Merry & Bright {Christmas 2013}

Brooke was bundle of excitement this year on Christmas Eve. She could hardly wait until bedtime and her energy and nonstop chatter tested my patience big time. I tried to keep the kids happy and busy and the house clean until it was time for dinner with Honey and Pinch--which was no easy feat! One of our activities was making sugar cookies for Santa.

 Christmas Eve dinner was short and sweet and delicious. No pictures were taken, but much food was ingested and we came home before the kids started to melt down which is always a big win. Upon arriving home we watched a video portraying the Nativity. Then, as it was time to get ready for bed the kids got to open new pajamas.

  I even got some too!

 After the kids were in bed, Blake and I went to work. After it was all done, we just sat on the couch and enjoyed the atmosphere. All the preparations were done, we were ready, and it was so nice to just relax before the big day.

 Brooke is an early riser. We told her that when she woke up that she needed to stay in her room until we came and got her.

The morning went relatively smooth. Mr. P had two timeouts because he'd adopted the "what's yours is mine" mentality and kept trying to take everyone's presents. Porter loved to sit in my lap and help unwrap presents and he'd go "ooh" over everything.

 Brooke "bought" presents for Blake and Porter and she was so excited to give them. Hopefully this is the start of the idea that Christmas is more about giving to others.

We've made a tradition of having Honey and Pinch over for Christmas breakfast. They brought the kids some fun gifts and movies. Porter got his very first camo outfit complete with an orange beanie. Blake wasted no time changing Porter into it.

Brooke and Honey talking about life.

This is our awesome birdhouse that Blake's dad made for our family. Everything is handmade and many hours were spent putting this together for us. We love it! Brooke can hardly wait to put it outside.

After we cleaned up from the morning we went sledding. This time, instead of Pinch's field we went up on the mountain. We found a road that isn't plowed, but has been snow-packed from all the snowmobiles. We hooked the sled onto Blake's four-wheeler and away we went for miles and miles! Porter road with Blake while Brooke and I road in the sled. It was a beautiful day and fun to be outside together.

One last ride with Dad before heading home

After sledding, we came home and ate lunch. Blake went out to do a little hunting (he ended up shooting a cow elk) while the kids and I relaxed at home.

*All Christmas Day Brooke kept asking for more "beef stroganoff". She meant egg nog.
*During the prayer for breakfast Christmas morning Brooke said, "...and I hope Heavenly Father has a good birthday today" She meant Jesus, but it make Blake and I smile. Some of our talks this past week have started to sink in, I think.
*This Christmas I really wanted my testimony of our Savior and his birth to grow. I had several special experiences through music and the testimonies of others to have that happen. I could identify with the angel proclaiming tidings of great joy and the shepherds seeking out a babe lying in a manager. It had happened! The time was finally here! A Savior for the world had been born. We celebrate him and my love for this season and it's true meaning has been magnified. I am grateful for the experience I had and for the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas to All!

Winter Wonderland

When family comes out to stay, we all decide to play! --In the snow, that is. We started our Christmas break off with a visit from the F. family. Saturday morning we donned all our snow gear and went outside to enjoy this winter wonderland of ours. Porter really liked the snow this time and was more upset that he couldn't go and do what the big kids were doing. In fact, he was not happy at all when I finally decided we needed to go inside.

Brooke and cousin A.

Snow angels

Porter had his eye on Pinch and the tractor the whole time. He was thrilled when Pinch stopped by to pick him up for a ride.

Brooke and A. being pulled by the four-wheeler in the field. That's the best way to go sledding!

Cousins K. and A. on the four-wheeler; Uncle K. and Brooke are being pulled behind

Now it's our turn

Honey and Porter on the four-wheeler

After we were chilled to the bone it was time to come inside to get warm. We made gingerbread houses in the afternoon

That night, the real fun started. Brooke got to have her very first sleepover with the cousins. (Something she'd only heard about and has been begging to experience). Brooke couldn't wait for Mom and Dad to go home so she could be apart of a real sleepover. The girls watched movies and slept together on the floor.

Thanks girls for letting Brooke be part of your sleepover!

It was fun to think about how Brooke is getting older now and these are the memories she'll have of what Christmas was like as a child. I'm so glad cousins, sleepovers at Honey and Pinch's with the girls, and sledding in the field will be part of those memories.

Friday afternoon I took Brooke around to deliver a small treat to the kids in her primary class. At first Brooke was sad that we weren't saving any of the treats for her. Then, as we got going, Brooke was so excited to go to the next house and personally hand over the treats. She told me, "Mom, I have a happy feeling doing this!"

Merry Christmas!

Birthday Girl {The Celebrations}

This lucky girl got to have two birthday celebrations. On the 17th (her actual birthday) Blake wasn't going to be around in the evening so we decided to postpone the celebration until the 18th. Instead, Brooke and Porter spent the day with Honey and Pinch. They started the day by going for a swim in the bathtub

and then getting ready for the day

Then it was off on a walk

Where Brooke did some exploring and found treasures

We had dinner with Honey and Pinch that night too. Brooke was a little distraught that she wasn't going to be able to open any presents until the next day, so Honey saved the day by letting her open some new pajamas. If you know Brooke, you know that she LOVES PJs. So it was no surprise that Brooke was jumping up and down, running around the house in excitement over new, "Frozen" pajamas.

Then the day Brooke had been waiting for arrived. We brought treats to preschool on the 18th and Brooke told me she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake cake.

 Brooke told me she wanted hamburgers for her special birthday dinner. I  made homemade patties and Blake brushed the snow off the grill to cook them. Usually a very picky eater, Brooke ate her entire hamburger and some watermelon. Then it was time for presents.

she got a cupboard to keep her dolls and accessories. She also got some new doll clothes

a new church dress and shoes

the rapunzle doll

Dad was so excited to give Brooke a sled

The kids wasted no time trying it out

Porter might've loved it a little more than Brooke

Happy Birthday Brooke! We love you!