Santa Who?

Peyton met Santa for the first time last night...from his expression do you think he thought twice about it? I was hoping for a smile, but at least we didn't see tears! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Shoell for providing a wonderful Christmas party! Here's a quick recap of our fun weekend!




















Friday night we had such a great time at my friend's Christmas party. Steph...thanks so much for having it at your house! You did a great job as host! We had such a yummy dinner and enjoyed visiting with everyone. Just about all the girls were there, except we missed Sarah, Michelle and Lindsey (I think everyone else made it!) Hopefully we can get a lunch together after Christmas so we can see you guys too! Don't I have cute friends! And if you can believe it, almost all of them have had AT LEAST one baby...they all look so great! Sorry we missed Whit in the picture...we took it a little too late!














Saturday we had two Christmas parties...one at Grandma Shoell's and our ward party. As you saw above, Peyton met Santa and played baby Jesus in the Navity story. He did relatively well for an 8 month old having to sit that still. Poor little Lindsey did so well holding him for as long as she did! Here are some pictures from the evening. Great Grandpa and Grandma have had five (at least!) great grandkids in the last year! There's a pic of all of them in the mix. Also, Peyton put his little arm around his new cousin Alaynah for a picture all by himself. Mine didn't turn out as cute as my sister-in-law's so hopefully I'll get her copies!

Hope You're Having a Great Holiday Season!

We've been busy at our house having fun celebrating the holiday season. December is such a fun month! I love it! Today we were in Orem and Peyton was having fun playing with his aunt Chelsea so I thought I'd post a pic of him since it's been a little while. We also stopped at Grandma's school because we were in Provo and we had to sing the Christmas songs with the kids! We are going to a few parties this weekend so I should have some fun new pictures after Monday or Tuesday.

If you want something great to read about Christ, they reprinted a talk President Maxwell gave in 1976 in the December Ensign (page 44). He shares such a beautiful testimony and it was perfect to read to remind myself of Him and why we have a Christmas season at all. I hope you enjoy it as well!

"For One More Day"

OK...so I don't know how many of you watch Oprah on a regular basis, but I really enjoyed it yesterday. Mitch Albom was on the show who wrote "For One More Day" which is a book about what you would do if you had one more chance with someone (Albom also wrote "Tuesdays with Morrie"). I read the book awhile ago and really liked it, still not my favorite Albom book, but it was good. Anyway, Oprah also had the wife of the man who wrote "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" on because he passed away last year suddenly (which I didn't know he had!) It was just a reality check for me that we really don't know when, where, why or how any of us will go. Hopefully we'll get to say everything we want and leave everything peacefully as we go, but we just don't know. I'm not saying I think I'm going to die tomorrow or anything, but I want everyone who visits our blog to know that we love you and hope you know we care so much about you! Life is too short to stay angry and not find joy! We really are so blessed and what is there not to be happy about! If you're able to watch Oprah (such as the power of Tivo!) from yesterday, I would suggest it! Oprah also sponsored the making of the film version of the story...it's on Sunday night at 8 on ABC (I think!)

It's Christmas Time!

I look forward to this time of year all year long! I love the holidays and all the fun things that come with it! It's also such a good time to reflect on all that we've been given and remember it's true importance, our Savior. Our family has been given so much...I really try hard not to ever take it for granted. Anyway, we're gearing up for a great season. Thursday night my Mom, sister and I went to the Festival of Trees! Besides bad parking, the evening was great! Thanks Mom for making that a great night! We had so much fun...and the trees were so beautiful. If you've never been before, try to go next year (sadly it's already over for this year). I've also had my decorations up since the day after Thanksgiving and just having posted pics yet...so here you go!















































Also, very exciting news...I felt Peyton's first tooth yesterday! It's not significant enough to take a picture yet, but as soon as you can actually see it, I'll post it! It's fun to see them hit these milestones. He's also starting to want to move his way around. No, not still really crawling yet, but I guess all babies move at their own pace. And I don't mind that he'll just sit there and play!

Can you say AWESOME Finish!

We can't believe the Cougars came back on the Utes for a SECOND year in a row! That was an awesome finish! I thought for sure it was over on 4th and 18...but never count BYU out I guess. Other than the last few minutes, the game wasn't all that great. Let's just say it was nice to pull that out with a win! We took a few pics in our BYU blue! Also, it was awesome to hear the basketball team beat #6 Louisville. They also put up a good fight against North Carolina. Dumb rankings didn't put BYU in the top 25. Oh well. Takes a miracle to gain national respect sometimes. We had a fun sports weekend!





























