Christmas's Long Long Ago....

As a child I remember Christmas traditions so fondly. I remember driving to Preston to see the lights each year - I remember getting lost trying to find that one really cool house with all the lights. I remember my dad getting so mad and saying he was never going again. I remember decorating for Christmas - and I love sitting in the dark with the Christmas tree lights on. I remember our family Christmas Eve party with my dad's sister and my cousins. We would play this dress up game that everyone complained about but we always laughed so much. I look back at those pictures of my Grandma and Grandpa McBride and I miss them. I remember how my Grandpa would tease my Grandma so much. I remember their Hawaiian palm tree with a few decorations, and the little fold out nativity scene. I remember sneaking up the stairs with my brother to see what Santa had brought during the night and scared we were going to get caught. I remember sitting at the bottom of the stairs yelling for my parents to get up at five in the morning so we could open presents. I remember each Cabbage Patch Kid I got for Christmas and how excited I was. I remember never having a bad Christmas. I remember going to my Grandpa Ronald's and Grandma Patty's house for Christmas lunch. I remember the smells and the food and how much they loved us. I remember their orange Christmas tree and crowding around that little living room with the whole family opening presents. I remember the way they hid hundred dollar bills in unique places for my uncles, one year in a fortune cookie. I remember my Grandpa Ronald teaching me how to make chocolates one year. Mine are never as good as his were, but I'm glad he taught me.

I want my kids to have those same feelings when they look back at Christmas in 20-30 years. Here are some of the fun things we have done this December -

Max & my Mom

We had friends and family over for a holiday breakfast, we had so much fun visiting with everyone, and making new friends! This is something we hope to do next year too! Grace and Max were so good, they love having people over!

We took the kids to temple square this week to see the lights. The family picture didn't turn out so so well, but I think you can see how bundled up the kids were. It was so cold, but so beautiful. We listened to story of Christ's birth and then President Hinckley's words about Christmas. We have done this for the past three years, and I never get tired of seeing the temple grounds all lit up.

We also drove around Kaysville and Layton looking at the lights, Grace loves them. She says "Oh mom, I like it. I like it." Mike suggested we drive around every other night because Grace has never been so calm in the car!

So, from the Tyler's to you - may your holiday's be filled with traditions, family, friends and the Savior!

6 quirks Tag

I have been tagged to list 6 quirks about me... Quirks I have - quirks I'm willing to list - hmmm....

1- I can not sit back an enjoy things. The entire time I think about what is next. This makes it sound like I'm not happy, and that is not it at all. Examples - when we are out boating, the entire time I'm thinking about getting finished and cleaning the boat. When we go on vacation the entire time I'm thinking about packing up and going home, and unpacking, and doing the laundry, and getting everything put away. If there is a mess in the house, I can not sit and relax until it is picked up. I hate this about me. I enjoy boating, I enjoy going on vacation, and I even enjoy cleaning, but I wish I could just take a chill pill and relax and enjoy the moments a little bit more.

2- I can not stand dirty dishes sitting in front of me. When we go out to dinner the waiter/waitress/watri better clear my plate and drinks as I get finished with them or I get really antsy. Many times I put my plate under Mikes plate so it's not sitting in front of me anymore. I'm not sure where this came from, but I don't like to see the dirty plates.

3- I have a bubble. It's a fairly large bubble and I don't like people in my bubble. My kids are an exception - usually - but I like my space.

4 - I over analyse situations, before they even happen. I rehearse situations, conversations, lessons, interviews, and anything else I can think of way before they ever happen. Almost always I am prepared for bad conversations to come up - and they never do. I guess I want to be ready for "the fight" when it comes. But it's even with really random people, like the Primary President, the Bishop, temple workers, people in the store, customers that come in to the office. I don't have a clue why I do this - but I'm prepared should a good shouting match come up. (Mike will tell you I'm one of the most passive people alive, and a few years ago I would have had the guts to call someone out - and I did several times, usually waitresses, but I don't know. I've kind of mellowed.)

5 - I have the weirdest phobia's I've ever heard of. I am afraid of objects pointing at me. (This is very bold of my to put this on my blog I know....) If you go out to dinner with me you may notice I always turn my straw away from me. I can not look at someone with a pencil in their ear, and those trucks that drive with the pipes cause panic attacks. There is a name for it - Aichmophobia - I also do not like the circus. I hate it - when I was young I saw someone fall from a high wire and hit their head - blood, blood, blood. Yeah - I don't like it. Sometimes I have dreams of clowns, they are not friendly. I also don't like wood, especially wet wood, wooden knives, spoons. I'm not afraid of it, I just can't touch it.

6 - I'm a girl, so I'm always right. But I do like other's opinions and suggestions. I can not walk into a paint store and pick out a paint color to save my life. Give me three options and I can choose from the three. I think that Home Depot is a torcher chamber and I would rather lie on a bed of broken glass.

So - that is my 6 quirks. I tag Stacy and Nicole...

Party Time

Good morning! Happy December everyone!

