that time we decorated waffle cones as Christmas Trees...

A new family tradition!

Instead of those falling-over-Gingerbread houses.

christmas love

1. Cousins in Sunday best

2.  Shepherd for the Manger Story  3.  The Thacker girls

4. Christmas pj's

5. Christmas morning!

6.  Goodies  7. Jake spoiled me

8.  Merry Christmas Myer!

until next year!

and 6 years later

I still love this guy like crazy.

I became me when I married Jake.

I pretended to like tomatoes because everyone else did, but once we met and found out he didn't like them either, I wasn't ashamed to ask for no tomatos on everything.

At parties, I was/am the shy one to sit back, but now I have a partner in crime to do it with.

He pushed me to pursue Sign Language as a career and cheered me through my career's ups and downs.

No matter how many times I ask him if he misses my long hair, I always get the same answer.

My schedule that was so important in high school and college is becoming more flexible.  Just a little.

I've never been so funny.  

At 6 AM when my alarm goes off, he squeezes my arm as if to say, "Don't worry, I got this."

He is the piece that makes me my best self.

I love you Jake.  Happiest Wedding Anniversary.  I'm lucky and better to have you.

xoxo

-B

and then boom, it's Christmas Eve

 I didn't even have time to count down Christmas.  The last thing I remember was eating pumpkin pie and leftover turkey.  At least the house is ready, presents are bought, christmas cards sent (above), and neighborhood gifts are making their way to our doorstep. Yum.

I hope your Christmas Eve and Christmas are merry and bright.  From my little family to yours, have a happy Christmas.

love,

Jake, Bryton, & Myer  

christmas wreath

 Was a little adventurous, again, and made our Christmas wreath for the door.  I just hot glued ceramic light bulbs to a wreath base.  I think I broke more bulbs than I thought possible but pretty pleased with another addition to my Colorful Christmas.  I promise I'm almost done.

The finished product.

Merry Christmas!

I surprised a Jazz fan to a Jazz game

Jake's the jazz fan if you didn't get that, but I'm pretty proud of myself for surprising him to a game.  I usually can't keep a secret from him as I am inept at making decisions by myself, but I totally pulled this off.  And I even surprised him with friends just magically already at the game.  Two for two, I am on a roll.  

We had a good time and I'm glad that Steve and Lindsey came with us so Jake could talk sports and I didn't have to talk sports.  

I love birthdays, I love surprises  and I love Jake.  And I love babysitters. Happy birthday again, Jake.  You sure are loved!

happy birthday shout-out

Jake is a birthday boy today!  Birthday celebrations all around for this guy.  I mean who wouldn't want to celebrate Jake being born?? Ok so maybe just Myer and I, but nonetheless we are pretty pumped to single out a day for our man.  He is our world and this family wouldn't be able to function without him. We know we're lucky.  Love you Jake!

looking out and up

This was a heavy weekend as I'm sure we are all aware.  I hurried home from work on Friday, and hugged and hugged this little person that I was so fortunate to come home to.  He breaths life into my soul and fulfills me as a mother.  I came home fearful that the world is getting scary, scarier each day so how do I let Myer grow up in such a state?  How do I let him go to school?  To a movie theatre?  But fear cannot control us.  We must live.  Live and love and do the best we can so that we will always be together, forever.  There is love in this world as those teachers showed saving lives.  I've always looked to this quote from Gordon B. Hinckley in times of frustration and sadness, and it ever rings true again: 

"Stop looking for the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."

I hope I can teach my children to love always and have the hope to believe in their future.  I am not so good at this as I learned as mother to a newborn... so I hope they can become better than me.  The sunlight is always better than gray skies anyways.

little person in a coat

Cold temperatures are here and this guy doesn't notice.  Or could careless.  So to remedy this (and to prevent colds) we bought Myer his first snow coat.  Sadly this little guy is just that--little.  And the coat hits his knees.  We bought the smallest size we could, but the poor guy inherited short genes from both sides.  At least more than half his body will stay warm this winter.

stockings without a mantle: better idea

 So last year I used candle holders.  But it never seemed "Bryton" enough so I switched it up this year.  I used my stick that normally sits on our bookcase and strung our stockings on it along with a few colorful pom pom garlands.  After all, this year is a colorful christmas.

I'm liking this idea a lot better.

meet tyler

This is our special friend Tyler.  We babysat him and his sisters back when we were in college on weekends.  They were our favorite family to babysit; so well behaved and fun.  Tyler is autistic and he decided to be baptized on Saturday.  We were happy to be a part of his special day.  And I've never been to a better baptism as we sang "Do As I'm Doing" while blinking our eyes, and we heard a special duet by Tyler and his friend singing "I am a Child of God".  We are lucky to be part of his life and lucky to be there for him on his special day.  Congrats Tyler and we are proud of you!

oakley's made it

My little brother, at 13 years old, earned his Eagle Scout on Saturday.

I'm so proud of him.

I think he and I look the most alike in my family

so naturally kindred spirits.

Isn't he a stud?

I love him so.

Congrats Oakley.

We're so proud of you.

my company p-zarty

I don't think I've ever been to a more fun party let alone a company party.  We danced non-stop for 2 hours.  Serious.  I haven't danced since a high school stag dance.  It felt good to be back.  

and we may have had a little fun with the photo booth...

a colorful christmas re-do

Ok so I was wanted new ornaments and decorations this year, but not wanting to fork over the money, I just added to what I had. Then I had a crazy thought, why not make it all? And an even crazier thought, why not washi tape all the ornaments?  So I did.  I hope the tape stays.  I also changed up our stockings, added tassels to my christmas banner, and played a little with glitter.  But I'm not done yet, so that'll just have to be another post.  Get excited.

I think they turned out pretty good!  Again, I hope the tape stays.  Or little hands keep to themselves.  Here's to a colorful christmas!

the chronicles of myer and daisy

If you want to know the definition of pals, Myer and Daisy would be the king pin of pals.  These two play for days.  Here they're playing "Follow the Leader".  But, I'm pretty sure Myer thinks they're playing a game when really Daisy just wants to be in front.  Myer gives the sweetest hugs and pets her so softly.  And there isn't a better welcome home than Daisy's.  I think their bond is pretty special.  And I hope we can get a dog just like her someday.  Or just convince the landlords to let us keep her...

And, um, hi, can you believe it's December?  It was too warm this past weekend to make me think that's true.  Where's the snow??

Cubby's

We had a rare moment occur where both Jake and I had a free night during the week so we went out.  I've heard raves about Cubby's in Provo and Jake wasn't opposed to place that included Chicago Beef in the description.  I got the Tri Tip Steak Salad (oh yum) and Jake got the Dragonslayer Burger, naturally with a side of sweet potato fries.  Myer just liked exploring.  Cubby's got our vote!

the night the lights turned on

What's Christmas without Temple Square lights?  And to even be there when they turn them on?  That is truly ringing in the season watching millions of twinkle lights turn on at the same time.  Magic.  I've never been a part of that before, and didn't know it was a "thing" but apparently it is because there was a good crowd there.  New tradition perhaps?

Myer only sat in the stroller if his cousin Navy was right next to him.  During our stroll, he kept smiling at her, patting her blanket, and laughing at her.  Navy kept asking, "yeww otay?".  Gosh it was sweet.  And only Aunt Jamie could push the stroller, I would get in trouble if I even tried.  Myer likes things a certain way.

Oh, and we saw the beautiful windows at Macey's and talk about reviving an old love (remember the ZCMI windows?)  My favorite part of Salt Lake at Christmas.  Let Christmas begin!  I'm ready!