Brunson Medical Center

Bridger was pushing around his big trucks one morning like he usually does. This boy loves his trucks and cars. I was busy packing for our trip the next day. They next thing I heard was a big scream. Bridger had pushed his big truck across the rug and it had got caught on it and he flipped over and landed right on his chin on the tile. I went running and saw blood. He had hit perfectly and split his chin open. I knew he needed stitches. Taylor has had 3 sets so I knew he needed them. I was sick of paying for stitches especially since they leave a scar anyways. I was about to head in when my sister that was there with me said she had some steri strips and the medical glue they use. She is a surgical tech at a local hospital. So I said sure. It was under his chin and you wouldn't see it. So I let her work her magic. She was very sanitary and cleaned him up really good and steri stripped him up. She did really good. He has a tiny scar and it healed great. I was thankful for her and her knowledge. The sad part was we went to Salt Lake then next day to stay for a few nights and the poor boy could not swim. I felt so bad. It broke my heart because he wanted to so bad but I knew he couldn't.

Winter Months Stuck Inside

This is a picture overload of some happenings inside during the cold winter months. I love when I can come in the living room and find all this kids snuggled together all on their own. We are definitely not the perfect family and I would be lying if I didn't say our two oldest kids fight a lot. Some days it literally makes me go crazy. But then they can turn around and be best friends. I know without a doubt they really love each other. They are so protective of each other around other kids and it makes them sad if one of them gets hurt. Hopefully someday they will grow out of it. I love the pictures of the boys. They are cleaning baseboards. Bridger really wanted to earn money to buy a pair of binoculars. Real ones so he could spot with deer with his dad. I told him he could do a few extra chores to earn some money. He worked so hard. He scrubbed and scrubbed baseboards and helped organize some kitchen drawers with me. It was cute that Lincoln wanted to be right by his side. I can already tell these two are going to be great pals.  We definitely love to have lots of play dates. We were so sad to have our next door neighbors move. The kids have missed having them so close but we are thankful they are building their house only a few miles away.

First Sledding

There is always lots of this in the winter at our house. It is the kids favorite winter activity. To be pulled by Dad behind the four wheeler all over the yard and in the field. Lincoln sure loved this. This was his first time out in the snow. He cried so hard when I brought him in. Winters in Idaho are always so long but I am thankful for sledding to get us through them!

Christmas 2012

We 

We had such a wonderful Christmas. I think Christmas is better as a parent than a kid. I think I am just as excited as the kids. I can't wait till I hear little footsteps coming up the stairs to take a peek at what Santa has left. The kids got plenty spoiled this year. Santa left them kindle fires and they have been the greatest things ever. They love doing learning games as well as they are perfect with headphones when we travel to grandparents. Every year I think they wake earlier and earlier. Bridger actually slept in this year until 7am. I think Taylor was up at 4am. Jaman and I usually just get up with them. We figure it is one day a year and it is fun to be with the kids. Lincoln like eating wrapping paper and playing with boxes. It is funny at this age that the packaging is more exciting.  We spent the morning together as our little family. Had a good Christmas breakfast and then when the kids were ready we headed to Jaman's parents this year for the rest of the day! I love the magic of Christmas. There is no better thing than to be able to be with family and celebrate the birth of our Savior. (One of our favorite traditions we started last year was wrapping up 25 Christmas books and putting them under the kids Christmas tree in the basement and each night the kids open one and we read it. We read to the kids each night anyways but it is fun to read these books that I keep boxed away. They are always fresh stories.)

Christmas Cousin Fun

It is always a treat to have cousins come and visit and stay with us. We had already decorated houses but I had seen this idea online so I let the kids decorate sugar cones as Christmas trees. They had lots of fun. I have to giggle at Taylor's crazy hair. I can tell they had a fun sleepover the night before. Making memories with cousins is important to us. I love the fun memories I have that I had with cousins growing up. I hope our kids can continue to have lots and that they will cherish and remember the times too. It is days like this when for the most part the kitchen is filled with lots of kid jokes and kid laughs. I can't help but smile and not get caught in the moment of how important family is to me. I love all my family on both sides. I feel so lucky to have a wonderful family and to have married in to such an awesome family.

Nativity

 Usually we do the nativity with all the cousins on my side of the family but this year we were spending Christmas with Jamans family so we did our own little nativity. We really want our kids to gain a testimony of the true meaning of Christmas. It is always so fun to teach the kids about our Saviors birth. I am thankful for the knowledge we have of Him. I am thankful for this time of year we get to spend more time focusing on His birth.

Gingerbread Houses

Every year we do gingerbread houses as a family. Usually we divide into boy and girls. Taylor really wanted to do one on her own this year so I said I could just be the camera girl. She did well. The boys worked hard on their masterpiece as well. Lincoln doesn't have to have much to be happy. Gingerbread house instructions tonight did the trick. I sure love this time of year when we get to do lots of fun family traditions. I love having our house full of holiday giggles. I love the magic of this time of year!