This is going to be a long post...Sorry!

It's hard to know where to start with so many goings on that happened in December! My beautiful daughter turned 8. I can hardly believe it. When I asked her what she wanted to do that day she answered,"I want to go to Good Things Utah!" (For those of you who don't know, I am an avid fan of the show and went to a live show last May. It's a Utah, toned down version of The View.) So, my daughter skipped school for the first time in her life and we went. It was a great day because Vincent D'Onofrio was on the show (he played the cockroach in Men in Black and is the super smart but funky detective on Law & Order: Criminal Intent). Julie and I decided to take a plate of our goodies from McBride Candy Day to share with the cast since they had been talking about Christmas traditions and that day is one of ours. The show started and after doing their interview with Vincent (yes, we are first name terms) they talked about our candy! Here's a clip: (I had to make a video with my camera from my TV so it isn't the best quality but you get the gist and remember, I shake....sorry!)

They also wished Julie Happy Birthday on air and one of the ladies who was demonstrating a craft that day gave Julie a birthday present which she loved! Next, we went to lunch and then we went shopping for her baptism dress. After that, we went and Julie got her ears pierced! And as if that wasn't enough, Julie then had a luau birthday party. She claims it was the best day of her life. It was one of those payoff days for being a mom.
We had our annual Christmas party with all of my extended family on my moms side. We had a blast! Santa came again this year and I have to be honest, he looks better and better every year. Mitchell especially loves to sit on his lap! Santa promised that he gives a special blessing to his soldiers over in Afghanistan so Chris, you are being watched over. And we did the annual reading of Mr & Mrs Right. I will give Mitch his props. He won the best white elephant gift, hands down. This party is always a good time and I love being with my cousins. You can't help but laugh the entire time they are around.
A few nights later we went to Zoolights with my mom, Scott, my sisters and stepsisters and their families. It was a fun night and it wasn't too cold. Then off to dinner at the good ol' Chuck A Rama. James is a sucker for the fiber plate :(

Next comes Christmas Eve, and time for James' family get together. Every year we have a nice dinner and then the kids act out the nativity. This year we had the addition of Samuel the Lamanite played so wonderfully by Zane.

Julie was Mary and Jackson was Joseph and it is always fun to see the kids act out their different roles. Then, all the cousins open their gifts to one another and the brothers and sisters open their gifts to one another as well. We scored this year with a DVD & CD cleaner and repair kit! Thanks Jake & Tiffany!!!! My mother in law made all the kids sock monkeys which they loved.

Welcome to Christmas day! I dare say, the most laid back one we have ever had. We opened our gifts and then headed up to talk with Jonny in Brazil. (He is doing great and even commented on how bald James is getting! (I think he is handsome so let me just get that out there) And then when we asked him, he admitted that he is going bald too!) It was so funny! He is an amazing missionary and we can't wait to have him home in April. Then we went to Scott's for a family gathering where we played games and ate all day. Mom and Scott opened the pictures that we had taken. It wouldn't be Christmas if mom didn't cry! It was a relaxing day but we are so grateful that we got to spend it with family.

A couple of days later, we celebrated Christmas with my dads side of the family. We always have an incredible dinner with them and just sit around and talk. This year, my stepmom Kaye, made pajamas for all the grandkids that were so cute. One of the funniest moments of the Christmas break happened while we were there. Jackson and a few of his cousins were upstairs playing the Wii while all of the adults were downstairs. Jackson comes downstairs and pulls my arm and says, "Mom, there is a fire upstairs but don't worry, it is just a little one." WHAT! It took a minute to process and by that time my dad, (who happens to be a fireman) is rushing upstairs while the kids are all acting like they don't have a care in the world. Kaye had put some candles out with candle rings on the bottom and the candles had burned all the way down and the garland was on fire. Jackson was right, it was just a little fire and easily put out. I just want to thank Emily for insisting we take the picture below. I really am glad we have it!

We have spent the last two New Years with the Woolleys and we have a great time. We played Guitar Hero: World Tour and I am a huge fan! We played for 3 hours and then played Settlers for 3 hours. I do have video of us playing but I am refraining from sharing it. I will just say this......WE ROCK at Livin' on a Prayer........

On New Years Day, we went sledding with Joe & Court and so friends of theirs who used to live in Vegas but now live here. It was a lot of fun and Joe had some amazing jumps over a little creek at the bottom of the hill. He did manage to totally destroy their brand new inner tube but I will say, it was worth it. We had such a great time and Jackson had no fear at all. He wanted the fastest sled with the biggest jumps and there were a few times I thought for sure he was going to kill himself! Julie did great and proved herself more on the daring side than I expected but on the last run of the day fell off her tube with her friend and got a major scrape on the side of her face. She was tough though and handled it fairly well. Then January 3rd rolled around and it was a big day for our family. Julie got baptized. We have been focusing on this day for over 6 months with Family Home Evenings and lessons and the memorizing of the Articles of Faith. Here is a collage I am working on for her room:

This was another of those rewarding days for being a parent. I can say, in all honesty, that Julie received her own testimony about the Gospel and wanted to be baptized because she wanted to. I cried the entire time and I don't think I have ever seen her look more radiant. James did the baptism and confirmation. Jim and Little Grandpa Webster were the witnesses. Brianne & Brianna did a great job on the prayers! Becky & Amy gave two amazing talks and with the help of Jared on the piano (he did such a great job!) some of the girls in the neighborhood and Julie all sang, If the Savior Stood Beside Me. You could feel the Spirit so strongly and we were blessed to have so many people come and support her! A special thanks to Joe, Chris & Beka, Carlee, Joy (she did the best hairstyle on Julie for a baptism!) and Diana for their extra help. We appreciated it.

Then tonight, Julie, Jackson and I used the Easy Bake Oven to make a cake for James. It is amazing how such a small cake takes such a long time to make when you are cooking with a lightbulb! The kids had so much fun making it and I love seeing the fact that two of my kids have "inside jokes" now! Eat your heart out Celeste!
Note to self: Even if your computer crashes, if you want to use your blog as a part of your journal, get a different computer and update it more than once a month!!!