Also, McKay gave Peyton his first "trim" on Friday. It wasn't too drastic, but we shaved off parts that were much longer than the rest to try and get it to grow even now. Hopefully it will work! We've had a wonderful weekend with McKay off from work. Too bad it's Monday tomorrow and he has to go back! We'll look forward to his Christmas break in a few weeks! I think it's a whole week! Yeah!














We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I couldn't resist and had to put my Christmas stuff up on Friday. I'll post some pics sometime this week!

GO COUGARS!

So this is rivalry week and due to my gratitude blogs, I haven't put in my two cents about the COUGARS! I'm always excited/nervous for the Utah game. It's the best game of the season, but such a downer if BYU loses! All we have to do is think positive thoughts right! May the best team (BYU) win!

#1 - McKay

I am so grateful for a wonderful husband. I look at my life all the time and wonder how I got so lucky. McKay and I have been blessed with a great life thus far and I look forward to many great years ahead. He does so much for our family and I'm grateful for his love and support. We've been married just about 4 1/2 years now! I don't understand how the time goes by so fast! He is such a wonderful Dad to Peyton...he loves him so much and I love to watch them interact. McKay is also an extremely hard worker and does all he can to provide a great live for us. I appreciate his patience towards me...I can get a little feisty sometimes and he puts up with it quite a bit! I love you McKay and I hope this is a wonderful holiday season for us!



















I'm also grateful for our eternal marriage. How blessed I am to be sealed to my family for eternity. Being a member of the LDS church has been such a blessing in my life. I'm so grateful for all the blessings it has brought me.

Thanks for humoring me and letting me list these things. Hopefully it hasn't been TOO boring for you, but it's been great for me. I'm hoping to learn how to publish my blogs so I have it as a journal...if anyone knows how to do this, let me know!

-Lindsay

#2 Peyton

Oh my...what a perfect gift I've been given! Peyton is such a little sweetheart. He really is a great baby and is so much fun. We could be entertained by him for hours with his sweet little laugh and interest in the smallest things. I am so lucky to be a mother and to have him in my life. I want so much for him and hope we do all we can to raise him right and give him the same gifts in life that we've been given. It's so much fun to enjoy this holiday season as a little family! Thank you to everyone who has already made an impact for good in his life. In this world today, he'll need all the positive influences around him he can get. I've posted my first video of Peyton on our blog, so I hope it works. We did this on Halloween...he is so funny in this jumper. He loves it! So now that this list is just about complete, can anyone guess what #1 might be? I'll let you know tomorrow!

#3 My Mom and Dad

Wow...this gratitude entry could take forever! But I'll try and keep it short and sweet. I think my respect, admiration and gratitude for my parents has grown so much since Peyton was born. What a sacrifice (but joy) bringing a child into the world is, and I'm so grateful my parents decided to have me 25 years ago. They have done so much for me and our family, there really aren't words to thank them for everything. From being wonderful grandparents to Peyton to calling me up randomly to see how I'm doing, they truly represent was great parents should be. Mom and Dad...thank you so much for being so wonderful. I am blessed to be in the Neiger family...I wouldn't be where I am without you! Dad--thank you for your strength and leadership you bring to our family...we are so grateful your health has improved. We hope it will stay that way for a LONG time! I appreciate your determination to see me graduate from college...and for giving my the opportunity to go to college by working at BYU. And...thanks for passing on the love of BYU football to me. It brings me great joy (and hopefully not sadness after Saturday!) Mom--you are such a sweet person! When people find out I'm your daughter, they have nothing but good to say about Sherry Neiger. You are constantly serving and giving to others (including your cute kindergarten class). Thanks for all your advice and friendship!

We love you both!

#4 - Jack and Chelsea

I am SO lucky to have a great younger brother and sister. They are both awesome people and we share MANY fun memories together. My brother Jack is one of the most calm, laid back people you'll ever meet. He has always been the peacemaker in our family. He does the best impersonations of people too :) If you know him, ask him to do one sometime! Chelsea is a sweetheart (and a very pretty girl!) who is always willing to help you when you need it. Growing up she was always the one to share whatever she had (sadly I was the stubborn oldest sibling who usually didn't share as much...) She is such a big help with Peyton these days. She usually helps me with him at least a couple of times a month...and last Friday she spent all day at our house doing my hair! Jack and Chels--I love you so much and am so grateful for your friendship!