All About Me!

Last week, I made Grandma Roylance's famous white bread (hence the picture). According to Phil it tastes just as good as hers. Yeah I succeeded! On Saturday I made Phil stay home with Coleman, so I could go get my hair cut, and run errands without freezing while I got Coleman in and out of the car. On Tuesday, Coleman and I had a play date with friends at CanadaInn's indoor water park. We paid three dollars for me to have a fabulous time. Coleman, on the other hand, was so unhappy, we only lasted there an hour and a half. He froze in the water (which I didn't think was that cold) screamed bloody murder on the water slides (which I absolutely loved) and cried every time the bucket dumped a HUGE load of water. It wasn't until we found the hot tub that he even smiled. Oh well, I loved it!

This picture is for Ashley and Chelsea. (I don't normally post a picture of me just standing there!) Ashley please note the belly (starting to poke out, but mostly I'm just fat) and Chelsea please notice the hair. (I'm still trying to get used to the bangs-any tips on how to do them?)

Catching up on the Holidays

So it has been over a month since I have done anything on here. Sorry! We were in Utah for three and half weeks, and I hardly ever got on the computer. Now I get to make-up for it! Beware, this is a long post! You just can't shorten the biggest part of the year! :)

Christmas in Utah--December 11-January 3

Our last night in Utah we spent packing and playing games. I never actually played this game, but Phil looked good playing it, don't ya think?!

Lunch with Friends--December 29thWe met with some of our friends (Skylar, Lauren & Cali Giles; Ryan & Sandy Walton) from Rexburg for lunch. It was our first time seeing Cali, and what a cutie! Coleman was smitten with her. He kept laying kisses on her. So cute! :)

Natalie's Wedding--December 28th

The newly-married couple (Natalie Roylance and Jacob Erlick) making their grand appearance!

Phil, Coleman and I on the steps of the SLC temple.

Coleman at the Eastern doors of the Temple

Natalie Roylance Erlick

Natalie and Jacob cutting the cake! Congratulations! We wish you the best of luck!

Christmas Activities--December 11-December 25

Coleman loved playing Grandma and Grandpa's piano. Hopefully that stays with him through the years!

The lights in Salem. I love to see these each year. They have Christmas trees floating on the pond. It is so beautiful to see. Thanks Roylance family for keeping the tradition alive!

I love this picture of Phil. It's a classic! We were getting ready to go sledding and Phil tried to fit in my sister, Ashley's snow pants. What a nerd! (I mean that in a good way sweetheart!)

It's sledding time! Coleman with Dad on the sled and with Mom once he had enough of the cold slippery slopes!*Christmas Eve*Coleman was a Shepherd in our "live nativity".The Mott grandchildren in their nativity costumes (thanks Amber for making them!). From Left to Right: Coleman (Shepherd), David (Wiseman), Kage (Angel), Autumn (Mary), Colby (Joseph), Tyson (Wiseman), River (Shepherd)

Coleman playing with his cousins--all of them dressed in their new Christmas P.J.s

Every year, Grammy buys each of us Christmas pajamas. It is one of our favorite activities of our Christmas Eve party. Thanks Mom!

Mott family sporting the new sleepwear!

Christmas MorningRiver, Autumn, and Coleman checking out all the presents that Santa Claus brought.

Coleman opening his present from Grammy & Grumpy. Of course it came with the help of Dad, River and Autumn.

Phil is looking good with his new coat!

I'm leaving on a jet, I mean prop plane!--December 11th

Flying with Coleman was quite the experience. Our first flight from Grand Forks to Minneapolis was easy. However, the flight from there to Salt Lake City was awful. I had Coleman looking out the window as the plane was taking off. The next thing I knew, throw-up was running down the wall of the plane towards the passengers behind us. The guy behind us was very nice and helped clean it up. Once all the wet-wipes were used and we were forty minutes into the flight. Coleman then decided to have a blow-out diaper. And I mean blow-out. It was in the seat of the plane and everything. Phil was lucky enough to clean that mess up. By the time Phil and I walked off that flight, lets just say we were shouting Hallelujah!

Pre-Christmas Morning!--December 10th

We decided to open most of our Christmas presents here in Grand Forks, before we left for Utah for the holidays. It helped give Coleman a test run on "Santa"! Me with my new coat. I was also fortunate enough to receive a Kitchen-Aid Mixer!
Yeah, I got a Mr. Potato Head! :)

Phil helping Coleman open one of his many new toys.

