Christmas Morning 2008

Here we are showing off our loot.








Our kids slept in until about 7:30 as usual. They were so excited when they saw all the presents under the tree. (Thanks to mom and dad Sharp mostly) After opening all their gifts we sent them on the traditional scavenger hunt for the 'big' present of the year. We got a Wii for that. (Thanks to Mary Ann who paid Aaron extra on a construction job he did for her) I'm sad that Christmas is over but looking forward to getting our house back to normal. Thanks to everyone who helped our family out this year. Our christmas was wonderful, we couldn't have asked for more. Hopefully we can sell all our houses and 2009 will be a bit nicer to us! We love you!!

Christmas Eve Day.

On Christmas Eve day my family came up to our house and we drove a block away to the golf course to go sledding. It was a blast. I don't remember the last time I went sledding and I think this was the girl's first time. They weren't so sure of it at first but when it was time to go they begged to stay, all except Macey who was freezing. It was a pretty steep hill but the three older ones all went by themselves at times.








For you to be able to appreciate this steep hill you must have seen the movie 'Better Off Dead'. This hill is the K-12 in my opinion! Aaron and my dad both took turns going down it which was nigh unto suicide but somehow made it out alive. Fun was had by all then we went home to make scones, and hot chocolate. Then I made a yummy shrimp ceviche before we had our hawaiian haystack feast. We ended off with homemade ice cream and fudge. We played Josh and April's Wii, watched a movie and ended off with a spiritual lesson. It was such a fun day. I was so happy that almost my whole family was here. Mark and Jody and their kids went to Indiana to see Jody's family. I just love my family so much and I love spending time with them. Thank you for all coming. Let's do it again in 2010!






After my family left we ended off the day by opening our new pj's from grandma and papa Sharp.

Black Eye compliments of Church Ball

Aaron came home with this shiner a couple weeks ago. The first pic was a couple days later when it just looked really bad, the second was the night of when is was all swollen. Apparently he was going up for a shot and got elbowed in the face. He was bleeding all over so you'd think there would've been a foul called but nope. Not to mention not even an apology. Oh well, boys will be boys. I told him he needed stitches but it's healed up quite nicely with a homemade butterfly bandaid.

Polar Express House in Lindon

There's the coolest house in Lindon that is set up like the Polar Express. There's a little train that you sit in and ride all around the block. While we waited for our turn we watched The Polar Express in a theatre (garage) and had "hot, hot, hot chocolate" and ate snacks. Half way through our train ride we stopped at the 'North Pole' and got to see santa. The girls loved it!

Some christmas-time moments.

Olivia is teaching Makell to read. Ah, the sweet rewards of teaching HER, now she teaches them

I don't know how Aaron's going to be able to fit one more in his arms! Good thing they come small!

Winter Fun

Olivia and Makell were out trying to catch snow on their tongues while Jocelyn and Macey were inside drinking hot chocolate in front of the fireplace.

I have nothing to really blog about, but since this is like a journal then I better write something. Pella paid completely to have our van repaired and the guy who hit us was fired. They wouldn't/couldn't tell me who he was (privacy policy) so I never did get to look him in the eyes and ask for an apology. Pella apologized for his behavior several times which was wonderful of them however it's not the same as it would be to hear it from him. So why are we all so concerned about hurting feelings and keeping things so "private"? Especially of people like that? Why can't it be public knowledge of exactly who is doing what. Why do we have to be so dang politically correct about everything? I think they should be flogged in public or cut off a little finger. SOMETHING to dissuade them from repeating their actions. Our society cracks me up or depresses me is a better phrase I suppose. If we would stand up for right and put down the wrong then we'd probably still have prayer in schools, people would say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, women would not be able to senselessly and brutally murder their unborn babies and marriage would still be considered a holy and only correct union. I know that most people in the U.S. are Christians. Why don't we all stand up and insist on what is right and good. Is it because we feel that we need to be Christ-like and not hurt anyone's feelings? Yes we should be Christ-like and God-like in the fact that we love everyone. But I seem to remember a little story in the Bible about a God that sent plagues, turned the water to blood, sent fiery hailstones, and killed the first-born child. He LOVES everyone but He also gets sick of all the horrible things that wicked people do and tells them to knock it off. It scares me to death to raise my children in this world today. How much worse will it get? How many more evils will we let people get away with because we don't dare or don't have the law behind us to stop them? How many of us KNOW what is right but don't have the courage to voice it? I'm so grateful to have a still, small voice to help me. I will teach my children right and then hope they will always stand in holy places, always stand for righteousness and what is good. I'm sure we will be hated and persecuted for standing up for right but someday there will be and end, I mean a real END. And then we will all stand before our Maker and be judged on that great and dreadful day. It is my sincere hope and prayer that on that day that my family and I stand before God that we will be found worthy to be in His presence and be able to stay with Him. Together forever.
I realize that this post may sound a bit peculiar to those who do not share my same beliefs. That it sounds like the ranting of a religious fanatic. Unfortunately religion is becoming peculiar and something to mock at. I am happy to be a peculiar person. I feel true and honest peace inside when I do what I know is right. There is no guilt, no turning on the radio all the time so I don't have to be left alone with my own thoughts. I know this is right. I don't share the strong testimony I have inside of me often because of the nervousness I feel to stand in front of a congregation, but that doesn't mean it's not there. I have always known the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I absolutely cannot deny it. When I take the time to sit quietly and ponder it, it is confirmed again and again to me. I just know it and I don't doubt it. I'm so grateful it's in my life.
Well, I guess I did have something to blog about after all! Have a great day and a wonderfully Merry Christmas!

Frosty the Snowman

We all made this huge snowman. Well, actually it was mostly Aaron who did it but we all took the credit. The neighborhood love it.

Aaron is about 6'3" so that gives you an idea how huge this thing was!