What we did Christmas Eve!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVE THE SWEENEY FAMILY!

 Carden was SO EXCITED on the way up to the snow!!  Just look at that cute smile as he watched out the window as we climbed up the steep mountain!!

 I of course enjoyed the quiet serene drive up to the snow as all the kids slept except Carden who was beaming in the back seat!

McKay and Grandpa at the snow!!  Just love the faces!

 Just beautiful huh?!

Carden and Chase enjoyed a little snow ball fight!

Below is our BRAVE GIRL BROOKE!  

She was the first to go sledding all by herself and then of course went again with Mommy!

When we got back from the snow we had a fun game of DUCK DUCK GOOSE!!  This is my kids FAVORITE game that we almost play daily!

Each family told a scripture story as assigned by Grandma P with props.  Here are the van Beevers telling the story of Noah.

 The Glenns to the story of the Tower of Babel.

 The Sweeney's told the Christmas story in English ( I say English, because we told that scripture story twice on Christmas Eve).  

 The Grandpa P. kicked off the telling of the Christmas story in tongues.  Each former missionary shared his piece of the Christmas scripture story in the language he learned on his mission. Grandpa P. started out speaking in German. Then Uncle Jason told his portion of the story in Tagalog (Philippines). Uncle Will spoke in Portuguese and Daddy spoke in Spanish.  Uncle Paul was missing, but would have told his part in French.

 Here is the Nativity on the table that each family made a part of.  As each family reads their part they put their pieces of the Nativity up until the entire creche is displayed. 

 All the cousins above.

 We ended the night with SINGING CAROLS and DADDY telling the "GRINCH" story!

What we did BEFORE Christmas!

Well of course before Christmas we had BEAUTIFUL weather!

We went and picked out a Christmas tree and did the Sweeney tradition with getting donuts afterwards and instead of doing hot chocolate we did homemade ORANGE JUICE!

 The kids loved doing this!  It is so exciting to see their faces when we put up the tree!  Carden, Brooke, and Rhead pretty much put on most of the ornaments!

The weather was beautiful, but sadly the week of Christmas was cold and wet.

McKay loves riding his bike and waving!

We made a TON of candied popcorn to take to Daddy's work!

The kids had a hard time seeing it all go into the bags but we did have a little to spare!

We made little RUDOLPH reindeer tags!  I thought they turned out so cute!

We did another pinterest idea with making HANDS for our wall!  Carden got pretty creative and did a blue hand with a green boarder!  That is McKay's little yellow hand.

We then delivered the popcorn to all Daddy's work friends!

Rhead of course is camera shy and wouldn't get in the picture.

My Cousin's Wedding

December 15th my cousin Carter was sealed to his beautiful bride Jackie in the Sacramento temple.  It was so fun being back up in Sacramento.  It made me realize how much I miss it!

 They were sealed in the morning and then in the evening had a reception.  Two out of my three sisters were able to make it to the wedding!  It made for a FUN GIRLS trip!

But of course we couldn't leave this little boy at home!  He joined us for the girls night out!

My Grandpa and Mom!

Carter's little brother Clark is serving in the Phoenix, AZ mission so of course we had to take a picture with him!  We missed him but HE is doing GREAT WORK!

Carter was so sweet and sang with his guitar to his NEW WIFEY!!  So tender!

This is my beautiful cousin LUCY!  She caught the BRIDE's BOUQUET so we better watch out for her!!!  

The three of us!  We missed you BRYNLEY (who was down in Phoenix waiting for the baby and stalking Elder Livingston! :)

It was really cold that day so we were all freezing waiting for pictures to be taken!!!  Luckily after we found RUBIOS for some good fish tacos!

Birthday Boy!

Our little McKay turned ONE today!  Sadly we have all been really sick.  We all slept today except for Mommy who did laundry all day to get the house back to normal and smelling much better!  McKay was pretty excited about his bike when he woke up.  The boys pushed him around the house and will for sure be a bike to GROW INTO!  

We were going to make him some some cupcakes but decided we will wait till everyone is eating and feeling better.  Rhead helped me put up the BIRTHDAY letters!  He is getting pretty good at his letters.  

McKay is still a little sweetie!  He loves being with his family especially his Mommy!  He loves being outside.  He always has his tongue out which means his mouth is ALWAYS opened and it is usually with a BIG SMILE!  He loves baby food still.  He sleeps though the night except when he is in Mommy's room.  He is so good at walking and rarely falls!  He really hasn't said any words yet.  We keep pointing to "EARS", "EYES", etc to remind him.  Actually he does say "DADA"!  We just love him so!  He makes us all laugh and smile!  Can't believe he is already ONE!!!

