Do you have FACEBOOK???

Ok, so somebody got me hooked on facebook.... Search for me as Liz Cook in Pocatello and send me a friend request!! It is really easy to keep in touch!!

Ephraim is A BIG ONE YEAR OLD!!!

So Ephraim turned ONE!! Yeah!! He is loving everything he can get his hands on, especially this cupcake!! He is trying to walk, and always gets into everything!! He loves to help mom in the kitchen and tackle dad! He always has a smile on, even when he is grumpy! We are so excited that we don't have to buy formula any more!! This past year has been full of so many milestones for us all. We sold our home, moved in with family for the summer, we moved to Pocatello, Ben started school, Dewey opened another Costco, Ephraim has been through it all, and has been the best baby! Now I am sad because my baby is not a baby anymore... Don't they just grow up WAY TOO FAST??? Dewey loves this stage because he loves to get down and play with the kids, but I just LOVE THE BABY STAGE!!! Yeah for Ephraim!! Big One Year Old!!!

Christmas TAG - 25 questions 'til Christmas!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap gifts, and when I was a kid, my dad would let me wrap all the presents he had bought...except for mine of course!

2. Real tree or Artificial? I love our prelit tree, it is really easy to put up and take down, and great for the kids, my I do miss the smell of a real tree!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the day after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? When I am ready to

5. Favorite gift received as a child? Thatcher, my horse, although I was 16

6. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but I want to make a wooden one my kids can play with

7. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail is best, then you can decorate your house with Christmas cards!

8. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something that looks like it would make a good gift... I try to get all but the stocking stuffers things before Thanksgiving

9. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dewey brought home these chocolate, caramel, macadamian nut clusters that were delicious. I also love homemade sweetrolls, peanutbutter cookies, not so much a fan of sugar cookies, but love making them with the kids

10. Favorite Christmas songs? Silent Night, Away in a Manger (funny ones, Santa Baby & Hanukkah)

11. Travel at Christmas or stay home? It depends on why we are traveling... We were going to stay home this year, but Keith, Dewey's brother on his mission in Costa Rica will be calling so we will go over to Dewey's mom's house on Christmas Day!

12. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course... You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all... Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

13. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve, PAJAMAS, and the rest on Christmas Day (If Dewey had his way, we would have already opened all the gifts, and it is only Dec 9th!)

14. Hardest and Best thing about this time of the year? Hardest - not being with all the family; Best - Remembering and sharing the greatest gift given to all mankind, our Savior

15. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like just white, green, and red colors, but with kids we do anything NON-BREAKABLE!!!

16. Favorite for Christmas dinner? 'Them Good Potatoes' and Ham and Strawberry Jello and homemade rolls (and don't forget the peas)

17. What do you want for Christmas this year? To teach my children what the true meaning of Christmas is

18. What is the favorite thing you are planning to give this year? Don't tell Dewey... I am planning on, oh nevermind, he would probably read this just in case I told!!!

19. Your favorite Christmas elf or Secret Santa treat to give a neighbor? Oatmeal, peanutbetter, chocolate chip cookies!

20. White or green Christmas? Definitely a white Christmas, if it is going to be cold it should also have snow!!!

21. Favorite Christmas Movies? NOT A Christmas Story!!! Dewey loves that one, but I can't stand it!!! - I like White Christmas with Danny Kaye, All the Santa Clause movies, and if there is a good movie playing at the theater, sometimes we go to that!!

22. Angel or Star on top of the tree? I like the star on the top of the tree!

23. Do you like eggnog? YES, especially an eggnog milkshake

24. Hardest person to buy for? Normally, my daughter, but her gift this year just fell in my lap

25. Easiest person to buy for? THE BABY!


NOW copy the Christmas questions to your blog and fill them out! I tag anyone who has a blog and reads this!!! (If you want to play and don't have a blog, copy this and email it!!!)

The BEST Time of Year!

I just love this time of year! I love the decorations and presents and singing and music and food and celebrations. I was meant to have my birthday in December! I love being together as a family. I love seeing all the happiness and joy, and people giving to complete strangers and the kindness that falls all over the world. I remember hearing about soldiers in WWII on different sides of the trenches, who on Christmas, stopped the bombing and shooting, and played cards, exchanged mementos, and shared a cup of hot cider. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could find that kind of peace, everyday of the year? I love doing a Christmas in July drive of giving and sharing, and helping people remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas. Just recently, my oldest, Ben and I were talking about the Savior and we were using different words to describe Him. Two that we thought were very important (also from the Ensign's VT Message) are Jesus is the Light and the Life of the world. He the Light, who has shown us the path to follow in order to return to heaven. Elder Dallin H Oaks said, "His example and his teachings illuminate the path we should walk..." He is also the Life. His purpose for coming into the world was to save us all from sin and death. Because He died for each of us, we can be forgiven for our sins. And because He was resurrected, each of us will be resurrected and have eternal life! What more of a gift could we ask for? This holiday season, I urge us all to remember what the purpose of it is, and seek out a way it can be more meaningful to yourself and those around you. Share the true meaning of Christmas!

Thanksgiving at Gramma's House

We went to Gramma's house for Thanksgiving and took Craig and Holly geocaching....

Dewey looked for it, but Craig found it!!

She's Finally Done IT

JoE is especially fond of you, Rebecka! We need to have you around more often to keep it that way! She really likes books, singing, and playing with her brothers... And Rebecka likes books too, and playing the piano, and anything to do with Chemistry, and she has applied for MED School! Not to mention she is SINGLE... know any hot guys I can hook her up with????

Creating a Gingerbread House with Grannie & Pop

The day after Thanksgiving, Grannie, Pop & Rebecka came up to visit us. We made sweet rolls, dinner rolls, and a gingerbread house!! Well, I guess we just decorated the gingerbread house, but the kids still had a blast!