Christmas Eve

 Sometimes I worry my kids don't get it...what Christmas is really about. I want them to know. I NEED them to know. My heart aches sometimes when I know how bad they want things this time of year. But then I remember they are 4 & 6 years old...and most kids that age don't get it yet. I'm not sure I totally got it until I was about 21! Yes I knew what it was about...but didn't really understand the whole spirit of it.

We decided the Monday before Christmas to tackle teaching our children about the Atonement. And the gifts Christ has given us. Again, I was worried they wouldn't get it.

But they did!

And they were so sad for Jesus. And they were so grateful for the gifts he gave us. It was such a spiritual experience (and let me tell you...FHE usually is pretty far from it!) It was a really sweet experience and it was a good reminder for all of us that He really is our gift.

We usually go sledding Christmas Eve and do sugar cookies and hot cocoa, but we had no snow on Christmas eve! So we spent the day playing games and making snacks and decorating some cookies a friend brought us! We started a new tradition of getting a new board game to open too so we have something fun to do all day. This year we got Trouble and Tenzi from G&G Reed.

 For dinner we decided to do a fondue party! Carter really liked it...I think all Mollie ate for dinner was strawberries! We had cheese, marinara, and white chocolate sauce with all sorts of yummy things to dip in them! This may become a favorite tradition!

 After dinner we did the regular Christmas story, Christmas pajamas and Christmas movie.

 At 9PM sharp we all logged onto Skype with my brother in Romania! He comes home in April so we are all getting really excited! Its always so great to chat with my parents and siblings. We laughed, cried, shared testimonies and talked until the wee hours of the morning!

And here is the calm before the storm! Santa came!!
A nerf gun for Carter
A Doll for Mollie
A Swing for Brielle
And a slide for them all for the new (to us) playset we got in the summer!

Santa was especially good to me bringing me a new laptop (a total and complete surprise, but a much needed gift!) And Chad got a 2014 Fiesta Bowl BSU shirt and a giant flag to fly on game day. (Not sure how I feel about that yet!)

 

Every year I sit back and am amazed of how blessed we have been over the year. Although I know my biggest blessings aren't things, I always sit and ponder on the nice christmases we have had and I am so thankful that somehow every year we are able to do this for our family. We are so blessed! In spiritual matters as well as physical. I love my Savior and am so grateful for his gifts to me. I'm grateful for the peace he brings and the realization that I can live with him again. I know he lives! I look forward to the day of his coming again!

IT'S A....!!!!!!

Some background first....we knew we had another baby coming to this family. Right after I gave birth to Brielle I was ready for another baby. This one has been a long time coming! And I knew it wouldn't be long. We waited a long time to announce it because I've been feeling especially sensitive to peoples rude and judgmental comments. Since when is it ok to tell people how many kids you can have and how often?

 

After I had mollie I had a huge impression that a little boy was to come to our family. So when I felt like I had a handle on 2 kids we went for it and was surprised it was a girl! But we were excited for Mollie to have a sister. Something I always wanted!

 

But I knew we had to try again for that boy!

 The week of Christmas we decided to have an early ultrasound. I was confident it was a boy. My pregnancy was identical to when I was pregnant with carter. Minimal morning sickness and I didn't puke once! And the kids wanted a boy and often talked about their baby brother! At a doctor apt my doc said she though it was a boy but it still was a little to early to tell.  We were 99.9% it was a boy!

 The night we came home from the ultrasound I had the ultrasound tech package the picture in a box with a tag stating if it was a boy or girl. We wanted to open it as a gift on Christmas eve as a family. Well the paper slipped out and I saw it as I was moving the box to put under the tree! (Really it was an accident!)

I was SHOCKED to see pink! PINK?! REALLY? A GIRL?! I'll admit it, I cried for 5 minutes. But now I am happy and feeling much better about it. The kids were pretty devastated when we told them on Christmas eve....Carter especially. But I think we have all accepted it now.

