happy birthday

Aunt Jan!

We hope you have a wonderful birthday with lots of love and much spoilage.

Halle knows you as Jake's mama and it got me thinking about all the wonderful roles you have. Think about it. You are:

a wife

a sister

an aunt

a mother

a daughter

a friend

And not only are you all of those things, but you do them all so well despite the busy life you have. And not only that your house is always spotless. Wonderwoman is what that is called.

We love you!

i am webster

and this is my definition of love:

and also this:

typical

wearing minnie footie pajamas with a minnie nightgown over them and one of mom's shoes all while playing with dad's belts and taking all of his clothes out of the closet right before bedtime.

very typical.

african nativity

Since we are a young up and coming family (going on three years at the end of this month!), we have very little in the way of holiday decorations. We have started our own collection of Christmas decorations over the past two years and have also received many sweet gifts from our families to help fill our home with Christmas cheer.

One of my favorite decorations came as a gift from my sweet sister-in-law Kendyl that she picked up for us in Zambia, Africa where she was serving with the Mothers Without Borders Organization. I think this African Nativity is absolutely gorgeous. It makes me remember we really are brothers and sisters with all the different people around the world, no matter their culture or beliefs. (Now I just wish Wes would have thought a little bit more about his future family while he was on his mission and had picked us up one from Brazil...You're right. It was probably good he wasn't thinking too much about his future family out there.)

Halle also likes it, the donkey part anyway. I am afraid she is going to carry it off somewhere and we won't be able to find it until next year.

i'll spare you

I know you are all tired of hearing me go on and on about sunshine and how I am addicted to it and how I could eat it if it could sustain life like that, so, I am just going to let you see the pictures from our thanksgiving holiday in st. george. I will spare you all the sunshine commentary and sunshine love poems. But I will say this: it was fabulous.

Psyched about you know what.

Thanksgiving day was wonderful. I miss being close to my family. The only thing missing was Ryan (not for long!). Mom seriously outdid herself. I forget how amazing her mashed potatoes are and really all of her food. Simple meals she makes that I try to recreate never taste as good as hers. I guess I leave out the love. We also spent part of the day with the Ashman side of the family. Imagine having Thanksgiving dinner with a bunch of hilarious, crazy kiddos in the gym of an elementary school. Oh, and a fart machine. Yes, it was out of control. Aren't those some of the most fun family memories? We managed to send a few ceiling tiles askew and knock down a very large poster of Taylor Swift with a milk mustache.

We spent the rest of the week sleeping in, relaxing, and playing with this little master chief.

He is the only kid this little girl will share with.

happy birthday

Aunt Kendyl!

Wish we could spend all day eating three bags of chips and watching Gilmore Girls.

Can't even tell you how much we love and adore you.

You are an amazing example of service and determination.

So glad Halle has an example like you in her little monster princess life.

We love you!

happy birthday

Uncle...I mean...Elder Ryan!

*I just realized I don't have any of your mission pics on my computer. So we are left with this pre-mission gem. Let's fix that mom.

Can't believe you are already 21.

Can't believe you have not met Halle.

Can't believe you are coming home in 4 months.

Can't believe you have a British accent.

Can't believe you teach Chinese people in England.

Can't believe you were obsessed with Grandpa's letter opener in this picture.

Can't believe you were also obsessed with his weird ring.

Can't believe you ever stopped doing your Phantom of the Opera Hand Flute.

Can't believe how much fun we had when you were at BYU.

Can't believe you invented the golden tickle.

And definitely can't wait till you come home.

We love you!

*Get ready for many birthday posts. Not only is it the Christmas season, it is birthday season in our families.