December 30, 2015 SKIING!

While we were in Idaho for the pre New Year's celebration, we took advantage of the great snow, the blue skies(not always the case this time of the year in Idaho) and of course...free babysitters!!!

Grandpa B and Grandma Tootsie volunteered to take our girls for the day while Steve and I took the boys to Kelly Canyon for a day of skiing! It was seriously MY FAVORITE DAY! They boys were awesome little snow bunnies. We aren't avid skiers, but these boys sure acted like this wasn't their first run of the year. Noah was anxious to do whatever Steve took him down, Reed was my little side kick and got the hang of it after the first run. Jamison acted as if he lived on the snow. He would bolt down the mountain like he was on fire:) somewhat terrifying:)

I seemed to be the only one who lost feeling in their feet and managed to drop off the ski lift:0 But I enjoyed our day together on the mountain. Seriously MY HIGHLIGHT!

CHRISTMAS 2015

 CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

You gotta have some Pj's

 Ava and Paige got Anna and Elsa jammies(from the movie Frozen) 

and the boys got cozy bottoms-no tops for obvious reasons,

they never wear them!

Where oh where is Jamison???

Oh here he is:) hiding because HIS jammies were too long for his liking:(

he had a moment of "refusing to wear them."

 Grandpa 'B' wore them proudly!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!

 Jamison, paige, Reed, conductor Steve, Noah

 Paige and Ava-Anna and Elsa dolls-Loved it!

 The girls got a bounce house for Christmas!

The family LOVES it!

 Paige and Ava loving there new gift!

 Dad wrestling with Ava

The next level in family wrestle mania!

 Paige testing out Ava's new Dr. kit:)

 Jamison. Paige, Grandma Tootsie, Ava, Grandpa 'B'

Noah, Reed and Great Grandma Jones

 Boys and their new toys: Reed and Noah got MP3 players

and Jamison whippin' up some Legos

 Steve and HIS new Toy...The mini bike/goat toat:)

 Nothing like being pulled around the neighborhood!

grateful the snow stayed around long enough

to enjoy some serious sledding.

(Jamison, Paige, Ava, Reed)

 AWESOMELY SPOILED!

This man sure knows how to make magic happen!

December 23, 2015 Grandpa B's Birthday!

We were lucky enough to have Brent and Pamela (and Grandma Jones) come and stay with us for the holidays! They came the weekend before Christmas, therefore they got to participate in our holiday festivities, which included: Steve and Brent catching the opening night of the newest STAR WARS:) My birthday/family Christmas party, our stake music festival,

BRENT'S Birthday! He turned 68 years young!

It's always a good time with these folks!

 Grandpa B's FAVORITE child (Steve)
and his FAVORITE grandchildren:
Ava, Reed, Paige, Noah ,Jamison

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU!

They say it's My BiRtHdaY!!!

Yep, I turned 33. What more can I say about that? Steve spoiled me with a new sewing table. Later that evening we went to my sister Brooke's house for our annual family Christmas party. We enjoyed food as usual, donuts for my birthday dessert and Steve and I sported our own custom made "ugly sweaters." We played the guess that gift/ stealing game, mug mania, and cousin gift exchange.
It was a good time!

Me, Grandpa 'B', Noah playing the gift guessing game

Paige showing off her new hat given to her by her cousin Marlen, Ava opening her gift from Kate

Cathy, Dan, Steve, Grandpa'B' Gaby, Scott, Pamela, Hattie

Kristin, Maddie, Sunny, Papa, Ali, Me, Chapin, Noah,

  Kate, Brighton, Christian, Aunt Cathy

Steve Ordained a High Priest

Our ward (Vineyard 1st) continues to grow and grow and we have become quite accustomed to boundary changes and ward splits(3x's in 2 years)Rumor was that the ward was going to be split towards the end of the year. So with that...Change! During this same time, our Bishop (Bishop Nathan Riley) felt that Steve was ready to be ordained as a high priest. Which began a hushed rumor of, "Bishopric," "Oh the new Bishop Helm," or "Stake High Council." Of course these were possibilities but in the back of my mind, and some what a hopeful part of me:( was that he was just prepared to be ordained to a new position of the priesthood. Gratefully that was the case. I am truly grateful and blessed that my husband is an honest, obedient, and righteous man, whose desires are true and pure. This also gave me time to reflect on how I could be holding not only myself back but my husband from progression because of my weaknesses. The Lord knows us, he knows our strengths and weaknesses and of course the desires of our hearts.