We are going to have a pancake breakfast at our home in Layton this Saturday between 830-10:00, everyone who lives in the area is invited - (if you don't live here, but would like to come we would love to have you!) If you need our address let me know.

Come start the holidays with some pancakes and visit with friends! The more the merrier!

Happy holidays!

The Tyler's

Family Foto Fiasco's

When am I going to learn? We tried to get some pictures for Christmas cards today - and oh my darling Grace, she doesn't hold still, she won't look at the camera, she threw grass and leaves on Max, she wouldn't leave the rocks alone... But aside from all of her stubbornness we did get some cute shots in!

Loving the little things!

So I don't know what is different about this year, but I am so excited for the holiday season... Is it only me?

I have already started watching Christmas movies, I'm listening to Christmas music. I can not wait until Christmas morning to watch Grace get her new little dolly crib and stroller. I am so excited to set up Christmas and see how it all looks and fits into my new house. I can't wait to go do a session at the Salt Lake temple the second week in January so we can walk through temple square... I don't remember ever feeling this way before - maybe it's Grace starting to understand, maybe - but I can't wait!

Our talks in sacrament went really well. I'm glad it's over, but I didn't procrastinate and was completely prepared by Wednesday!

Oh my sweet, strong willed Grace, she is makes me smile! Grace loves to color. She will lay on the floor or sit at the kitchen table and just color - we have gone through two coloring books in the past month, and lot's of mommy's scrapbooking paper. Grace also started sporting some "fine sunnies" this week. She wears them in the house, in the car and in the dark... + check out the hairdo!













Max is growing, I can't believe he is seven months now. He loves his walker (when Grace let's him have a turn...) He has decided that he is going to be a picky eater. He gags on Turkey and Rice, Chicken and Rice, Chicken Noodle, Pasta, Beans, Peas and sometimes his rice cereal. He loves the fruits and sweet potato's. This is a bit frustrating to me because he big sis would eat anything. She was eating table foods around 6-7 months, but not Max - I gave him a tiny bit of pancake and he had an allergic reaction. I gave him a tiny bit of noodle and he choked and threw up... But, my sweet boy is so happy, and that makes it worth it. He feeds off of Grace and laughs and laughs at her. He has a high pitch laugh which we only hear every few days, but when he lets it go everyone around stops. (Once again, nice hair!)

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful belated Thursday, also known as Friday.

I found a post on my sister's friends blog that I really loved. As it's the season for being thankful I thought I would adopt the idea to my blog...

The 5 everyday things I am thankful for today....
1. Cars. Plain and simple, I am so grateful that I was born in a time of easy traveling. Even when gas prices were so high, it still only took an hour to get to Cache Valley. I can't imagine having to walk there!
2. Both Grace and Max slept through the night for the second night in a row. That means I slept for 2 straight nights. That has not happened in over two years. So with that, I'm so thankful for my bed.
3. My home. So many people helped us, donated/loaned and gave us furniture, time and so many other things. I love it. There is not one day I take my home for granted -
4. Binka's. Last night I was at Ikeaa with my mother and sister in law and Grace was crazy. The second I broke down and gave her a binka (It was after 8 and we had been there for 2 hours.) she settled down and rode in the cart.
5. Wet Wipes. Girls, can you imagine changing a diaper without wet wipes? Once again, I know I was born in a the day-n-age I could handle, because there is no way I would wash a cloth after it had poop on it!

So I am putting this challenge out there for all of you: find five everyday things you are grateful for, big or small it doesn't matter and either post them on your own blog or leave me a comment. I promise it is pretty fun to think through your day and realize we have a lot to be thankful for. It is a great way to end your day.

Increasing our vocabulary and gratefulness...

I feel like I have hit a blogging lull. Over a week with no post and nothing new to note... So I'll just post this cute picture of Grace and tell about some funny things she has said/done this week. Max was in his walker and he was sort of jumping, so I commented and praised him for jumping, so Grace was not going to just sit and let Max get all the attention so she stood up and said, "I jump, jump, jump." Well, she is one, so her feet never left the floor but it was so cute to watch her bounce.
She keeps me laughing, she came in the room and I was talking to Max and she said, "What's happening?" During the sacrament Grace stood up and loudly said, "I want a drink!" She loves to take the sacrament, but doesn't like to wait her turn... And my favorite thing she said this week "Super". I was sarcastically saying it to Mike and she started saying it. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't saying something worse!

Saturday night my sister was preparing her talk for the next day's sacrament on Gratitude. I teased her for procrastinating and told her that was an easy subject. I cursed myself. The next day we got "the call". I'm surprised it took them 4 months to ask us. And our topic, Gratitude. I think I'll borrow Cassie's talk... :) I also am in charge of sharing time this month, I teach primary, Mike teaches Gospel Principles once a month, they called him to teach in priesthood once a month, he is a ward missionary, Grace will not go to nursery, and we have Max. Needless to say, I'm beginning to dread going to church. I feel like I'm juggling a herd of cattle. Eventually my kids are going to cause so much disruption in the meetings they are going to change there minds... Yeah right.

Happy wishes to our friends and families -