He also got a little shake and go car which was really COOL but he was actually really sad.  Poor little guy just isn't feeling good.  Hope tomorrow goes better!

No Room in the Inn

Tonight my kids and husband are asleep because of a sudden sickness that hit our family on Christmas morning.  It was really sad, but luckily everyone is feeling a little bit better.  Tonight I was just sitting in my rocking chair rocking McKay to sleep and couldn't but help to reflect on last Christmas.  I went into labor on Christmas day and was laboring the whole day and night and day and McKay came into the world on the 26th of December.  I remember how long that day seemed being in so much pain but thinking it will be okay when I get to the hospital.  I remember thinking "When I get to the hospital I will be able to rest and be able to prepare for the delivery!"  I wasn't able to rest and barely had a bed to deliver in.  I just can't help but feel somewhat of how Mary MUST have felt.  But Mary was delivering the SAVIOR of the WORLD and still there was NO ONE willing to giver her a warm bed to deliver her baby in!   How tired she must have felt and how hard  it must have been to accept that there just was no where to deliver the baby Jesus but in a stable.  How thankful I am for her strength!

My sister is due today with her 5th child.  I am so excited to see our new cousin come into this world!!  It will be really neat if her baby is born tomorrow on McKay's birthday!  Christmas will never feel the same.  My heart is so full of gratitude for our Savior and his great example and the peace that he brings into my life.  I am so grateful to be a Mommy!  That is truly the best present I have ever been given!  I am thankful for my testimony of the Savior and I know that he came to this earth so that we will overcome death and live again as an eternal family!  I love my family.  I am so grateful that I could see so much of our family in the past two months!  We LOVE being with everyone and wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Brynley you will do great!!!  We are praying for you!  Can't wait for that text to see our newest little girl cousin!!      

Falling Leaves

Falling Leaves!

Happy Thanksgiving

 We were so lucky to get a whole week off for THANKSGIVING!  So we decided to head down to AZ to be with EVERYONE!  Luckily we had a whole week because the trip down to AZ takes ALL DAY!!!  The kids actually did really well in the car.   We had such great weather of course and got to SWIM and PLAY all day with our cousins that live SO FAR AWAY!!!  Here are a few pictures of what we did!  Thanks Nana and Papi for letting us come and play!  

 We enjoyed jumping on the trampoline!

 Celebrating Brooke and Rhead's THIRD Birthday!!!

Brooke wanted cookie dough and Rhead asked for a Chirstmas tree so Nana made sure they got their ONE and only Birthday wish!!! haa haa!  It was hilarious that when you asked them what they wanted for their Birthday that is what they said.  But they were also excited when Rhead got some horses and Brooke got a doll!  Brooke also got a play dough set and Rhead HOT WHEELS! They also enjoyed watching LION KING home from AZ thanks to their cousins! 

 Enjoying the AZ SUN!

 Got to rid in a boat to the pool!

 Christmas in NOVEMBER!!!  TOO FUN!!  Santa must really think these kids have been EXTRA GOOD!

 Tutu and DOLLS!  What more could a girl WANT!!

 Homemade COOKIES are always a MUST HAVE at Nana's house!!  We love COOKIE DOUGH!

 Can't get enough of these girls in their tutus!  I wish I could wear a tutu all day long!!  Bet Justin would love that!! haa haaa!!!

 Rhead and the GIRLS!!  Glad Ashley is having a BOY in Feb!

 Carden and Luke!  Best buds!

 McKay enjoyed seeing his close cousin Conrad!  Such a sweet boy!

 Justin and me on our 7th ANNIVERSARY!!!!!    Went to the temple and I really think Carden was touched when he watched the family film.  It was really cute watching Carden at the temple.  At first he was really sad because he wanted to ride home with Nana in her "RACE CAR" but then when we started to walk around and watch the film you could see his whole attitude change.  He was happy to be there with our family and felt the spirit.

 Sadly I don't think I will get a CHRISTMAS picture out this year!  So this might just have to be it for the year!!!!   HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

 Brooke with our newest cousin BABY LUCY!  We loved holding her!  She is the cutest baby!

 We couldn't leave AZ without making a CUTE AND YUMMY Ginger bread house!  That was so FUN!  The kids loved all the fun activities and most of all playing with their cousins and Nana and Papi!  So glad we got to come down to see everyone!  We feel so blessed to have had that opportunity.  Thanks everyone for the GREAT MEMORIES!!!