Here is my child in awe of the man they call Santa.

Peyton only wanted mommy to hold her so she could see in the window...she cared nothing about the picture being taken.

~When baby is happy...mommy is happy~

Here she is gazing and giggling at the Elves dancing in the window at Santa's Workshop while we waited.

Here comes Santa Claus...

Today was the day! I wanted a picture of Peyton with Santa. We met the in-laws at Arden Fair where we waited in line for AN HOUR AND A HALF! Thats right folks. And hour and a half. All I kept thinking was, is this Santa going to be a pedaphile? Will she scream her head off as soon as I put her down on his lap? Why am I so insane as to stand and wait here for this long? But in the end it was all worth it! She was happy the whole time we stood in line, and I couldn't believe it, but when I put her on his lap, she looked right at him and completely fell in love! My child, who is petrified of her own grandparents until she finally remembers them, was as happy as you can imagine with this random man they call Santa Claus.
I was overjoyed! My baby was happy, and I had to beg her to look over at me. Finally she did, and we got the best picture of her. It was $20, but the memories will last forever. And might I also add, this was the best Santa Claus I have ever seen! He looked so real and he definately had a way with kids. She had her hand in her mouth, and he gently pulled it down and held it there. Lance went up to talk to him for a minute while I picked out the picture and Santa told him that they fly him all the way from Seattle!! He works for 30 days before Christmas and makes enough money to support his family for 6 months! I am thinking about becomming a Santa Claus with that income! Either way, he was the best. I am thouroughly pleased with our whole experience, and I got exactly what I wanted. I hope it goes as well with the next kid! (no I am not dropping any hints Christina!)

I'm back!

It looks so pretty from afar! This is right outside our front door!

I didn't think that it would be this hard to keep up! I get on the computer several times a day but do I blog? Nope. I am horrible! It started snowing here on Friday night and in the morning we had about 2 1/2 inches. It melted by 2 o'clock. I was sad, but my sadness didn't stay for very long! On Sunday it started to snow again at 3 o'clock and didn't stop until Monday night. When all was said and done, we had a little less than a foot. I was so excited to look out the front door and see it, but now I want it to go away! I haven't had to drive in it yet, but tomorrow morning will be the first day. Oh yippee! I guess we will just have to pray the whole time! I am hoping that it clears up before Thursday because Lance and I are planning on driving home for the holidays.
Peyton has been a whole lot of fun recently. As you could see from my last video post, she is slowly learning to walk and is always on the go. I am excited to see her take her first steps, but can't believe that it will be soon, as she is only 8 months! And sleep at night? Like a dream. We put her down at around 7:30 and she sleeps until about 7:30 the next morning. I can't explain to you how extatic I am about this! She seems so much happier too and I think it is because she is getting a full nights sleep. Who would have known! (A lot of people actually!)
I gave my second talk in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. What an adventure! It went pretty smoothly. The whole Primary Presidency spoke. It was a relief when it was over. Then in primary, I taught my first sharing time. I have to say, it wasn't that bad at all. I guess the Lord knows what he is doing! Well, I can't wait for Christmas to come, and I will try to post more often!

I want to walk!

She pushes this thing all around the house, but no real steps yet!

Lively Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Its Christmas...

Last year, Grandma Lively (Nana) gave Peyton this little people train set. She wasn't even born yet. Who knew that Christmas would come so fast? She is already 8 months old! She had so much fun pushing this little train around and listening to it while it sang Jingle Bells to her. I can't wait until I have a little one running around the house singing Christmas songs all season long! (well I can, cause I don't want her to get any bigger!) We went and got our Christmas tree today. Everyone up here in Susanville goes and cuts theirs down, and Lance would have been overjoyed if that would have been the situation for our family, but I just couldn't imagine hiking up a hill with an 8 month old in tow and sawing a tree down...after searching for hours until I found the right one (I am kind of picky about my trees). Anyway, we went right up the street to Walmart and bought a nice, full 7 footer for $45. Worth every penny. Christmas is Definately my favorite time of year. I don't think there is any other part of the year that even comes close. I love the smell outside (and Susanville is particularly wondeful in that area). The brisk air is also good. I love the music that is on in the stores and the decorations that are up everywhere you go. And is it just me, or are more people nicer at this time of year? I love the summertime, but I would way rather be cold than hot anyday. And seeing as there are no beaches round here, there is nothing to really quench my thirst for the water when it is hot outside. So winter it is. Though I have never had to go to sleep with sweatshirt and socks on everynight as I do here. Oh how I long for central heating!

Sick!

Peyton has been sick for the past two days. She has had really bad diarhea and very often. She has been a huge crabby pants, and she wants to be held ALL THE TIME. And most of the time, she just wants it to be me that is doing the holding. Poor Lance can't even get her to calm down half the time, and poor me cause I am the only one that can. I can't quite figure out why, though perhaps she is getting her top teeth in. She had bad poos with her bottom ones too, but never was she this fussy. Maybe these just hurt her more. Either way, I sure hope this is just a phase and it ends very soon. Other than that, everything has just been normal. We (Peyton and I) went down to Sacramento for Thanksgiving and then to Ione for a couple days. I love being able to go and spend time with our family, I only wish that Lance could be with my more often. But I have learned that this time at the beginning of our lives away from eachother is necessary for the lifestyle we have chosen. I know that eventually we will be in a place where we will be able to be with eachother everyday, and every holiday, and still be close enough to family that we won't have to travel to get there.