December Random

december felt a little crazy, but had a lot of things going on to keep us busy . . . some days felt questionable whether that was a good thing or not, but we survived;)  first up was our annual gingerbread house get together with trav's family

we decided to go with pre-made houses this year just for fun because we never do that;)

Lol sadie's sad face . . . her house kept falling down;)

next was colton's christmas concert.  and anything that involves the whole school is fun because we get to see ryker and scarlett too;)

it was hilarious because there was one part where one of the teachers was reading the christmas story about "not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . . . " whatever that one's called Lol, i can't remember . . . anyway, we noticed partway through that colton was very dramatically mouthing the words as the teacher was reading them . . . he had it memorized because they had gone over it a bunch i guess, and felt the need to bust out some hilarious dramatics while up there on stage, we were laughing so hard, and so were a handful of other people that happened to notice . . . what a character!!!  it was so funny!

these were a few really cool pictures of aiden we came across too . . . also making a gingerbread house, and just being his adorable self💗

his gravesite looked really cute and festive, he had some christmas things and a nice little christmas tree and l.e.d. tree too

someone handed this to sadie in walmart one day . . . so sweet

cuties . . . this was lynlee's concert day i think.  she looked adorable

we got the electrocuted christmas vacation cat and put it on our footrest . . . and then shira went and laid on it!  it was so funny!

a sweet note from lynlee's friend, and mellie taking a ride with trav in the tractor Lol;)

alexis sent us this pillow with aiden's picture on it for christmas . . we love it!

and the pics below are the kids and mellie out playing in the snow.  they're so cute

she's running really fast in the one above Lol!!!

mellie the attack dog getting colton while he's down Lol

and that was about it for december random.  it was a hard month, but i'm so grateful for the bright spots that kept us going, and so many good people around us who held us up through some really hard days.  i'm so grateful for our little family, and for our friends and extended family too💗

Some kind things to remember Aiden

i will be forever grateful for the amazing friends and family who were so thoughtful and did some really neat things to help us remember aiden this christmas season

my friend, lori, who lost her husband 3 months to the day that we lost aiden, gave this ornament to us that she had made.  it's amazing and i don't want it to fall off our tree, so i leave it in front of this temple picture that i love, which is also perfect for the christmas season💗

this plate was something that was sent to us by a friend named mary, who found one of aiden's rocks and has kept in contact with us for a few months.  she also lost a daughter so it's been neat to connect with her, she's such an awesome lady!  she asked what aiden was like and i sent her a picture of his entryway rack with his shoes and hat and we talked about how we're very outdoorsy . . . and then she had this handmade for us💗 we really have met some of the most amazing, kind people as we've walked this really hard journey . . . it's been one of the things i've been the most thankful for

we put it up on the corner shelf by his globe and his ornament, and other things we have to remind us of him💗

these books were from a friend named ziya, who wrote a really cool piece to have glued on to the covers of a set of books that she wrote with his sticker, and we decided to make them traveling books like his rocks💗 it's been awesome to get to know her, and this was so kind!

lynlee reading one of them was precious!

alexis sent us this pillow of aiden that sits on our chair by his entryway table.  colton and mellie sitting by it was adorable:)

this was a christmas box sent to us by our friend jenn, who also found one of aiden's rocks.  she sent us and adventure book, games, a paw ornament and lamb chop toy for mellie, and a really nice note.  it was sooo nice of her too and the kids have really enjoyed the adventure book!

these christmas globes were from my friend shanon, and have a picture of aiden and each of the kids, and then one of all of us.  they were sooo cute!  she brought them with a gingerbread house making kit.

i get a little bit emotional every time i sit and look at the amazing, kind things that these amazing, kind people have done for us.  it really has helped to feel loved and supported as we've walked the hardest road i think there is to walk in this life, but i know God sends earthly angels to lift us when we need it the most. i'll be forever grateful for those who have been such a supportive part of our journey 💗