Kitchen remodel

Here are some pictures of our kitchen remodel (mostly for my Mom who has been asking for them). I am so glad it is in the final stages. Leave it to us to start tearing into it just before Thanksgiving and not finishing it until after Christmas. Not the best timing but I am happy nontheless. Kent ended up tearing out our island entirely and starting all over. I love how it turned out.

It took several guys to lift the island slab.

The "almost" finished project. We still have to grout the backsplash and get a new oven hood.

Jakey helping Daddy finish the plumbing

Happy New Years!

Every year Kent lights off fireworks to bring in the new year and every year there seems to be trouble. A few years back there ended up being a burnt spot on my moms kitchen floor. Last year, Kent's jacket ended up with a huge burn hole in it. This year, it was Cumorah's curtains that took the brunt of the firework distruction. The problem always is that the guys don't want to go all the way outside to set them off because it is too cold. So, they stand at the door and toss them out. Maybe there is a reason fireworks are illegal!

Cumorah very "angry" about her curtains. Luckily it was on the very bottom and can be hemmed.

I had to put a happy picture of Cumorah too!

My cute cousin Emily and her hubby Kasey

The guys (minus Kent) post fireworks trying to look all innocent

The cousins ringing in the new year!

Abbie has been up until midnight the last several New Years. This year she made it until about 11:50...she was so dissapointed in herself!

cooking class

This is for those of you who would like to know how to make hot chocolate...aren't these girls adorable!!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas! I love the excitement the kids have and how hard it is for them to sleep. We told them that the clock in their room had to say 6:00 before they could come upstairs. At around 5:00 we heard them sneaking upstairs. We were only able to hold them off until about 5:45. Their excitement was contagious!

Jake was SO EXCITED to open his box of tools that he got from Kai!

Instead of riding his new bike, Jake spent the morning "working" on it with his new tools

One of our traditions is to go see a movie on Christmas afternoon. This year we went and saw Bedtime Stories. We all loved it and thought it was hilarious!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is when we usually do the big ham dinner. This year we had our friends the Jensens over. It always feels like more of an occasion with company. The kids ate a little, played a lot, and were actually excited to go to bed. We read a really neat book that Aunt Cheryl gave us that retold the birth of the Savior, opened up new pj's, and called it a night.

Kate and Dane

The girls in their new jammies all ready to hit the sack (Jake was already in bed)

Kent's Seminary Class

Kent is teaching early morning seminary this year for the Sophmores and Juniors. He loves all the kids in his class. He is always bragging about them like they are his own kids. I have heard his say things like, "Oh, I have the best group of kids" and "I don't have any discipline problems with MY kids". The last day before Christmas break he had a party with them. Here's the two pictures he took... one serious and one silly. Can you tell which one is which? (they both look silly to me...he hee!)

Our Christmas card

This was our Christmas card this year. My sister Carrie is so talented with digital scrapbooking and is always so willing to help me out (can you tell she did my new blog background too!) Thank you Carrie!!!

HGTV Dream Home