Photos that bring out LOVE & GRATITUDE!!!

While we were at Bear Lake this summer we were able to get photos taken of our family and of each of the kids individually.  I am not sure where the time is going, but as I look at these photos I realize that somehow my kids are growing up!  And growing up fast!

I am SO grateful to be their mom!  

I love them in their good moments and love them, sometimes even more, in their not so good moments.

I have hopes and dreams for each of them but really my greatest desire is that they will succeed in attaining their own hopes and dreams.

I am humbled by the responsibility and the trust given to me when the Lord entrusted me with these precious little people, who are so much better than I have ever been.

Thanks for letting me be your mom....there is nothing else I would rather be doing with my life at this time than waking up every day to this family of mine.

And what made this photo shoot even better was that the reason for it was to gather THIS group of people for an extended family shoot.

This picture makes my heart so happy!

I love my family so much!  

I have no idea what I did to get so lucky to be born to the parents I was born to, with the brothers I have and their beautiful families that they have each created.  

If I succeed in being half the parent that my own parents have been to me then I will feel like a success!

Christmas 2014

 Merry Christmas 2014.

We were able to celebrate our first Christmas in our new home which made it kind of special.

In the end Santa found us, 

the kids were very generous to each other, 

everyone received a few surprises, 

everyone also received some "outing" gifts to be celebrated later in the year 

and I think the day was a success.

Christmas Card Wishes 2014

It is hard to believe that another year has gone by and we find ourselves on the eve of Christmas.

We are so grateful for the many friends and family that make our lives meaningful and special and wish you all a 

Very Merry Christmas!

This year we had a second Christmas Card that went out to Rich's clients.

What a great looking family (wink, wink)

Holiday Door Results

The door votes are in.

This year we had 19 people vote and the results were all VERY close!

Give me a drum roll please....

Door #1 The Christmas Story Lamp

made by C

won for "FUNNIEST"

Door #2 Visit to the North Pole
made by J & T
won for "overall FAVORITE"

Door #3 Santa gets Stuck

made by mom :)

won for "most FESTIVE"

Door #4 Rudolph in the Dark

made by K

won for "most CREATIVE"

Thanks to all who voted!

It's GREAT TO BE EIGHT!

The wet weather in the forecast dried out, and the sun even peeked through the clouds shortly, so I made haste and off to the temple grounds J and I went so that we could take some "Baptism" photos.

The big day is less than two weeks away!

Luckily for me, what I lack in photo skill J totally makes up for in handsomeness.

LOVE how the pictures all turned out!

LOVE this kid!

LOVE you J!

J's EIGHT!!!

You have heard it before, because I know I have said it before, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

I can't believe that my J is eight!

And all day today I would look at him and be struck with how grown up he really is.

He and I enjoyed a morning out together....grabbing breakfast at a  restaurant and then finishing up some Christmas shopping.

We arrived home and had the task of finishing making his cake and then it was time to W-A-I-T!

No presents or cake until after dinner and when you are out of school, and eight years old, that wait can feel like an eternity (to the birthday boy, not the mom :)

But presents and cake (mint brownies to be exact) finally came....

J at EIGHT

Favorite FOOD: pizza

Food I'd rather AVOID: broccoli

Favorite COLOR: red

Best FRIENDS: Boomer & Alex

Things I do well: sports & geography

Things I need to practice more: soccer

Favorite GAME: uno

Favorite PLACE to go: disneyland

Favorite MOVIE: bee movie

Favorite HOLIDAY: christmas

Favorite CHORE:dusting

Place I want to visit: hawaii

Favorite SPORT: soccer

What I want to be when I GROW UP: doctor

{Advent} Week #3

{Dec 14} Neighbor Treats

Remember all that fudge?  Six batches to be exact.  We didn't eat it all.  In fact, we ate very little of it because we packaged it all up in cute little boxes and delivered it to friends and neighbors.

{Dec 15} Mr. Finnegan's Giving Chest

It was J's turn to pick the Holiday book and he and T snuggled together into bed to listen to it together.

{Dec 16} Hot Cocoa Bar

The weather cooperated quite well by having a chill in the air....a perfect day for our Hot Cocoa Bar that we enjoyed when the kids walked in the door from school.

{Dec 17} Wrap Gifts
Hard to wrap gifts when they are still not all bought.....ugghhh!!!

{Dec 18} Holiday Movie
C had basketball practice.....mom had a gathering with friends.....so Rich took K, J and T to the high school choir concert and that was the evenings activity because it was TOO LATE to begin a movie when we all got home.

{Dec 19} Sleep Under the Tree

Mom, J and T still believe in sleeping under the tree and I am so glad that I still have a couple of kids to give me reason to fall asleep under the lights of the tree.  I LOVE THIS TRADITION!

{Dec 20} Christmas Lights
Our family was asked to be the neighborhood judges for the Christmas lights contest this year.
Not an easy task because there are a lot of homes with a lot of light displays.
Also not an easy task because there are six members of our family and everyone has a different definition of what deserves 1st place :)