Our 2nd Annual Christmas Party

When Don built our house, he built a big "rec" room. Over the last six years, we have gradually invited larger gatherings for Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner. Well, last year we had our first real dinner party! It was such a success, that we decided to do it every year from now on. Don made his "out of this world" turkey and we had a magic show and 'white elephant' gifts for everybody. Jeff Stone is a professional magician and personal friend of Don's. Jeff owns "Stone Cold Magic" and has produced several books and DVD's of original magic tricks he invented. Last year, Ashlee and I were sick during the party. So we stayed in bed and missed everything. During that party, Jeff did a trick that made a personally signed playing card stick to the ceiling, and it is still there! Ashlee made a special request that he repeat that trick this year and let her sign the card. So now we have two playing cards stuck to our ceiling. :) Jeff kept us all very entertained. After, we played a 'white elephant' gift exchange game. Then we played "Rock Band," got drinks out of the new soda machine and basically goofed off until very late.

Our Outing at Temple Square!

Last Sunday, we took our family along with Grandma Smith, Becky, Gary & Laura to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It has actually been at least a couple of years since the last time we went. The lights were beautiful, and the Temple seemed to be "Glowing"! It was really cold but there was an amazing spirit that we felt there as we watched the Nativity! My kids asked a lot of questions about the Temple & we were able to share our testimonies about it. Afterwards we had homemade donuts(Thank you Kathy & Lorraine for the yummy recipe.)& hot cocoa. It is always a fun way to end an evening!

CHRISTMAS at the Hulet's Part 2

Christmas is my favorite holiday! I am as bad as my kids about being able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I guess it is the anticipation of seeing my children so excited! Last night after our kids went to bed, Don and I laid out the stockings and gifts and went to bed. At two in the morining, Don disappeared. Since the kids were taken care of I knew he was playing Santa Clause for me. I have to say, he has never disappointed me in all the years we have been married. Every year he gets me exactly what I want and I don't really tell him, he just listens and reads between the lines. Anyway, the kids made a HAUL....
here are some of our favorite gifts this year!!


The Family--
1-Vending Machine(with soda)

2-Cable TV

3-Rock Band 2

Don--
1-Clothes,Socks, and his computer back!


Jennifer--
1-Laptop computer

James-
1-Video games

2-Clothes

3-More Video games and clothes and various gift cards!

Jake-
1- See #1, 2 and 3 of James'

Ashlee--

1-CD player

2-I tunes gift card

3- Fur real puppy!

4-Clothes, and more clothes!

They got more, but I don't enough time to name everything...The most important thing is that everyone is very happy with all they got, so we are all good.

sidenote: James woke up at 6:30 to make us all Breakfast(bacon, eggs, hashbrowns & Orange Juice)How sweet was that?!?MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

CHRISTMAS at the Hulet's

Every year after stuffing ourselves at grandma's we let each of our kids open one gift (Christmas pajamas). Usually we watch the DVD, Luke 2, but last night we read the Christmas story out of the Bible, then we all bore our testimonies. We ended the night with hot chocolate while we watched Scrooge. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Grandma's Christmas Eve Dinner!

I am one of those people who just loves traditions! I grew up with a lot of fun memories with my family & although we have made some of our own traditions, I want my children to enjoy some of the same things I held dear when I was young. One of my favorites is Grandma Smith's Christmas Eve dinner! My mom makes a great meal; ham and turkey, a variety of salads and A LOT of cookies and candy! We look forward to this every year! My kids have the opportunity to play with cousins while I visit with the adults in the family. I really don't think you can have too many traditions! I hope this one continues for generations. Thank you Grandma for the Wonderful dinner. You're the best and we love you so much!!!

The True Meaning Of Christmas!

There is just something magical about Christmas! I love the lights, doing fun activities with my kids,& buying gifts for all of the people that I love! But it also is an opportunity for me to think about and have discussions with my children about our Savior's birth, life and death! Because of his sacrifice, I know I can live with my Heavenly Father again(even if I'm not perfect), because I know that he makes up for my imperfections through the atonement! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ in my life, for the knowledge that he loves me, and that he gave me the greatest gift of all... The gift of Eternal life!

