Christmas Party and Forgotten Carols

Ok time is short today but I wanted to do a quick post before I get too far behind in the blogging world.
first on the agenda... Forgotten Carols. Thursday night the Sweet pace family invited us to go to the forgotten carols with them at Cottonwood Highschool all expenses paid :) Sadly McKay had a project presentation that night so only I was able to go. It was really fun, but I sure missed McKay. Here are a few pictures from the clan at dinner


The forgotten Carols was so beautiful and I loved the christmas spirit there. Hopefully McKay will be able to go another year.

The second Item on the agenda is the annual Fry Family Christmas party, but this year was EVEN better. Why? Because it was a surprise Party for my Grandma. All of my aunts and uncles went in and surprised my grandma with a new piano. The piano is beautiful and it is exciting to now have one that plays (no offense to the old one) So ofcourse we sang Christmas carols and hymns all night long and there were tears from my grandma (happy tears, we made sure we checked) so it must of been a good gift. Way to go Fry family on such a amazing gift!
Other events of the night included some basketball in this crazy warm winter weather, white elephant gifts, Nativity skit by the kiddos and lots of soup and rolls. (oh and don't forget the peppermint icecream delicious!)
Showing off the new Piano
Some Brotherly love before battle (aka: White Elephant Exchange)The nativity participants (very cute, but so glad I get to just watch now instead of being in it)

Thanks wonderful families! We are loving spending time with you this holiday season! Have a happy week and good luck to everyone who has finals!

Quotes

I love Quotes, especially ones from the prophets. When I was in high school I found about ten to twenty quotes that I just LOVED and really wanted to live by. So I stuck them on my door and looked at them everytime that I walked into my room. When I went away to college and I would start to struggle with somthing I would always go back to my quotes. I even hung them on my dorm room wall and door thanks to my kind roomates. So I thought that I should share a few here too. They are just short and sweet but very powerful. Enjoy :)

"It doesn't matter if you see the savior in this life; what matters is if others see the savior in your life."

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in him, if we will pray to him, if we will live worthy of his blessings, he will hear our prayer." -President Hinkley

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition and not upon our circumstances." -Martha Washington

"Everything will be ok in the end. If it is not ok now, then it's not the end."

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." -Anonymous

Ok only TWO more, you can do it!

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intent of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, WOW! What a ride!" -Gordon B. Hinckley

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

So I hoped these quotes gave you a pick me up like they have given me. I really needed it tonight. We are SO blessed. We have every hope and desire that we could ever want out of life right now, but yet I am definitely not being as sincere and as grateful as I could be. But I AM grateful for this season and chapter in our lives and I hope I can always remember the savior and the special gift he has given to us, because without him this life would be impossible.
Well that is all, have a great night!

P.S. One week till our first anniversary!!! So excited to go to Vegas on a much needed get away!

Real Meaning of Christmas

This is the CUTEST video ever. Seriously almost cried. It is such a great reminder of what this season is really about. You will LOVE it!

Festival of Trees

Yesterrday we headed to Sandy to visit the Festival of Trees. This has been pretty much a tradition in my family for a long time give or take a few years, but it was McKay's first time going. (and he loved it!) If any of you don't know what the Festival of Trees is it is a charity event for primary childrens hospital where people decorate trees and donate them. After they are all decorated then other people can come and buy them. All the money goes to help with medical care of all the children. When I was in high school I was able to decorate two trees two different years here is a picture of the second one that we did...

Along with a lot of trees they have gingerbread houses, wreaths, play houses, and centerpieces. Our favorites are the trees and gingerbread houses. Here are pictures of a few of our favorite trees...
Rilvary anyone?
Dancing Santa?
Very Pretty!



We also LOVED the gingerbread houses, can't believe these creations are edible!


After Festival of Trees we hung out with my family at a basketball game and their ward Christmas party. Also a small surprise was Corinne got asked to the Winter Dance at school with a very cute Rice Krispy Treat Snowman. Here she is opening it to find the guy's name...


Thanks Family for the fun weekend, and I hope all of you had a great weekend too!

Gratitude

So sorry this Thanksgiving post is VERY late, but that does not mean that we loved it any less. :) So this year for thanksgiving we went to Evanston to visit McKay's family. We had a wonderful dinner, it truely tasted amazing! They were also so sweet and gave up their beds for us. (for 3 nights! Very nice) While we were there McKay mostly did this (homework)...

And helped with some floods (sound like not very much fun? Secretly he loves working with his dad and brothers so it is hardly work to him)

So while he did all of his things, the girls spent the days watching movies, making crafts, shopping on black friday (my first time EVER going), and visiting. It was very relaxing and slightly a strange feeling because I am so used to having a million things to do. Here are some of the crafts that we completed. Thanks Mama and Natalie for supplying all of the materials!



Well that is it for tonight, I am so grateful for everything that I have been blessed with and I love this time of year that we get to celebrate life and the good things in it. Have a great night!