Tavin's Mission Farewell

On Sat the 28th we headed up to Salt Lake for Tavin's farewell.  We got to our hotel around 4:30 got settled in and then waited to see When Robyn and Adam's family would arrive.  They got there around 5:00.  It was very windy and cold at the hotel.  We decided to eat first and then go look at the lights.  Robyn's family decided to do the opposite, so we decided we would meet up later to let the girls swim.  After we ate at our favorite place...JCW's, we headed to the Temple.  The traffic was very slow going and we got there about 7:00.  It wasn't as cold or windy there as it was in Lehi, so we made it about an hour before we were to cold to go on.  It was beautiful and it was fun to enjoy the Christmas spirit with all the other hundreds of people there.  It makes you feel good to know there is still people seeking peace and happiness in there lives too.

I love my eternal family!

We took the girls up to the observation deck and showed them the restaurant we ate at on our anniversary trip and took some cool pictures too.

One of my favorite views!

Jadyn wanted to make sure we got the huge chandelier in the picture too.  She thought it was so cool.

These two always have so much fun together.

Listening to the nativity and a message from President Monson.

We got back to the hotel around 8:30 and the girls quickly changed and headed down to swim, while my older three and Calli went to Jake's to get his church clothes.

They had yummy hot chocolate.

The girls swam until the pool closed at 10:00 then came back to the room showered and hung out with cousin's until 11:00, then we squished into our beds.  We had me, Terry, and Jantzyn in our's.  Jadyn, Jorrin, and Jaice in the other, and Jake crashed on the floor in the corner,  under the table.  But I remember feeling very content as i lay all snugly in the bed that this was my little family and I wouldn't want it any other way.  

Jadyn is going to miss him, but is so proud of his decision

The next morning was fun trying to get all 7 of us ready, fed, and out the door by 8:40 am.  But miraculously we made it to the farewell on time.  Tavin did a great job with his talk.  He will be a great, humble missionary.  I can't wait to see how much he grows while he is gone.  After the farewell we headed to Stacy and Ben's to eat yummy breakfast and visit for a while.  We said our goodbyes to Tav and headed home around 1:00.  I am so glad we got to spend time together as a family.  I know time is going so fast that soon it will just be me and Terry.  So I remind my self we need to take every chance possible to be together and just enjoy them while we have them.

We love both these boys so much

Three amigos (one last time for 2 years)

Christmas

We were finally able to look at lights on Sunday the 22nd.   This year we decided to look for houses that had the least lights.

This was our winner.  It looked like they had tried to make a homemade light globe.  It was a ball with some lights thrown around it.  We also looked at our usual houses we love too.  It took us about 2 1/2 hours this year but it was fun to just be together and reminisce on Christmas light trips of the past.

On Mon we had our Losee family Christmas party.  We ate at Pirate Cove pizza and then went to Robyn's to play Christmas Jeopardy and open pj's and presents.

Christmas 2013!

Looks like Santa was hungry this year.  He ate all 3 cookies and drank all his milk and the Reindeer ate the carrots.

Our traditional on the Stairs, getting ready to go up, picture.

This year Jantzyn got a tablet from Santa, a camper trailer for her american girl doll, a scooter, a couple of big eye owls, monster university movie, matching doll pj's for her and her doll, a owl ctr necklace, an american girl dog named Meatloaf, a nerf bow and arrow, and clothes.  She also got some earrings so she could get her ears pierced (see below).

Jaice got...New sweats, cleats, Despicable Me 2, a nerf crossbow and arrows, a necklace, lots of clothes, boots, and....

Santa made her sooo happy by getting her a I-phone.  She was generally surprised. 

She was so excited

she couldn't wait to plug it in and charge it to call and text everyone.  This is the last we saw of her that morning...haha

She gone!

Jorrin was so happy to get her lime Tostitos again.  She also got some perfume, a necklace, a heated blanket, leggins, boot socks, and lots of beenies and jewerly, a 5 second game, a letter from Boopee the elf telling her the prom dress she wanted was on it's way, and her car stereo she wanted so badly.

Santa was also good to Jadyn, she got the game cranium, a dogearred necklace, perfume, clothes, boots, leggins, Jake gave her the love infinity dogearred necklace she wanted, and her big one was a laptop.

This year we gave Jake .22 bullets and targets.  He was happy.  I learned it is very hard to find .22 bullets anymore.  Jadyn and Jake put his present to good use and went shooting that weekend.

Terry got a new BYU hat (from Jadyn), a tie (from Jor to match her dress), new shoes, a lawn edger, some new sunglasses, and some new clothes.

Jadyn and Jake got us this beautiful tile, that I love!  

We had a wonderful low key Christmas this year.  After all the gifts were opened, we played and rested the day away.  I didn't even get out of my pj's all day (even for Christmas dinner).  That's the best kind of day!

We also had mom and dad come down to open the gift from all of their children.  Mom had been sayng she would love a new temple pictures (the last one we gave her was when Jadyn and Kayson were 1).  We decided to get the LA temple since that is where they were married.  We found a pretty one on a website and ordered it.  It turned out perfect and they loved it.

The day after Christmas we headed to Walmart to get Jantzyn's ear's pierced.  She has been terrified to do this since she was eight but decided that today she would be brave enough.  She changed her mind once we got to the jewelry counter.  After about 1/2 hour of talking to her and Jadyn and Jake chasing her through the store.  She finally gave in and did it!!!  She said it did hurt, and she cried a little after it was done.  But as soon as grandma said she would get her a present she stopped and started looking for something she wanted.  She ended up getting an animated dog that reads stories with you, named Bell.  I also bought her a big blue bouncy ball and she was perfectly content after that.

 

I am so proud of my baby...and she looks so cute with them pierced.  Now she can't wait for the 6 weeks to be up to wear the earrings she got for Christmas.