Christmas Fun...at the Hulet's

Part of the joy of this Season for me,is spending time with my children.....This year we bought a gingerbread house kit,(you know the kind you can't screw up)HA HA!! (That is only funny, because last year we bought the same kind and we couldn't get the house to stick together, soooo we hot glued it). Anyway, the kids loved making their gingerbread houses, even James got into it this year, he got a little crazy with the frosting on the roof, but it turned out cute, and I was glad that he got involved! Ashlee and Jacob made the Gingerbread men cookies for the house! We had a lot of fun and made some fun memories!

MAX 2000-2008

My precious dog Max passed away tonight. He is only 9 years old and we figured that he had at least 5 years left. He was healthy as far as we knew, but around 3:00 he started acting very tired. By 7:00 he had us worried, so we took him to the Veterinary Emergency Room. The Vet took an x-ray and found that he had a malignant tumor that had ruptured and he was bleeding internally. They said there wasn't much they could do without a great deal of risk, pain and discomfort for Max. The Vet wasn't even sure he would make it into surgery due to the blood loss. We had little choice other than to make his final moments as pleasant as possible. After spending some time with him, he gently went to sleep. This was one of  the hardest things we have had to face. We felt like we were losing a child. Max has been the best dog & he has been especially good for me. When I had depression and anxiety he helped me through it! We are so grateful that we were both there when he passed. As hard as that was for us, I am glad he knew we were there. He died in our arms. To see Max's Memorial CLICK HERE!

WOW!!!

The reflections contest theme this year was WOW! Ashlee wants to enter every year, but it seems like we get distracted by one thing or another and we ALWAYS miss the deadline!(yeah,I know I'm a slacker...what can I say)! Anyway, this year she was determined that she was going to enter. She entered in the "photography" category, and I have to say that I was very proud of the picture that she took! We went to the school open house to see all of the entries. Her entry didn't make it to the next level, but was actually better than some of the entries that did(all prejudices aside). I am so proud of Ashlee! And I know come next year, she will be ready to try again!!

Things I'm Thankful For!!

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I would do a post about all the things that I am Grateful for! I feel so blessed in my life by my Heavenly Father..At this time of the year I reflect on my life and all those things I have! So here is my Thanksgiving list of blessings for which I am grateful:

1.The Gospel of Jesus Christ! I am so grateful for the Atonement & for the Sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ!

2. An amazing Husband & Best Friend, who I absolutely Love & Adore more than any thing in this World, he loves me for who I am Even with my faults...& I am a better person because of him! He is such a great example to me & I love him so much!

3. Beautiful Children...Who are so special & have a love for this Gospel and always try to Choose The Right, and who have such sweet spirits that make my home a much happier place to be!

4. Goodly Parents.. I am so Grateful that I was blessed with Wonderful Parents. A Mother who is such an inspiration to me I love her so much. She is such a wonderful example of the kind of Woman & Mother I strive to be! And a Father who I only know through stories, but who I am so grateful. And though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on & I can feel him often!

5. My two Puppies(who are the Cutest EVER) Sorry Jordan and Linsey! I know that this sounds kind of Silly, but I love my guys sooo much. Max came to me in a time of my life when I really needed him. We really are kindred spirits. And my red dog Casey who just melts my heart every time I look at him!!


6. My Extended Family( Brothers & Sisters, nieces and nephews etc). I have so many great memories with my family and God blessed me with some amazing people in my life... I really am so blessed to have such wonderful siblings & their spouses & My nieces & nephews. I love each member of my family and am grateful for them!


Well, There you have it in a nutshell!

A House Divided!

Sidenote: Jacob before and after he turned to the "Dark Side"
Don & James are the Greatest U fans EVER!! Ashlee is well, I guess you could say, she has been successfully converted like Jake! Sarah is "trying" to convert James, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!! She even tried to bribe him with a cake:)

Max just goes with the flow & Casey, well, he has no choice, he is RED to the BONE!!
And Me I really am just a fence sitter,I actually kind of like both teams. I just try and keep everyone happy, come November!!!