Christmas Eve and Christmas

We had a great Christmas! Our plans to go home to Utah didn't work out. I was bummed but had a feeling that because of the forecasted weather, it was not the time to go. Luckily, we have an awesome family here in Vegas that had us over for Christmas Eve. (Thanks, Garbers! We love you!) It was great to be with them. Of course, Kaedance and Landon were spoiled from our kid gift exchange and their Gma and Gpa Garber. I enjoyed being in Vegas versus the car on Christmas Eve. Every year for the last 7 that we've been in Vegas, we've gone home. It was weird to be here, lacking a white Christmas, and not being with my parents, but it was a blessing to be around our other loved ones.

Christmas morning, we awoke to Santa's gifts under our "poor, little tree" :). He was gracious to both Kaedance and Landon. Kaedance was excited to get her new "Baby Alive" doll, Cabbage Patch mini soccer doll, and many other gifts. Not to mention all the ones from my parents at Thanksgiving, her Aunts and Uncles, and friends. My kids are spoiled and are not lacking in their Toy room! :) It was great to watch how excited Kaedance was that Santa came, ate her cookie she left him, and help her brother open his presents. So fun to have two kids now to watch!! After enjoying our morning of gifts, we packed up and headed down to Kingman, AZ. to spend the day with my In Laws. It was so nice to be with them. They had a delicious dinner for us and we enjoyed spending the holiday together. Kaedance loves to play with her cousins, Avery, Cody, and Taylor. Landon also enjoyed being able to follow Taylor around the house trying to get his new "Mack" truck. I love my In Laws! My sis-in-law, Jill, was also in town and it was great to visit with her. It's nice to be close to them.

The following day, my Sis-In-Law, Cynthia, who shares my love for shopping, took me to some outlets in Laughlin and we enjoyed some peaceful shopping with just us two. We got some good deals at the Gap outlet and Bath and Body Works. I was able to find a sweater for Kaedance to wear to Church on Sunday with her cute skirt that Cynthia bought her for Christmas. (Notice the pictures of my kids in their Christmas Sunday Attire :) )

All in all, it was a great Christmas. I realized that being here can be great. I missed seeing my family and close friends, but luckily we plan to go up for New Years!! We hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and hope you have a safe and blessed New Years!

Kaedie's Christmas Ballet Recital

Since it's almost a week since Christmas, I decided to update my blog. So enjoy the next few posts about our holiday.

Last weekend, Kaedance had her 3rd Christmas Ballet Performace and she was awesome. It's amazing to see how much she has progressed. She loves ballet and dances around the house all day. Troy and I was so happy to see her progression and all the new techniques she knows. Thanks Mom Garber and Seana for coming and supporting her! It meant alot!

She is an amazing little ballerina and I really hopes she continues to love dance!

Pictures to prove it!

Snow in Vegas?!

We have been in Vegas almost 7 years and I've seen a little of the white stuff. Not much, it usually falls and melts fast. Today, it started around noon and has not stopped. It's really pretty and exciting for obvious reasons like we live in the desert, but it screws alot of stuff up.

When it gets like this, it means Troy doesn't work! It ruined my favorite tree in my yard that I hope grows back before summer because it gives us alot of shade, and it has delayed my Sis-In-Laws flight to come in.

Kaedance has been super excited all day watching out the window. I even let Landon watch it. It's pretty but I like to see it on my terms, like when we are home in Utah for Christmas! Snow in Vegas and this much...insane!

Santa Clause Vists LV

A couple weekends ago, we had our ward Christmas party. It was great...yummy food, good friends, and of course, Santa.

Kaedance was excited for him to come and was able to tell him what she wants for Christmas. It was great to see both my kids on the Jolly Man's lap. I'm so blessed to have two adorable kids. Next year, Landon might not be so thrilled about Santa, so I'm glad we had this year and these pics.

Bummed

Some of you may know that I did finally get that job that I interviewed back in October. Yay...right? Well, this last week I started training and it was going great until I found out that the hours they told me I would work, actually would not work with the hours of operation. Long story short, I decided that it was just not meant to be at this time and I'm not willing to sacrifice my time with my kids for a job. It's not like I "need" to work, it was just an awesome opportunity in an awesome place. I'm sad because I really wanted it to work out and I was getting to know the staff and believe in this place. I need to think positive and know that it's all how is suppose to be and that Heavenly Father has something in mind. So, I'm bummed and a little depressed. Especially when I was holding out for this job. Please keep me in your prayers and remind me that this is just a bump along the road and something will come out of it.

On the bright side, at least I know I can land an awesome job! :)

Our Poor Little Christmas Tree

On Monday, we decided to get out the Holiday decor and our tree and decorate for our FHE. I love to decorate, especially for Christmas, but my Christmas Tree is so small and I would love to buy a new, big, fat, pre-lit, but it's not in the budget. :( So, my little one will have to do for one more year and maybe I can score big on one the day after Christmas.

Here are some pictures of us and the "little/poor" tree. I guess I can't complain, I got this a few years ago at Target for like $12. I would love a real tree, but we usually go to Utah for Christmas and we figure whats the point if we can't enjoy it.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a great one this year. We were blessed to have an early Thanksgiving the weekend prior with the Carman bunch in Az. It was great to see my In-Laws and niece and nephews. Kaedance loves her Aunts and cousins.

For Thanksgiving we hosted my family here! We had a great time being together. My Grandmother even came! We had a great dinner, went shopping on Black Friday with my Mom, Grandma, Sister and Sis In Law, took the kids to Circus Circus, went to the Silverton/ Bass Pro Shop, exposed my Grandma to In-n-Out Burger (she had never been), got haircuts, had an early Christmas exchange (my kids were spoiled), loved watching Dray and Landon play, having Bella and Frank here for Flash and enjoyed being together.

I'm so thankful and blessed to be apart of two great families! I'm so lucky to be loved and to love them! Hope everyone had a great Turkey Day!

Here are some pics of our Thanksgiving Holiday. I'm mad that I didn't get a shot of our dinner and Turkey that I made with help from my Mom and Bro-In-Law. It was a delicious dinner!