Snow Day

Happy Christmas!

New kitchen set from Santa

Iva was not as excited about her Candy Land bandaids as some people thought she would be...

Making sure to throw away all the wrapping paper after she opened each present

So much for our plan not to buy each other presents!  I got Derrick weights, and he got me the book series Hearts of the Children, which I've wanted for a long time (the water jug is from his mom for both of us!)

Iva got SO spoiled!  She got this car from Grandma Janet!  Apparently we need to teach her not to drive and play with the iPad at the same time...My parents got her an iPad game that has a case for the iPad to go into and she can draw with it.  We hadn't opened it yet. 

Our GIANT feast for three people!  It was delicious!

Christmas Eve

We had a very relaxing Christmas Eve.  I worked the night before, so I slept in the morning, then we cleaned the house most of the afternoon.  I did not want to cook, so we did the lazy way, and went to Red Robin for dinner.  It was perfect!  Iva did not nap, so she was exhausted, but we kept her up long enough to call her Grandma Janet and open a couple of presents!  (my parents were at the live nativity that they go to every Christmas Eve; I miss that tradition!  So, we did not call them).  

New Christmas nightgown!  (It is a nightgown, not a dress!  I made it out of a pillowcase, and it turned out way fancier than anticipated!) 

New Christmas book from Grandma!  

Sunday dress

I had to work back to back night shifts the weekend before Christmas, so I did not get to go to church that Sunday.  So, I sent them off to church without me.  I made sure to take some cute pictures first!

Zoo Lights (2nd time in less than a month)

Yes, we went to the zoo again.  It was so much fun going with Kevin and Emily, that I wanted to go again with my mom!  I wanted to go with my dad and brother too, but the only other night we could have gone it was raining super bad.  Buzzkill.  So, we went without them after they went back to Utah!  Iva had a blast meeting Santa again.  She walked right up to him, sat on his lap, and said "cheese!" for pictures!  Love my little girl!  We saw the lights, went to the aquarium, and watched the light show.  Iva even got to ride the carousal, which she loved!

The standard "Derrick and Mandy pose"

Getting spoiled by her Ama and decorating a cookie.  She put a spoonful of sprinkles and put them in her mouth ha (don't worry, we told the people and they got a new spoon!).

Iva went right up to him and said, "Santa!"

then said, "Cheese,"

then gave him a fist bump!  Love that girl!

Love my mom! 

Kirtland

 My parents and little brother came to visit us the week before Christmas and it was WONDERFUL!  We took a day and drove up to Kirtland so they could see the sights.  Sadly, we picked a day that the temple was closed, but we walked around it and went to the visitors center and the Johnson farm.  The Johnson farm is my favorite anyways.  There is so much church history in Kirtland, and I love it!  It is amazing to walk on the floors that Joseph Smith walked on and to feel the spirit that is there.  Iva was a little stink and did not sleep the entire way there, so Derrick took her for a drive and we were able to enjoy the visit a little more after her nap.  The couple missionaries were super sweet and loved her.  One couple had only been out 6 weeks.  They were adorable.  And the sister missionaries were cute too.  My mom kept teasing Mitchell because she thought they were flirting with him and he kept getting mad.  Ha Ha  I love my family so much!  It felt good to hang out with them again.

This top picture was Iva from now, and the bottom picture was from the last time we were in Kirtland.  She was only about 5 months old!  Geez, this girl is growing too fast!  

Please take note of the super cute, tiny stockings hanging behind us!  That is why I wanted this picture haha 

    

 FINALLY asleep!  Take not of her leg off the side of her seat.  

So happy they could come visit!