Christmas EVE and DAY

Naethanael's first De Young Christmas was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's House! We had such a fun Christmas Eve with family and friends! Plus Alex and NaeNae looked so CUTE in the matching PJS Nana got them! As you can see we tried to get a picture of the two of them together and these busy anxious babies would not sit still!

 Christmas Morning was a successs! Santa Spoiled all of us! It was so much fun spending Christmas morning with my younger siblings! It was a magical Christmas and soooooo much fun for John and I as parents! Even though Naethanael decided to wake up for 3 hours in the  middle of the night so he slept in Christmas morning! He opened his presents after everyone else had already finished, but that's okay because he got to be the center of attention!

 For Christmas dinner we drove to St. George to enjoy a nice meal with John's family. It was superb! Grilled chicken and steak. I was stuffed! and Naethanael loved playing with his cousins and he was spoiled once again by his Grandma and Grandpa De Young. This was our attempt of getting all five of them to take a picture together! I love Kinley and Bailey's faces! Oh my twiners! It was nice having all the family together, but we really missed Mindy, Mark, and the kids...

Round 2, we're getting better!

Thanks to pintrest and creative minds we're getting better at this! We had such a fun time decorating gingerbread houses with my family!

My House

John's House

And delicious sloppy joes, john asks, Why is it my special night? He was excited my mom made one of his favorite dinners and I made pasta salad, another of his favorites! What a great end to this Christmas Sunday... I can't believe it is this week!

We decided to be neighbors! and Jocelyn made a dog house!

Let Him In

"Whether it be in your world today, or a crowded Bethlehem Inn, Find A Way, Make Him Room, LET HIM IN"

The true reason of the season!

Once again I was able to see the incredible story of The Forgotten Carols, probably my favorite Holiday tradition. It's a story that will never get old! Michael McLean is an extraordinary, talented, and spiritual man! His testimony has touched my heart year after year as he sings his Christmas Carols. My favorite would have to be Three Kings, it gets me every time! 

What a laugh, "Doesn't eat egg salad???" (photo credit, The Forgotten Carols Facebook page)

The Ultimate Life

Today I had an eye opening experience, honestly, I have always known my family is my fortune, but this film, "the ultimate life" has made me a better person. It's not often I watch a film and feel this way... like, I want to be better, cause I can be better, and I  want to try something new. However, too often I find myself thinking negative and complaining. I usually find myself making lists in my head and it's easy to make a list of complaints, or things I should have done that day, things I could have done better, maybe a list of irritation , or things my husband should or could have done, but didn't do... but, how often do I remember to list the things that went right, the moments I'm grateful for? These are the things I want to remember, these are the simple things that are important, and these are the things that create the "ultimate life." So, honestly, I've been touched by the spirit, I cant not listen to the still small voice in my head, I know exactly what I need to do this year as my gift to Jesus!!! And hopefully it will become a routine in my life... everyday I am going to list 10 things that happened that day; these  things could simply be something I did that brought me pure joy, someone, or something I am grateful for, but it has to be 10 things that happened that day. This isn't going to be easy, but the things in life that are most rewarding are usually the things that seem to be the most difficult.

First Day As Parents!

Izzy has been quite the helper she wants to be a part of everything the baby does it is so sweet! So I had to go to school this morning so it was daddy's big day! Until I got home and John went to work. I took these pictures and sent them to John at work because he wanted to see Naethanael first bath, which he screamed the whole time until i took him out. But, he smelt so clean and looked so cute in his monster university pajamas that I picked out just for him.

Getting into mischief together already! OH SNAP! I go into the kitchen to make dinner peak over the counter and see the baby digging in his diaper bag eating his snacks and sharing with izzy!

Baby is 14 months old and practticing the walking thing! He gets so excited when he takes steps by himself, and then he gets so unstable! He loves his singing walker though! It's so funny when he gets stuck like in this picture because he hasn't figured out how to go backwards  yet! He just grunts until you come and help him!

