CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a fantastic Christmas this year. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for an amazing family and optimistic future. You can read my thoughts on that day by clicking here: http://kimknighton.blogspot.com/2010/12/holy-cow-its-christmas.html

We spent Christmas Eve afternoon at Cheri's house. We had a few gifts for Maxwell & Lexi and had to stop in and say Hi! We love all of the cute kiddos in our lives and love to spoil them. It makes us happy to see them happy! After a few hours with Steve's family, we headed to my mom's house for a fun night. We spent the night eating, laughing, and sneezing...yep, I decided that it would be fun to have an allergy attack. I soon retired home to a nice dose of benadryl (it helped...I felt much better in the morning!). Christmas morning was FUN! Steve and I exchanged a few gifts - I surprised him with a few things: 2 Wii games (Deer Hunting and Call of Duty), new Temple clothes (we've got a goal to go more regularly this year), a few polos for work and a fun movie (Country Bears) that he has quite enjoyed lately as it has been on TV - I haven't seen it yet, but he laughs everytime it is on. He surprised me with some gifts also - necklace, earrings, lotion, Wii game (Donkey Kong). We decided to buy new bedding for a joint gift - he surprised me by getting new sheets and a nice curtain rod. We haven't had curtains before, so I'm excited for something different. I will post some pics when we get our bedroom all fixed up...it's going to be WAY cute! After our small Christmas at home, we went to the Spencer's to see the girls open some gifts...Zoey was so excited for all of her new things. Layney was sleeping the whole time we were there :( Then we headed out to G&G Lewis's house for lunch and more presents for the girls. It was a fantastic day! Here are a few pictures of the cute nieces...

Sub-4-Santa

Instead of exchanging any family gifts this year, we decided as a family to pick a family and do a Sub-4-Santa. Jenn had a friend that has had a very rough year - husband unemployed for a good majority of the year, 4 young kids, and 1 on the way. Jenn did a fantastic job at organizing the project and lot of family and friends helped contribute with money and time. We had a fun wrapping party so we could get it all ready to surprise the family. It was a fun experience to be able to provide some service this Christmas!

Trip to the Homestead

Steve thought up a wonderful surprise and booked a night out at the Homestead in Midway, Utah. We had so much fun...and were even able to take our Moo with us. We went swimming in the Crater (natural spring warm water inside a rock) that was pretty cool...as we looked out to see the fog because it was sooo cold outside! We had a wonderful dinner at the Homestead restaurant. We actually retired to bed quite early...because Steve decided to finally get sick with the gunk I had the previous 2 weeks...poor guy :( We woke-up the next morning, had breakfast at "The Hub" in Heber and then headed home. It was a nice little getaway - I have the best husband!

SiCkNeSs...YUCK!

I spent the first part of December SICK - for the majority of it! I couldn't get rid of it. I would be ok for a few days and then it would strike again. I had a few visits to the Instacare - mostly to rule-out Strep - but they did finally give me an antibiotic and that seemed to do the trick. It was nice to finally start feeling better...just in time for a surprise trip - see next post!

Thanksgiving!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We started the day by having lunch at my Grandma & Grandpa Lewis' home. It was to be with my family - we had everyone there except Dean & Sarah. Steve helped with the cooking this year, and I must say, did a fantastic job! He has "mad cooking skilz"! He spent the majority of that week reviewing recipes on "Pioneer Woman" - he will probably hate me for posting that - but he took what "she" had to say and turned it into a fantabulous meal! Thanks for helping out Babe! That night we headed on over to Steve's sister Cheri's home. Yummy pumpkin pie and a visit with the Loder's! Lora, Dave and the girls came to Utah for Thanksgiving - it was really fun to see them. Steve hates that they live in CA and wishes he could see them much more often. Black Friday brought a few fun surprises - including a new ORECK vacuum (for me!) and an awesome new TV for our bedroom (for Steve...and me!). After a trip to Costco, we met up with Cheri, Lora and families for a lunch at Cafe Rio - the Loder's love hitting that place when they are here. Here are a couple pictures of Jenn's cute girls on Thanksgiving.

GNO!

Can I just tell you what amazing friends I have?! I spent a night out with Jenn & Kellie in November - a chance to celebrate mine and Kellie's birthday's - we're both November babies... We went to Red Lobster (yes, again...something about that place that totally got me that month!). We braved the roads (it decided to be winter in Utah). We got there due to Jenn's fantastic driving abilities. We missed you Jenn W.! Hope you are coming to Utah soon!!

My Birthday - November 11th!

November 11th marked another year older for me - 33 - ahhh! I can't believe it - I definitely don't feel it. I had an enjoyable day with my family. I worked the morning and then my mom took me to lunch at Red Lobster, yummy... (still thinking about those awesome biscuits!). Steve was quite eager to give me his gifts, so I got to open it that morning before work - it was a beautiful necklace - so thoughtful. He is so wonderful to me and makes me extremely happy! No pictures though - not so good on getting those lately...

