Another WONDERFUL Christmas!

I LOVE Christmas. There really isn't anything better than watching my kids get excited and listening to then talk about Jesus and sing Christmas Carols. ( This year Lucas sang Away In A Manger" over, and over and over........ thousands of times! ) We had fun making a gingerbread house, and I had fun setting up the manger scene that was always in my mom's house while I was growing up. The kids all had fun rearranging the figures just like I always did as a kid!
The Manger (rearranged by Lucas)

The Christmas parties started with the "Staten Family Party". We rode the train Down Town and met there, ate dinner, and walked over to Temple Square to see the lights!

Then on the 23rd we went to Mom and Don's for the "Horrocks-Wittke" Party. We caroled the neighbors, and a yummy dinner and the kids acted out the "Nativity".

Then we were finally to Christmas Eve! One of my FAVORITE parts of Christmas. We all love eating fondue, putting on our little program, and opening jammies! Tyler was our little helper elf this year and that was a lot of fun.

Christmas morning was great as usual! The boys were so excited to give each other their home made gifts! Tyler made very cool wood shields (he did almost all of the work himself!), Matt made very cool leather slings, Isaac made everyone fabric sheaths, Lucas (and mike) turned a VERY COOL wood top for everyone, and Nick gave each boy the same gift that they gave their brothers!! It makes Christmas about giving not receiving and there is nothing better than that!Personally I like the "fallen angel" on the top of the tree!

The "home made" gifts! My Boys ROCK!

Christmas night we went to Mom's for dinner and a sleep over. As usual that was a lot of fun.....but there is a reason we sleep at home! The baby really doesn't like going to sleep other places!

It's sad to see another Christmas come and go, but it sure was wonderful!!

The Wedding We've ALL Been Waiting For!!

Well if FINALLY happened! Stephen and Melissa are Married! We've all been waiting and praying for this for a LONG time! We've LOVED Melissa since we first met her and are so happy that it all worked out! Stephen and Melissa have been together (if you count the mission time, which I of course do) for 4 years, and no one could imagine family life without her......Anyway, onto the wedding festivities!

The Wedding Dinner was Thursday night and it was one of the best I've been to. The setting was gorgeous, the food was yummy, Stephen and Melissa were cute and happy, everyone who wanted to got to speak (and there were some really emotional and sweet little speeches), and 2 of Melissa's brother's sang. They were really great singers! I had no idea that they were that talented! They both played the piano and sang. My boys were enthralled.....which since they had been running around like wild children was a HUGE feat! All in all we left the dinner so happy that it felt like we were floating. TIRED, but floating!











Friday morning we were on the road by 7:15. The boys actually all were very pleasant considering how tired they were! Tyler and Matt said that they would be ok to watch the little ones at the temple (and Melissa's brothers and Grandma said they'd keep an eye on them) so we left them in the waiting room, crossed our fingers, and wen up to the marriage waiting room! I was a little nervous but they were REALLY REALLY good! The Sealer was wonderful. He met Stephen and Mom and Don right after Tee got home from his mission and really connected with all of them. He is also going to seal my Mom and Don in a few weeks! He did a great job and the spirit was amazing. They were both just so radiant! And I officially had a new sister! Mike leaned over to me after they were officially married and said "I feel like I can let out a deep breath that I've been holding for a long time. They are finally married!!!" Needless to say we were SO excited!

They were so cute during pictures! Tee looked like he was floating! He looked like the happiest man alive! The kids were so full of energy that we had them doing jumping jacks and push ups!

It was cold while we waited for them to come out and then for our turn for pictures !

I totally stole those 4 pic's above from Mary! Lucas calls the one of them jumping "the flying princess" picture!

Mike calls this the "happiest guy in the world" face

After pictures we had lunch with Mom and Don, David and Sinda, and the Ovesons at Rumbi's and then we took the kids to Cabella's. That is THE store for little boys!

!

Then it was back to mom's to nap, get ready and head to the reception. The reception was so fun! They had it at "Cactus and Tropicals". It's a florist during the day and a reception center at night! It was GORGEOUS! all we had to do was put the linens and centerpieces on the tables, cover the chairs and set up a few tables (book, gifts, and favors)! If I had a girl I would have their reception there! Anyway, Tee and Melissa were both just gorgeous and glowing! The boys all helped me with gifts.....which I'm sure was a little overwhelming for some guests, but they were sure cute!! Everyone had fun with the cake, the bouquet (Sydnee Malan caught the bouquet!) , the garter and DANCING

Then it was time for them to leave and there was a huge surprise for everyone. My cousin Jeramy owns a Limo rental company and he brought a HUGE SUPER STRETCHED LIMO!! It was awesome! (Tee's car still got decorated and I'm sure that they ahd fun driving that to the airport on Saturday!)


We're all pretty tired, but it was such a great time that we don't really mind! We love you Stephen and Melissa!!!