Christmas 2015

We had another great Christmas this year. It was our first Idaho Christmas in our own home and so special. The night before we opened Christmas Jammies from my mom per tradition. And then we accidentally started a new one too. We opened a family game and played it together before bed. It was so much fun I vowed to do it every Christmas Eve from here on out. This year we played Pie Face and it was hilarious. 

You put your face in this little cut out and turn a dial to see if you get splattered with whip cream.

(Ky had green beans for dinner. Obviously.) 

The kids loved. Except for Cache.

Luckily, the other boys loved it. 

I forgot to get a picture of the boys in their Christmas jammies, so I pulled them out of bed. Kyle was less then impressed. 

Christmas morning was great. The boys loved the everything and even on a tight budget we managed to provide them with a pretty great Christmas. Watching their excitement was priceless.

All Tayden wanted for Christmas was a skateboard. He was beyond excited and spent most the morning practicing in our unfinished storage room. 

As we were heading out to Inkom, we witnessed a first hand Christmas Miracle. We had reindeer footprints in our yard. Honest to goodness deer footprints. The boys were completely flabbergasted, as were Scott and I. We knew we had deer coming down from the mountains, but to find the prints on Christmas morning was awesome.  

We went to Scotts parents for lunch and had a great time with family. I love being close enough again to spend the holidays with family. The boys were spoiled as were Scott and I. 

We headed to my parents soon after. We rushed inside and opened gifts so fast, I didn't even have a chance to get my camera out of the car. But rest assured, we had a great time there too. We spent the night and Scott went rabbit hunting the next morning. It was a great day.

The drive home was beautiful. 

Its been freezing, but and everything was covered in frost all day. I sure love this time of year. 

It was a great day. I love my Savior. I know he was born, so he could die, so we could live. I have never been more grateful for anything in my life.

Christmas Tree Sleep Over

Well, the strep throat is gone. And shortly after it left, like a day after, the cold settled in. Everyone except me and Beckett had a rough go with a head cold. Then, cue yesterday, and Beckett and I woke up with the crud. I am really ready to be healthy again and hoping that we get better for Christmas. 

One positive thing over the past week is the sleep overs by the Christmas Tree. I've let the boys sleep out by the tree since Winter Break started. They have loved it. Alot. The picture is really blurry, but Tayden and Beckett fell asleep holding hands. They used to do that all the time and it warmed my heart seeing them do it again. 

I keep waiting for things to settle down, but then I realized that I have been waiting for that to happen for the past almost nine months. I think it finally hit that this pace is my new normal. Things are always busy and crazy and hectic, but I  love it. 

Heres to two more nights by the tree! 

Strep

At our house sick means strep more times than not. Tayden is the lucky winner this go around. It's our 7th case in 4 months. Twice for me, twice for Beckett, twice for Tayden and once that we know of for Cache. The doc said this is completely not normal, so we are all headed tomorrow to get tested to see if we possibly have a carrier in the family that is effecting everyone. So dealing with sickies and the to do list of Christmas, I haven't had much time to relax and blog. I don't mean to neglect it....but when the choice is between working on a Christmas sewing project, or finally siting down and enjoying some peace and quiet, the blog usually loses. I hope to get pictures up soon!! 

Christmas Tree 2015

Quick picture of our Christmas tree this year. 

I love the basket!! 

Santa #1

We've had fun finding new Christmas adventures in Idaho Falls this year. Last night we found our way to a couple of reindeer and a Santa Claus. It was pretty fun and the boys got hot chocolate, so it was a win for everyone. Beckett was a little upset that there weren't any elves to see, but he got our it. 

This isn't the best picture, but I love my two youngest faces. Caches smile is cracking me up and Kyles smile is hard to see, but his happy eyes make me happy. 

Not the best picture, but proof I was there...and happy we didn't get pooped on by the reindeer bum. 

Cache and his best friend, Santa. 

Beckett drew Santa a picture and kept in under his hat while we waited in line. As he walked up to Santa, he took off his hat and handed him the letter. It was the cutest thing. And he was thrilled that Santa put it in his pocket. 

