Christmas was magical. It was great.
Ashlyn, Austin, Jake and Mace loving the snowy Christmas Holiday.
(last year their was NO snow!)
Lots of hot cocoa, crackling fires and snowflakes falling in the sky. (we loved it!)
Our second christmas in Colorado, it all went down well.
With all the Christmas gifts for family, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts,
christmas cards,
kids gifts, family gifts all squared away, (pheeeeeew!!)
we were ready for a wonderful
we were ready for a wonderful Christmas Eve. And to focus on the true meaning.
THis year I tried again
to implement in their little hearts about service.
And that to give, is far better than to receive.
I have traditions in place every year to remind and to teach the kids.
Christmas Eve traditions:
(Luke 2, I believe in Santa Claus book, Toasts and Compliments by candlelight, gift exchange..and then game night under twinkling lights, waiting for Santa.)
We also read 10 plus Christmas books, watch Christmas videos, and did Christmas activities.
Our favorite:
The Last Straw (book) for Christmas
(pick names and do service),
and The 12 Days of Christmas.
(this year especially, it was fun to watch the kids get so excited to serve eachother. They layed their p.j's out, they would leave sweet notes on their pillows, they would make their lunch, they would put treats on their bed...they loved it this year.)
I feel and know that the Stott's have
been so incredibly blessed. My life couldn't be any better.
I wonder why I deserve such happiness in my life.
It was a great Merry Christmas season.
So much fun, so many good memories. I loved 2011.
Kindle fire for Ashlyn, Kinect Xbox for Aus and Jake, and Nintendo 3DS for Mace. Plus they got Wiii games, BYU clothes, phitens, Jimmer pictures..
Ashlyn got cute clothes, jewelry, and hair stuff.
Earlier on Christmas Eve day,
We went sledding up by our house-
the snow was glorious!
That evening we went to the Batson home along with 5-6 other families.
We celebrated Christmas eve with good food, desserts and the Nativity.
It was such a great day!
Cheers to ringing in 2012. What will that bring??
We have really welcomed Colorado as our new home and it has
brought us such joy and happiness. With a little homesickness (from me!)
we are doing great. I couldn't imagine we would live at the foothills of Boulder and Denver, have great friends for our kids, love our schools, our ward, and all of our activities.
We have just loved exploring Boulder, Estes Park, Georgetown, Granby, Silverthorne, all of the Colorado ski cities. We enjoy the hikes, the views, the fishing and all the wonderful things Colorado has had to offer. WE would never change our course or direction, us Stott's have learned so so much. We left our comfort zone in Utah and we branched out and have seen an entire new world, new cities, met new people, new friends and it has given us so many wonderful experiences and opportunites. Of course we have our miss Utah moments! But we have tried to embrace Colorado as our home
and make it just that.
Excited for 2012!
-LOVED Utah over the christmas break! I have a few pics from that-
I am so so grateful for my family and friends in Utah, I could never do
this without them.
Thank you for all your continual support and LOVE!
Love you!
