was a great weekend and I can't wait until Janae and Brandon come back after Christmas!

Here's Avery with her bowling ball.


And Mason in his cute jammies, contendedly chewing on a sucker.

Thanks for the fun weekend everyone!

Our First House

Shaun and I decided on Saturday to buy/build our first house. We are so excited! It's in an Ivory Homes development in Riverton called Summerwod Estates. We decided to build a rambler with three bedrooms and two baths (but we're going to convert one of the bedrooms into a study/living room). Thanks to my amazingly talented sister-in-law, Janae, who helped us select the countertops, carpet, tile, paint, etc., I think it's going to be beautiful. I've gotta say that this is by far the most adult thing I think I've ever done! I'll try to post updates as things start happening.

Here's a picture of what the house we're building looks like (Shaun wants me to add that our house will also have a third car garage--I think he thinks we're building a garage with a house attached instead of a house with a garage attached).