Yes, the idea of Steve being a bishop or high counselor sounds daunting, and yes, selfishly I was relieved that he wasn't. But I am grateful that I had the opportunity to reflect on my progression and the purpose of our mission here on this earth. Am I doing what I can to make my weaknesses become strengths? Am I being the helpmeet that Steve needs and deserves, to become the best that he can?

On December 20, 2015 Steve was ordained a High Priest by his father Brent Helm.

Our Bishop Nathan Riley and the Stake High counselor Brother Crismann gathered in our home to perform the ordination. My parents, Rick and Shauna Brown, Steve's parents, Brent and Pamela Helm, Steve's grandma's Millie Helm and Hattie Jones were all there to love and support him in his new position. It was a beautiful blessing!

 Steve's Parents

Pamela and Brent

My Parents Rick and Shauna, GGHattie Jones, GGMillie Helm,

Steve's Parents Pamela and Brent with Steve

Neighborhood Nativity

-REASON FOR THE SEASON-

I Love! Love! Love! my neighbors and can truly call them great friends. And Holidays are always a great time to get together but this night was especially sweet. My next door neighbors, Kate and Kent Griffith, are not only fun to be with, they are super duper TALENTED!!! They can sing, dance and play the piano...and they are ambitious enough to invite the neighborhood kids over to their house to perform The Nativity. They had a practice one Sunday evening with cookies and  then they invited neighbors to come watch the reenactment the following Sunday. Their family room was transformed into a stage with curtains and even a spot light, twinkle lights and costumes, and children narrators. Each child had a part and the music was beautiful sung. TALK ABOUT MEMORABLE! and I sure hope they are planning on doing this every year, because it is a MUST!

Noah was Joseph, Reed was a wise man, Jamison was the man at the Inn, and Paige was an angel.

Noah playing the part of Joseph

Ashlynn May as Mary

All the kiddos waiting on the stairs to begin!

 The angels singing from above!

 Jamison as the Inn keeper

 Reed as one of the three Wise Men

 The performers as well as

Gentrie Bradford and Carter Jenne as the narrators

My little actors and actress!

Jamison, Noah Paige, Ava(audience member) and Reed.

*Children who participated: Helm kids- Afton/Stone Griffith

-Ava/Lailie Smit-Rachel Aldous-Azelynn, Ryder, Cohen Smith

-Ashlynn, Carter, Audrie May-Carter, Jake Jenne,

Maddie, Sammie, Ethan Jenne. 

"Posadas" December 13, 2015

I feel I have always had a special "connection" with the Latin American culture, the people and of course...It's food!!! My dad served a two year mission in Mexico for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I grew up amazed at how he could communicate with people who spoke the language. And ever since I was a young child, my family and I consistently ate at our FAVORITE Mexican restaurant Rafael's. Delicioso!!! (I actually worked there for a short time). My sister in law grew up in Mexico and My amazing husband also served his mission in Torreon, Mexico. Steve and I (with our littles) were also called  to serve for 2 years as language missionaries in our local Spanish branch(years ago). You'd think I would actually speak the language but I don't:( but that doesn't keep me from loving those who do.
This past year, Steve has had a home teaching partner (Brother Santana) whose first language is Spanish, They get to visit two families: The Holdaway's and the Castillo's, both whom speak a lot of Spanish.:)
During the Christmas holiday Steve invited all three families to our home to share some favorite traditions from their home countries. It was our LATIN Christmas!
Those in attendance: The Helm family:)
*Wilton & Berta Santana (Camilla, Eddie) from CHILE
*Jake & Noelia Holdaway-Noelia is from URUGUAY
(Matu, Mecha, Mia & recently adopted son Lessie from Africa)
*Armando & Angelica Castillo(Armando Jr.) from MEXICO

