The New Year

I know that we have already gone through a week of the New Year, but I wanted to start the blog year off right. And in a cliche kind of way. Resolutions.

This year, I have decided that I am going to be happy. I need to be happier in my life. I am starting this endeavor by reading the Book of Mormon at least twice this year. I figured there is no better way to have joy than to dive into the gospel. I think the past year I have been too worried about where I was and where the world tells me I should be. There is no happiness in that because I realized that I am no where near those expectations. I know, however, that as I study the scriptures, I will learn and progress to where I feel I should be spiritually. I have only been doing this for a week and I already feel a difference. Well, that AND I've been to the doctor and have my thyroid medication again. That makes a huge difference too!

I'm really excited about this year. I feel good things are coming our way. We don't have anything extravagant happening, but I know that happiness can be found in simplicity.

Townsend Christmas 2011

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. It was small and pretty quiet. We got a package from Grandma and Grandpa in Utah and a package from Jeff, Julie, Zach, and Colton. The kids were so happy to hear from them all. They loved their gifts (even though they're looking kinda weird in the pictures). I didn't get any pictures of what they got from Zach and Colton in the hustle and bustle of opening gifts. William got legos that we had to build almost immediately and Lily got a pony and lip gloss, her two favorite things.

On Christmas Eve, we relaxed for a good part of the day and enjoyed being together. But, then came the night. The kids fed the reindeer:

 They even saw Rudolph's nose in Grandma and Grandpa's yard.

 William and Lily got to open their new pajamas. I love this picture. Lily's smile is just so sweet to me! It didn't take them too long to get to sleep in order to get up a little after six in the morning.

 There was the traditional stair picture where everyone looks sleepy. But, their little faces sure do change when they see what Santa left them. William got his ever-important Leapster and Lily got her horse that she's been pining over. They were pretty happy.

Then they opened their other gifts from mom and dad:

I feel bad that I didn't get any pictures of them opening presents from their cousins. William got a marshmallow gun from Presley and Lily got a Hello Kitty purse, necklace, and chapstick from Savannah. William's been playing with the train tracks Grandma and Grandpa (TN) got for him and Lily has loved her new Rapunzel with Flynn and Maximus. They've pretty much been in heaven between their new things and having their cousins here.

Christmas has been great this year! We're sad that it's over, but looking forward to the New Year coming soon!

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas Card!

Wishing You Merry Christmas Card

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New Tradition

This year we started Elf on the Shelf with William and Lily! It has been a BLAST having Red come and stay with us this Christmas season. For those of you who don't know what it is, Elf on the Shelf is a story book that comes with an Elf. He is sent by Santa to make sure everyone is being nice. He reports back to Santa and plays a game where he hides every night. We named ours Red. William really wanted to name him Robot Red White, so we shortened it to Red. He's been into a lot of things since he's been here and William and Lily love going on the scavenger hunt every morning trying to find where he is and what he's gotten into over the night. This is SUCH a fun new tradition that I look forward to doing every year.

Red got the kids Santa hats the other day and made this for them. The kids had a kick out of it!!  

Old Tradition

This past Monday night, we put our Christmas tree up! Our little one. Although, we didn't have the stand for our little one. I think it's packed in a box somewhere in our closet. So, we had to go a buy a new little one. But, who doesn't love to buy new Christmas things, right? The kids had such a fun time putting up the ornaments. Of course, they had to start by putting every one's ornaments in piles and then they put their own on. We love our tradition of a new ornament every year. Except, this year, our tree is kind of full. We'll have to see what next Christmas brings!

Here are the choices for this year!

Traditions are so much fun. We've been doing this every year since we've been married. I've also been working on a new tradition this year that I'm excited to share soon.

My Week

Sometimes pinterest knows exactly how I'm feeling.