Our 12 Days of Christmas

Every year we have a tradition called the 12 days of Christmas. It is primarily done to bring the family together through activities the 12 days before Christmas. We started this tradition 3 years ago while Payton was on his mission. So this is the first time he has experienced this tradition. So we have 12 different sized boxes that are stacked on top of each other. Each box has an activity inside for the family to do together that night. We have had movie tickets...eating out....puzzles...games...you get the picture. Well some of the things we do are the same every year as for the pictures below. The kids love the box filled with bubble gum. We have a bubble blowing contest and every year we have a different winner! This year it was Payton. It is always something that makes us laugh till we cry. It is so much fun. Our kids now look forward to the 12 days of Christmas as much as Christmas morning.

Elder Jeppesen Sharing the Spirit of Christmas

One of My "Top Picks of the Year" Movie!

I just recently saw this movie and loved it. The sad thing is that it did not have a wide release. Only a short time in most places and a little longer here in Utah. I would recommend anyone to see it who has teenagers especially ones who play sports or anyone who likes a good story. It has a great moral message and is a true story. I say it is up there with Rudy, and Remember The Titans. It is one that I will buy when it comes out on DVD. So if you can find it, see it!

Timpviews Competition Cheer takes 1st!

Jordan has been enjoying being on two cheer squads this year. Seen here with her lifetime friend, Chelsea, her Timpview competition cheer squad competed Saturday up in Ogden. They did well and took 1st place. It has been a busy season for these girls and I congratulate them. Jordan has worked hard with her coaching and gymnastic classes and has the battle wounds to show for it! She loves it though. They have several more competitions, then on to Nationals in March. She says she is living her dream since the movies "Bring it On" and "Stick It" are some of her favs!

Baptism!

Surfin' USA - Go Mckenna!

We spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Malibu with our great friends the Anderson's. Craig took Mckenna out on a longboard and here you can see her surf for the first time. She loved it so much she never wanted to stop!

Disneyland for the Holiday

What a beautiful sight seeing Sleeping Beauty's castle all lit up for the holiday season.

Happiest Place on Earth

Disneyland is definetly the happiest place on earth when you are there with your entire family! We spent a wonderful Thanksgiving week down in So. California at Disneyland with the Jeppesen Clan. We had so much fun spending time together. It is always a great time with family. We are all kids at heart because we love Disneyland! We got soaked on Splash Mountain (especially Garen), Mckenna braved it all and rode "California Screamin" and Libbi rode her favorite ride about 6 times -"Tower of Terror" We all loved seeing it snow after the fireworks on Mainstreet. What a way to celebrate with brothers,sisters, and cousins!

Awe....Family....Isn't it Great!

Our last family photo together. We took this picture 2 days before Tanner left for the MTC. There is always a bittersweetness sending a missionary off. You know you don't want them to leave but you wouldn't want them anywhere else. The day we took this picture, I was not myself because I always get stressed for family portraits. With the stress of that, plus the anxiousness of Tanner leaving, my kids asked what was wrong and I said you won't understand until you have to send off a missionary. Once we started the photo shoot all that disappeared and it became a memorable experience.

Happy Birthday Jordie!

Today is our sweet Jordan's birthday. I can't believe it has been seventeen years since she came into our lives. We are so grateful that we have her here. We almost lost her at birth and look what we would of missed! Someone who is vibrant, funny, unabashed in her beauty, and never takes herself too seriously. She excells at whatever she chooses to do. Whether it is dance, soccer, or now cheer, she works hard to achieve her goals. She is the light in our lives and always gives us a reason to laugh. We love you Murphy!

Palmayra

Sacred Grove

This summer we had an amazing experience as a family. In July we spent a week in New York. It was our last hurrah as a family. Since our children are growing up we did not know if we would ever be able to go on a trip altogether again. We spent 4 days in NYC laughing, shopping, shows, and touring. We then rented a car and drove north to Palmayra. It was a six hour drive but it was worth it. I myself have been there several times but not for 20 years. Being there in the Sacred grove altogether as a family, where the church was restored, gave us such a feeling of gratitude for Joseph Smith and because of him we can be an eternal family. It was a once in a lifetime experience for us all and we will take it with us forever.