Christmas 2014

This year we spent Christmas in Boise.  It was 10 days filled with large family gatherings, Christmas shopping, a date for Tony and my upcoming 12th anniversary, and various other activities.  We enjoyed our time there but I was certainly glad when we made it home with our own space and beds.  All the merry making and constant running around can really take it out of you, especially if you're 8 months pregnant!  I have to say I'm a bit sad at the limited number of pictures we have to document our time, but it is what it is.  So I'll share what we've got.

Tony's mom waited until we came into town to get their tree so my kids could experience the whole "picking out a tree" and "decorating the tree" thing.  We had kind of a hard time finding a tree lot and then when we did all that was left were the big ones.  But we were able to get a discount so a normally $70 tree was $40 made it worth the trouble.

Carson

Alaina

Charlie

I'm rearranging the kids decorations and trying to reach the top without toppling over myself.

The kids also made ginger bread houses with their cousins.  I have to admit this isn't usually something we do around the holidays but the kids had fun for the short amount of time their houses actually stayed up.

Carson

Alaina

Charlie

  And yes even I joined in to make a house.  The kids quickly devoured their houses, especially Charlie.

So come Christmas morning I got some videos of the kids opening presents and such.  But totally spaced getting pictures on Christmas Eve of the kids acting out the nativity or wearing their Christmas p.j.s.  I also never got pictures of the kids with all their gifts like I usually do.  I'll blame it on pregnancy brain combined with the ciaos of Christmas morning.

But all in all we had a good Christmas and the kids were thrilled with all their gifts.  I have to admit that I always look forward to Christmas but I'm glad when it's all said and done.  Now that all the festivities are almost over I can start concentrating on getting ready for the baby.  He'll be here in about 8 weeks, so we'd better get busy!

Carson's Ode to me ;)

The following is a "paper" my son wrote for school.  I find it sort of amusing and I guess I must be doing something right.

Do you have someone who talks to you, spends time with you, and takes you shopping?  Well, I do, and she loves me very much.  She talks to me even when I am having a bad day, like a few weeks ago. I was having a really bad evening. She said it was time to get off Netflix, but, I didn’t want to.  So I kicked my shoe and got grounded for a week, then I slammed my door and got grounded for two weeks.  Even though my Mom holds me responsible for my actions, I still love her. 

She spends time with me when we go to Surf ‘n’ Slide.  We go on the slides together and we also go on the lazy river together. I like spending time with my Mom. 

She takes me shopping for food and clothes.  She also takes me shopping for Christmas gifts.  And that’s what my Mom does with me.  She takes me shopping, spends time with me, and talks to me. I love my Mom.

Brian & Collette's Pictures

Just a sample of some pictures I took over Thanksgiving of my brother's family.

Life is Full of Uncertainty

This morning I was looking at my Time hop account and read something I had posted 5 years ago to Facebook.  I was hoping that life would sort itself out.  At first I had to laugh because here I am 5 years later still waiting for "life to sort itself out".  But then I really began to think.  5 years ago we were recovering from Tony's lay off from Diamond Z.  He hated his job with IDCS, but we were grateful for the job.  We were starting to throw the idea around of Tony going back to school, and I was doing the working mom thing with 2 kids.  The housing market was horrible and the nation was in the midst of an economic downturn.  So yes at that time our lives were full of uncertainty and I wanted things to sort themselves out.  Fast forward to the present.  Tony is a recent engineering graduate.  Working a new job and in a new place.  We're expecting our fourth child and are faced with the difficulties of how best to take care of our growing family and growing responsibilities.  Again our lives are full of uncertainty and I'd really like "life to sort itself out".  But then again aren't our lives almost always full of uncertainty?  I mean there is always something.  Whether it's something big like a new house, a job, or a new baby.  Or something small like what's for dinner, getting kids from point A to point B, or what do we do for FHE this week.  We never can know and plan every aspect of our lives.  There will always been something unexpected that comes up that needs our attention.  But what I think I've learned today is that we can't wait for "life to sort itself out".  We have to be an active participant in our lives and do the sorting out ourselves.  Sure there are times when you just have to let things happen how they're going to and you do the best with what you are given.  But then there are times that you can decide how your life is going to be played.  So I pray that with the help of my Heavenly Father and Family I will be able to let things go when I have no control over what is happening and then pick up the pieces the best I can.  And that I'll be able to have the courage and strength to make the things happen in my life that I do have control over.  So for now that means I am not going to worry about when baby boy makes his appearance, but remain hopeful that it's before my sister-in-laws wedding.  And I am going to figure out what's for dinner.  I encourage each of you to do the same.        

Pictures

A few weeks ago we finally got the kids pictures done.  It's been a pretty wet October here and so trying to get said pictures done hasn't been easy.  So we set off on a Saturday we didn't have anything going on, I know it was a miracle, to capture our kiddos yearly progression.  After finding that our chosen park for said pictures was closed for the season, didn't know cities even did that, we made do.  I have to admit that this years photo shoot wasn't as "easy" as in years past but we got a few cute ones in there.  Hopefully you all enjoy them. 

 Charlie

 Alaina

 Carson

  All our kiddos...until February anyway.

Halloween 2014

This year I made Carson and Alaina's costumes again.  I actually really enjoy making the kids costumes, even though it's a bit stressful.  They always turn out better than those cheaply made, overpriced ones you buy at the store.

 Carson the pirate.

 Alaina the witch.

 Charlie the teenage mutant ninja turtle.  Sorry kiddo.  When you've got an older brother that means you wear the costume we have that's in your size.

Ready for a night of trunk or treating.  We opted to join in the festivities at our church.  Hot dogs, Hot chocolate, cotton candy, and three wards worth of trunks to get candy from.  Awesome!

Carson's turns 10

All of the kids birthday's have been pretty low key this year.  Dinner of their choice, cake, and presents.  Carson requested Papa Murphy's pizza.  It was so nice to not have to make dinner.  He also requested an ice cream cake with Optimus Prime.  Yes, mommy took the easy way and just bought a toy as decoration.  As each birthday passes Tony and I rack our brains to figure out something to give the kids that's not just another toy.  So this year Carson got a BB gun and a nice Frisbee.  He hasn't had a chance to use the BB gun yet.  He has to read the owner's manual and the hunter's safety manual before Tony will take Carson out.  As each year passes I can hardly believe how big my kids are getting.  Carson is growing into a wonderful, responsible young man.  We are frequently told what a great kid he is, and I have to agree.  He really is a great kid and we're so proud of him.