Happy Halloween

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday, the 30th! We dressed up our cute Macey Moo and visited the Burdick/Risers and then headed to G&G Lewis's home to see the cute nieces - Zoey & Layney! Our Macey was a cute bumble bee princess to fit in with the insect theme (Zoey was a Monarch Butterfly and Layney was a darling LadyBug!). A cute story, Jenn took the girls to a ward trunk-or-treat, a man came up to Zoey and said what a cute princess. She stood up to him with the utmost attitude and said, "Duh, I'm not a princess...I'm a Monarch Butterfly!" She is such a funny, witty girl. Here are some pics of the fun day.

Steve goes HuNtInG!

In late October, Steve went hunting with his good friend Jay. Of course, they were boys and didn't take any pictures, but he had a lot of fun, despite the horrible weather. Because it was so cruddy, they shacked up in a motel in Central Utah - didn't see many deer, but got to do some 4-wheeling, which Steve LOVES! Here's hoping he can get one next year!

Our Recent Events...

Here is my attempt to catch up on what we have been up to the past 3 months... Enjoy!

HoLy CoW!! It'S cHrIsTmAs!!!

I really can't believe it is Christmas Day! This year has come and gone by SO fast... I'm feeling grateful beyond belief today for such an AMAZING husband, WONDERFUL family, CUTEST puppy, FANTASTIC friends, and MOST EXCITING future! I am so blessed. I have so much and can honestly say that my life is complete. Yes, of course, there are still many more things to look forward to, but I am content and have everything I could ever hope for at this moment. I do have some catching up to do on the blog. I like having it as a record of what we have been up to and to look back on, and can say I am shocked I haven't posted for so long...but then again, it is Christmas, December 25th...where did this year go?!

I do want to just take a brief moment to express my love and gratitude for a Loving Savior, Jesus Christ, who is truly my Friend, my Hero, and my King. I am extremly grateful for His life that teaches me who I want to be. I can only hope that I am living up to what He wants me to be and that I can try each day to be more like Him. I love those in my life who set a good example and live as He would - this continually helps me to try and do better. On this most wonderful day, I honor Him, who gave His life for me. I know He lives and look forward to the day when I can live with Him again.

Merry Christmas... and Enjoy the Journey!

A few older pics of Layney

I watched Layney for a few hours while Jenn took Zoey shopping for some school clothes. Layney was only about 2 weeks old in these pictures. In comparing her to Macey she is still pretty tiny. Macey is approximately 10 pounds and Layney was probably about 7 in these pictures. She has started getting some rolls on her chin, arms and legs...such a cute girl! I think I have the cutest nieces in the world :)

Macey LOVES Kleenex...

You would think we would have learned our lesson... However, I came home from work to this today:

We bought some things from Costco, a case of kleenex being 1 of the items. We failed to take the case to our basement where we keep all of these bulky items... Macey must have gotten awfully bored today and attacked the kleenex case. She didn't get into every box, but close.


But can you get made at this cute little thing.


I'm still laughing about it :)

2 Years Married...woohoo!!

Wow, can't believe we have been married 2 years today. The time goes too fast! I have enjoyed every moment with this man. He is so loving, caring, good-natured, and funny. I laugh every day with him. He is a major tease and can bug me to death at times, but I wouldn't change it for anything. He cares about people and it shows in the ways he takes care of me and my family. I love him and really can't imagine my life without him. Thanks Steve for the BEST 2 years ever...and for planning a really fun weekend! I love you!!

We did have a fun anniversary weekend...I am really not good at taking pictures but we had fun doing the following:

Friday Night - Spent the night at home watching two fun movies - Killers (pretty funny) and What About the Morgans (which we had seen before in the theater).

Saturday - Woke up and got ready to take our Macey to the Burdick/Riser's. Macey loves to play with Maxwell and Lexi...and they take good care of her. We had a Couples Massage (amazing...Robyn does an awesome job!). We then enjoyed lunch at the Cheese Cake Factory. We got too full and weren't able to eat cheesecake - but we aren't crazy...we totally got one to go and enjoyed some of it tonight. After lunch we headed out to Wendover for some fun. My mom was able to hook us up with an awesome room so we stayed over night.

Sunday (Today) - We got up and had breakfast in Wendover and then headed home to get our Moo. We love her and have a hard time being away too long...I know, if you aren't a pet person you just don't get it :) Steve made dinner tonight (Ritz Chicken...YUM!). And now just thinking about what we've got going on for the week... can't believe the weekend is already over :(

In memory of that glorious day 2 years ago...here we are...so happy together!!

Layney K. Spencer

What an experience! Our family has been able to be a part of the most amazing blessing I ever thought possible over the past few days. Jenn & Ben were able to adopt a new baby girl! They welcomed Layney K. Spencer to their family, born July 28th at 7:25pm. She is a tiny thing - birth weight 6 pounds 1 ounce and 18 inches long. She has beautiful dark eyes and dark hair, long fingers and feet. She is absolutely beautiful and we are so lucky to get to have her in our family. Adoption papers were signed the following night on July 29th - what a wonderful, spiritual, trying experience. This baby was placed with LDS Family Services - I think my whole family has gained an appreciation and testimony of the adoption experience. We are so excited to have Layney here - we've been waiting 4 years for her to come to our family! Zoey is such a loving big sister. She has always said that she wants to be an animal doctor when she grows up...she has now changed that and wants to be a baby doctor.