A Blessing From Heaven

Last week I received a phone call that changed our lives forever! What a precious blessing we picked up from childhaven today.  We are so excited to have Naethanae in our home! He is such a joy! We are ready to offer him a loving home while we can and are excited to watch him learn, grow, and show him the love that he deserves! 

UNLV GRADUATE! I DID IT!!!!!

I woke up this morning and couldn't hold back my tears! My husband is so sweet he made my day start off so special with what he calls my 10 foot love letter! He wrote on a red table cloth and hung it up on the wall that took up the entire wall! Since, I don't ever want to loose the words he wrote me I'm gonna type them hear:

Alicia, 

I am so proud of you for graduating and all the hard work you have been putting into school! I'm so lucky to have you in my life! You are my strength everyday and the greatest support that I could ever ask for. I love you so much and can't wait to see what the future has in store for us! All I know is that I am the luckiest man in the world and you are the greatest teacher that will change the lives of many kids through your passion and caring for them and the importance of education! Here is to our happy future together! I love you with all my heart!

I am so grateful for all the lovely ladies I met during my Early Childhood Program! They made my time at UNLV a great experience... i cherish every weekend class we spent together... hahahahaha NOT! but, these girls made it bearable especially when our classes were from 7:00 - 9:45 at night!!

Backward facing picture from left to right: Genessa, Kendra, Courtney, ME, Paige
Forward facing picture from left to right: Courtney, Kendra, Genessa, ME, Paige

Missing (some already graduated, some moved, and some graduate in Spring): Erin, Melissa, Sasha, Cindy, Cody & Jodi. 

Plus all the new girls I met my last semester I wish you the best of LUCK in finishing your program (Lindsey, Carol, Karen, Shauna, & Katie)

 GO REBELS, Graduating Class of Fall 2013

 

Notes from my family and friends:

Sabrina: Congrats Alicia I'm (prode) proud of you make your momma proud time

GPA: Ticia way to go i think you should take brandon advice i love you

Ashley Jackersoneron: Congrats Teehee congradaluatlations alicia jackersonyoungDe. You finally are gettinggetering old you are officialially gradaduated yayayay 

brittan: cousin congratulations i am so stinking pour of you you will do great things love you

Grandma J: love you alicia 

Mom and dad de young: alicia we are so proud of you in getting your college degree we love you 

Maren and sean: yay you survived college I'm so proud of you now go be a menace to society love you so much 

mom: alicia im so proud of you congrats i have enjoyed every minute of being your mom i love you to the moon and back a million times hugs 

Aunt judy: congratulations alicia job well done 

Nana: another super step in your good life I'm so proud of you 

megan: sister you did it i am so proud of you i love you no more cramming for finals or last minute papers yay congrats love you 

Brandon: well i guess you're officially done with school i didn't even know if that was possible. but i guess it actually is i think that with all this extra time on your hands you can start to do these things you've always wanted to. like walk to the park and feed pigeons or paint mona lisa or you could even grow a beard what I'm trying to get at is that your possibilities and choices at whatever you want are limitless. so go grow that bead paint mona lisa and feed pigeons nobody is stopping you 

Austin: i love you alicia and congrats i hope you have fun at home and have a great day today love austin to alicia 

John: alicia im so proud of you and all the hard work you've put in school you are amazing and the reason i keep pushing on its my turn next love you 

Jocelyn: Nicia (alicia) you are the best sister ever. Im so glad your graduating wish i could see it but i can't alex wishes you goodluck he told me himself merry christmas love you 

Joni: i am so proud of you congratulations on a great accomplishment i love you 

Krissy Anne: alicia you are the best nicest coolest sister ever you were always my favorite. the memory i always remember when i think of you is when i looked everywhere for my purple blanket and the whole time it was in your closet i just think that was my best and favorite memory 

It's the Hap Hapiest season of ALL ... Cookie Party TIme!

We love the Carter Cookie Party Tradition! What a great way to kick start Christmas! I'm not gonna lie though... I've been listening to Christmas Music since the day after Thanksgiving! It was so much fun to spend the day with all our loved ones! John had the entire day off from work for the first time since we've been married, plus we had Naethanael too! What a treat!