The Niven Clan

Merry Christmas from the Niven Family!

Riding the Frontrunner

The frontrunner train now runs I think from Ogden all the way to Provo. They have plans to go farther in the future.

Picture Credit: UTA

Bryan used to take the bus all the way to Salt Lake when he worked down at Apple in the Gateway Mall. I can't remember if it was called the express, but he didn't have any stops from Provo all the way to Gateway; it was all heated with nice cushioned seats, and it had free internet. He really enjoyed it. He thought it would be fun to ride on the frontrunner and I suggested we go see the lights at Temple Square. Bryan's parents and Jessica and Peter also wanted to do it so we decided to go together kind of last minute. By the time I got the kids ready to go and met Bryan and his family at the station in Provo, the train was pulling away :( Bryan waited for me and we took the next train to meet them downtown at the food court at City Creek. The boys had fun and it was neat to look out and see Christmas lights like the ones at Thanksgiving Point. I want to try it again sometime in the daytime so I can see out the window.

It was really cold, though, and we were trying to keep Aubrey warm and happy. Because I was in a hurry I didn't think to grab her snowsuit, although she had several layers, so Bryan put her in his coat. She wasn't too happy after a while and I tried to feed her in the tabernacle, but I don't know if she wasn't feeling well or what because she either spit up tons or threw up and wouldn't be consoled, and that's definitely not like Aubrey. She is usually always content and happy, and stops crying if someone holds her; so maybe she wasn't feeling well. It was embarrassing because I wasn't going to take her out in the cold, but I was trying to rock her and get her to stop crying in the tabernacle where everyone else was whispering and being quiet and the missionaries were trying to answer peoples' questions. My face was definitely red! This isn't my picture, but this shows people waiting for the train. After a certain time in the evening it doesn't come as often and we had to wait a good 30-40 minutes for the ride back. Thank goodness they had outdoor heaters! We learned what we need to plan for when we do it again. It was a lot of fun!

Aubrey at 3 Months

The months are flying by! In fact, one week from when I'm writing this Aubrey will actually be 4 months! Right on her three month birthday she rolled over from her tummy to her back! She still doesn't sleep through the night, but that's probably because she's still in our room. We need to clear out the third room of Bryan's office stuff and put her crib together soon!

Aubrey is such a ray of sunshine in our home!

Early December

Good morning sunshine!

Austin asked me to print out a picture of Spiderman's face and came up with the idea of making these masks on his own. Ethan wanted the black one to be different.

Half laughing-half crying. She wants out!

Yes, those are deer hanging out at the house next to my parent's house.

My cute niece Millie always asks to hold Aubrey.

One Sunday when we were over for dinner at Bryan's parent's house, we went downstairs to help decorate the tree. Notice who is decorating the tree.......

Much help we were! The boys were too distracted sliding on the slippery nice new floor and I was holding Aubrey. :)

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we had Thanksgiving at Bryan's parents. The first Thanksgiving in their new home! It ended up just being his parents and our family, as both Bryan's brothers are in the Navy: Brent was in training out East and Jason is in Afghanistan, and Jessica and Peter went to California to be with Peter's family. Barbara always makes everything look so nice. I always say she is like Martha Stewart, but nicer. :)

This wasn't Thanksgiving, but I just thought it was funny
that Austin fell asleep on the top of the couch.

One of these rolls is not like the other!
I caught Austin leaving the kitchen
with a guilty smile on his face. He totally
poked at this roll that was supposed
to be rising. That kid is a
mischievous one!

Lovely Thanksgiving table

Aubrey slept through the whole dinner, but
Austin made sure she wasn't forgotten and
put her name tag on her car seat :)

Relaxing after dinner in their cozy room. They
had their tree and lights up, but the tree
wasn't decorated yet.....I should have gotten
one with the pretty decorations at Christmas!

Thanksgiving was great and I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for my immediate family and extended family. They are everything to me. I am thankful for the Gospel and to be a member of Jesus Christ's church on earth. I am thankful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation.; that Jesus Christ, our eldest brother, came to earth and died for all mankind, that when we make mistakes we can repent and work towards being more like Him; that we have the chance to take the sacrament weekly and renew the covenants made at baptism and be forgiven daily for our sins. It is a plan of happiness, and if followed can bring greater joy than anything on earth. I am thankful to live in America and for the freedoms we enjoy. I am thankful for health, especially when I've been sick and get better again! I am thankful for a home to stay warm in and food to eat. I am thankful for life and for the lessons I learn as I grow older.

Lighting at the Riverwoods

We went to this a few years ago and it wasn't crowded like it was this year. This year it was packed! We thought it was cold, but now when I'm writing this it is really cold, like 1 degree!! It was fun seeing all the lights come on. They did a count down from 10. We avoided Santa because Austin was afraid to even see him. We went to Blickenstaff's toy store, watched the ice carvers, watched the horse-drawn carriage rides, which we didn't ride this year, but did a few years ago, which I posted back here. We also walked by the Provo Beach Resort which is crazy to see people in the window in their swimsuits boogie boarding and surfing when we are freezing outside in our coats.....I can't even imagine doing that in the winter!
Here's a few pics, but it was night time so my iPhone didn't get the best pictures.....