2011

The last post for 2011. As I write this 2011 is almost coming to an end. These pictures are the last sunset of 2011. We get the best sunsets out here!

As I think about this year it has been quite a year for our family. It definitely was the year of the baby. It has been so much fun watching Lucy grow and I can't believe how fast she has grown. Our whole family has loved taking care of Lucy. It was so exciting to watch Jason be baptized this year. I am so grateful for his decision to be baptized and join the church. We blessed Lucy in our home which was so special for us. There were trips up to Bear Lake with both sides of family. Our eventful trip to San Diego which started out crazy but, ended being such a fun time with all of us. Mike and I will never forget going to Rome and experiencing that great city. There were lots of bike riding, playing board games, swimming lessons, dance, piano, basketball, golf, and just being together. I want my family to know how much I love them and love being their wife and mother. These are such special times for me and I hope my kids always remember the good times they had with their Dad and I. Here's to a great New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year and it was wonderful. I love going to church on Christmas and celebrating the Savior in the way he should be celebrated. We have 9 a.m church so, we go up and saw what Santa brought us, had a nice breakfast, and then went to church. We had a nice meeting filled with beautiful music. After church we came back home and opened presents from Dad and Mom. The picture above are the best kids looking so handsome and beautiful in their Christmas outfits.
This is what Santa brought Jason.
Santa brought Jason a remote control helicopter.
He also got a rip stik, the game Life, a new Utah shirt, a wii game, and some more Lego Star Wars.
This is what Santa brought Anne.
He brought her the today American Girl doll. She looks just like Anne!
She also got this Easel, a new blanket, a doll jeep for her doll, clothes for her doll, and a new DS game.
Santa brought Eliza this
She got the Barbie Camper that she wanted!
She got the Rapunzel tower, Stacie camper barbie, Another Barbie doll, a new blanket, and a Rapunzel dress.
What Santa brought Lucy.
Lucy got this new doll, a new blanket, books, toy purse, and bath toys
Max loved his new dog toy!
Mike and I gave each other this new Mac computer... which I love! Santa also left us a few things. I got some new boots and a panni grill. Mike got a new tie and a pull up bar.
Christmas evening we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Youngs. We had a wonderful dinner, played chimes, exchanged gifts, and had a talent show. Jason and I played a duet together. We played "Up on the housetop". It's was fun performing together.

We had a really great day and enjoyed being together with family!

Christmas Eve

We had such a fun Christmas Eve this year. Our kids love doing puzzles and we spent the day doing different puzzles. The kids big challenge was the 500 piece puzzle and they did it!
In the evening, Grandma and Grandpa Young and Auntie Jill came over to have Christmas Eve with us. We had a nice dinner and then did the nativity. We also took a drive around our neighborhood to see our whole neighborhood lit up by luminaries. It was so pretty.
We then had our tradition of having chocolate pudding for dessert. Jason had the almond in his pudding this year so he got to open the family present. This year the present was some Wii games and an illustrated Book of Mormon.
Auntie Jill made Max this cute ornament for our tree. It's a picture of him. Good Work Jill!
Lucy loves to read and had Grandma Young reading Christmas books to her.
Cute Grandpa Young with his BYU hat on.
After dessert we opened our Christmas P.J's and read Twice the Night Before Christmas then kids went to bed.
Santa came that night!!

Schwitzer Christmas Party

We had such a fun evening celebrating Christmas with the Schwitzer side. Cathy did such a nice job hosting everyone at her home. The food was fabulous, the people the best, and good laughs were had by all.
I love this picture of some the the cousins. L-R Claire, Anne, Kate, Evelyn, Will, Eliza, and Leah. These kids are the best!
Lucy loved this green chair.
We skyped in Greg and JoAnn and they got to see most of the night. They saw the kids open presents and watched them also act out the nativity.
These boys are so good to each other. Alex, Andrew, and Jason.
We surprised Grandpa Harvey with an iPad. All of his Grand-children pitched in to get him this. He was so cute and even cried when he opened it. He totally deserved this gift!
The Schwitzer kids with Grandpa. Mike, Sarah, Paul, Cathy, and Josh.
Cute Anne in the nativity with cousins
The whole crew together! What a group!

Grandpa Harvey Visit

Not to many kids can say that they got to hang out with their Great-Grandpa over Christmas break but, the Schwitzer kids can! We were so happy to have Grandpa Harvey stay with us for a week at our home. We loved having him around and it was such a fun week. Grandpa read for hours with the kids. Lucy loved him and would bring book after book for him to read to her. He told stories about his childhood and serving during World War II. He did a bunch of puzzles with the kids also. I loved listening to Mike and Grandpa talk about the scriptures together. It seemed every morning they sat down and talked about a scripture. Mike and I loved just talking with him. They were so many nights we were all up late just talking about life. He had such good advice for us and we loved hearing his opinion on things. There were lots of political talks, watching Fox News, and watching debates. We love Grandpa so much! He makes everyone around him feel so comfortable and makes you feel like the most important person to him. He loves the gospel and has such a strong testimony. Because of Grandpa Harvey the Schwitzer family are members of the church. He is a convert which makes him solid! Mike and I are so happy we got this special time with him and it will be a Christmas our family will never forget.
One night he told the kids the Rocky Fairy story. The kids absolutely loved the story and watching the frog puppet show. This was a fun night! We skyped in Greg and JoAnn so they could join in the fun.
We went to Temple Square and braved the cold. Grandpa was a trooper and made it to see the lights!
Mike and Grandpa Schwitzer
Lu Lu loving the lights!

Saratoga Hills 3rd Ward Christmas Party

We had an outstanding ward Christmas party this year. It was in the morning and so we had a breakfast all together. At the very beginning of the party Santa was waiting to hear the kids wishes for Christmas. We were lucky and got there early before a big line formed to see Santa. Each of of kids got a chance to talk with him.


Our kids got to be in the nativity a benefit I guess of having your Dad be in the Bishopric. Just Jason and Anne wanted to do it. Eliza was not interested so, we got the Goldings to help us make the scene complete. They had each auxiliary do something whether is was singing or reading a Christmas story.
Mike is lucky to work with these great men. From L-R Alan Cluff, Bishop Ron Thue, and Mike. The best Bishopric around! They work so hard for our ward and I know each them love the people in our area so much. I am grateful to Mike and his willingness to serve the Lord. I know it's not always easy to do the job he does but, he is always happy to serve. One of the many reasons why I love him so much!

The Nutcracker

I am so happy I have daughters! I love Jason with all my heart and he holds a special place in my heart but, it's fun doing these girl outings. This year Anne was finally old enough to go to the Nutcracker at Ballet West. We went with Grandma Young and Auntie Jill. We started the night by going out to dinner at the Olive Garden....Yummy. We headed across the street to the Capitol Theatre. It always look so pretty and festive at Christmas time. Grandma Young bought Anne a beautiful Clara tree ornament to remember her first Nutcracker. We had pretty good seats and Anne enjoyed the ballet. Watching her face and seeing her laugh at some moments was fun to watch for the first time. I can't wait for the day I will have all 3 of my girls at the ballet!
Jill and I got some good laughs with the people sitting in front of us. They were the clapping police in that they would clap all the time and it got annoying. It's always fun to find some interesting people at events like this.