Christmas Eve

We were happy to have Grandma and Grandpa Taft come and spend Christmas with us this year. On Christmas Eve-Eve we went to Red Robin for dinner. Grandma says it's the kids favorite....I think it's hers!

   I saw this little onesie and couldn't resist it.  Good things DO come in small packages-especially this one!  We love our little Piper!!  She even got her first tooth on Christmas Eve.  The bottom left one.  It looks like the bottom right is soon to follow. 

Christmas Eve night we spent together as a family-reading the Nativity from the scriptures.

While we were reading, there was a LOUD knock on the door.  It was the elves delivering the kids Jammies!  They were all so excited to try them on.....

We made reindeer food so that the reindeer could spot our house and so that they would have something to eat while they were waiting for Santa.  It is a secret mixture including Oats, some glitter, and sugar sprinkles...

All tucked in and ready for bed.  This was the first year the kids all slept together in Parker and Pacie's room.  Presley ended up in, and then out of Pacie's bed and grandpa brought her upstairs sometime during the night.  The other three kids made it all night until the appointed time of 7 am.....

Trimming the Tree

For the first time this year, we had a fake, prelit tree upstairs. We got it last year just before Christmas and this was the first year we were able to use it. The best part? Not hanging the lights!!! We still had our real tree that we cut down in Island Park downstairs and I have to say, I LOVE having two trees. It's what we did growing up as well.
The kids had a great time helping us hang the ornaments. Each year I make a picture ornament of my kids. This year at preschool, we made "Naughty or Nice" ornaments for each child. On one side is the nice, sweet picture and on the other is the naughty, mean face. If the child is being good, the photo stays on the "nice" side. If not-well, you flip it to the naughty!! I think I should keep one of these around all of the time. It worked like a charm for Landon and Presley both-though they were a bit too keen on wanting to turn each other's ornaments to the naughty side! Piper had a blast too just hanging out watching the fun.

You can see Landon's "Nice" face above on the CD with the sequins on it.   Below is his Naughty face... Too funny.
I love having my house decorated for the Holidays.  I just hate taking it all down-my house feels so bare! So-we'll leave it all up as long as we can-until Scott goes crazy-usually New Year's Day...

Budding Basketball Star

Landon played YMCA basketball this year with a few of his friends. Although there was no dribbling, no real defense and rarely a shot made, he was in heaven learning the very basics of the game.
At his last game, my dad came to watch him play. Landon couldn't have been prouder to finish up! Scott played all through High School-so if he's anything like his dad, (Other than looking JUST like him) then I'm sure he'll continue his basketball playing well into his future.  Here's to you, Landon! Well done on finishing your first season!

Not a hot drink....just a little water provided by the kind YMCA folks!

Where did the time go?

My sweet chubby little Piper is 6 months old today.
How did that go by so quickly? She is an angel baby. And we couldn't love her more.

Thank heavens....

for our little boy.
Wow, I love him.
He is turning 5 on Saturday.  Five years ago I brought home a tiny tiny little baby.  When he was born he was 5 lbs. 5 oz.  When he came home he was around 4 lbs 8 oz.   Smaller than a 2 liter bottle of pop and fit inside his stocking.
He is all boy.  And so sweet.  And I thank my lucky stars every day that he came and blessed our home.

Thankful...

For a sweet handsome son...

For 3 beautiful daughters and a sweet niece Niamh....

For two amazing sisters...Sarah and Rachel

For a brand new "official" sister..Ashley

For my parent's new kitchen where we cooked our Thanksgiving dinner

For a sweet grandma who joined us for dinner.  She's a good neighbor too.

For two handsome brothers...

For a kids table that is bursting with children!...

For a sweet and healthy nephew, Liam and his faithful mom, Rach...

For Pip and Skip.....and spinach salads.....

For a mom and dad who are simply amazing....

For my sweet husband...(I am also thankful he doesn't always grow a handlebar mustache...just gross...)

For cousins so excited to see Tangled Thanksgiving night...Parker, Piper, Niamh and Pacie

For cousins who are also best friends....Presley and Bergin...

Landon and Ryan...(He wants to marry her in the Idaho temple....)

Skip and Pip..for being cute....

For my Sis.....

For a healthy baby who is growing like a weed....

For a brother who knows how to ruin a picture....

and for a brother who has a beautiful new wife who we miss as our neighbor already.....

For my brother and sister and nephew Jack who we miss all of the time...
(But we were thrilled to have them here for a week)

To my mom and dad for making memories like these for my kids.....

Again, my hot husband who I love more than words can say....

My sweeter than anything niece Ari!  (Excuse me but.....)

A dad who will play with the kids....

for hours in the snow!!.....

A sister who will borrow my rockin' 90's snowpants...

And frostbitten faces in the twilight.
We had such a great Thanksgiving with all of my family here.  I love having the cousins here for my kids to play. They all get along so well together and the grown ups had a good time too.
Thanks to my mom and dad for making it so nice for all of us.  I am thankful indeed!