Bright Shining Star...Merry Christmas

'there is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ.'
-President Thomas S. Monson

Christmas has been so enjoyable this year, one reason is elizabeth is getting older and really getting into the holidays. we have talked to her a lot about Santa and our Savior this year, and so when she knows she is being naughty, she tells us that 'Jesus and Santa are both watching her'. it's quite adorable.
this year she has been talking about how she wants Santa to bring her Tinkerbell dolls. when we went and saw Santa, she made sure he knew what she wanted, lol.
Christmas Eve she helped set out a glass of milk, and instead of cookies, she told us she thought Santa would like a cupcake, so that is what he got.
Christmas morning she ran into our room and said she wanted to go see if Santa came. we walked down the stairs and she looked to see if our stockings were still hanging, but they weren't and she yelled 'SANTA CAME!'...her face really said it all, lol. she ran to the family room and had a huge smile on her face when she opened her gift from Santa and of course it was Tinkerbell dolls!
it so much fun watching her open all her gifts...and of course she helped mommy and daddy open ours as well. it was the perfect Christmas morning at the Rodgers home!





i love the quote, 'the love of a family is life's greatest blessing'.
i can't express how grateful i am for my family. i love them dearly and they are all so influential in my life and appreciate and admire all our different characteristics and traits. i am so grateful how close we continue to grow, and am so glad that the taintors were here to share the Christmas season with us together as a family.






we slipped away from my family, they are sort of hogs when it comes to spending time with us, lol. but we managed to get a way and visit ryan's dad and his little brother randy.
elizabeth was spoiled with gifts from them, and of course loved to see all of papa rod's dogs.




Christmas wouldn't be the same if we didn't make the trip up to odgen to grandma taintors house to visit the taintor side of the family. it was nice seeing everyone, my favorite uncle gary even showed up! dad told us stories from when he was a kid, and adam and danielle's kids even sang Christmas songs in german for all of us. it was a nice ending to a beautiful Christmas day.