Is Christmas really over?!

 I am so sad Christmas is over!  It is even worse that we were unable to celebrate News Year Eve, due to illness.  Thank goodness is comes every year.

 Mike got some cute shots of the kids standing around the tree  before we went to church.

 Jake has been here over a year now and I am loving it.  Him and Jared are so fun to hang out with.  I mentioned previously they celebrated the Christ Centered Christmas with us this year and it made it more special.  

 This was the first big snow fall of the season.  Tatum was memorized by it.  Cameras can never catch the memory and feeling like you want...but I wanted to put this in so I can remember his excitement.

Hurry back Christmas....will miss you!!

Look Back Still...on Christmas

Yes, I am squeezing all my 2013 posts in today...or at least going to try.

 We walked around the temple with the Gull family this night.  It was crazy crowded!  The lights were beautiful but the crowd made it hard to enjoy.

 It was really pretty there and this was really neat to see in person.  The season of Christmas is so magical and special. There is no other feeling to compare it to .... I love this time of year.

I attribute the special feel to the season because more people are turned to Christ.  They are thinking of friends and family and how they can make them happy .....is my take on it.  Then there's the anticipation of great things to come with the lead up to Christmas day.

This year we did the Christ Centered Christmas again.  It was special and I hope it teaches the kids the real meaning of the season.

 The kids had just got back from shopping for each other and they are wrapping each other's gifts.

 Doing this is special to me because my Uncle Sam used to take us kids and give us Christmas money to shop for our family.  He was so sweet.  We always got enough to get everyone gifts and something for us while we were shopping.

 They don't keep it secret from each other what they got, but I never did either when I was younger.  As a matter of fact, I still have a small problem with keeping gifts secrets.

 Our traditional Christmas eve PJ's.

 Mike keeps things orderly...I like everyone to just dig in but he likes taking turns.  So here everyone is patiently waiting on Tatum's turn to get over with.

Tatum was really fun this year.  He got so excited with what was going on!  I LOVE Christmas and kids...too much fun.

 I remember my mom always making our PJ's but I have not developed that talent.  So the kids have to make do with store bought ones.

 Here are my beautiful models showing off what was in the boxes.

 I am very thankful that Michael gets me some too....I have made it clear that I want some on Christmas Eve too, and he has always complied.

 This guy is very picky and I am finally getting good stuff for him!  He liked his PJ's too!

 After we opened our Christmas Eve gift Uncle Jake and Jared came over with their friend Rachael and we finished the last nativity piece....baby Jesus.  It was a fun evening!

 So here is what it looked like after Santa came.

 And then here is the crazy Christmas morning. So fun!!

 Everyone was happy with their loot!  As usual we didn't see too much more of the kids this day because they were off.  Mike and I watched Its a Wonderful Life and a few other shows.  Great Christmas spent with the most important people to me!!

Mike took the kids sometime that week of Christmas break to go see frozen.  It was fun seeing their excitement to go watch a movie and get to go see it wearing PJ's.  I stayed home because it was Tatum's bedtime and I could catch up on chores....boo, but it is so sweet doing them in peace and quiet...so I was happy too.

A Look Back..

2013 has been a wonderful year!  It did not end on a well note for me, due to 5 days of having a fever in bed, but besides that it was really great!  I love looking back and thinking about what has happened.  And what better way to help you remember than pictures.

I have been organizing pictures from this last year and kicking myself for not staying more on top of documenting the kids.  There is a  face book page called Mitchell's Journey that has really spurred me into being better about documenting. The page is about a father who lost his son to some kind of muscle disease.  I have been following him for 6 months or so and feel so touched by what he shares.  He posts these amazing pictures of his son and writes the most moving thoughts and feelings.  He said once that he is so thankful he never deleted any pictures else he would not have certain memories of his son.

So in light of that thought, I want to put up pictures even if they are not perfect.  I want to put up things that will help me remember my kids and how they are like right now.  The good, the bad and the ugly...these are memories that I will probably give anything for down the road when I can't remember!

