One Year Older and Wiser Too

Well I'm definitely one year older, and I'd like to think I'm getting wiser in my old age! I had a great 24th birthday. On Sunday Clark and I drove up to the cabin and had plans to wake up and go skiing on Monday. Sadly as we drove up Logan Canyon we realized how little snow there actually is up there and decided skiing wouldn't be that fun. So we are praying that the snow storm that is supposed to happen today and tomorrow brings a lot more than just a couple of inches....

The lake looked really cool with the reflection of the mountains in the water. Parts of the lake were frozen, it was cold up there!
Clark and Blaine made some yummy Dutch Oven chicken, potatoes, and carrots for dinner and then some peach cobbler for Birthday dessert! We were thinking that the candle might melt if we put them in the peach cobbler, so Clark put all 24 candles in a cardboard box!

My "cake"

On Monday we drove home and I took the Christmas decorations down. Our tree was taking up so much room in our little apartment, and I was starting to feel claustrophobic. But I left up my snowman and our skier nutcracker since it is still Snow Season kind of (I don't think everyone is doing their job and praying for snow... come on people I need to try out my new ski outfit and boots). Then we met my mom, Adrienne, Allison and her little boys at Cafe Sabor for some yummy dinner. I LOVE their chips and salsa. I could eat them everyday.

As you can see Max also enjoyed the chips and salsa (he left some on his face for later)

Jack enjoyed staring, especially at the balloons!

Then it was back to our apartment for blowing out candles and cake. Max of course wanted to help. He is the best "Happy Birthday Singer" and "Candle blower outer". Notice my childhood scrapbook on the table. Max thought that was a picture of him....

Christmas Misc.

I forgot to add pictures of the frames Clark made! They are made of Mahogany and match a table he made me in our living room. One day when we actually have a nicer apartment or a house I will be able to display them with the table.

Here is the picture he framed of my Grandparent's home. He actually bought this frame, but he cut out all the matting on all of the pictures.

I stole these pictures from my cousin's facebook, but this is most of the girl Emmett cousins with our cute Grandma! We had to trick her into the living room, since she isn't a fan of pictures. We are glad she was in our picture!

For some reason we were all wearing black or gray, so we decided to take a picture!

Christmas 2009

On the 23rd we headed down to Kaysville to start our Christmas celebration. Clark and I met up with his sister Angie and his mom down at Gateway to have lunch and do a little last minute shopping. We did it last year too, so it will probably become a tradition. Then on Christmas Eve we went to the Layton mall for some more really last minute shopping and then out to lunch at Roosters. We thought Angie had to work, but luckily they called her and told her not to come in! So we rented some movies and decided to have a nice relaxing evening. We woke up Christmas Morning and opened presents. I felt like a little kid, I woke up around 7 and couldn't fall back asleep! We had to get back up to Logan and Angie had to work at 10 so we started opening our gifts around 7:45. I got a new camera, some beautiful frames made by my talented husband that are framing a painting of the Bountiful temple and our Marriage certificate! I LOVE them. He also framed a sketch of my Grandpa and Grandma Emmett's house that we were given a couple years ago for Christmas! I was so happy to see them it made me cry! He gave me other stuff, but I won't bore you with all the details.

Here we are on Christmas morning trying out my new camera!

We drove up to Logan after presents and made it to my Grandparent's home for the traditional breakfast of Aebelskievers. They are these delicious little balls that are kind of like a pancake/waffle flavor. We put jam and powder sugar on them, so yummy! Then we went home to get ready for the party later that night. I didn't take many pictures, I always forget too. But check out my families blog Emmettville for more pics.

Cute Max

Nick and Adrienne

Clark and my cousin Alex playing some pool

Tyler, Allison & Jack (I can't get him to smile... he only stares!)

Then on the 26th Adrienne, Katie, and I drove down to my Mom's house to see Melissa and Merrick! They were with Adam's family this year for Christmas, but luckily we get to see them a few times while they are in Utah. Merrick is still a chunk and my arms get sore after a minute of holding him! We went to lunch and then just hung out around my Mom's house and laughed at Merrick. Of course I only took pictures of Merrick, but we had a fun time and we will see them again on January 1st for my mom's family party!

