Christmas Letter 2008 and December Activities

It seems like the years just keep passing by faster and faster. Here we are with another one almost gone. We have had a great year with many blessings!

Riley James was born on April 27^th which now makes him almost 8 months old! He is scooting backwards on his tummy almost crawling but just a little too chubby yet. He loves playing with his big brother. Gavin and Riley jump on the bed together and love splashing in the bath tub.

Gavin turned 3 years old in August and is now potty trained! We never thought the day would come! He is really into animals right now and as always his favorite toys are his cars. We love to hear the new words and phrases he comes up with. Gavin looks forward to story time each week at the library.

Jill started teaching piano and sewing this year and really enjoys it a few hours a week. She also plays piano at church for the primary and is working on writing a couple of her own pieces. Other than that she has just been working on decorating our home and keeping the boys busy with activities in the community and neighborhood.

Cory is still working with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and enjoys it very much. He is now working at one of the downtown locations. Cory serves as the 2^nd counselor in the Young Men’s presidency and participates in their weekly activities and campouts. He is also always keeping busy with projects on the house. Most recently he and a friend put in more outlets in the kitchen and two new lights in the living room. It was a complete surprise to Jill and she loves it!

As a new family we are starting new traditions. This year we’ll read The Polar Express together on Christmas Eve for the first time. Maybe this will be a tradition we continue every year. We love this book because it’s all about believing in Christmas. This year we did a lot to celebrate the season. Our favorite activity was visiting Temple Square to see the lights and the nativity. It was beautiful. I think our favorite part of it all was seeing the Resurrected Christ statue. Being in that room gives you a feeling of peace and hope. Christ brings these into our lives in a way no other can. May we remember his birth, his life, and his sacrifice for all of us, which brings us Peace and Hope.

With Love and Christmas Wishes,

Cory, Jill, Gavin and Riley

Mommy and Riley out in the cold at Temple Square


Gavin and Daddy in front of the lights



Gavin and Mommy in front of the lights


Riley was all bundled up with just his little eyes peering out to see the lights


The kids got to see Santa and Mrs. Clause at the library


Gavin on Santa's lap at the Morley Extended Family Christmas Party


Riley was not as excited to see Santa.


Cory with the boys and his prize winning gingerbread train


Mommy and Gavin made a gingerbread house together. It collapsed right after this picture was taken.

Hand-made Turkeys

For family night we made turkeys. Gavin colored about a half dozen turkeys, as wells as Riles. We gave Riley his and he just ate the paper. We have many thanks to give during this time of year. gobble. gobble.

Twilight-Birthday

For my birthday I went out to dinner and a movie with my good friend Kari Dickinson. It was such a blast. Twilight was even better than I thought it would be. I am not a book reader but I was totally hooked to this series. It was nice to have a night out with the girls. Cory watched the kids while I was out and today he watched them so I could have a nap. What a great guy. I couldn't have asked for anything more on my 28th birthday. Thanks Kari and Cory. Thanks to everyone who called to wish me a happy birthday too. I felt so loved.

100 Months

Today we celebrate 100 months of marriage. So we thought we would list 100 things that have happened to us in that time.

1. got married in the temple in Idaho Falls, Idaho
2. cory graduated college from BYU-Idaho
3. jill graduated college from ByU-Idaho
4. bought a house in North Salt Lake
5. played in the leaves with the kids
6. went to Disneyland
7. lived in Rexburg, Idaho
8. lived in Merced, California
9. lived in West Jordan, Utah
10. lived in South Jordan, Utah
11. lived in North Salt Lake, Utah
12. moved 9 times
13. went hiking at Elephant Rock in the fall
14. hiked Timpanogos-Cory made it to the shed with Ryan
15. spent our honeymoon at a cabin in the woods
16. Ate the wedding cake on our honeymoon
17. went to 7 peaks
18. went to lagoon a few times
19. Jill got pregnant with baby #1
20. Gavin Wade Morley was born August 11, 2005
21. Jill got pregnant with baby #2
22. Riley James Morley was born April 27, 2008
23. Jill gained 60 pounds with the first baby
24. Jill gained 40 pounds with the second baby
25. Painted the house
26. Tore out the kitchen and put in cabinets and tile
27. In the first year we replaced the furnace and the roof
28. Jill was an assistant manager
29. Cory shaved his head
30. Jill got a cat named Carter and he died
31. Cory was on the honor roll in college
32. Jill cut Cory's hair
33. Celebrated our 7th year of marriage on 07/07/07
34. Got a free dinner
35. went to New York City for graduation
36. Jill worked for Jetblue doing reservations
37. Cory started a BLOG
38. Cory changed a diaper
39. Jill joined facebook
40. Jill hurt her back lifting something the wrong way
41. Jill read Twilight
42. Cory did a puzzle
43. We laid sod in the backyard
44. Cory cut down a tree
45. We started our first garden-almost everything survived
46. We carved pumpkins from our garden
47. Cory went to the dentist
48. Jill ate cheesecake
49. Jill got an elliptical
50. Jill watched Alias on Sunday
51. Jill planned two family reunions
52. Visited Island Park, Idaho
53. Went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
54. Cory registered to vote and voted
55. We went to a pumpkin patch
56. We take the kids for walks all summer long
57. Went on a bike ride with Gavin
58. Cleaned up throw up
59. Gavin peed on Jill when Cory said "ready, aim, fire"
60. Went to Las Vegas
61. Went to the M&M factory
62. watched Napoleon Dynamite
63. went camping
64. Cory became 2nd counselor in Young Men's
65. Jill teaches piano
66. Jill learned her favorite classic "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano-play it at my funeral
67. Jill plays piano for primary
68. Cory came up with the best budgeting system ever
69. Paid off debt
70. Lived within our means
71. Ate at The Roof restaurant
72. Jill taught sewing
73. Jill made homemade tortillas and they didn't turn out but it was fun
74. Jill made homemade noodles-more work than it is worth
75. Jill cut her hair
76. Cory read the Book of Mormon in two months
77. Jill got new glasses-purple ones
78. Jill highlighted her hair
79. Cory dyed his hair auburn
80. We went to 3 Doors Down and Lifehouse concert together
81. Jill went to the Forgotten Carols with Michael McLane
82. Jill saw Jim Brickman in concert
83. We went Christmas shopping together
84. Cory bought Jill a bracelet
85. Cory writes lyrics
86. We went to an arena football game
87. We slept in a tent in our backyard
88. We went rollerblading together
89. We went to the beach
90. Jill flew for the first time
91. We took Gavin to the zoo in San Diego and Hogle Zoo
92. We went to a swing dance
93. Jill went to Nebraska with Gavin twice
94. We went to 6 Flags Theme Park
95. We got stuck in San Francisco overnight
96. Jill lost the keys
97. Cory went to a Foo Fighter's concert for his birthday in Vegas
98. We saw the Statue of Liberty
99. Jill learned how to do genealogy
100. Cory got a ticket

