Enjoying each moment.....

Holy Moly! This month is just zipping by. I feel like I'm running around going 90 mph trying to get everything done! It has been one exhausting week....physically and emotionally. Hearing about the horrific events that took place in Connecticut really hit me hard. I have had a hard time sleeping, I can't stop thinking about if something like that happened to my kindergartner...or any of my children for that matter.

Events like this make me thankful for the gospel in my life. I'm scared about the world that my kids will grow up in. As much as I want to shelter them and protect them I know that these are the things that we have been warned about. I know that I can do all I can do and create a Christ centered home...a refuge from the world. My heart goes out to those sweet innocent children and those heroic teachers. I'm reminded yet again that each day should be a treasured gift with the ones we love.

This week was a crazy one. We got our neighbor gifts out. We wrapped up some chocolate and put a cute tag on them. I made the boys wear Santa hats and Landon wore some Rudolf ears. They looked SO cute! Dallin was NOT liking it at all. Hehe. I'm just the meanest mom in the world. The boys delivered the gifts and wished everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Wednesday the kids had their Christmas sing-a-long. I was very proud of my boys. We also decorated tree boughs which was really neat. The gym smelled of fresh pine trees....such a wonderful smell. One of these years we'll get a real tree again...brings back so many memories!

There were SO many people in the gym....a little sister wasn't liking all of the noise so she snuggled up to her daddy.

 Parker had his last game of the fall season. His team has played SO well....we've decided to have the team play up a grade level starting in January. These 2md graders are pretty incredible! We're excited to see them actually face some decent teams. Parker made a buzzer beater 3 pointer at the end of his game on Saturday. I was screaming like a crazy lady! SO much fun!

Landon loves to play with his twin friends Brigham and Brighton on the sidelines during the games.

 I simply adore watching these 2 coach our kids. They take the role very seriously. They sure love these kids and it will be fun to watch them continue next season. Or I guess the next 2 seasons! This is some serious commitment I tell ya!

 EE came up this weekend. She came to the game and wanted to be here for Parker's birthday!

Parker's birthday party was on Saturday. He wanted to be just like Dallin and go bowling.

Can't believe that my boy is 8. A post for him tomorrow.......

Sleeping in heavenly peace

Here is my sweet naked baby, (well, with a diaper on), wrapped in the softest blanket ever, made with love from her Great Grandma EE.

My sweet girl is growing so quickly. Her beauty amazes me on a daily basis. Her sweet pouty lips, soft skin, and long eyelashes just captivate me. I could stare at her forever.

There have been so many times where I just watch her sleep, dance with her in my arms and breathe in her sweet smells. I wish I could stop time.

People always told me there there was something special about little girls. I never believed them. I always thought that babies were babies. They are all sweet but now I know. It is a sweetness that can't even be put into words.

This little girl has changed me. She has changed this family. She is my miracle.

UGLY SWEATER time!!!

We've lived in Idaho Falls now for 2 and a half years now. It is hard to believe sometimes. This year we wanted to throw an ugly sweater party like we used to do back in the Boise days. We decided to invite some of our favorite people that we have met since moving here. We had friends from church, friends from sports, Nate's family, friends that used to be in our ward and have now moved and even some friends that USED to be our neighbors back in Boise who have since moved here! Unfortunately a few couples couldn't make it but we still had almost 20 people come! It was a sweet meshing of people and we all had a fabulous evening. 

We had a chocolate fountain, yummy treats, crazy music, HIDEOUS sweaters, ridiculous white elephant gifts, and OVER THE TOP games! It was one of my all time favorite moments since we moved here...I haven't laughed this hard in a VERY. LONG. TIME.

 

I'm so grateful for great friends which have become the family that we have needed over here. 

Throwing a crazy party....that's how I say thanks for all they do for me. 

☺  

Christmas fun

Sugar cookies,

Christmas outfits,

Live Nativity (with a REAL camel...so cool!)

A "trip to Bethlehem"

Christmas is definitely in the air!

5 months

Little Miss Anna Elisabeth is now 5 months old! Even though she is growing WAY too fast, I'm loving each stage and savoring all of the little things she is learning every day.

She loves to play with little toys now. She can pass toys or her binky from one hand to another and of course everything goes straight into her mouth.

She gives us HUGE smiles. You can tell she absolutely loves her daddy and her brothers. They all get the biggest smiles. She STILL sleeps through the night. She still hasn't rolled over yet but she sure does try.

I can hardly wait for Christmas. It will be so great to have some girly toys under the tree this year.

We love and adore this little one.

We're so happy she is ours.

Sweetness.

A daddy is a daughter's first love.