Gifts from the Heart

The most rewarding part of Christmas for me is watching the kids' desire grow to give to each other.  Nathan asked me to buy a special card stock so that he could make some special origami for Joshua.  Nathan and Joshua do so much Pokemon trading (that Elizabeth feels left out of) that this morning they each took some of their own cards and put them in a gift bag for Elizabeth for Christmas.  It is these small acts that help me in the stressed-out moments to remember the real spirit that this is all about.

Christmas Cards

So fun to hear from friends and family we're missing at this time of year!

Writing a Letter Next Year...

  

Went to the Ward Christmas Breakfast...complete with opportunity to see Santa.  By then Greg and Joshua were already off to a basketball game.  Aaron took one look at Santa and cried.  Repeating over and over, "Scary Santa!"  Nathan was only willing to be in the picture because that was the ticket for getting the free candy canes...and said, "Thanks, I'm o.k." when Santa asked him if he wanted something for Christmas.  Next year, we're skipping the long line and writing letters! 

Just a couple treasures Nathan took.  Nothing says "Christmas Cheer" like waiting in line for Santa.

Spontaneous Sledding

3 bales of hay (from a summer activity) + 1 awesome dad + Just enough snow = A fun weekend of sledding in the backyard ... It's the small, spontaneous things that make the season!

Egg Nog and Elf

I'm at that time of year when I feel the Christmas season drifting by and I'm paniced we're not making the most of it!  I think if I'll document a little of what we are doing I'll feel better.  :)  We've been loving watching Christmas movies...especially this year "Arthur Christmas", "Polar Express", and "Elf".  This is having treats after laughing our heads off at "Elf".  :)

Visit from Family!

My brother, John, and his wife, Valerie, and their cute kids are here for the holidays.  We got to have Elodie and Andrew here for part of the day while John and Valerie went to a Voice Male performance together.  It was on of the most fun days I've had in a long time ... to give myself a day that wasn't trying to "get things done" ... but just try to be a "fun mom" and a "fun aunt".  I wish I had more picture of what we did, but I think I was too in the thick of a good time to remember that!  :) 

Thanksgiving!

Had the BEST TIME with our Franson family at our place for Thanksgiving!

Music...somewhere I've got to find and post our dance party moment...

 

Football...

Thankful Tree

The Feast

 

 

BB-Gun Shooting

 

Puzzle

Naps

 

Drawing mustaches on faces during naps...

Lightning

 

 

 

 

A little photo shoot with Lexi and Livi and Bethany's awesome camera!  All of these pictures are from Bethany and her camera!!  Thanks for documenting our day!

 

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

 

 

A morning of holiday baking and dancing to princess music with my cuties!  

Aaron's Turns 2!

For Aaron's birthday we went to a big trampoline place and had a great time!

Then the VanShaars were in town for Thanksgiving and came for a visit!  We had such a fun time!
It was Greg's second day with the "Hot Light App", so when we got a notification the Hot Light was on...we all dashed for the door!

 

Couldn't love this sweet boy of mine more!

Decorating with Wreaths

 

Last year we bought several wreaths on an after-Christmas sale, picturing how we'd use them to decorate our Michigan home.  Greg was willing to do the wreath thing if is meant he didn't have to put up Christmas lights.  :)  We had no idea that by this holiday season we'd be decorating a different house.  But, it's turned out to be so fun!  

Bedtime Stories

 

A Little More of Greg's Birthday

 

Because Greg really needed it, it got several new clothing items for his birthday a little early.  I still wanted him to have some things to open on his birthday...and for the kids to get to feel like they got to "gift" their dad.  So the night before while Greg was at mutual, we hit the DI and let each child pick out a gift for Dad. 

Greg's Birthday

 

One of my favorite parts about family birthdays...kids working together to decorate! 
Nathan even let Elizabeth color in his 3-D letters which is a true brotherly sacrifice.

Turn on the "Hot Light"

We've never lived by a Krispy Kreme place, and found out recently that when the "Hot Light" is on in the outside window...they give away a free doughnut to each person.  Of course Greg would never let us miss a deal like that!  He's even found us our new family theme song..."Turn on the Hot Light" by Neil Diamond.  (Yes, it's actually "heart light".)  :) Greg even downloaded a free App that notifies us whenever the Hot Light in town turns on.  So, we turn on the song on Youtube while we dash for our coats and climb in the car.    These pictures are from our first Krispy Kreme adventure.

Joshua Plays Basketball

 

Joshua is playing on a Jr. Jazz team this year!  He's got a scrappy little team that has surprised us by doing really well.  It made us laugh the other day when Joshua came home to report to me their first "loss".  He told me that Nathan thought the other team played unfairly...so the loss doesn't really count.  They're still "undefeated".  :)

Trick or Treat

 

 

We've never been in a neighborhood so "into" Trick-or-Treating!
So many decorations and "haunted houses"!  

Carving Pumpkins

 

Yard Helpers

 

We love our shady backyard, but it makes for a lot of work in the fall.
Thank goodness for our good little helpers!