Happy Birthday Phil!--December 8th Phil and Coleman blowing out the candles! We had friends over to help celebrate. And to help eat the cake and ice cream before we left two days later! :)
Phil sporting all his birthday presents (the gloves and boots), with the help of Coleman holding his new Rascal Flatts CD.

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

It is snowing like crazy again. We are supposed to get another 6" of snow to add to the foot of snow that we already have. It is so cold here that the snow never melts. They will definitely be having a white christmas here! On Sunday night, the church had a "Night of Nativity" for the ward members and the community. They had a live nativity and carolers dressed in top hats and capes (See picture of Phil) and inside there were over 100 nativity scenes. They also had choirs singing and cookies and juice. At 7pm was the Christmas devotional, and they ended the night with Santa Claus. It was amazing! We had so much fun!

Baby Its Cold Outside!

I can't believe how cold it has gotten lately. We have finally had a few snow storms, and after today, I think the snow is here to stay! We are expected to get at least 6" today. Wow! The temperatures here have been barely hitting the teens during the day. Of course you have to add in the wind chill factor almost every day and that makes it so much colder. We are getting so used to the negative temperatures already. It is such a shock to have to put a hat, gloves, scarves and coat on, just to go get the mail. I haven't done this for two years now. I guess I was very spoiled in Boise!

The other day we went to the Lighting on the Green. The University put on a little program and we sang some Christmas Carols and they had cookies and hot cider and then they were supposed to turn on this big Christmas lights display, or so we thought. However, as you can see with the pictures that I posted, it was minimal to say the least. Oh well, Coleman had fun playing in the snow! :)

We are getting so excited to travel home for the Holidays and see family! Yeah only 10 more days as Cindy reminded me today! Well, see you soon!

That's the cutest runny nose I've ever seen!

Sorry about the delay since I have last posted. I don't even have a good excuse, I just haven't done it. Anyway, it has been a good week and a half. We went down to Bismark last weekend. Phil had a conference to go to so Coleman and I tagged along. The hotel that we stayed at had a huge waterslide and cute kiddie toys in the pool area. We went down the slide a few times and each time got progressively worse. By the end he was crying and screaming. Oh well, someday he'll love them! This week has been pretty boring. We saw our first snow flurry. Don't worry it only lasted about five minutes and of course, nothing stuck. The day before it snowed, it was warm enough to play outside, and that is just what we did. Here are a few pictures of Coleman. Oh and Phil and Coleman decided to build a fort. Let me rephrase that. Phil built it, Coleman continued to tare it down. It was up just long enough for me to take a snapshot of Phil and Coleman!

Pumpkins

Last night we did my favorite Halloween activity . . . carving our pumpkins! Ok I don't really like the dirty work, but that is what Phil's for! :) Anyway, I just love how the faces take shape and how neat they look with the candles glowing. And the absolute best part is the smell of the candle in the pumpkin. MMMMmmmmmm . . . nothing like burnt pumpkin! Anyway, just thought I would add some pictures of the moment. Coleman was hilarious. We put the pumpkins on the floor so he could see them and he would crouch down and just stare at their faces! Oh and just thought I would update you on Coleman's new favorite game. Golf. He goes and gets the spatula out of the drawer in the kitchen and then runs around hitting a ball with it. And after each hit, the infamous golfer's words, "Uh, oh". It is so funny to watch! Anyway love you all!

Trunk or Treat

We had our ward Halloween party the other night. It was a lot of fun and totally humiliating at the same time. I made Phil dess up as Dracula and I was dressed as a witch. I worked hard on our costumes (not really, but we can pretend) and we show up and we are one of only three couples who dressed up. I felt so stupid. Oh well, Coleman looked cute in his spider costume! Anyway, they had some games set up for the kids inside the church and then we went outside for the trunk or treat. The weather was perfect and we had a full moon. I feel like Halloween has already come and gone! Except that we are carving our pumpkins tomorrow.

Well, the weather here has finally dropped in temperature. Coleman and I went for a walk earlier this morning and it had to be cut short due to the chilly wind. Anyway, how are all of your Halloween plans coming along? Are you doing anything fun? I wish we were!