Christmas!

Our Christmas tree at 5 in the morning!

Sherisa, Bri, Bo, Bella, and Vanessa-Christmas morning

Cousins Rikki and Steven

Mom, Brenton, me, Sherisa at G & G Bushnell's

Ness, me, Ree, Bri, and Bro

Yes, Christmas morning, 5 am-dead tired!

Bro, me, and mom opening presents

HOORAY! Christmas morning was just a blast! My little brother insists that we wake up at 5 o'clock in the morning still, which is actually really fun for me because if it weren't for him, I would probably sleep in. Christmas eve we spent the evening up in Cedar at my Grandpa and Grandpa Roper's house. We do the same thing every year; big dinner, grandpa reads us the story of the birth of the Savior from the scriptures, Christmas program (all of the grandkids prepare a talent to perform-my bro, sis, and me all play a song on the piano), and we open presents. We always come back home for the sleeping part because we all insist on being in our own home for Christmas. Once we get home, my parents give us all pajamas and we go to bed. That is our Christmas eve every year. On Christmas morning we wake up at 5 am (it used to be 4:30, thank heavens Brenton decided to let us sleep a half an hour longer) and wake up our parents. We ALL have to walk down together and we all go strait to the family room. We walk in with everything dark and my parents flip the light on and we all start opening presents. Around 7:30 we eat a big breakfast and then my sister and bro in-law and their kids come over around 9. After we're done opening the rest of the gifts, we all get ready and head up to Cedar again. We spend the large part of the day with the Bushnell's where we have soup and sandwiches and munchies. On our way out we stop by the Roper's of a couple hours and then head home! Christmas is so fun! I am so grateful for all of the traditions that my parents and grandparents have started for us and have continued to carry out. What a blessing it is to get together and remember the birth of our Savior and to spend some quality time with our families! The memories are just great! I am so thankful for a big family and the fun times that we have!

Snow in Dixie!

St. George Temple/Visitors center

St. George Temple

The Dixie Rock covered in snow!

Sherisa and I

Christmas tree on Main Street

Cute little Judd's store!

Looking out over St. George

My old high school...Dixie High

AMAZING!!! It snowed in St. George a couple of nights ago and Sherisa and I just couldn't help but get out and take some pictures. It was gorgeous! My little brother actually got a snow day at school. The only snow day I ever got in school was when I was in like 4th grade; I have never had a snow day since. I had to wake up and take a final at the college that morning and the roads were so slick. It is so different to drive in but actually pretty fun! Us St. George people don't really know how to react to the snow. I was hanging out with my friends Andy and Ben out in Ivins and there was about 6 or 7 inches out there. We got about 3 or 4 inches in town. As I was driving home around midnight or so, it was just chucking snow. I just couldn't help but ponder on my life and the many blessings I receive every day. I was so happy I just wanted to cry. The snow was so beautiful as it packed itself softly on the ground. I have never seen St. George look so beautiful. I was one happy girl! Almost every house had a snowman out front since this would probably be the only chance we have in a long time. I'm so grateful for my blessings and that I was able to be a part of such a beautiful experience! It just brightened up my week!

Warm Springs!!!

Ok, so I haven't posted in such a long time. This should've been posted back in November. Anyways, it's worth posting so better late than never! My family and I went to Warm Springs in November which is located in Moapa. The water is naturally about 75-80 degrees so we were able to go swimming in November! I was so amazed that we could actually swim outdoors that late in the year. We had such a blast! There was about 21 of us and it was so crazy because we got every single person (grandpa included) in the pool except for grandma. In my whole 20 years of life, I have never seen my grandpa swimming in an actual swimming pool. We had a little picnic there and so many laughs! We played basketball, marco-polo, the shark game, and just swam! It was awesome! The pool is amazing because it is so warm and the pool is just huge! My family and I were the only ones in the whole place which is unusual because normally it's packed there! Oh my gosh, it is just amazing! The water runs all around the area in a little river and the place is just beautiful. I actually got sunburned in November; now that is unusual! Anyways, you all should take a trip there sometime; it is TOTALLY worth it! Just go to google and type in warm springs-nevada/reservations and it will walk you through steps to make a reservation. It's only like 2 bucks a person!