Crazy eyes Tayden. 

We didn't want to get Kyle out of the warm stroller, so he missed out on the all brothers picture. 

It was a fun little event and we are enjoying this Christmas in Idaho. 

Snow Grateful

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. It was great to be among family and enjoy all the things the Lord has given us. The older I get the more and more thankful I become. I am able to see things for face value and appreciate both the small and large things in my life more fully. I am blessed to have a healthy family and kids. That to me is the biggest blessing of all. Every day I love being a mom more than the day before. My boys are my life. 

I have a wonderful husband. He works harder than anyone I know. He always provides for us temporally and spiritually, and makes sure we are taken care of. He is a worthy priesthood holder and leads our family in faith.

I am grateful for the path of our Father. I love being back in Idaho and providing the life I so desperately wanted for the boys. I love our home, our neighborhood, our city. I love where we live. I know we are here because we were lead by a Heavenly Hand. 

I am thankful for the trivial things. My stove, the car, warm blankets, shoes, etc. I just feel so blessed.

We spent the day in Inkom with Scotts family. The boys had a wonderful time playing in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa Packards house. 

But first, some sweet pictures of baby Kyle. I love this boy madly. 

I love this picture of him and Tayden. Kyle is so busy and it shows his little moving personality perfectly. 

Tayden loves being a big brother and loves the baby fiercely.

Now to the snow. 

The boys love cousin Aimslee. 

The timing of this picture was too good not to share. Tayden was getting ready to make a snow angel and I caught him mid fall.

After Thanksgiving, we enjoyed white Friday. Much better than any black Friday.

Cache working hard bringing in snow. 

Beckett drawing his name in the snow. 

The boys enjoyed a day out with Dad building a snow wall. 

The cold fun didn't end there. We went to the light parade tonight. It was freezing and we only got a small handful of pictures and it was a fun memory. 

Its been a great Thanksgiving break and we're enjoying the change of seasons.

Makes being Idaho even more wonderful. 

Hidden Blessings

This morning had the makings of a perfectly awful start. I woke up after a long night with a very sick Cache,  entering my 14th hour of a personal fast and to a six year old with a painful abscessed tooth. After a pep talk from my mom, I consented to the day and got to work. The dentist was booked and we'd have to go into the office and wait until he had a minute to help us. And we needed to be there ASAP as they were closing for early for the holiday. I got the kids dressed, woke up sick Cache and headed to McD's to grab some breakfast. We converted the back of the car into a movie party and got comfy as we waited for the dentist. What was supposed to be an hour wait, miraculously turned into five minutes. Tayden got in, braved the shot and got his tooth pulled while I went back and forth between him and the sick car. I decided to take Cache to the doctor, whose office is across the street from the dentist. I spoke with a nurse about what was happening and she told me they had an opening and go bring him right in. 10 minutes later, we were out the door with a croup diagnosis and a steroid RX. It could have been one of the hardest mornings as a mother, BUT it wasn't. I know that Heavenly Father was aware of me and my little molehill that felt like a mountain. I know He got me through my morning and my fast that was nagging me so strongly this morning, held me up and gave me the strength I needed. I love when you think things can't possibly get worse, and they turn into a lesson of love and awareness from our Father in Heaven. I can't help but feel blessed today.

Indian Program

Beckett had a cute little Indian Program at his preschool this week. I have been so impressed with his teacher and her program. Beckett is doing really well and is taking to learning much more than I thought he would. I was worried he wouldn't like it, but it turns out he loves it. 

He is also doing great socially. I walked in and a mom asked if I was Becketts mom. When I told her I was, she told me how her son raved about B. They are the cutest little friends. 

The kids doing the Pledge of Allegiance. Becketts hand is on his heart under his costume. Next to him is his little buddy, Crosby. 

I love this classic trying not to smile face.

His part was about what the indians wore. He also said he was grateful for cars.

His candy teepee. He was quite proud of it.

I love watching Beckett blossom. He is really coming into his own and it is a pure pleasure to watch.