Happy Birthday Cason

Our New Year's Eve is always a dual celebration as we celebrate the New Year AND we celebrate C.  This year C turned 15 and he definitely has dreams of a driver's permit topping his wish list (key word = "wish")

C had really hoped for a pair of Van's Old Skool shoes for Christmas and when they didn't show up under the Christmas tree he held out hope they would make an appearance on his birthday...so of course I had to wrap his shoes in a really big box to throw him off.  He was pretty dang disappointed that there was not a shoe box among any of his gifts (insert evil laugh).

His brothers were so thoughtful to get him stylish church socks, his sister got him a ticket to see AJR in concert and, his parents came through with the shoes.

I know it's just the angle of the photo...but those are some BIG shoes!

C's birthday dinner (for the umpteenth year running) was Costco pizza and his cake was a classic homemade yellow with chocolate frosting.  This kid has his birthday routine down.

And with his Birthday Celebration done....C was off to party with friends!

I LOVE this boy of mine who is so much fun to have around, who keeps me laughing and who never let's me take life too seriously.  AND he still gives his mom hugs!!!  It doesn't get any better than C!

a cousin "Par-Tee"

We had such a fun time spending a rainy, post-Christmas afternoon with cousins at Top Golf.  The golfing was pretty ugly but there was lots of laughter and encouragement that made up for what we lacked in skill.

Thanks to Geoff & Saralyn for the invite!

{K} she's slightly less wise

Five days before Christmas, K had oral surgery to remove all four wisdom teeth.

She did great with the surgery and with the recovery but her cheeks were really swollen for a long time afterwards and there was even bruising on the right side.  

So this post serves more as an explanation as to why every photo of her this Christmas was posed to cover the right side of her face....it was intentional and she was a good sport to be willing to have photos despite the purple chipmunk cheeks.

K & C Throwback

Then...

Now...

What a difference ten years make!!!

and

How has it been ten years???

Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas...the photo on the stairs, waiting to go see what Santa brought is a must!

 

Speaking of Santa...he obviously did NOT get the memo that I have said "no" to this bear every Costco trip that I have made with T for years....but I couldn't convince T that it had been delivered to our house in error.  The highlight of T's day!

 

The highlight of my day was that Tanner and Conner were in town and were able to spend a couple of hours with us on Christmas morning.  It has been a long time since we have had all the kids together on Christmas day and I loved it.

 

And just some of my favorites pictures of the day.....I love these kids and I love their appreciation and gratitude that they show for the gifts that they receive.  I also love that they get gifts for each other and I often feel that they are as excited about those gifts being given as they are for the gifts they receive.



Christmas Eve 2017

Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday so we were able to have reason to get dressed up and attend church, which I loved.  Our ward has a tradition of reading letters written from missionaries that are serving from the ward on the Sunday before Christmas.  I love getting to hear how each missionary is doing and they generally share neat experiences and great testimonies.

After church we went to Beaverton to have dinner with Geoff & Saralyn and Matt & Kathryn and their kids.  I really am glad that we have family nearby and am grateful for the opportunities we have to spend time with them.  Our time as a family was cut short as a snow storm had hit and we were a bit nervous of staying too long and getting snowed in...I know it doesn't look like much but Portland doesn't do snow so this was a big deal!

 

We began our Christmas Eve tradition by each of the kids reading a Christmas book of their choice.

C read "The Three Trees"

J read "Redheaded Robbie's Christmas Story"

K read "Christmas Day in the Morning" 

T read "The Legend of the Candy Cane"

We ended with the reading of Luke from the Bible.

 

The kids also each open one gift from one of their siblings....I love the thought that goes into the gifts that the kids give to each other.  Lots of smiles and hugs all around.

Merry Christmas....from our family to yours

Happy Birthday Jake

How is it possible that my J is 11?

He celebrated with his friends a couple of days before his actual birthday by having a Waffle Bar and Hot Cocoa Bar for breakfast at our house and then going to see the movie "Ferdinand" at the theater.  

J has such a nice group of friends and I was glad that most of them were available to come even with J's birthday falling so close to Christmas.

We celebrated J as a family on his actual birthday and were glad that Tanner and Conner were both in town and available to join us.  J received a new (much needed) bicycle as his birthday gift, he chose Welch Cakes for his birthday breakfast, Bacon-Bacon-Bacon Pizza for his birthday dinner and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake for his birthday cake.

A little birthday tribute to J..... his birth was such a special experience to me...coming four years after his older brother, and after multiple miscarriages, I wondered if we would ever experience a baby in our home again.  His arrival was a miracle and one that I cherished as the blessing that it was.  The sacredness was not lost on me as I sat in a hospital room, just days before Christmas, with a newborn in my arms.  His arrival changed me in countless ways.  I am a better mom because of J.

I love this young man fiercely and am so glad to have him, his humor and his kindness in our family.

Happy Birthday J!!!!