New Christmas Traditions

(putting ornaments on the tree - 2009)

So at this point in the month we have gotten requests from each one of the kids' teachers for our family traditions. I don't think I have given it much thought until this year and I am sad to say I don't think we have enough. We read Christmas stories each night in the month of December. We open one present on Christmas Eve which is of course PJ's, and then read the story of Jesus while wearing said PJ's. We leave cookies and milk out for Santa, but that pretty much sums up our season.

After watching Modern Family last (which if you don't want it you really really should) I have decided that we need to branch out, we need MORE! Also the fact that Ethan wrote about a Halloween tradition instead of Christmas proves we are in short supply. 

I am looking into getting the book Elf on the Shelf which is a fun book that comes with an elf the shows up in a different spot each day watching the kids so he can report back to Santa. I think the kids would go crazy for that!

So today I am on a mission to find more traditions to add. I would love to hear what you are doing to make make memories with you children.

By the way it is a whopping 11 degrees outside! We are warming up!

three degrees

Yesterday I sent the kids to school in three degree weather. We bundled them up and hoped they would be warm. I got a few pictures of them to mark this freezing day.

This was right when they came out. As you can see Kai has already managed to get snow on his jacket!

The wind made it all so much worse! Poor Ethan!

Kai was all about it! 

I didn't get a pictures of Olivia all by herself because once the wind started blowing her attitude toward being out side took a turn for the worst. 

She was in no mood to get her photo taken.

Today school was delayed because of sub zero temperatures. It was -10 when the were supposed to leave this morning!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Kaylee is HERE!

All day long Kai asked when we were going to get her at the airport. Her flight didn't arrive until 3:40pm so needless to say we had a VERY long day. I tried hard to distract him but he was focused. We picked up Ethan and Olivia early from school so they could come to the airport with us to wait for her. We were all so excited.

After we got her bags we headed off to Casa Bonita.

We ate and watched all three shows.

Then we went through the scary cave.

Then we played video games.

Then we got our candy and headed home.

It was a perfect night!

Honk

Today Ethan left for his ONLY field trip this year. Tons of parents volunteered to go and they only needed 4 so they picked names out of a hat. Guess What?!?!?! My name wasn't picked (enter sad music here.)

But even without me Ethan had a great time. He had so much to say about the musical and his favorite parts on the car ride home. But what I got most from what he said was that his favorite character was the CAT.

I am so glad he had a good time but I am still a little crushed I didn't get to go with him!

Happy Thanksgiving

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Colorado and Brian just took the big kids to watch him play football. Luke is asleep and both the turkey and ham have already started to cook. It is quite here right now with just the holiday music in the background. So much is going through my mind but my heart is full of gratitude.

I am so grateful for happy, healthy children, for Brian's new job, for my parents and the loving support they have shown to us these past few months. I am grateful for my in-laws, for friends new and old, for Brian and all that he does for us, for being sealed in the temple, for the children's teachers, for the Book of Mormon, for a living prophet, and so so so much more.

But right now I am the most grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I am so blessed to have in my life. I am so grateful to know that I am a daughter of God who loves me and knows me by name. Who knows my every thought and who has blessed me with the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me in this life full of uncertainties. My gratitude and understanding of the Atonement seems to double each year, and that is such a wonderful gift.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Taking naps again?

Kai is taking naps again. He gave up naps before he even turned two. I thought my life was over and wanted so badly for him to be one of those kids who nap until they go to Kindergarten. It was about the same time that he stopped napping that he started running away, mostly to Shari's house. Well, now he is back to napping which I am now of course discouraging and doing everything in my power to keep him awake. On the days that Kai naps he and I are up until 11:30pm! He is asleep right now and the Nuggets aren't playing tonight to give us something to watch! OH WHAT TO DO? But he sure is sweet when he is asleep!

This is my favorite ever!

His First Day

Wednesday was Brian's first day at his new job! (I don't have a picture  because honestly it has been crazy trying to get everyone ready and to school on time! Yes I am still driving them to another town for school.) 

Power School Graduation 2004

We are so grateful for this wonderful answer to our prayers. I have learned so much through this process and at many times wandered if what we felt was a prompting to get out of the Navy and be closer to family in Colorado maybe really wasn't. I have learned that doubt is not of the Lord but of our greatest adversary who's tries to get us to wonder and doubt the things we know to be true! When we decided that moving on from the Navy was the right thing for our family, it wasn't just the long deployments that factored into making that decision. It was the job itself that Brian wasn't enjoying. Since that was the case he didn't want to run straight to a power plant job. I am so glad that our patience has paid off. We are really looking forward to this new chapter in our life and to see where it takes us. Thanks for all the support and prayers we have received from our wonderful family and friends!