New Years Eve

We spent the New Years with MORE food and games!  We ate a yummy Asian dinner and each talked about our last year and what we hope for for the upcoming year.  We then played a game of Disney Monopoly which lasted us till midnight!  It was a great night and a great way to end 2013!

First Time in Snow

I was so anxious for Jacob to play in the snow.  The only bummer was that by the time we got around to doing it the snow was pretty old and crusty.  So Jacob's first experience in the snow wasn't too exciting.  But we had to capture the moment nonetheless.  

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas.

We spent our Christmas in North Ogden with Grandpa and Grandma Berning and Uncle Brian.  For Christmas Eve we ate a yummy dinner and then opened our "Special Delivery" from Santa.  We each got new pajamas and a new Christmas book, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  We read our new book and the Christmas story from the Bible.  

After we put Jacob to bed we played Ticket to Ride and waited for Santa to come.  And sure enough, Santa found us!  We woke up and ate some breakfast casserole and opened presents.  It was a wonderful Christmas morning.  

Then in the afternoon, Uncle Todd and his friend Kevin came up for Christmas dinner.  Kevin's sister, Jamie, came up too.  It was great to be able to spend some time with them and catch up.  

We then hurried and packed up to go down to Draper.  We came down and were able to have another yummy Christmas dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Clegg, Aunt Melina and Aunt Megan.  Then we opened presents with them that night.  

We were so abundantly blessed and are grateful for all that we were given.  Mark's favorites were new "business" clothes to wear to work and new movies (like the complete Star Wars collection, The Hobbit and Monsters University).  Some of my favorites were a creche for my nativity, some new family history software and lots of new books (including our family scrapbook and a book on canning).  Jacob got lots of new toys like a giant railroad set, some pretty incredible felt quiet books (made by Grandma Clegg) and a new quilt. 

We are thankful for the Christmas season and the opportunity it gives us to spend time with family and friends and reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

--sorry for the lack of pictures, we will have to get some from Grandma Berning!--

Temple Square

On Wednesday night we trekked down to Salt Lake and went to Temple Square with Grandpa and Grandma Berning.  We were able to walk around City Creek for a little bit and grab a bite to eat and then walk around the Temple grounds.  

The lights were beautiful and we enjoyed the time we were able to spend together.  Plus walking around Temple Square in the wintertime always reminds me of our wedding and our eternal family.  Love it. 

First Day of Nursery

Today was Jacob's first time going to nursery!  WOOT WOOT!  I was so proud of that little boy of mine.  He was a champ.

It feels like quite a big step actually - for all of us.  I am so grateful that Jacob has a place for him and that he can begin his outside-of-the-home learning of the Gospel.  He colored a picture at nursery and we put it on the fridge where he can see it and whenever we asked, "where's Jesus?" he would point to the picture.  Melts my heart.  

It was a little weird for Mark and I to be Jacob free today at Church.  But it is exciting at the same time too!  We are proud of our little big guy!

Cold

Now, I actually love the cold.  I'll take the cold over the heat any day.  However, last week/weekend we got really cold.  I normally love this weather.  There is something just cozy about it being cold and snowy outside and your warm and bundled inside.  However, our apartment is really drafty.  And the cold just sneaks into all of the doors (and we have four doors leading to the outside in our apartment [who does that?!]) and the windows.  Jacob and I stayed inside all week.  And I mean all week.  We went grocery shopping last Monday morning and we didn't leave until Saturday night when it was our ward Christmas party.  And still, somehow, someway we got the cold.  

Jacob was draining fluids.  I couldn't keep up with his nose.  And then there was the coughing and sneezing and then the inevitable happened - Mark and I got sick as well.  Boo.  

So we were just kind of a sick bunch this week.  The cold though has left and we are all slowly feeling better.  Mark had his finals this week and is currently finishing his very last one.  I am so proud of that boy.  He works and works and works and never complains.  He is a good man and I am one lucky girl to have him.  

The silver lining in all of this is we have had an enormous amount of snuggle time (Jacob and I that is) and I have tried to maintain a fairly consistent round of hot chocolate to Mark while he studies.  AND at least we got sick this week and not next week when we'll be packing and making our travels to the great state of Utah.  WOOT WOOT! 

So here's to be warming and cozy this winter...even if sometimes we get a little cold too!

Jesus the Christ

This last year our Relief Society challenged us to read Jesus the Christ by Elder James E. Talmage.  I decided that I wanted to do it and finished it this week.  This definitely isn't a book you can just curl up and read for hours on end...it's deep.  It's really deep.  But it has been a wonderful, personal experience for me.  

I would completely recommend reading this book to anyone.  I have felt such a deeper connection with my Savior and on levels that I don't even think I knew existed before.  Through study of this book and prayer my love, appreciation, knowledge, respect, understanding, compassion, reverence and complete awe of our Savior has grown exponentially.  

I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that He was foreordained to be the Savior of the world.  He showed us the way.  I know that He loves me.  I know that He loves all of us.  I know that He saw my face and atoned for my sins and the sins of every other person that has ever lived.  I know that He is my advocate with the Father.  I know that He lives today.  And I know that He will come again.