Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Found the perfect, not too cold night to head down to Temple Square and see the beautiful lights. We did however pick a very busy night, but luckily Brad and Garrett were able to sneak up to the front to catch most of the story of Christ's birth at the Nativity scene. Although we've talked about this story for each of our family home evenings this month I think this experience was exciting for Garrett. Afterwards he exclaimed, "That was awesome!" I watched from a few feet back (seeing as the stroller was more difficult to manuver in a crowd). I could see how interested he was as the lights came onto each group as the story was told. Although it was crowded we definately could feel the spirit.
We all loved to look at the lights, but really Garrett was more interested in the water. Yep, water. He ran from fountain to fountain and couldn't wait to find another fountain. It was too funny. Embrie was such a good baby too! She seemed completely content to be strolled around the lights. She was happy, squealing and smiling.
I hope to make Christmas time a magical time for my kids. I want them to feel the way I felt when I was a kid. I still love Christmas time! I want to have all kinds of traditions for them to look forward to and enjoy. I am so grateful for the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ and that we was willing to come to this earth, live as an example and suffer the way that he did so that we can return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again someday. And I am grateful that we celebrate it this time of year! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Jerzee turns 1

What a pretty little girl!!!!!!

I like to keep ya'll updated on my brother's life as well, cause you know I love my nephews and neices!

Jerzee turned 1 on December 3rd. She is such a smart little girl. She, like most girls has a mind of her own! I just got a couple shots of her eating her cake. She was very dainty and did not get very messy, no matter how hard everyone tried to get her to dig in. She was set on taking her time and being lady-like. I absolutely LOVE the red hair! Happy Birthday Jerzee Lynn Watson!

Our Version of Twas' the Night

T’was the night before Christmas
and all through our house
the family was stirring
we frightened away the mouse!

The children were smiling
and playing, so happy!
Daddy was laughing
while mommy got sappy.

Jammies were on
they were getting ready for bed
"Only five more minutes to play"
mommy soon said.

When out in the kitchen
there arose such a clatter,
mommy sprang from the couch
to see what was the matter!

There as she feared
Christmas cookies on the floor!
Had been knocked off the counter
scattered clear to the door!

Seeing the trouble
Garrett bolted from the room
tripping over sister,
down she fell with a boom!

Garrett was hiding,
Embrie was screaming,
daddy and mommy
were quite close to steaming!

When what to their wondering ears
should they hear?
A Christmas carol coming
from the player quite clear.

‘O Holy Night’
the caroler was singing.
All about the gift
That Jesus was bringing.

What Christmas is about
they began to remember
Daddy and mommy
soon mastered their temper.

"Come here son"
daddy said with great care.
Then Garrett explained,
"The cookies, surely Santa would share."

Embrie stopped crying
and again started cooing.
"Upstairs to bed, both of you"
mommy was shooing.

Telling the Christ child’s story
with kids on their laps,
they all settled down
for their (hopefully) long winter’s naps.

So if your house is like ours,
sometimes a fright.
From us to you,
Merry Christmas to all, it will turn out alright!

"Its time to put some tinsel on that evergreen bow!"

I love decorating the Christmas tree as a family! In fact, I love everything about Christmas!

Garrett and Embrie, as family tradition, recieve a new ornament for the tree every year from Grandpa Blaine and Grandma Sheri. This is Garrett's 4th and Embrie's 1st!

'Mom turns 50!' & 'It's good to have him home'

Here is a picture of all of us at Thanksgiving dinner at Jeramiah's Surprise Party for mom's 50th birthday!

50 years young!

It is good to have Kalvin home. He is really good with the kids.
Here he is with Jerzee.

Really, do you see what I have to put up with from these two brothers of mine???

Kalvin with Embrie.

As you can see not much has changed!

Giving Thanks

This week has been a bunch of traveling but a lot of fun with family. Things started out on Wednsday throwing a surprise party for my mom's 50th birthday. Luckily things turned out well, she was surprised and had fun. Then we had Thanksgiving dinner with the Niederhauser side of the family. We went out to dinner this year which was a little different, but different doesn't have to mean bad right? Dinner was good and we didn't have to prepare the meal or clean up afterwards! Nothing beats Thanksgiving at home, but this was fun to do for a change. We then went to visit some of the Watson bunch for pie and then went to my brother Jared's house for football and what else? more pie of course! The next day we travelled back up to Cokeville to prepare for Kalvin's talk in church (aka mission report). We had more fun over the weekend with family and then on Sunday (today) Kalvin spoke. He did such an awesome job! He prepared so hard for this talk and really wanted to get his message across. He spoke about Charity and it was very powerful. More than one person came up to me to tell me that it was the most powerful missionary talk they'd ever heard, including their own children. So I guess that is a pretty big compliment to Kalvin, or to the Lord since the Lord had molded him over the last couple of years. Then we made the round trip back home tonight. Hoping now for the kids to have a good night's sleep.
I have so much to be thankful for! I am truly blessed beyond what I deserve. I am so thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without Him I am nothing and I have nothing.
Here is a great talk that I got from another blog ( a cousin of mine). It is a great reminder of thankfulness for us moms!

http://ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1262

Grandma Watson

My grandmother, Hila Watson, passed away 3 years ago this week, right after the Thanksgiving holiday. I've been thinking a lot about her lately and so I thought I would put down a few of my thoughts.


Almost a year ago I had my baby girl and gave her the name of Embrie Hila Callahan. I named her after my grandma because I love my grandma and wanted to keep her name in the family as a reminder of where I and my daughter came from. Embrie is a daily reminder of my Grandma Watson. There is something there in her face and especially her smile that has grandma behind it. So it turns out she was named after the right person!

The things that I remember about grandma:

1- She loved Christmas! The holidays were a special time in the Watson house. My dad loved Christmas as well and I think it had to do with the way that he was raised. When I was very young there was always a Christmas party with the whole family and grandma would cook up a bunch of great food. The house would be decked out. Grandma loved Santa! I think she loved having the family around her. She always made Christmas a magical time for me. As families moved away here and there, after my dad passed away and grandma's health wasn't what it used to be we didn't have a party every year but once in awhile Grandma would get us all together again for a holiday party. In the picture below Grandma was talking to us all at one of the last Christmas parties before she passed. She would always say "this is probably my last Christmas . . ." and we would all say, " Whatever grandma!" and come up with a million excuses as to why she would have to stay around another year at least! unfortunately it eventually came to pass, but I always think of Grandma around Christmas time.


2- Grandma was a giver! She loved to give to others and see the smile on their faces. She always went above and beyond what she should have for Christmas, birthdays, baby showers, etc. Not only did she like to give "presents" but she liked to take you special places and do special things with you which is also a gift. Sometimes she liked to be a giver of advice too! She always spoke her mind.

3- Grandma was a great cook! She could whip up about anything and it would be awesome, enough said!

4- Grandma had lots of stories to tell. A great memory and it was always fun to listen.

5- She was a great geneologist! She did so much work for our family as well as many families across the country. She turned countless names in to the temple. She was very good at it. People who had worked very long and hard to find their ancestors without success were later able to find them thanks to Grandma.

She was and is a wonderful person and a great influence in my life. I hope that I can be more like her in my life. I love her and miss her dearly.