Happy New Year!

This New Year's Eve was very low-key! In years past, we have traveled to AZ to celebrate with my family. Nichole always throws a fun party with activities planned for every hour from 6:00 to midnight. However, the thrill of the party and the enticement of warmer weather wasn't enough for the boys to give up the opportunity to go snowboarding during the entirety of their holiday break. Thus, we stayed home...and the boys left us anyways! They did their first solo road trip (yes, I was praying until I knew they reached their destination safely!) to Idaho Falls for the opportunity to ring in the New Year and snowboard/ski with their cousins. They had a blast! There wasn't as much snow as they anticipated so they actually didn't go snowboarding but they went ice skating several times, saw the movie Justice League, and just had fun with their cousins. With the boys gone, it was just Jeff, Jonas and I. (Laurin also came down but spent most of the day with her friend who just returned from her mission.) This New Year's Eve fell on a Sunday so our day started as most Sundays do - we went to church. The rest of the day we just spent lounging around the house. We watched football, ate yummy Mexican foods, then had a small Marvel movie marathon (I say small because we only made it through one and a half movies). By 10:00, Jeff and I were toasting the New Year with all the people on the east coast and heading to bed. 2017 was a good year. It was extremely tough as Jeff and I struggled with issues of infertility and loss. It challenged our marriage more than any other year has, but we ended up on top. Sometimes our greatest challenges are the things that can bring us our greatest achievements. The fact that Jeff and I survived a bumpy year just proves how much secure our love is. We are in this for eternity! 2017 also brought about some pretty amazing memories - trips to Kansas with the kids (and without), family reunions and visits, time together, and so much more. I am grateful for the lessons I learned in 2017...and am anxious (and a little scared) to see what 2018 has in store! Happy New Year!

A New Years nap...love my sleeping beauties!

We watched the Cardinals/Seahawks game. Cardinals won!

Watching Spider-man: Homecoming

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas 2017!

Merry Christmas! Yesterday was all about being together as a family and remembering the true meaning of the season. Today was all about the gifts! In the past, I have been bothered by how much I felt the kids focused on what they received rather than what they gave; while some of that still exists, they have come a long way in recognizing that Christmas isn't about getting something but rather giving something. The kids get excited when their siblings, Jeff or I open our gift from them. They consider the joy they give to others through our Christmas kindness tradition. They understand that it is truly better to give than to receive. Thus, it makes it more fun for us to give to them, trusting that they will show grace in receiving such gifts. I know Jonas doesn't understand all the meaning behind the Christmas holiday, but he does know the joy in unwrapping gifts! First off, he received a ride-on tractor from Santa! He was ecstatic! He rode it all morning. He would even sit on it to open his gifts or place the gifts in the front bucket. I loved seeing the joy on his face. Life couldn't have gotten any better for him.

Jonas used the "tools" he received from us to "fix" his tractor all morning!

After opening gifts, we had our traditional waffle breakfast (which is basically a sugary feast) then got to talk with Amber! It was good to see her. She seems to be doing really well and loving Pamplona. It has been amazing to see her transformation. She is gaining a solid foundation upon which to build for the rest of her life.

These are just the waffle toppings!

The rest of the day was much like yesterday. We simply relaxed and spent the day as a family. Jonas rode his tractor all day long! It wasn't often that we could convince him to get off. For a family gift, we received a high tech drone. Danny and Dallin spent the rest of the afternoon figuring out how it works...then getting it out of Katie's tree after Jeff accidentally crashed it there. Laurin enjoyed the relaxing day to catch up on some sleep. I got to talk to my sisters and Mom and Dad. I miss having them around. Still, I'm extremely grateful for modern technology that keeps us connected even if we're a state apart. All in all, it was a beautiful Christmas. I can't believe it's over...but it's time to move on towards 2018!

Christmas Eve

This year Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday. I think I like it that way. Christmas Eve seems to be more about the true meaning of the season than Christmas Day...at least for us. We started our day with a beautiful musical Christmas program at church.

Afterwards, we went home where there were gifts under the tree for the kids to open. They usually get to open a couple gifts on Christmas Eve in the evening, but since we wouldn't be going out today, I decided to let the kids open them earlier to be able to enjoy them all day. This year the kids all got sweatshirt blankets with their names embroidered on them. Additionally, the kids opened their traditional Christmas Eve book and the gifts from Gma Martie and Papa (which included the Spider-Man: Homecoming movie, a Christmas puzzle, and a memory game for Jonas).

We spent the rest of the afternoon simply being together as a family. Jonas helped me make cookies for Santa. Plus, we enjoyed putting the puzzle together and watching a few Christmas movies.

Finally the evening arrived. This is my favorite part about Christmas. As we have traditionally done, we set out our Luminarias at dusk. Growing up in the Southwest, this is a common Christmas tradition. I think I love it even more now that it's not so common. The meaning behind the tradition is to light the way for the Christ child to enter our home...

Jonas finally crashed as we finished setting out the luminarias. He's already got the Christmas excitement in full force!

After we prepared to have Him enter our home, we partook of a delicious "Bethlehem" dinner (utilizing a variety of foods found in the Bible).

Finally, we had our traditional Christmas Eve devotional. Danny played a couple Christmas hymns on the cello, we played a song that Amber sung and recorded, and Katie read a Christmas story tying Santa to the Christ child. This is what Christmas is all about - Christ. I love that we have traditions that bring our thoughts back to our Savior. We invite Him in, we dine with Him, and we remember Him. This is why I love Christmas Eve. Gma Penny prepared some fun songs too and gave the kids additional gifts. It was the perfect way to start our Christmas.

Dallin read the Christmas story from the Bible.