 My tater...he is still an angel.  He will be two in March.  He loves to dance and is ready to break out in his little dance moves at any time.  This little boy loves his daddy.   All kids love their daddys, yes, but he will choose Mike over me most of the time.  I love there special relationship. I love to watch it...it makes me very happy.

 My little girl....  Her sweetness is nice to watch.  She is thoughtful, sensitive and I am so proud to call her mine.

 She is ready for school but I am not! So glad there is still lots of time before we have to cross that bridge.

 Mike and I came home from a date night and we found the kids sleeping like this.  Carson is in his bed with a little tower of pillows stacked to protect him...I guess.

 And Cole in the crib with Tatum asleep.  It was cute to see them all snuggled up together.

Kids are so wonderful!  So glad that my original plan in life didn't come true... I would be one kid-less, husband less, lonely woman!

Thanksgiving Time

 This year we made the trek to Idaho.  My family has had some pretty major stuff going on and we thought it would be best if we all came together to show our love and support of each other.  So glad we did because it was fun!

 My little Tatum is so precious.  He is such fun to have around.  I want him to grow slowly.....very slowly.

 I loved this picture of mom.  She made a fabulous feast and it was a beautiful layout.

Why is he so happy doing the dishes?   

I thought Mike and I were going to get a great shot but we got photo bombed by the turd in the background!  We laughed and laughed at this ....so I guess it was a good shot despite the crazed person in the back!

We are short on pictures of this trip because the next day sickness hit!  It started with Tatum and went through all of us, but Mike, in a 24 hour period.  Horrible...yes!  We took off the next day after Tatum had been throwing up and Morgan.  So glad we did.

Shana was kind enough to take us all in and I felt terrible we all got sick at her house!  Love you Shana Jean...thank you again.

Despite this sounding like a bad ending there is a silver lining to this.  In the midst of all of us getting sick Michael stepped up big time!  He cleaned up throw up, got up with kids during the night, made us food, cleaned up around the house.  He was super dad.  I am glad it happened because I really fell more in love with this man!

With adversity there is opportunity for great things!!

Halloween Catch Up!

 We found the prettiest park!  It had the most beautiful colors, and all the leaves were amazing.  Getting down in the leaves and smelling them took me right back to my childhood.  I have such fun memories of racking up leaves and making a huge pile and then jumping out of a tree into it.

 Jake and I went to the park together this day and he helped me bury the kids.  All of them were into it exept Tater.  He was not having it.  Look at his cute little pouty lips!

 I want to learn to take better pictures..but I really love how the leaves are falling in this one.  I LOVE the fall.  It is just the best!

 Here is my little Fiona..she wasn't this for Halloween but I thought it was cute.

 So Carson was a scary skeleton...(I hate that I can't talk them into what I want them to be anymore!) Cole was Psy, the guy that sings Gang um Style...don't ask because I don't know why, and Morgan was of course Princess Bell.

 Here is my little beauty.  Love that little thing.

 Cole here is performing the Gangum style dance thing.....He is such a character!

 Here is my little shy Carson...

 It was so fun to go to Carson's class and watch him interact with all the kids.  He is such a good kid.  He is quite and kids just naturally gravitate towards him.  He makes me happy.

 And Cole is not quite, he is very busy...is that the right adjective?  Here he's in heaven because the teacher put up the song gangum style and so he was able to let loose and just dance with the rest of his class.

 On Halloween we did our ward Trunk or Treat.  Morgan is with her best bud Brinley and Abby.  Abby has babysat our kids since we came..she is such a great girl!

 This is Jake's favorite holiday.  This little pirate had the best Halloween decorations and his lights were by far the best I had seen.

After our Trunk or Treat we came do their house and let them hand out candy. I keep saying this but it is really nice to be close to family again!

 I feel terrible this is the only picture we got of our little monster!  He looked so cute.  The jacket had lots of padding and made him look like a chunky, little, monster.

 I am so up tight about messes and so carving pumpkins is hard for me to do because of the mess...but it was good to see the kids enjoy this.

 Michael hard at work!

 See...messy, messy, messy!

We had a great fall...wish it could last just a little longer!