What a week! This last Saturday started all the craziness. Bryant and I celebrated our fourth anniversary! I can hardly believe that we have been married that long-it's awesome! We decided to keep it simple by going out to eat at Red Lobster. Bryant also broke the "no gifts" rule and bought me a North Face jacket that I LOVE. I just love my husband. He is so giving, he is always in a good mood and loves his family. He is the smartest, most handsome, most wonderful person I know. :) I could keep going but I'm sure I'll get in trouble when he reads this. :)

Sunday afternoon was my Aunt Pat's annual Christmas Ladies' Brunch. This is my third year attending, and I look forward to it every year. It was spectacular! We had the best food-including quiche, potato casserole, pumpkin bread, etc. It was also fun to catch up and visit with the ladies who came. Of course I especially loved the time with family-Mom, Macey, Grandma Gibbons, Pat, Chelsie, and Polina. Pat is so creative-we were all able to make two different Christmas crafts. We made centerpiece/candleholders and tree ornaments. Thanks again Pat for the wonderful brunch!

The morning of Trippster's birthday

Sunday night was Trippster's third birthday party! Wow what a party! Actually, the fun started that morning. He wanted to have a "baseball birthdy," so I made him a baseball blanket and placed it on him while he slept. I also filled his room with red and white baseball balloons, and set a baseball birthday hat on the end of his bed. He was ecstatic when he woke up! I think his favorite part were the balloons-funny how those cost the least of everything that day. For breakfast I made him baseball pancakes with chocolate chips and whipped cream. Then we headed off to church, and after church at 1pm the cake lady (who we highly recommend) dropped off his "baseball cake." He was overjoyed-he wanted to eat it right away. I told him the cake was a picture of him in a baseball uniform. It has lots of blue, which is Trippster's favorite color, and had chocolate cake with raspberry filling-just what Tripp ordered! That evening, lots of family came over to watch him open gifts. He ended up with a truckload of presents! I must say I have a spoiled three year old. :)  The guest list included: My parents, Lainey, Trey, Macey, Colin, Grandma Gibbons, Bret, Julia, Jake, Britanie, Paislee, Ella, Grant and Parker. It was a loud, noisy party but well worth it. Tripp couldn't stop smiling. The night ended with a friendly nerf dart gun war between Bryant, Tripp and Trey. Overall, one great day! Happy birthday my little love!! We love you so much!!

Eating his pancakes

Hanging out with Grandma Gibbons and Chantz before the party started

The cake!!

I don't know where he learned to post with his presents, but it is so cute!

Grandpa Hessing and Chantzter

I wrapped his gifts in red and put baseball stickers on them...

Grandpa Bret and Grandma Julia

The beginning of the gun war...

Tuesday of this week the Relief Society had their annual Christmas dinner, which I was partially in charge of. I have been on Weight Watcher, but this last week it was much too hard to stick to it. As you can see, almost every day there has been some kind of festive meal or goodies to eat. Tuesday I was in charge of cooking the funeral potatoes and a peppermint chocolate dessert. The night was wonderful. The Primary kids put on a very sweet nativity program for us and we were able to sing one of my favorite primary songs, "He Sent His Son." At first I didn't think of it as a Christmas song, but after listening to the words and the message again this week I realized that it fits into this season perfectly. This Christmas season is all about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. My testimony was strengthened as I watched the kids act out parts of the Nativity and sing songs in honor of our Savior. I know he lives. I know he loves me, and I know that we are here on earth to become like him. I know that he is the reason I have the things in my life that bring me peace and joy, and because of him I can keep my family with me forever. What greater blessing could there be?

 My next post will most likely be out annual Jones Family Christmas letter. We out our blog address on the bottom of our Christmas cards this year. Be sure to check back soon!