The 2012 Knudsen Summit

Well Chris and I for a while have been wanting to take a night, without distractions and really figure out what our short term and long term goals are for our family. Chris surprised me last Friday he sent me to Message Envy to get a message first of all...I guess he figured that setting goals was going to be a bit stressful and I would need the decompression time first (ha ha ha!) Anyways then he had arranged for his brother Justin and his Wife Lindsey and cute Brooks to come and stay at our house over night.

We checked into the Hotel Monaco (one of my all time favorite Hotels in SLC...not like I have stayed at very many:) I am telling ya they put something in the air there that is AMAZING!!! The room was so stinking cool and we were on the 12th floor so the view was also AMAZING.

Then it was off to dinner, he figured we couldn't set goals on an empty stomach. So lucky for us one of our new favorite restaurants was within walking distance. *We also love the Hotel Monaco because we usually just take trax everywhere we go and leave our car in parking! Settabello's was so yummy as usualy...I am seriously OBSESSED with their pizza it doesn't leave you feeling all greasy and gross for sure!

Then it was back to the room to figure out what we want for our family! All I can say is I would highly recommend this to anyone, it was so nice to spend a couple of hours just discussing what we want for our family, our marriage, out of work, church and lots of other things. We were able to set time lines for certain goals so that we don't feel like we have goals but no real direction. By about 11:00 we were both in need of a break so we headed to the best place we could find open at that time that wasn't a bar...Denny's. I got their yummy brownie Sunday, let's just say I was glad I had run 8 miles that morning or else I would've felt really guilty (ha ha ha!)

It was such a nice surprise, I was so glad that Justin and Lindsey were willing to watch our kids and give us that opportunity. We were both GIDDY driving on Bangerter knowing we were going to get to see our kids in a couple of minutes...I love them and am so grateful for them and hope that we can really reach the goals we have set for them!

Can't beat their dessert...or the people watching that goes on at 11 pm (ha ha ha!)

The Margherita Pizza...AMAZING!!!

WE LOVE STAYING HERE!!!

Chris sprung for the delux and it was pretty awesome!

Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was so much fun, I think that each year it will progressively get more and more exciting for our kids...I love it! We woke up early and my parents and younger brother Tyler came out and we all went to our ward. Both Chris and I agreed that we wish every year was on a Sunday, it was so nice to feel the spirit so strongly and to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, before all the craziness began. Out ward did such an amazing job on the program and the spirit was undeniable.

Afterwards we all come home and got our pajama's back on...you can't open presents in a dress (ha ha ha!) Lydia was so excited with each present, she would squeal and scream and couldn't have been any cuter. Then because Liddy was so excited Audrey was really getting into it too...LOVED it! Liddy had been asking for a while for a scooter and a lady bug blanket. Luckily our darling baby sitter Mackenzie got Lid this cute lady bug blanket and Auds a little mermaid one. She is so cute to our girls. Both girls got lots of fun toys, LIddy got her Lala loopsy dolls, a barbie car, some tools to work with dad, some play dough, a little mermaid and rapunzel toy and of course her scooter. Audrey got a build a bear, a little people farm, a new barbie, a shopping cart, and some little toys as well. I got totally spoiled this year by Chris he got me a $100 gift card to H&M, $100 towards new ski's (mine are ancient) and new pots and pans from Costco...I had been coveting them for a long time. Poor Chris didn't get too spoiled this year, at least on Christmas. He got a gun safe, with $100 towards a new gun. some clothes, and then after Christmas we got him this AMAZING shower head. I should say we both benefit from that present (ha ha ha!) Anyways overall we all got pretty dang spoiled!

After we had my mom's infamous stuffed french toast and I made an egg casserole. We then cleaned up and put Audrey down for a nap and my parents and Ty went home. We then met up at my parents again at 3:00 because Derek and Ashley had gotten in from St. George visiting her family. It was fun to be all together and as usual my parents SPOILED us. They surprised us all by getting each family an iPad 2. Yes we are officially cool...ha ha ha! It was so much fun seeing every one surprised. We then did our family gift exchange, had some yummy bean soup, and played a couple of games of catch phrase! It was a great Christmas, loved being able to spend time with my family.

The night after we had dinner at our dear friends the Babcock's. My dad baptized Liz's family while he was on his mission and we consider them to be our family. We got to see their new house for the first time...it was beautiful. And as usual the food, and the company was great! We always love any time we get to spend with them. Later in the week we also ventured down to American fork to visit my Grandma Pierce. She seems to be doing so well, and the girls loved playing with all of her toys.

It was yet another great Christmas and so nice to spend time together as a family!

Christmas Eve

My dad and Chris are both obsessed with getting the wrapping paper right into the trash...ha ha ha!

Auds and Nana

Lydia was one happy little girl!

The fam!

Grandpa keeping Audrey occupied and LIddy opening yet another present!

So spoiled

Tyler and Derek opened their iPad's at the same time and were so SURPRISED!!!

My cute brother Derek

Darling Ashley...being cute as usual!

Nana and Grandma Pierce

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas Eve with Chris' family! We had a great dinner followed by some games (Spot it...was way fun!), the kid's gift exchange, and the best was the kids acting out the Nativity story! It is always so fun to see the kids learning and excited about the true meaning of Christmas. It was a great Christmas Eve, so fun spending time with family!

Lydia was "Mary" and was so excited about it!

Audrey was an "Angel" even though she was quite the little stinker ( ha ha ha!)

Bode was the Donkey, Liddy Mary, Hawk a shepherd, Raini one of the Wisemen and Audrey an angel on a horse (she wouldn't get off of that horse all nigh)

And Brooks the newest addition to the family was the baby Jesus, doesn't he look so cute all wrapped in swaddling clothes? I am obsessed with his rolls...what a cutie!

Mary riding in on her Donkey

The kids looking at the "Baby" and Audrey trying to touch

SO CUTE!!!

The kid's opening their presents for the gift exchange.

Yup, Audrey is still on the horse...she seriously has spent hours on that thing.

When we got home Simon our elf had left us a note and some presents to open up before we went to bed! That Simon sure is sneaky:-)

You wouldn't believe how excited my kids were about new Pajamas...I hope they are always that excited!

Afterwards we put out cookie's and milk for Santa, went and spread some reindeer food on the front lawn and put out our "Santa's Magic Key" Lydia was so worried because we don't have a fire place so "Santa" sent a magic key so he can get into our house. Then they were both exhausted and it was off to bed!

It was a great night, and so fun to carry on traditions with our own little family. Chris and I had a great night too, we didn't have any big presents to put together so we watched a movie and actually got to go to bed before 2 am...con't complain about that!

Lydia's Pre-school Program!

Lydia had her first pre-school program. It was absolutely DARLING!!! It was so fun to hear these darling kids sing their little hearts out! Lydia was SO serious the whole time, we could hardly get her to crack a smile, which if you know Lydia she is not normally a shy little girl (ha ha ha!) We LOVE Lydia's pre-school teacher Miss Angie...she is seriously the BEST, and Lydia is OBSESSED with her. I love that she is so excited to go and see Miss Angie every pre-school day.

Holding up their Christmas signs

Ringing their Jingle Bells

Liddy with cute Miss Angie