Friends

While visiting our family in Utah, Jason and I try to visit our friends as well. He got together a couple of times with some of his friends and I went to dinner with a few of my girlfriends. And I took some pictures. I usually forget to pull out my camera, but I remembered this time, so I thought I'd post them. We went to eat at the Olive Garden and then hung out at Nikki's house sharing funny stories from high school and college. I love getting together with my friends. It was lots of fun!

Shelly and Brook

Me, Nikki, and Alicia

I had to hop on the other side with Shelly and Brook.

Christmas Day

Finally, I get to my Christmas post. It's only been two weeks past Christmas. When we were in Utah we stayed at my in-laws so we did Christmas morning there. The kids were up bright and early, well Afton was up early. I think she was up at like 6 or 6:30. She was just a little excited and wanted to wake up her brothers so they could open presents. When the boys finally did wake up we let them open their Santa presents and presents from us. Then we had a very yummy breakfast and finished opening the family presents. Ben and Kari and Kya came down for breakfast and to open presents too. Once again the kids had a great time opening all of their presents. I think they got a little spoiled this year between us and their grandparents. They surely enjoyed all of it.

Waiting very patiently to open presents.










He has the best grumpy faces.

Afton got an American Doll from Sharon and Rex. She was so excited!

Kya and Afton with their dolls.


The boys in their new Jazz attire. Jason got a sweet old school Jazz shirt from his sister and Rex and Sharon got Dax a much needed new Jazz Jersey. He's worn it every day since he got it.

Playing Kitchen. Sharon made Afton and Kya the cutest little aprons.

Dax not sharing his ball with Logan

This was about the best picture we could get of all of them.

After the craziness, we went to a movie with my family. That has been our Christmas tradition and going to my Grandma Virginia's for her famous chicken noodle soup, but she didn't make it this year because she wasn't feeling well. Me, Jason and Afton went to see "Bedtime Stories" with my family. It was a really cute show. After the movie, we headed back to Rex and Sharon's for another Christmas party. This was Sharon's side of the family. We had a great time visiting with everyone and yet again opening more presents. It's always lots of fun seeing Jason's family because we usually only see them once a year. The kids loved his cousins, Jordan and Landon. They had a blast playing with them. We ended the night with some guitar hero. It was a great Christmas! We got some really great things, but I'm most grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and all that he has done for me and my family.

This is Jason's Aunt Sheri with Dax and Afton. She is so great with the kids and they love her so much! I wish we could see her more often.

Opening the presents. Usually this is a very long process, but this year we picked names so it went a lot faster.

Logan loved his little batman cars.

Kya and Logan had the most fun climbing on this big huge box.

Sharon and Afton having fun while we were opening presents.

I think this was Afton and Daxon's favorite part of the night. They loved playing with Jordan and Landon. They'd run into their pillows and the boys would push them backwards and they'd go falling back. They seriously thought it was the greatest thing.

Dax and Kya enjoying guitar hero.

Our fun with Guitar Hero. It's such a fun game and it's even funner to see others play it who are really good. Jordan, Jason's cousin, could play some songs on expert.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we go to my parents house. Me and all of my siblings and their families all come too. My grandparents were also there. It was so great to have everyone there. We had lots of yummy food and then headed to the living room for a story and presents. I read the Christmas story this year, which didn't seem to entertain the kids too much. Their attention was with the huge mound of presents under and around the tree. After the story we dove into the presents, well the kids did. They were so excited to open all of their presents. They got lots of great stuff and so did we. After opening presents we headed downstairs for a game of mario kart. It was a great night.

After my parents we headed back to my in-laws and opened our Christmas jammies. The kids were very excited to put their pj's on. Afton got Hannah Montana, Dax got spiderman and Logan got Thomas the train. They all looked so cute! And I didn't even get a picture of them in their jammies that night.

Mr. Snowman

While we were in Utah there were some great snow storms. The kids were really excited for all of the snow and Afton kept wanting to build a snowman, so on Christmas Eve morning Jason helped her build a snowman. Kya and Dax also joined in the fun. It was mostly Jason building the snowman. They would occasionally pat some snow onto Frosty, but they would mostly just watch or kick the snow. At least that's what Dax was doing. He had lots of fun kicking the snow. Afton's favorite part was dressing the snowman. We were trying to figure out what to do for his mouth and Afton came up with this great idea to get some red yarn and it worked perfectly. They were all so proud of their snowman and he looked really cute. That is until some punk kids knocked him over. Well, first they knocked his head off and then tipped the rest of him over. He stood for a few days so the kids got to enjoy him for a little bit.

Logan didn't like this too much




They also got to go on the 4-wheeler with Grandpa Rex. That was definitely Daxon's favorite part.

Selin Christmas Party

The night of the 23rd of December, we had a family Christmas party. It was my mom's side of the family and it was at my Grandma Joy and Grandpa Delbert's house. We had a great time and the kids had lots of fun too. We had some dinner and then opened some white elephant gifts. This year Jason and I got a cute snowman decoration and a fun children's Christmas book. It was just the adults that did the gift exchange, but the kids had fun helping us open presents and playing in the tissue paper. They also enjoyed my grandparents pool table and chasing each other around with the pool sticks. Yeah, we put a stop to that. It was great to see some of my cousins and chat with them. I don't get to see them very often, so it was nice to visit with them.

Abby, Emma, Afton and Dax coming upstairs after playing with the pool table.


Getting ready to open the white elephant gifts.

This is the gift Jessie got. Can you tell how excited she is to have hot pink pumps? I actually brought these shoes. I got them a few years ago when my friends and I did white elephant gifts. I think Brook brought them. I'd left them at my in-laws so I decided to reuse them. One of my cousins actually ended up taking them home. She really liked them and they fit her so Jessie gave them up. I know it was hard for her, but she was so nice to give them away.

Logan's favorite game of the night. He was throwing every one's shoes down the stairs.

The guys look so excited to be there. They were actually hiding all of the good white elephant gifts.

Doesn't my hubby look so excited to be there? I think he was starting to get hot. My grandparents like to keep their house at like 75 degrees so it was a little toasty.

Welcome Home Jessie!

My little sister, Jessie, returned home on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, from the Anchorage, Alaska mission. And she got in bright and early that morning. Her flight arrived at 8 a.m. so we had to get up and going by 6 in the morning. We were almost late but Jason dropped us off curbside and we barely made it in time. We held up our signs just in time for Jessie to come down the escalator. The kids were so excited to see her and ran over to her and gave her a big hug. We are so happy to have her home. She came back with a strong spirit and a strong testimony and a little bit more chatty. And she looks great too. We love you Jessie!

My parents with Jessie and the kids.

Me, Jessie, and Shelly

Dax was so cooperative for the picture.

Jason had fun putting the kids in the garbage and they loved it. They kept wanting him to do it.

Logan thought it was hilarious when Jason would jump over him. This kept him entertained for a little while.

We had to swing by the Family History Center after the airport so I snapped a picture by the Salt Lake Temple. After stopping there we met up with everyone at Mimi's Cafe for some yummy breakfast.