The Santana's brought a traditional cake roll to share and the Castillo's taught us all about "Posadas."
This is a celebration that begins 9 days before Christmas (Dec. 16-24) The festivities recall the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem as they were looking for a place to stay, and wait for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Traditionally in Mexico and other countries, the celebration lasts for those 9 days. In our case we reenacted the best we could what families would do. (in 1 evening):)
We prepared small gifts(candy) for those who would come to visit, we(being the hosts) sang a song standing inside and the others would stand outside singing a response to come in.
I found this very entertaining...I got to sing in Spanish, reminder...I don't speak, and then those who sang back to us, reminded me of individuals who may have consumed a bit too much alcohol(which was not the case) But it was entertaining.
The meaning behind it all was very neat. Eventually we would let them in, give them gifts and then share the homemade food that was prepared(by the Castillo's)
I also learned about the real meaning of the piñata from Mexico. It represents good and evil. Satan, being the brightly colored, temptation, captivating the man. The 7 peaks on the piñata represent: gluttony, avarice or greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride or arrogance. When breaking the piñata that is a symbol of repentance and the willingness to avoid these weaknesses.
The filling of the piñata represents the grace and love of our Heavenly Father.
And hitting the piñata blindfolded represents faith, a virtue that allows us to believe without seeing. The stick that we hit it with, represents the strength of virtue that breaksthe false and deceptive delights of the world.
The Castillos have definitely made more than one piñata in their day:)
We ate the yummy traditional food and the kids enjoyed breaking the piñata. We had such a great time learning new things and strengthening the friendships that we share.

 The Yummy traditional spread!

 Camilla Santana, Paige, Armando Castillo, Ava,  

Jamison, Reed, Eddie Santana, Noah, Ava

 Stuffing the Pinata

 Wilton, Berta, Camilla, Eddie SANTANA, me, Paige,

Armando Sr. Armando Jr. CASTILLO, Reed, Ava, Noah, Steve.

 Breaking the Pinata and then wearing it! funny Paige:)

Eventually the whole crew: Left-Right

Mia, Matu, Mecha, Noelia, Jake, Lessie HOLDAWAY-

Jamison-Armando Sr. Armando Jr. Angelica CASTILLO- Ava

Wilton, Berta, Eddie, Camilla SANTANA

Steve, Noah, Reed, Paige

Paige turned 5!!!

My little miss Paige turned 5 years old on December 8, 2015

I can't believe how big this little lady is getting, seriously, I want to cry:(

She sure is a cutie pie!!!

For her birthday, she headed to preschool.

I had the chance to bring some treats and talk about my little gal.

It was fun to be in her class and see her interact with the other kids and her teacher Laurel.

After school, Steve and I took her and Ava to lunch at the mall

and then to Build a Bear Workshop where she was able to choose a stuffed animal,

give it a heart, make it smell yummy, pick a noise, stuff it with love,

give it a name and print a birth certificate. I loved it! And I know Paige did.

She was so sweet and felt that Ava needed to do one to, So Ava got to jump in on the fun!

They picked ponies:)

Paige named her purple unicorn "Jessica"- hilarious 'cause she can't remember her name,

has to ask me. Ava named her pink pony "

Later that night we had family over for soup, rolls and  cupcakes!

 Paige and Ava with their new Ponies

 Look at the excitement on her face!

Kate, Paige and Ava

 Ali, Paige, Reed

 Maddie, Paige, Christian

 Papa and Sunny

and the crazy pink pig:)

 CUPCAKES and BIRTHDAY WISHES!!!

 Chapin, Maddie, Paige, Ali, Kate, Jamison, Christian

FIVE THINGS ABOUT PAIGE

Loves to play with Ava, brothers, neighbors

Very independent, sneaky, smart

Loves to swim, dance, color

Loves to dress up, change clothes, shoes

Loves her cousins, esp. Kate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE LADY!

We Love you SOOO much!!!