Here We Come A Caroling...

On Wednesday Dec. 17th the Young Men and Young Women in our Ward went Christmas Caroling! This is one of the kids' favorite activities for the season! This time was especially fun, because unusual for Southern Utah....it was snowing!!! Not just a little either!!! Big beautiful flakes! It was cold, wet, and maybe even a bit miserable...but it was fun!Bundled up warm, excited to be there! Kylie, my snow bunny!
I'm not sure if we really carolled or if it was a hay ride/snowball fight!

Jaycie and Brady...keeping warm!

Skyler and Kaden being punks as usual!
Jaycie and Taylor finally gave up and got in the truck. It was a wet snow, so everyone was drenched and chilled to the bone!

It was great fun! Luckily they had hot cocoa and donuts waiting for us when it was over!

On the First Day of Christmas......

Let's see, it's kind of surprising to me how calm things are right now at our house. Usually the Christmas season is hustle and bustle. So far, I've been able to keep things pretty easy going!

Here is an update for the past week....

Monday for Family Home Evening we went looking at lights! We sang Christmas songs, and had cookies and egg nog afterwards! We also caught up on all of our Christmas stories. We were a bit behind. Lots of Holiday Fun!

Tuesday was the Relief Society Christmas Party! It was a Progressive Dinner, with musical numbers at every stop! Oli Dahl was the hit of the night, with his last note on the chimes....playing Silent Night!

Wednesday, Jaycie had a Chior Concert. She had a solo part! She did so great and I was proud of her! They finished off the night singing The Hallelujah Chorus. They invited anyone in the audience who knew it to come up and sing....so I got to sing next to Jaycie! It was one of the hightlights of my week!

Thursday, Kylie had her drama program! She was a cute little dancer and did a great job!

Friday, I was a slug....but it was nice!

Saturday, I worked and then we headed up to Cedar for my work party! There was a crazy blizzard, and there was a jack knifed rig on the Black Ridge which slowed us down! We made it there safely! Ended up we were the only ones from St. George to make the party! So we partied with the Cedar City office and had a really enjoyable night!

It's Sunday, and we are just enjoying the Sabbath, resting and relaxing with the fam!The pictures are dark, but this is the courageous crew from Infowest...

those who braved the storm!Enjoying each other's company!

This is Jaycie in Salt Lake. She had a Madrigal trip up there. It was cold and snowy...but she looks like she had a great time!

I'd like to introduce....The "new" Lance Shotwell

Before....

After.......

Let me just tell you what a shock this was! Lance has had a mustache all of our dating/married life. I never knew what his upper lip looked like! I think everyone agrees that he looks at least 5 years younger! I don't know if I think that is fair.....but it's fun to see the change.

Midgies!!!

You may ask yourself, what do the Shotwell's do for fun? Well, our kids are incredibly clever and creative, so we are never bored! This is a new favorite, Brynklie calls it "Midgies". They put on an oversized sweat shirt and put both of their arms and legs into the sleeves! Then they walk around, bumping into each other, falling over one another, and the funniest is to watch them try to get back up!

Skyler and Jaxyn, getting ready to rumble!

Kylie even joined in on the fun, she was especially funny to watch with her long legs!
Taffie wonders "what the heck!?!"

Jaxyn is pretty silly anyways! But he is a super funny Midgie!

O Christmas Tree

Christmas has come to the Shotwell house!

Every year I try to make this a good experience. If you know anything about me, you will know that I tend to get a little nervous when there is a mess! So....I struggle a bit when

Christmas "throws up" in my family room!

Decorations are strung from one end of the house to the other!

The thing that I have found out is....the kids love it!

This tradition of caos is one of the most important parts of Christmas for them!

They each take part in trimming the tree, and decorating the house!

The Christmas music plays and apparently we have wassail brewing on the stove (I didn't do that this year. I really don't remember that part of the tradition....they are all delusional!)

I try to sit back and enjoy watching them do their thing! Breathe in, Breathe out!

Brynklie and Jaxyn especially enjoy the Nativity. They play for hours moving the figures around! This particular nativity has been with us since....possibly our first Christmas together! It's pretty worn and haggered, being chewed on by puppies and played with by each of our children as they have grown. It's pretty special though!

Dad always helps set up the tree! He puts the star on the top, and
makes sure that the electrical is working properly!

After it's all over the "Christmas Tree Fairy" comes and makes sure that
the ornaments are properly spaced and that there aren't any
"matching" ornaments too close together!
I'm pretty sure it's a psychological disorder!