Tis the Season

At work tonight I asked a little girl what she wanted for Christmas.... she said a stuffed animal. That was it. She didn't have this long list that went on for pages that included expensive items. Just a simple stuffed animal and she didn't even care what kind. Any kind would make her happy! I thought it was so sweet. Some of the kids I work with are so humble, and when I ask them what they want for Christmas it is always just one item and its simple like a stuffed animal or a hot wheels car.

We have had so many people in the community wanting to donate gifts for needy families. We had a dad come pick up the gifts someone bought for his family. As we opened the door to the room where the gifts were, he was overwhelmed. He didn't think they would receive so much. After they were loaded in his car he started crying, and was so grateful for the generosity towards his family. I love this time of year, because people are so generous and giving. It really gives us a chance to serve others, and become more like Christ. Which is the real reason for Christmas anyway. I grew up in a home where we definitely were not spoiled, but we always had the coolest toys. But will be forever grateful to my parents for not giving us everything we asked for and not making Christmas just about the presents. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday and finding ways to serve others.

MERRY CHRISTMAS (in exactly one week, woo hoo!)

Playing Catch Up

I have been slacking on the blog lately. We have been busy with finals, work, and Clark's Grandma's funeral. Here are some pictures of the family from the funeral.

Pierson Family

The Girls

Clark and Me

Clark with his brothers

It was a very nice funeral and of course the musical number started me crying. Something about music that always gets to me. Then all 10 grand kids got up and said a memory of their Grandma so that made me cry too. However it was nice that Brad was able to fly in from Japan and that Brett and his family were able to fly in from Colorado. All the siblings were there and we had a lot of fun spending time with everyone.

Sometime during our busy schedules we were able to get our Christmas decorations put up. Our tree is HUGE. We didn't realize how fat it actually was until we got it into tour tiny apartment. It barely fit in the corner. Our living room is full of Christmas decorations since that is really the only place we have to put things. I have to use every flat surface we have. It is very festive at the Pierson home! Clark also put the lights up outside again, and did his Christmas tree of lights on the outside of the building!

We also went to the festival of trees again! We saw some really cute trees. Angie did a tree this year and so Clark's dad decided to put a bid down hoping someone would put an even higher bid down. Well no one did and he ended up with the highest bid.... so The Pierson family bought the tree they donated! I don't know if that has ever happened before, but it was our favorite tree anyway! Angie has a good friend whose little niece had passed away from a tragic accident about 2 weeks before the Festival of Trees. She was about 18 months and she was outside in her yard playing while her dad and uncle were digging a hole for the trampoline and she was accidentally run over by a truck. After her funeral Angie and Carolyn were out shopping for items for the tree and they found all of these adorable little socks, and they had the idea to dedicate the tree to that little girl! The picture isn't very good quality since I took it on my iphone.

Also my cute little nephew Jack turned 1 on December 5th! We were able to go to his little birthday party at my sister Allison's house. He loved his cake, especially the frosting and all the balloons in the house. I was holding him when I first got there and his little hand was pointing to all the balloons, and he was jibber jabbering. I didn't get any pictures but you can go to my sister Adrienne's blog to view some pictures.

Grandma Afton

Clark just called me about 20 minutes ago and said his sweet little Grandma Aftie passed away tonight. Lately she just hasn't been herself, and she was not interested in eating or doing much of anything. I don't have all of the details, but it sounds like most of his family was able to be there and say goodbye. I'm stuck in Logan because of work and an online test. I was able to see her on Tuesday though, and over the Thanksgiving Break. Ever since Grandpa Jay passed away she has been living with Blaine and Carolyn. That made it so we were able to see her a lot and spend time with her. I remember one night last year she was being so funny and we got her to sing the Davis High Fight Song! I have it on video, it was so funny that even after all these years she remembered it. I've only been graduated 5 years and I don't even know all the words! She has been able to come to our little Apartment on a few occasions and she always told me that we had a nice place and she liked my mirror, it was so cute that she always made a point to tell me that! We will miss having Grandma Aftie around, but she is in a much better place and she is finally reunited with her sweet husband Grandpa Jay.

Here she is with Natalie on Thanksgiving this year

One of the times she was able to come visit us in Logan

Presidents Day 2009