Family Parties...

You gotta love Christmas time when you have a gazillion parties and get to see all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and some people you don't really know at all. I know you are all laughing but you know it's true. Some of the time you don't even know the people you are talking to. Needless to say I enjoy all the parties and the time that we get to see family. Our first party was with the entire Jenkins side of the family. We did get a picture of the entire extended family, but I don't have a copy just yet, so that will come later. We did get a picture of all the grand kids within Kurt's immediate family. Grandma Lynette made pj's for all the kids since it was a pajama party, so here is the moment captured.

Next was the Margetts party. This side of my family is quite small and we try to get together as often as we can, however it's never enough. Without my sweet grandparents we just don't get together as often. Grandma Audrey was always having parties and some kind of fun thing at her house to get us all together. I definitely miss those days. We do however always have an annual Christmas party to get us all together.

The brothers! Paul, Cory, dad, & Steve

Then it was the Blight party....which is my mom's side of the family. This family is huge, mainly because it's two big huge families...my Grandma Bonnie and he sister Sharon and all the kids and their families. It's always a blast and this is the one party that Santa comes to. Ethan wasn't so sure about Santa...he didn't freak out, but he wasn't liking sitting on his lap. He did tell him "Ho Ho Ho" and "Bye!" but that's about it.

On Christmas Eve it's tradition that we have the Ashby party, which is Kurt's mom's side of the family. It's always a fun party and makes Christmas Eve night go by fast! We always play games and get to chat with everyone. This year Sue out did herself by doing some chime songs. It was pretty funny! It's always good to see everyone on the Ashby side.

Lovin the dessert


The twins and their girlies!

Golf Cart Sledding....

This past weekend us and The Coon's headed to Midway for a little get away. At first Dallas chickened out claiming that we might die on the road, but my hubby was adamant that we were going up with or without them. So without the Coon's we jumped in the truck and headed for Midway. The roads weren't bad at all, it took maybe an extra twenty minutes or so. We got up there, unpacked, ate dinner, and started the Jazz game. That's when I got a call from Dallas saying that Isaac was complaining so much that they were now on their way up.

We never do much up there, sleep, shop, eat, and let the boys go do whatever they want. Dallas and I both were taking a nap when three hours later Kurt and Isaac came in laughing their heads off and telling us that we needed to come outside. Let me remind you that I think it was like 6 degrees. We went out and they had hooked Isaac's tow rope up to the golf cart and were pulling the sled behind it. I got a few shots of us all riding, except for Dal who is prego (not wanting to go into labor) and holding Ethan for me while I tried to take pictures. Really the pictures don't do it justice, we were laughing so hard.

and this is what happened on my first try. Like I knew how to steer...I ran myself right into a snow bank, with no coat or gloves.

It was a fun and much needed get away!!

Mr. Patch Man

Yesterday was a check up with Ethan's eye doctor. There is good news and some not so bad news. The good news is that the patching we have been doing on his eye has actually helped his eye and he is looking straighter with it. He has also started to use that eye a little more and increased his vision (not that it was bad before). The not so bad news is that he is actually crossing it more, when he is crossing; so the doc said we need to do some more surgery. So in a couple of months Ethan is going to go in and have some surgery done on his eye. They will actually move both the side muscles by loosening one and making the other side tighter. It will be an outpatient surgery just like before. The doc said to continue to patch for the two hours a day so that we don't lose anything that we have gained. So in hindsight this is a good thing. I was prepared that we were most likely going to have to do some surgery, so I'm ok. I wish my little guy didn't have to go through this again, but better now then when he is older. Also if we don't do anything now then if his eye becomes completely lazy he will eventually stop using it and lose vision. The other good thing is that most of the time most people can't tell when he does it. It's not like he crosses with both of his eyes. It's more that he prefers to use one at a time, so usually he will focus on us with both eyes and they look completely straight, and other times his left eye will go in and the other one will look at us. It's not too bad, but enough to need some surgery to make them straight.

Our doctor is great and I completely trust him. I'm also grateful that we've went through this process before and we know what to expect. The doctor said that this is definitely fixable and that no matter what we will get his eyes straight. The one thing he can't guarantee is if Ethan will ever use both of his eyes together. Hopefully this will help correct everything and if not, then we will go from there. We just take it one step at a time. The doctor said the crazy thing is that his eyes look just like the eyes of a child who needs glasses to correct farsightedness...but that he doesn't need glasses because there is no sign of farsightedness at all. I'm just so thankful that he is healthy, happy, and just as bit as crazy as every other little boy! This is just one small trial that is completely correctable! So off to surgery we go in a couple of months! Wish us luck!!

Parent Excitement!!

So Kurt and I were all excited for it to snow so that we could take Ethan outside and let him play in it. We got him new boots, gloves, a hat, coat, and the snow overalls. On Saturday when all the snow fell we got him all bundled up to go outside and shovel with Kurt. We even stopped at Target the night before and got him a snow shovel of his own. (As most of you know, my child is obsessed with anything that looks like a broom) The shovel was a hit and was pure entertainments and giggles the entire night. He had a fit when going to bed because he didn't want to leave his "brm" behind. So Saturday morning it took both of us to get him dressed in his gear and after sweating and probably dropping a pound we got him ready. I'll let you take a look at the picture to see how this all turned out.

The snow was NOT a hit!! Looking at the snow through the window...a HUGE hit! I've come to conclusion that being a first time parent...well lets just say that I think we have more fun thinking that he will have fun. I'm sure he was freaking out since he could barely hold his shovel and I don't think he could bend at all. I'm a little paranoid of him getting a cold and getting sick. I hate when he has a cold and want to prevent it at all costs!! Anyways...maybe when it's not so windy or when the snow has stopped falling, then he can go out without all of his gear!!

My Boys!!

I love this picture of Ethan and Kurt! We were headed to one of the many Christmas family parties!! Looking at this makes me remember all that I'm grateful for. I love my own little cute family! I love that we can begin new traditions with our kids while also carrying on ones that each of us have done as a kid. I love Christmas time, even with all the hustle and bustle! Things like this picture remind me of the true meaning of Christmas. I love that these two boys are mine forever!! I'm very grateful to have the Gospel in my life and to know that my family can be together forever!!! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

A Night at Temple Square

Last Monday night me, Kurt, Ethan, and my sisters family went down to Temple Square with my mom and dad and their Single Adult ward. I love it down there this time of year, but I swear they don't put up as many lights as they used to. Kurt told me that when you are little it's the magic of it all, and that you see lights every where....He's full of it! I remember tons. Anyways it was beautiful and I love the temple and just being down town at Christmas time. It can't be Christmas without making a trip to Temple Square.

Jenkins Family Pictures

Last Saturday we all went out to Gardner Village to get some family pictures done for Lynette and Russ for Christmas....we had to tell them so it wasn't much of a surprise. Anyways they turned out super cute. Thanks Mindy for taking all the pictures and thanks Kellie for the good idea!!