Jubilee of Trees 2013

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions in St. George is going to the annual Jubilee of Trees. 

I love it so much that I took a 6 day old Norah to it last year. 

This year we went twice because I just love starting off the Christmas season with a beautifully decorated forrest. Call me crazy but I seriously would spend days there if I could.

I am pretty sure Norah loves it as much as me.

The poor girl hates Santa though. 

Dixie Round Up 2013

There are a few things that make me especially proud to be called a St. Georgian. The Dixie Round Up Rodeo every September is one of them. We have been sitting in the same seats, with the same people for as long as I can remember. I was especially excited to share this tradition with Norah this year. To say the least, she loved it. The horses, the hats, the company, the music, she is a St. Georgian. 

P.S. isn't this the sweetest picture of her and my Grandpa Stan? 

He is my Grandpa, my hero and part of my soul. 

2012

While jumping into a new year, it is inevitable to stop and reflect on the year you say goodbye to. 

I can confidently say that 2012 was one of the best years of my life. 

I am not sure I want to let it go. 

  

January: 

Broc turned the big two three!

February: 

We celebrated our 6th Valentines day together

(also the 6th anniversary of our first date)

March: 

We got the life changing news that we were pregnant with our first child.

I also turned 23

April: 

Broc finished his Associates in Business Degree at Dixie State

May: 

We bought our first home!

We also took a trip to Washington D.C.

June: 

We got the good news we were welcoming a DAUGHTER to our family.

July: 

Spent a week in Carlsbad CA

August: 

Spent a weekend in San Fransisco!

September: 

Started really preparing for our baby girl to arrive.

October: 

Our house finally starts feeling like a home after months of renovation.

November: 

Welcomed Norah Mae Hafen into our lives. We will never be the same.

Also celebrated our two year anniversary. I love you Mr. Hafen.

December: 

Celebrated our first Christmas together as a family of three. Best Christmas yet.

Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was amazing. Mostly because our little Norah was celebrating with us. 

We did all of our yearly traditions, 

Grandma Sue's gift exchange pj party, 

Grandma Nora's Christmas story, 

Grandma and Grandpa Esplin's soup dinner, 

Grandpa Hafen's Dinner party

and Grandma and Grandpa Wade's Nativity production 

(yes, Norah was baby Jesus)

(and yes, we have A LOT of grandparents)

One of my very favorite traditions though is the one that follows the nativity. 

Grandma Wade makes everyone an ornament for the tree and one by one we hang the ornament and say what our gift to Christ will be for the year. It can be anything from attending the temple more regularly, saying your morning prayers all year, improving a talent or working on your personal history. Any kind of gift you will give back to our Savior among the many others we should be giving daily. Grandma writes them all down and so everyone can look back years on what they have been setting goals to do. This is something I look forward to every year when really I should be setting these kind of goals much more often. 

This year I promised Christ to establish my new little family in righteousness, 

I hope that I can keep that promise.

Broc promised to do small acts of service and ignore the voice that tries to justify not giving.

Norah promised to continue being the best baby ever 

(okay maybe that was just my little plea to Heavenly Father as I put her mini ornament on)

Here are some of the highlights of Christmas 2012

p.s. Broc, along with both of our parents totally surprised me with a brand new camera!

Isn't he the best?