Christmas Eve

 Okay, so these first few pictures are on the 23rd. Grant has become a dancing animal! He loves to rock out to music.

 On Christmas Eve I took pictures of Grant just like I did with Brooke and Porter. All my kids have pictures in front of the tree with these bells. Really, the bells are just so they be preoccupied enough to sit still for a picture. Not Grant! He had so much fun launching the bells across the room!

 Look how happy he is after he threw the bell across the room!

 The kids get new jammies on Christmas Eve. This year, I made each child their pajama bottoms. It was a really fun project for me to do. They also got to open a tin full of popcorn and new Christmas movie (The Santa Clause) to watch. We also read the nativity story in Luke 2, watched some of the short videos about Christ and Christmas on Mormon.org and sang Silent Night.

 Then it was off to bed and mom and dad (Santa) got to work!

Merry Christmas 2015!

 Another year has come and gone and as I sit here reflecting upon it, I cannot help but be overcome with so many bittersweet memories. Yes, that is a good word to describe 2015: bittersweet. My children are getting older and even though I love watching them grow and experience life, it tugs at my heartstrings too. My baby, who was 2 months old at the beginning of 2015, is now 14 months! My children will grow and I will miss so many things about their little personalities, funny things they say and do, willing snuggles with mom and dad, reading books and fighting for space on mom and dad's laps, and fun games of hide and seek, Candyland, and wresting with dad. I know I know am talking as if they are all moving out on their own tomorrow. I know we still have time to enjoy all of these things, but the passage of time goes by so quickly it seems. This is just a reminder to myself that I need to stop and enjoy it more. I need to enjoy wonderful, crazy, chaotic, frustrating, but oh so fun time with my little kids. I have always heard the older and wiser moms and dads tell me that childhood goes too quickly. They are usually telling me this as I'm fighting with a cranky baby who is crying in my arms or throwing a tantrum on the floor. I always thought "yeah right" or "well, can it go faster?" But this year especially I am seeing just how fast the time goes. That is not to say that I am not looking forward to our next stage of life. I am. But my goal in 2016 is to enjoy the little moments with my family. I want to squeeze every last drop I have with my youngest, my baby, before he grows into a toddler and the baby years have left our house forever. I want to play with my middle child, my boy, and be more willing to get on the floor, get dirty outside, and just snuggle up and watch a movie before he goes off to school in another year. I want to listen more to my eldest, my precious girl, as she tells me about school, about her friends and her stories before she decides that she's too grown up to do those things.

Family pictures are so precious to me. They capture a moment in time that we can never get back. We may not be all looking at the camera or smiling, but I will look at these think "yep, that is when Porter was learning how to smile." or "I remember that Brooke was so cold during this photoshoot!"

Happy 7th Birthday, Brooke!

Dear Brooke,
Dad and I cannot believe you are 7 years old! It seems like just yesterday we were at the hospital on that cold and snowy December 17 so excited for your arrival. You worried us during the toddler years with all your tantrums, screaming, and crying, but we are so pleased with the girl you are becoming. We love that you enjoy helping with your little brothers and are always making sure they are safe and doing what's right. We especially love that you and Porter are becoming such good friends. It's so fun for Dad and I to listen to you two using your imaginations and playing together. You are so imaginative! You are always pretending and dreaming up new scenarios for you and your friends to act out. You are also very kind and considerate. We love your homemade notes and offers to help out around the house. I especially love how willing you are to help me when I am busy with your brothers. We love that you are social. You never have any problems making friends or meeting new people. We hope you never lose this trait. We are so pleased at how hard you are working in school and what a good little artist and singer you are becoming. You are my precious girl and I'm so glad Heavenly Father sent you to me. I love being your mom!
 Love,
Mom & Dad

That morning, as soon as she woke up and found me downstairs, she said, "Aren't you going to say Happy Birthday to the birthday girl?" She didn't even give me a second to say it first! She was super excited this year.Brooke's birthday was on a Thursday and she was so surprised when she got home from school to see the house decorated just for her. It was a family party year and she requested to have pepperoni pizza for dinner.

 I have never made Brooke's birthday cake before. She requested that this year she'd like a star cake. I figured I could handle that.

 Before you can open a present, you have to make a wish for the person who gave you the present. "Heavy, heavy hangover. Thy poor head. What do you wish this person with a bump on your head?"

 Brooke is such a fun mix of girly girl and tom boy. She loves to dress up, sing along with the Disney movies, paint her nails and is desperate to get to wear makeup. But she can also go camping, hunting, and ice fishing with her dad.

 Happy Birthday Brooke!

December Part 2

  December is always a fun, crazy, and hectic month. This year was no different. I took advantage of every opportunity I had with the older two kids gone to shop for Christmas and wrap presents. Grant was my little sidekick for most of it. He loved playing with this box. Funny enough, it's actually a present for him!

 Grant gets jealous of the older two getting to go outside.

 On December 12 we traveled out to Blake's extended family Christmas party. We always do The Nativity and this year we were short on kids willing to participate. Brooke wanted to be in it but Porter was too busy playing with toys in the nursery and Grant wouldn't hold still long enough.

 We are not Star Wars fans at our house but this "robot" we got in a box of cereal has been Porter's favorite toy. One day he couldn't find it and was so upset. After tearing apart the house, he says "Oh yeah! I remember where it is!" I laughed and laughed when he showed me where it was.

 On December 16 the entire first grade did a performance of The Nutcracker. 125 first grade students acted and danced. It was so cute and very well done. Brooke was a party girl and had a blast performing.

 Random pictures of Grant getting into mischief

 The first day of Christmas break we made gingerbread houses. The kids loved it and I love that they are getting older and don't need as much help from mom. I love seeing what they can come up with.

 As the Christmas season is upon us, I always worry that my kids will miss the true meaning for the season. I want the season to be magical for them & to enjoy all the fun festivities, but I also want them to recognize that it's bigger than Santa and bigger than presents. It's hard at their ages, I know, but this year I really felt like Brooke was starting to understand why we celebrate. Last night during family home evening, we watched a short video portraying The Nativity. I was so touched when Brooke asked if she could watch it again. I have been touched several times this season as the Spirit as helped me to understand that I don't have to run myself ragged trying to give them a perfect holiday, instead focusing more on the aspect of "being still" and taking advantage of the comfort only The Prince of Peace can bring . I especially loved the lesson in a story I read called "The Christmas Apron" In it, the main character reflects that you can't find the spirit of Christmas "around you", it's what's in our hearts. I took this to mean that I will feel the Christmas Spirit stronger, and all year round, if I focus on having a closer relationship with my Savior. I hope to put my thoughts into actions this next year.