New Years Trip to Idaho and Hinder Turns 7!

Right after Christmas, we packed up the car and headed to Boise to spend a week with the Hurst side of the family. Boy did we have fun! Lots of card playing and cousin time! Grandma Lorie baked her traditional Christmas goodies and Papa Ray let the boys have a turn on the X box.

 We got to stay at Aunt Sidnee and Uncle Stephens new house and enjoy the cousins fun toys!

 Hinder had his birthday in Boise. I can't believe I have a 7 year old! He's the best first kid I could have ever dreamed of and is a perfect leader for our family! We love him! He had a very happy birthday at Jump Time and was spoiled by too many gifts from grandparents and cousins.

 We ended our trip spending a few days with our best, best friends, Katy and Taylor! It's always so good to be reunited with our soul mates! The kids had a ball playing together, and we loved to see their new house and surroundings. This picture captures the bromance between Riley and Taylor so well.

 The best thing about hanging out with good friends is being able to chill, relax, and talk for hours without having to plan any other entertainment. A deck of cards and bag of cookies is all we needed to have an awesome time!

 

We were sad to say goodbye! Our stuffed-to-the-brim van was evidence of how spoiled we were on this trip! Thank you everyone for opening up your homes and showing us such a good time. 

Christmas 2015

 This year's Christmas was so special and perfect, I hope to never forget it. Not every year is so idyllic, but all my plans and hopes came together to make a really beautiful holiday. Being surrounded by grandparents, cousins, and siblings truly made the holiday so special. My sister and her family came from Rexburg a few days before Christmas. We were able to go to the temple all together (minus Dallas and Dakota who babysat for us! thanks you guys!) We joined Natalie and Dustin for their Christmas eve traditions of a diner breakfast and we got just enough snow to have a few family days sledding and building forts and jumps. 

Christmas eve we all were together for a big feast, gift exchange, and the grand kids (plus Dallas as the donkey! hahaha, perks of being young!) put on our nativity story under the direction of Devon. They were adorable.

 Vyla made a sweet little angel!

 Christmas morning was magical! Santa brought the kids fun surprises and they were each so VERY generous and kind to each other. I love when my kids are genuinely happy for one another. Riley surprised me with a beautiful book of art and a tickets to come with me to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts when we go back for graduation. He swore he'd never set foot in Boston again, so this means so much to me. I can't hardly wait!

 

 

We had a big family dinner at the church with everyone, even my Grammy and Papa came from Potlatch, Idaho. We watched home movies, played games, did a puzzle, basketball, and rode scooters all over. Our two sisters missionaries were able to call and skype in at the same time from Mexico and Naga, Philippines. It made me cry to see them, but I'm so grateful for their sacrifice and service. They're the most beautiful people!

 Even though the traditions aren't perfect and flashy, I felt the Spirit of Christmas so much this year and I'm grateful for it. The Spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ and I'm just so thankful that my family felt it in such abundance this year. Merry Christmas!

Chatting with Santa

 Santa's visit this year was a pretty adorable event. He was the jolliest Santa we've ever met. All the kids were excited (or at least not nervous). Ledger didn't say a word, and if you know this kid he is rarely silent. He had this look of "wait...what? I don't get it?" the whole time he sat on his lap. But was pretty jazzed about getting the paper bag full of peanuts and chocolates.

 Sweetest Vyla! She was 100% into the magic and kept going back and forth about her request. At first it was Wild Kratts gear, another skateboard, another bike...she couldn't make up her mind. At the last minute she demurely asked for a "ninja costume". :) She's nothing if not surprising! 

A few days later, she approached me with a distressed look on her face and admitted that she wished she could change her "ow-dah" (order) to Santa. I told her I could shoot him a quick text and her face lit up! The final decision was a guitar. 

My Mr. Hinder-- true to form-- asked for a large Indominus Rex that shoots bullets. I think he had the specific one bookmarked online for several weeks.

Oh, my sweet little butter beans! Don't ever grow up!

Christmas is Coming!

 Is there anything better than the days leading up to Christmas, all thejoyful anticipation, projects, and planning?! It's my favorite! And it was so fun to have three kids who fully anticipated the fun with me!
After we decorated our tree, Ledger loved to hang out playing his cars and trucks right by it. I love walking in on this quintessential childhood moments.

 This year, instead of my usual over-abundant baking, I tried to rein it in a little and attempted my good friend Marvel's black licorise caramels and Lorie's popcorn wreaths. And maybe a few cookies. I'm sure there was a cake involved too. And, oh yeah, that batch of gingerbread men. I'm aware I have a problem....

 We got a few snow dustings, enough to sled and play in. The week of Christmas we got a lot more, enough to have a day playing in the snow building a jump. It was the BEST December we've had in a long time. Just the perfect amount of snow to suit me.

 We attended the local tree lighting with cousins and had a blast. Some things are just so sweet and special in a small town. Our little nuggets, sipping hot cocoa on the steps of the Carnegie Library.

 And Christmas preperations would not be complete without a few crafts. Wooden stars for mom, sparkley painted snowfalkes for the kids, and a gingerbread village for the whole family!

Couer d'Alene Getaway

 In early December, to celebrate Riley finishing his 5th rotation, he and I escaped to Couer d'Alene for four days. It was a much needed break and time to reconnect. Our generous Mom Hurst gifted us a stay using their time-share. We enjoyed the down time so much! 

My favorite was a small hike we did on Mineral Ridge. It was a beautiful view! We even saw 5-6 deer. I'm about the farthest thing from a Wild Kratt personality, so they were a little close for my comfort!

 

Most of the trip looked like this, but it was seriously paradise! Reading, lazing, watching what we wanted, walking around the lake, eating adult food....heaven! 

 On our way out, we took a picture to prove it we really went. Riley's expression cracks me up. His constant battle in pictures with the sun! Those blue-eyes! 

We ended our trip with a session at the Spokane temple. A perfect way to start the Christmas season!

Happy 4th Birthday Vyla!

 Our sweet-heart Vyla turned 4 in November, right after Thanksgiving. She wanted (again!) a Ninjago themed birthday. We had a ninja banner and everything Lego themed. Thanks to family for coming and spoiling our little girl.

 She is so loved! She was happy about everything she got. Playdough, puzzles, and books! Her gift from dad was what she requested...a skateboard! I did a terrible job getting pictures at the party, but she was pretty stoked about trying out her new toy.

 Four years of happiness with Miss V, many more to come!

Fall Fun and Halloween

 Pumpkin patches, hay rides, corn mazes! October is the best month, and this year was no exception!

Country Mercantile with cousins was a highlight.

Costumes this year were a  shark, Robin, and Harry Potter (again!)

Our little hometown is the BEST for trick-or-treating. It's so quaint and convenient to walk the streets, and everyone is friendly. Dakota got an early start and this was her huge haul!