Kicking off the Christmas Season

We were all anxious to get home from our Thanksgiving trip to get our own festivities underway! Its so fun creating our own traditions and seeing the magic of the season through our childrens eyes. 

This is the first year Brielle was really into "helping" with the tree. Lets just say I'm glad I have unbreakable ornaments! Rylee even got in on it a little bit!

 I love how our tree turned out this year! Each year it looks a little better...so maybe one year it will look exactly how I want!

 We went to the Santa parade where we got loads of candy and saw Santa.

 One of my favorite new things we did was visit a live nativity. I was instantly overwhelmed with the spirit as we sat in the freezing cold and listened to the story of the nativity and looked at the live actors. There was a luminary walk and free hot cocoa, a camel and animals you could pet. It was a really neat experience and one that I think we will do every year. There was even a spot to dress up as the characters. Mollie didnt want to dress up but was dying to hold baby Jesus.

Another new thing we got to experience was Carters 1st grade Christmas program. He had 1 line to memorize and he nailed it and did so great. They sang about 15 songs and it was so fun to watch. 

 And I think he's pretty darn handsome in those reindeer antlers!

 There's the whole 1st grade! What a chore to get this organized but it sure was nice!

We also made some neighbor gifts and got to help Chad make fruit baskets for his mutual activity to give to the elderly. It's funny how as you get older its more about giving and less about receiving. That makes it christmas for me.

Thanks Giving

I was excited to get back home for thanksgiving dinner at my parents house complete with lasagna that I attempted to make this year. Here is Bri trying to be patient waiting.

 The spread....oh how I love that we have a holiday about eating lots! (and being thankful of course!) I ate as much as I wanted this year and didn't even feel guilty.

 Most of the people...missing Chad and Brielle and Dad. My 2 brothers Adam and Jordan got to be there too.

 It's not Thanksgiving if someone's kid doesn't have olives on their fingers!

 That night an epic snow storm hit Rupert and since the wind always blows there it of course made 2 foot drifts behind the cars. Jordan and Adam were both leaving that morning so me and Jordan spent our morning shoveling snow. Adam was going to propose to his girlfriend on Thanksgiving day so it was kinda important that he could get out!

 The kids were excited to play in the snow drifts but it was so cold they didn't last long.

It's become a tradition to do gingerbread houses at grandmas when we can so the kids were excited for that.

 This snowman my brothers built and he was once standing up straight. Every day his nose got lower and lower to the ground. It was so funny to watch and it defied the laws of physics!

We then went to Chads parents for the rest of the weekend and had a nice time there. With no snow. Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!

Basketball (FINALLY!)

Carter's been begging for several years now to play basketball and his time finally came! These are a few pictures from his first game. It was so cute to watch him play defense with his arms up and chase around his guy! Man he's getting big and I would be thrilled to death if he chose basketball as his sport of choice!

 The line up so they know who to guard.

 Playing the D! (there in the middle!)

Oh this girl!

 Brielle's goal in life is it be our most expensive baby! One night while we were skyping with my parents Brielle ran away and the older two went to go get her. She didn't want to come so they were both grabbing her arms and pulling and dragging her to come back and talk. All of a sudden she started screaming really loud and Chad took her upstairs. I kept talking with my parents until the kids called me up because Bri hadn't stopped crying. She wouldn't move her arm and just was holding it and saying owie. We sent our kids to the neighbors house and loaded her up in the car to head to insta care. I JUST had sent her last check to Primary Childrens 1 week before....This is how it always goes! I thought it was maybe broken.

The docs at the insta care didn't seem to confident in fixing it and warned us we might have to go to the ER. (please no!) They x rayed it first before trying anything to make sure it wasn't broken. She screamed super loud. All of a sudden she stopped. And when they came out of the room she was moving it all around with no problems. The xray tech must have popped it back in while moving it around taking shots.  Your elbow can partially dislocate and its called nurse maids elbow.


Fast forward 1 week and its PJ time and I'm trying to get Bri in jammies. Chad is gone at a Jazz game and I'm juggling all 4 kids at bed time. Brielle gets up to run and instinctively I reach out and grab her arm...POP! I knew immediately what was wrong. Again the kids went to the neighbors and I went to a different doc who runs a PM pediatrics. A LIFE SAVER!

They were really great with her and popped it back in in seconds. No x rays, no questions, and they gave her some ibuprofen immediately and a little sling to help stablalize and strengthen her elbow.

 I sure felt awful but in no time she was smiling and happy again. Of course it all happened right before we were to head to Idaho for Thanksgiving.

 

We made it to my parents and she wore the sling more like a cape most of the time but I kept it on her to help remind us not to pull on her arms. Its amazing how much you do pull on your kids arms without realizing it...helping them up the stairs, pulling them up after a diaper change, picking them up, catching them when they run away! So many times in the day but I had to quickly break the habit.

The doctor told me once it happens it is more likely to happen again so its important it gets some rest and get strong again. So we have been trying to be really careful with her. I don't want to go through that again! She sure is a tough little turkey but man has she grown to hate doctors! She's seen quite a few in traumatic circumstances in her short life. Poor sweet thing!

 

First snow

Another fun first for Brielle was playing in the snow! She begs every day to go play in the "know." She doesn't mind being cold and did NOT want to come in.

 This winter has not disappointed in the snow storms... the first one dumped 10 inches in a few hours! It was crazy and good packing snow. A few weeks later we will have a 16 in storm! We have had a lot to play in, that's for sure!

We took a time out from chores and homework one day and went and built a snow man. They of course named him frost and the weather was so pleasant we soon stripped our coats off and just played in the sunshine and snow.

 Cheap labor! I really look forward to the day when I can send him out to clear the walks so I don't have to do it when Chad's already at work! He thought this was a blast!

I think it's safe to say we will have a white Christmas unless we get a major heat wave! All this snow has sparked an interest for snowboarding in Carter and it has made me want to get back on the slopes too! Its been so long I hope I can go some day and still be able to do it!!

Big girl bed and first ponytail

Brielle has hit a few important milestones this month! She started sleeping in her big girl bed and she had no problems at all! She goes right to sleep and has only emptied a few drawers once. She's been our easiest child who made this adjustment so far. The goal is to move her to Mollies room soon and Rylee into the crib. I need my room back!

Her hair is also finally long enough to do a ponytail! YAY! I love it and its so cute.

Our little Brielle is full of spunk and opinion. She is growing and learning so much and its so fun to watch her learn and grow in her little environment. She's sweet and sassy and our world revolves around her! We sure love her!

Chad's 32!

Happy Birthday to this wonderful man who makes me want to be better every day and who is the best dad anyone could ask for.  We all were excited to shower him with gifts and celebrate him!

 This movie Rad is something he grew up watching and I finally found it on Ebay. He was pretty excited to pop it in and watch it.

 And it wouldn't be Chads birthday if he didn't get some BSU swag.

 For dinner he requested homemade alfredo which turned out incredible! But how could it not be yummy with heavy cream and lots of cheese and butter! I also made some homemade pizza factory style breadsticks.

 As if we hadn't already had enough bad food for us the party continued into the night celebrating with the Eash family eating brownie trifle and playing games! He sure is handsome!

Happy birthday mister! I hope this next year brings you lots of peace and joy. I sure love you and am grateful for all that you are. LOVE YOU!