Cute Costumes

This year Gavin was a ladybug and Riley a pumpkin. Check out these cute pictures.






































We made pumpkin cookies and did storytime at the library in costume. Then we went trick-or-treating together. We were surprised at the amount of energy Gavin had because we were out for like 2 hours walking the entire time even through the rain. Candy is always a good motivator.

PUMPKIN HEADS

We had a great time carving pumpkins. I didn't put the pumpkin on my head for a reason. Don't they look rediculous? It was so funny.

Here is a Picture of One of My Sewing Students

She made a fabric journal. We have a great time sewing together.

MAKING COSTUMES

I had a great time making costumes for some people this year and made some green in the process which makes it even better. The first costume is of a pilgrim and the second is of Marie Antoinette. Along the with Marie Antoinette dress this little girl will have a 1 foot tall blonde wig and a fluffy fan. Pretty cool I thought. I love sewing and it was a good opportunity to make them. Check out how they turned out. Still have to make Gavin's ManBug costume today.

Had a Blast at BOONDOCKS

Enterprise treated us to a fun night at Boondocks Fun Center last night. We all had a great time together. Gavin really liked the arcade game where you take a bat and hit the wiesel's (spelling?) that pop up-you know the tune pop goes the wiesel. He used almost all of our coins on that. As soon as he figured out how to put the coin in and do it himself he wouldn't stop until we were out. Funny. We spent almost all of our time outside on this blowup slide. We almost had the place to ourselves since it was so cold. Here are some pictures of some of the things we did.

GAVIN WADE

Gavin is into the hiding game again because we are starting to play peek a boo with Riley. He likes to hide in the blankets.


Gavin isn't sure what he wants to be for Halloween yet. Yesterday he said he wanted to be a butterfly or a ladybug. Well hmm. Not sure how to react to that one. We're kind of hoping that he changes his mind again. Here is the elephant costume we already got for him. Should have tried it on first because it is too small. Cute anyway.

Riley James Growing Up

Riley sitting

Riley standing

Riley tummy time

BROTHERS

FOO FIGHTERS

Cory and Paul went to the Foo Fighters Concert last week in Vegas and had a great time. The group is planning on taking a break after this tour, so this may have been the last chance for him to see them live.

Kaylee's Blessing

Today was the blessing for our niece Kaylee Laura Muir. Her blessing dress was adorable and the blessing was just perfect. Here are some pictures of the family at the luncheon.

9.11

SILHOUETTE

Like an earthquake, all the

sudden, everything came crumbling down

without warning, confused and without communication

only speculation, bracing for the big tremor,

expecting the worst

The rubble still there, not much has been

done in the last few days

finally the dust clears.

I crawled out of my room, thinking, feeling…

not wanting to proceed

this tree stricken with emotion

the knots seemed old and frayed

there off in the distance

a faint silhouette

my vision blurred

I see you there beautiful and peaceful

I give you a present, you open it; empty

as hard as I try, I cannot stop the fire

in one hand…petals. Wilted, damaged on the stem

hoping the last leaves don’t fall

the other, two magnets, once tight as glue

appeared as someone pulled them apart

Uninspired I am, because I can’t express

I want to move forward

no matter what

emptiness I feel…,

my heart won’t mend

Sewing Class

Starting in September I am starting up monthly Beginning and Intermediate sewing classes for girls ages 9-13. I've been spending time working on preparations the last couple of weeks. Projects I will teach include: Drawstring Bag, Fabric Journal, Pillowcase, Fleece Scarves & hats, Scrunchies, Pajama pants, and Aprons. I'm really excited and hope there is a good turn out.

GAVIN'S 3RD BIRTHDAY!

Gavin had a great birthday. I made him mini pancakes for breakfast with peanut butter and syrup, macaroni & cheese for lunch and we took him to MacDonald's for dinner for chicken nuggets-all his favorites. All of his presents were car related and he is just in heaven. His favorite gift was from the Cars movie. He got Mack and three cool cars that go inside; Snot Rod, Boost and Wingo. Here are some pics of the day.