G & G Atkinson Christmas Visit

 Grandma and Grandpa surprised us with a visit. We were so happy to have them come, even for an hour! They brought us a Traeger! It's a grill and a smoker in one. It's pretty fancy! They also brought us a turkey and a pork loin so we could try it out. YUM.

 We kind of forced them to open their Christmas gifts, but I am so glad we did. Jeff and I have been married 18 years, 19 Christmases together and I've never seen Ron get so excited over a gift. Ron loves the show Longmire--he is the one who got us watching, we love it too! And while searching the internet I found these super cool Red Pony T-shirts (a Longmire thing). I had to get it for him and I am so glad I did!

Sydney and Grandpa had all kinds of fun too.

Pony Express

I love that my kids get to see neat things like this. Ron and Kathy have been riding with the Pony Express for years... and years. Every year they ride to Granger and if it isn't the middle of the night we ride over and see them.

Cowboy Days

I used to love cowboy days when I was a kid! I was excited when I got a book signing town down that brought me and the kids to E during that time. My kids have never experienced it before!
And they still wouldn't have really, except that about an hour after we got in to town Grandma and Grandpa Atkinson invited us to go down town with them. It was so much fun!

Petting zoo :)

Between me and Grandpa we got Tim to pose with a Rodeo Queen for us!

Sydney dancing with grandpa :)

Darn Landon tucked behind Grandma. 
There were so many people down town. We played BINGO- because that's what grandpa used to do :) and I won! :)

Pony rides

I love my family. :) 

I love making memories with them! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma Time

Grandpa had a meeting in Rawlins last Saturday, so while he was away Grandma came and played with us! We went to the movies and just played. I'm so glad we live so close to have such fun day visits!

A surprise visit + chairs + a TV

My in-laws came and surprised us with a visit the day before Christmas Eve. It was such a surprise and it was so much fun! They brought two recliner chairs, one of Grandma Bruce's old chairs and one of their own old chairs.

And then the biggest surprise...

a GIANT tv! for our Christmas gift.

New to us chairs! :)

{I have claimed the green one!!} --I learned that move from Sydney. :)

I am so grateful for my dear in-laws. Yes, they spoil us like crazy... which come on, is pretty fun. But most of all they love us and they are so good to my kids. They make me thankful to be a part o their family.

And p.s. the visit was the best gift of all. :)

Ogden Temple

I was so excited when they announced the open house for the new Ogden Temple. I couldn't wait to take my kids. Sadly Jeff was in full blown soccer mode, so he couldn't come with us. But the happy news is that Grandma Atkinson could!!

I knew it would be a long day for Miss Syd, so we left her with cousin Eryn. We missed her and daddy-o so much. But it was still such a special day.

I knew my kids would be excited, but I was a little surprised at how excited Seth was. He was almost in tears when I told him he would get to go into the temple. And he told me it was a dream come true.

We love to see the temple!

Seth: "I remember the baptism font with the bulls under it, holding it. The temple was so beautiful. It made me feel the spirit inside my heart giving me a good feeling."

Landon: "I remember how you (mom) kept saying the temple was so sacred. I loved the pictures. My favorite picture was Jesus meeting with John the Baptist. Another one of my favorite pictures was a little girl kneeling down praying. The chandeliers were like golden jewels, they were very pretty. I also liked the alter where the boy kneels on one side and the girl kneels on the other. When I went into the temple I felt like this was a true house of God."

Tim: "I liked how everything was so detailed, even down to the smallest thing, like door knobs. And how they had the pictures that would go with what room it was My favorite room was the room with the mirrors across from each other because it stands for being with your family forever. I also had a really really happy feeling when I walked to the temple. And it left when I left the temple. I liked how clean it was."

V Day

We had a pretty awesome Valentines Day. It started at 7 a.m. with cards from Grandma and Grandpa. They each had notes with a surprise direction where a gift for them was hidden in our house!! What a surprise!

And... they got super cute sweatshirts! 

Landon is still in his... he takes it off to shower and then he puts it back on... he even sleeps in it. 

Sydney woke up later, but she loved her cute pink sweatshirt too. And she was thrilled with her puppy card. 

Seth gave all of us a note on a balloon. Landon gave us all coupon books. Jeff and I gave the boys WYO shirts.

Lily came by with a Valentine for Sydney.

And my darling husband spoiled me as usual.