The Shepherds: December 2013

Quotable Quote

" I bend to sweep crumbs and I bend to wipe vomit and I bend to pick up
little ones and wipe away tears... And at the end of these days I bend next to
the bed and I ask only that I could bend more, bend lower. Because I serve a
Savior who came to be a servant. He lived bent low. And bent down here is where I see His face. And people say, “Don’t you get tired?” and yes, I do. But I’m face to face with Jesus in the dirt, and the more I bend the harder and better and fuller this life gets. And sure, we are tired, but oh we are happy. Because bent down low is where we find fullness
of Joy.” ― Katie J.Davis

Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas 2013

On December 23rd I got together with some of my favorite family members to wrap presents. Gary, my brother in law/nephew (don't ask) watched the kids for FIVE hours while we wrapped. That is his 3 kids and my 4. Yes he is my super hero!

We decided to wait until December 28th when Ryan got home from Mongolia to open our presents. The kids were surprisingly patient about this decision. On December 24th we opened our Christmas jammies and played "pass the present." I read THIS book and the kids passed the present around the circle every time I said the word "the."

Jackie and Gary invited us over to eat Christmas dinner at their house. We stayed for 4 hours and had a great time. That really helped considering it wasn't really our "Christmas" that day and I was feeling lonely and just wanting Ryan to have a normal job. I get that way sometimes.

On the 28th Santa came while we were all at the airport picking up daddy. Santa may or may not have been Jackie. On Sunday, the 29th, we had Jackie and Gary over for our Christmas dinner. Can you tell we are excited to live 2 miles away from them?!

I feel so blessed this Christmas season. I'm so grateful for all the Christmas cards and wishes we received and for the blessing of my home and family. I am thrilled to be adding Tegan to the mix so that he can share the holiday season with us next year. Heavenly Father is so mindful of each of us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is what Ava really really wanted for Christmas. An art set!

Breck is thrilled with his new ukulele.

Daddy doing what he does best....opening things and putting them together.

Not sure if Ryan is ready to sneeze or what.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Happy 6th Birthday Breck

Breck celebrated his bday on 12-12-13. Not as cool as 12-12-12 like last year. He was overjoyed to get roller skates and a helmet. He knew we were headed to a homeschool party at Classic Skate the next day so he thought he was pretty cool! Birthday morning we headed to McDonalds with his friend Eli to play on the toys for forever! Luckily I brought my Daily Herald to keep me company. He also got to go up to the Lego store in Murray and pick out all sorts of Legos and put them in a bucket to take home. The only thing we were missing was his twin......Daddy.