A getaway weekend

We wanted to get out of the house one weekend during the winter and take the kids for a fun weekend. I found a fun hotel in Utah that had an indoor water park for kids. They LOVED it and we had a lot of fun. Minus waking up to a screw in our tire. Luckily there was a tire shop just down the road. Our tire was fixed in 20 minutes. We ate, slept, played, and shopped. It was fun to do something fun during a dreary Idaho winter.

Updated Picture of my Joys!

Just a recent picture of the two joys in my life. I love how they keep my laughing and enjoying life. Most days are filled with laughter, brother/sister fights, crying, and whinning. It is not bliss each day but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

New Years Eve

Jaman's mom called about a week before new year's and asked what we were doing. He said we were going to go to their house. His parents were in the process of remodeling their kitchen so she asked if we would host New Year's. He said sure. So all of his family came and stayed. All 5 bedroooms had couples and the basement was loaded with kids. We had a lot of fun. We stayed up so late playing games and eating. Oh did we eat. Everyone brought food and it was coming out our ears. Lots of lauging and great memories. The basement was such a mess we had to slide everything out of the way for kids to sleep. I was just fine with that. Messes in my eyes are memories. I love love our families. I love being able to be an hour and a half away from each one. That we can spend a lot of time with them. Holidays are always a reminder to me of how blessed I am with such wonderful people in my life.

Grandkid Nativity

One of my favorite things that my Dad and Mom do every year is a nativity with the grandkids. My mom should get a lot of the credit because she gets all the kids dressed up and that can be quite the task with so many grandkids. Brider played Joseph and Taylor was an angel this year. I am thankful that my mom has this desire. I love that she wants all her grandchildren to know the true meaning of Christmas. I love this tradition that my kids get to be a part of with their cousins.

More Christmas

We then moved on to opening presents. We had a good Christmas. I think the kids got a little bit too spoiled. Jaman spoiled me as usual. We had just got a new family car so the deal was to not really do a big Christmas for eachother. I held my end of the deal but Jaman didn't as usual. I should know by now. We let the kids play with all their stuff while Jaman and I made a yummy Christmas breakfast. Then we slowly got ready for the day and headed out to my parents for Christmas Day.

Santa

This picture of Taylor is literaly at 4 am. She came running in our room so excited she could hardly talk. It was fun to see how excited she was about the magic of Santa. We let her look at her stuff and then made her a bed on our floor hoping she would go back to sleep. Who were we fooling. She just kept asking is it almost morning yet. So Jaman got up with her and let me sleep.

Bridger on the other hand is a lot like his momma and loves his sleep. We finally let Taylor go and wake him at about 7:30. He was so excited as well.

Christmas Eve

Well this was the first year since we have had kids that we decided we wanted to do Christmas Eve with just our little family and stay home and wake up on Christmas at our house. And we LOVED it. One of the counselors I serve with in the primary told us of their Christmas Eve Day tradition and we decided to try it and I think we have a new family tradition. We got up that morning took the kids to IHOP for breakfast and then to the movies. It was a lot of fun being a little family and spending timewith just us. Then we went home and spent the rest of the afternoon together. We did a mini nativity with them so we could teach them the true meaning of Christmas. I love the wonderful spirit you feel when you do this. Taylor always takes it so serious and I love to know that she is soaking it all in and gaining a testimony of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In the evening the kids had a big bubble bath and opened their Christmas jammies. Then after a Christmas Book they were off to bed awaiting Santa.