This year I am very excited to have new stockings! We've had the same knit stockings FOREVER. Even though they were very cute, they were hard to fill and hard to unfill! I got these on a sale last year after Christmas. My friend Heidi took them up to her mother in law at Thanksgiving and she was such a sweetheart to embroider them for us!
Seeing these stockings were like being a kid on Christmas morning!! I was SO excited!
It all comes together and the mess gets cleaned up.
Mom calms down and everyone is happy!
I really do love this season and enjoy the Christmas
decorations that give our home the spirit of Christmas!
Other traditions that we enjoy are, reading the 24 days til Christmas book.
Each morning we read a different story that helps bring the Christmas spirit to us.
Christmas count downs are a plenty in our home and Snowmen are everywhere you look!
The lights on the tree, banaster and curtains are on most of the time,
as well as Christmas music! Kylie makes sure of this!
Wassail, egg nog, pinoche, Christmas cookies....these are just a few of the yummy
treats that are a must!
Christmas eve is the best...I'll post pictures after it takes place,
but it is the most important part of our Christmas traditions!
We hope that you enjoy this Holiday Season and have traditions of your own. If you don't.....start one! I hope that you will share your traditions on your blog as well! I look forward to checking them out! We hope that you feel the true reason for this season. We are grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate the Savior's birth and
reflect on the blessings of the Atonement.
Merry Christmas!

Give Thanks!

At this time of year, it's always great to take the opportunity to count your blessings and show gratitude for the things that we are given. I have so much to be grateful for this year. I have my family, who bring me complete joy. My amazing children.....what a life they have given me! I have an awesome husband who loves me and falls over himself to try to keep me happy .....and most of all keep the house clean, and the kids out of my way when I'm on the war path! I have wonderful extended family, loving parents...... a mom who is my best friend in the world! I have a home that warms me and keeps me comfortable....cars that get me from point A to point B. I live in a free country where I may choose for myself, most of all where I can worship freely. I have friends that help me in my life from the most trivial things to the deepest of problems. Thank you, to you all....I'm so grateful for you!

It's been a fun week as usual with the Shotwell's! School was out early on Wednesday, followed by lots of fun days off! Here are a few of the fun things that we enjoyed!

Poor Brady became the guinea pig for Jaycie's eyebrow training! If you have an excessive amount of eyebrow....come on over...she'll take care of ya!

Yikes...is this gonna hurt?

Ohhhh.....that one DID hurt!

Wow, that's alot in one swipe!

Oh, no....not Kylie too!

We didn't get an after pic, but for the most part.....he looked......PRETTY good! :)

Thanksgiving morning is the biggest paper day of the year. The paper is 3 times the size of a normal Sunday paper. We all joined in the fun, it actually was alot of fun and we got it done in the same amount of time as usual! I know it looks like there are about 300 papers in the back of Jaycie's little car, but they are just big.....they took up the whole back of her car. That was only 1/2 of the route. Lance had the other 1/2 in his truck! Great fun!

Kylie, Jaycie, and yes....even Brady came to help! I didn't know that anyone could have so much fun at 4:30 am!

Thanksgiving Day!

We are all ready to go to "Shotwell" Thanksgiving! Doesn't Jaycie look pretty!

Me and my girls! How'd I get so lucky! They are so gorgeous! I didn't add the hundreds of pictures that they took with one another! They are so silly, but I love it when they get along!

This is Shaydi Layne painting my nails! (Sorry Tyra, if I spelled that wrong)

One of the highlights of my day! Isn't she adorable~

Not often do I get to have pictures taken of me....Thanks Carson!

Just hanging out watching the Cowboy's/Seahawk's game!

That is Jaycie in the corner messing with the computer! Fun huh!

Lance and I at the feast!

This is Nikelle, Jason Aiken's daughter! She would be....our cousin....somewhere on the line!

She doesn't know quite what to do with this crazy woman who kept giving her kisses!

COUSINS!!!!

These Shotwell kids are always so happy to see each other. That is one thing we've been able to do with this family is stay close! Our kids all adore one another!

Jaycie just couldn't stay out of Casey's big bear hug!

Skyler and Cheyenne, the best of friends!

Shaydi and Marley! Awaiting their turn to have some grub!

Here's the boys! Hunter, Ty, and Jaxyn. Notice Jaxyn's cute "hand turkey" he is making me!

More cousins, enjoying Thanksgiving dinner!

Brookie, Kylie, and Carson hangin' out havin' some pie!

Brynklie and Jagger playing so cute!

This is Jaxyn and Ty....dressed up like Santa Claus!

This was all their idea...aren't they clever?

Kevin carving the turkey! Mmmmmm!

Thanksgiving is over....Let's celebrate Christmas!

This is the Shotwell Christmas party! It was lots of fun, we did things different this year and gave white elephant gifts. I think we all had more fun than ever!

Grandma loves her 96 candles!

Everyone waiting patiently for their turn!

Jaxyn got the good ol' Families are Forever sign from so long ago! The little blonde puffy guy is supposed to be Lance! Jaxyn was a little less than pleased with his gift! Uncle Kevin saved the day and "stole" it!

Kyle was lucky enough to recieve the Redneck gas distributer with optional air quality control.

(okay, Scott, I know I didn't get that right....help me out here!)
K, it was really called the Redneck alternative energy prodution kit with optional air quality controls...I was close!

I gave a snow boarding hat in SC colors! It went around a bit, before finally landing with Brooklynn!

Even Marley had it for a minute!

Lance is so excited to have Silly string! There was quite a mess to clean up....imagine that!

Jaycie got Grandpa's old Cedar City Police hats! They will be treasured!

It has been a fun week, Shotwell Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ever and it was so good to see everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your

Thanksgiving Holiday!
Now.....the Christmas season begins!