Since my family was up already for my birthday. They decided to stay for Valentine's Day too. We had lots of fun making and eating sugar cookies. We played lots of games and just had fun hanging out.
So I'm not gonna lie. I was really not looking forward to being 30. But everyone has tried to make me feel a little better. Like JoAnn the Primary President said she felt like when she turned 30 people took her more seriously, like she was finally a grown up. The ward libriarian told me 30 is your best age. It's really when your cheeck bones start to be defined. Then on the today show they were showing Jennifer Aniston who has the same birthday as me by the way. She was turning 40 and they said that 40 is the new 30. So I'm saying that 30 is the new 20.
I was able to finally go to Nauvoo! Even though it was freezing it was kind of nice that it wasn't crowded. We had the whole town to ourselves. Here is my Grandma Haering, Mom, Aunt Karen and I in front of the temple.
Here is my mom and I looking like eskimos in front of Joseph and Emma outside of the visitors center. Below is our hotel. Our room was the Joseph and Emma Suite and we could see the temple and the mississippi from our windows. The balcony in the middle was ours and their was a huge statue of Joseph below us outside. We kept thinking there was someone out there watching us!
This is the statue of Brigham and Joseph as they are looking to the west. It was fun to see all of the little houses and shops and to picture what their lives must have been like. We were there only a few weeks before the pioneers left. So we could imagine how cold they were. My ancestor Joseph Stacey Murdock lived there with the Saints. We got to see where his property was and learn more about his life. This was a wonderful experience to walk where Joseph walked and to gain a stronger testimony of the Restoration. Maybe we will go back again when it is a little warmer.
So I have to admit I can't pass up a good sale. I just can't believe the cost of food and anything really these days. All of this at regular price would usually cost $220. That just seems crazy! But with lots of coupons and a really good sale I only spend $70. They were out of a lot of things that I wanted and had to replace with things I don't usually use like the Ham. Helper but it's good for food storage. More to add to my little store downstairs! If you hurry you can still make it. The sale ends tomorrow!
So my computer has been having issues or maybe it is me. Chris switched it all around and I am not feeling very technical lately. So finally I am posting Christmas. We stayed here in Idaho this year with Chris' family. It was the first time the whole family has been together in over two years. Here is Dylan with his leapster from Santa. He was very happy! Below is Chris with some much needed teeth to brush!
Here is Hayley opening her stocking. We forgot our camera when we went over to grandma and grandpa's house. Hayley got everything from High School Musical that you can imagine. She got a Dance Dance Revolution from Santa. Dylan really enjoyed opening presents this year. He even opened other peoples. He didn't really like taking turns, he just couldn't wait.
