Random videos and pictures from Thanksgiving and other stuff

Since I haven't posted in a while, I just decided to upload some videos and you can watch them if you choose.

Weekend with family

Last weekend, we traveled to Utah for some family events. It was so fun to see my parents and brother, both of whom live too far away for me to see very often. I wish my other siblings and their spouses and kids could have come, but I was glad that some of them were able to fly over here. Saturday night, I watched one of the greatest shows on earth- Christmas Around the World, starring my very own younger sister and the BYU International Folk Dance Team. The team performed dances from countries around the world. It was absolutely amazing! I am so proud of my sister and can't believe how talented she is. I plan on attending the show every year while she is in it. You go, Amber! Sunday, my older brother blessed his daughter. It was such a sweet experience. I am so grateful for the wonderful and strong family I was raised in. To see my siblings starting their own families is such a blessing. And of course, I am grateful for my family. I have such a supportive, loving husband and 2 healthy, smart, and energetic children. I don't think I could ask for much more this Christmas. Annabelle and Jillian were obsessed with Katieanne, my brother's baby. It was so cute to see them interact with her. It's just a preview of what is to come in March, I guess. Jillian also loved playing on the blowup mattress.

Santa

Last night, we attended a Christmas dinner party. I'll admit that my reason for being so excited about going was I didn't have to cook the food. Lately (I'll blame it on the pregnancy), I haven't been motivated at all to make dinner every night, even though the kids and I are starving. So, I was really looking forward to it, and I was not disappointed. The food was excellent (pulled pork), the kids were relatively well behaved, and Santa came to visit.

In the past, Annabelle has been too scared to sit on Santa's lap. This year, she's been really anxious to meet him and tell him what she wants for Christmas. Jillian, on the other hand, is so attached and clingy to me, I knew there was no way I could get a picture of her sitting on Santa's lap. To my astonishment, Jillian walked right up to him and sat in his lap and was happy to do so. The fact that Santa was holding a present for Jillian may have had something to do with that. But I was able to get a really cute picture of each of the girls on Santa's lap. Some of the other kids opened their presents right away and of course, Annabelle and Jillian couldn't be left out. Jillian got a little phone and Annabelle got a drawing kit. We didn't take the gifts out of their package, just unwrapped the wrapping paper. When we got home, Annabelle asked if we could rewrap the presents and put them under the tree so there would be more presents to open on Christmas. So, we did.

First snow of the year

We had our first snowfall of the year. Of course, Annabelle was rearing to play outside, so we got wrapped up and had a blast, although we didn't last for too long because it was so cold.

Future stars

Annabelle has always loved dressing up and singing and dancing in them. Jillian, who loves to copy her big sister, has quickly followed Annabelle's footsteps. They love to have music on and run all over in the house in their outfits. Sorry about the sideways video.

Annabelle's ode to BYU

Annabelle loves to wear her BYU shirt and cheer on her Cougars whenever they play. She has even come up with a BYU song. Of course, if I were to record her song another at another time, it would not even sound remotely similar to this video.

Rough times, cute meories

Even in the midst of a very rough week and difficult trials, I was able to capture a few videos and pictures that remind me how blessed I am.