Oswald Family News: December 2010

Here's What's Been Happening...

Cookie Making...

My neighbor, Patty, invited Estin over to make holiday play dough cookies. He had a BLAST!

Ward Christmas Party...

Breakfast with a WONDERFUL High School choir and a visit from the jolly man himself!

Utah Christmas House...

This house has music that is in sync with the lights. The boys loved it! It's pretty cool!

Bubbles and Fun!

Estin kept piling bubbles on top of Eli's head while singing, "Underneath the Mistletoe..."

Hover Family Christmas Party...

This year, we were lucky enough to have my mom and step dad come to our Hover Family Christmas Party. My brother, Michael, and his wife, Nicole, blessed their beautiful baby girl that same weekend. My sister, Staci, kindly stayed in AZ. to care for my Grandma while my mom was away... WE MISSED YOU O'DAY!! We had the party in my tiny apartment. It was nice and cozy! :)

The kids table...

Our traditional Mexican feast... along with cupcakes to celebrate Jesus' Birthday

Everyone wrote down (or colored) what their gift to Christ this year would be

My bothers, Aaron and Michael with their families. My mom, DeRae, and step dad, August.

We had a white elephant gift exchange (my favorites were the Napoleon Dynamite wall clock that my brother ended up with, or the "Shave My Legs" Barbie my brother Michael created that went to my mom!! :)) and rode the Trax to Temple Square to see the beautiful lights. It was a success! I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

Decorating the Christmas Tree...

I love how involved Estin is getting this year. He's really starting to understand Christmas, and the excitement that comes with it is contagious!

Breakfast with Santa...

Since Justin has been working at the hospital every Saturday, I decided I'd take the boys and go do something fun! UVSC's (Oh sorry, UVU's) Student Council was hosting a breakfast with Santa. For $2/each we had pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, juice, hot chocolate, and milk! There was also a fish pond, pin the nose on Rudolph and make and take ornaments. It was a lot of fun! Not to mention, these great pictures with Santa emailed to us. We'll def. be going next year! The boys weren't so sure about the jolly man!

Festival of Trees...

This year was our first year going to the FOT. It was AMAZING! There was SO much to see! It's pretty amazing what you can put on a Christmas tree these days! Here is just a SAMPLING...See for yourself...

Not only do they have trees, but they have wreaths, crafts, food and GINGERBREAD HOUSES!

I love this picture!

Once there was a Snowman...

The neighbor kids joined us for a Frosty building party....complete with 2 sparkling blue eyes and a carrot nose!

Of course there was hot chocolate afterwards! (Eli decided to sneek a sip or two from Estin's glass)

Thanksgiving in Arizona...

The boys are loaded and we are packed and ready to see Grandma and Grandpa Meier, GG, Aunt Staci, Grandpa Hover and Grandma Frazier!!!

We saw a LOT of trains along the way. Of course Estin and Eli LOVED it!

The beautiful countryside of the White Mountains...

Cheeto faces...whatever keeps them happy!

We got a chance to watch Harry Potter... grateful for Grandma babysitter!

Estin kept busy at Grandma's with fun projects. Wearing GG's mumu he painted a train magnet..

He made his own apple pie...

So proud!

I also made an apple pie. Justin says it's not Thanksgiving without apple pie!

My favorite cousin, Amber. The host of Thanksgiving dinner.

Just chillin' with the cousins...

I love these girls! Bobbie, Cherai, Ginger, Krissy, Amber, (me) and my sister, Staci.

Playing games at my cousin Gingers...

Eli LOVES it at Grandma and Grandpa's!!!

He loves finding places to hide!

Estin LOVES it too!!

Justin and I got to do Inititory in the Snowflake Temple (We left early because of the storm and forgot our Temple clothes... AGAIN!!!)

It was beautiful!

Afterwards, we met my dad for dinner at Pizza Hut.

I had given my dad a hard time about forgetting my birthday, so he surprised me with a piece of cake he had the waiter hide in a take-out box. He pulled a candle from his pocket and got the whole restaurant to sing "Happy Birthday" to me! He really is thoughtful!