 I feel discouraged mostly because I was sure this was our last and I had that strong impression that we had a boy coming. So who knows what the future will bring. For know we are embracing the PINK and I'm returning a lot of things that I already bought for a boy. Of our 4 children I have only guessed the gender of them once. And  it was mollie. So much for motherly instinct, right?! I guess I don't have it! There's one thing that makes me happy about all of this though...me and chad make seriously cute girls!!!! (and boys ;)

Crazy Elf

So I have to say it... I'm NOT a fan of "the elf." Sorry kids. I know you love it. Why add one more thing to the Christmas season to make my life crazy?! He has pulled me out of bed more times at 5AM than I have ever gotten up in the last 2 years!

 

But one night Chippy was feeling creative and decided to do a photo shoot while we slept.

 This was the kids favorite...GROSS!

 And these ones too. They were astonished at how Chippy got into bed with them.

I say it every year that I'm going to hide the elf for good next year...but somehow each year he ends up visiting our house. Who knows about next year. I have mixed emotions about it! And there's so much pinterest pressure! Whoever came up with the mischief part of things!? I would like to stomp on their foot, any who...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Temple Square part 2

 On our way home from Idaho we stopped in SLC for another quick visit to Temple Square. A lot of Chad's family came up to see the lights so we tagged along.

 Even though I've seen it many times, Somehow it is still magical and special every time.

 Loved this picture I captured of Chad & his dad,

 Cousins!

 3 generations. :)

 I truly lucked out by having these two as my in-laws. They are incredible and they do so much for us. They are leaving quite a legacy behind them and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Christmas visit to grandmas

 Oh how I love being home for the holidays!  I was sad this year when chad said he was on call for the week of Christmas. But we headed up the weekend before and my brother and his family got to come and visit from Moscow and so did my younger brother Jordan and his wife.

 Grandma was all prepped and ready to make gingerbread houses with the kids. Quite a task for 5 kids under the age of 6!

 Brielle is starting to warm up to the grandparents and she will be taking off walking any day now!

 These two were ecstatic one night when they came out of their rooms dressed totally the same! They thought that was pretty cool!

 Miss Brielle got several dresses for her birthday and here she is sporting one grandma bought her!

 These two took turns crawling on top of each other and pulling on each other. They are 6 months apart but Ty is going to catch her very soon!

We had such a good time and were glad that my grandparents were able to be there and share this special time with us. I sure love seeing them! But I didn't get a single picture of them! I think my mom got some! This sure set the stage for the Christmas spirit!

School Parties

 After Brielles birthday was over, Christmas was in full swing! Mollie first had her preschool party. Here she is rolling out some dough for a gingerbread man.

And here's the group having a snack.

 We read Christmas stories and sang songs until santa arrived!

 This is the first year mollie would get close to santa. She took it very seriously! I was proud of her for sitting on his lap this year. (Carter wouldn't get close to him this year at all, although he had no problem last year!)

 Brielle wasn't too sure about it either.

 I was asked to help with carter's school party too so I had to come up with a few activities. I made this snowball toss (thanks pinterest!

 

 

And then we made some snowmen!

 This ended up being a hit which I was really grateful for since I was stressing at the last minute on what I should do!

Sure is fun to see kids so excited at Christmas time! It helps me be excited at Christmas time!

Brielles 1st birthday!

 This last year has gone by unbelievably fast! My baby is ONE!! She was a pretty happy little trooper and she loved pushing this little toy around the kitchen to start off her morning. Walking is just around the corner!!

 She wasn't too sure about all the presents. Who wouldn't want a pile of presents taller than you!?

 Giving Minnie kisses

 Getting a few pictures before diving into the cake!

 I could NOT wait to see this little gal dive into her cake. She loves food and she LOVES sweet things. So I knew she would not hesitate at all to get some cake in her tummy.

 And dive in she did! She was a pink and purple mess and she loved every second of it until her hands got to messy to grab anymore cake.

 Then she was done and didn't want anything else to do with it!

 

And as always you have to have your 1 year baby check up. She had 6 shots! poor baby! She is still about 80th for weight, 30th for height and 8% for head. Short, fat, and big headed!

Sure love you little Bri. This last year has brought me so much joy! You are growing into such a beautiful girl and we all love you so much. You're excitement and laugh is contagious and I hope you will always bring happiness to our family. You are the sweetest thing ever and we all can't get enough of you! Much love baby girl!