Smiling into the {New Year}

I'm finishing up our family album for 2009 & I'm smiling with happiness. Overall, it's been a great year! I think its a great time to reflect & set goals to improve in the new year. I'm so grateful for the wonderful memories we've had this year & look forward to new ones & more learning & growth in the new year. We have a GREAT life and one of my many goals for this new year is to be grateful & more giving of my time and myself. My list of goals is long & I hestitate to write resolutions because I have so many goals to achieve and I know success in new years resolutions come in a short & simple list....I'll have to work on that:)

One of the reasons I'm smiling is good friends. We wanted to do a New Years Eve party but knew babysitters would be scarce on this particular evening. As I was talking to my friend Jenn she came up with the brilliant idea of hosting the kids at her house (we share a back fence so I couldn't live closer to anyone else) & consolidating babysitters (we found 3). I knew if we hosted a party that included children that we'd have a very small guest list & many interruptions. It worked out perfectly & Jaden had his party which he loved & we had ours.....with great company I might add. Another goal...be a better picture taker. I used to be good but I've been slacking.

Another reason I'm smiling...Landon. This boy is PARTICULAR! He won't wear his coat or snow clothes plus refuses to wear certain shirts & pants. He's spent winter this far in a jacket. Today we were blessed with an enormous amount of snow & I was determined to get Landon to enjoy it. After a screaming/fighting fit while I dressed him in his snow clothes I succeeded in getting him bundled. After a sleigh ride around the block we all returned home to help Chris shovel. Landon couldn't get enough & was the last one to come in. In Idaho, you have to find joy in the snow or else you would be miserable. I'm grateful this little boy found joy in it today. He's such a cutie!

A wonderful Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. How quickly it goes....

For Christmas Eve we went to my Grandma Hendricks. I love traditions & I'm so glad that my kids get to have some of the ones that I did growing up. We always do the same thing; dinner, the nativity, & Christmas pajamas. Afterwards we always go over to my parents for egg nog & sprite and adult pjs!

After we returned home we had a surprise for the boys. We got them bunkbeds for Christmas & didn't know how to have them be a Christmas Present so we told them that Christmas Elves came on Christmas Eve & left them the bunk beds. THEY LOVED THEM!!! They giggled & were so excited! Last night we invited Gracie over for a sleepover on the bunkbeds. They were up until 11pm.

On Christmas we opened presents with our little family. I was so glad to see both boys being appreciate for the gifts they recieved. They started with stockings & didn't even remember they had any presents to open because they enjoyed their stocking stuffers so much. We had to remind them to keep opening presents...it was cute.

After lunch we headed to Rexburg for our annual prime rib dinner (YUMMY!!!). It was so fun to hang out & visit. The kids enjoyed rides behind the 4-wheeler, we watched old family Christmas Videos, the kids played & opened more presents...we were really spoiled.

How I'm sad to see if over but I'm excited to set new years resolutions & start a new year:):):)

The story of SANTA & two little boys!

(Caution....these pictures aren't very clear. They are a picture of a picture since my scanner isn't working. Double click on story to make it larger)

The Joy of Giving!

I appreciate the bell ringers of the Salvation Army. They've become such a part of our Christmas Season and a GREAT reminder for my kids to give.

Every store that has a bell ringer can expect Jaden to dig through my purse to produce something to give. Landon has caught onto this magic too! Unfortunately multiple stores can create a problem in one day if I haven't replenished my cash & change and the other day upon approaching Sams Club I saw Landon face light up...digging in my purse I was only able to product 2 pennies! Somewhat embarrassed I hoped that bell ringer didn't notice the small amount that Landon placed in his basket. I'm sure one day soon they'll have a credit/debit card swiper to take donations:)

I've noticed that the bell ringers really appreciate it when it's a child that is doing the giving....an important lesson at a young age. Today as Jaden and I went to Walgreens together the bell ringer quickly gave Jaden a candy cane & told him thank you. Jaden replied "can I get one for my brother Landon." I love it when he has his little brother in mind.

I haven't been a great picture taker this last month but here's some of the fun that we've been having.

Our Ginger Bread houses were really intended for a Monday night activity but a busy evening didn't leave enough time...we did let the boys pick out candy that evening.

The next day we invited Gracie over to make a small house. They really did a great job considering they were only 4. Landon did a great job of eating his as he went:)

Here's the new favorite house during the winter. Jenna & Matt's house is on a hill, therefore the kids have a place to sled that isn't too far from home. Jaden has spend several different days sledding down their hill. They think it's great. Maybe we'll have to try Jaden's ski's (getting them for Christmas...I'm going to start taking him skiing this year) on the hill.

A Tender Moment

Life is crazy, busy right now. I notice that my crazy life affects my childrens attitude and happiness.

That's why I'm grateful for a moment like I just had...especially because Jaden seldomly is tender and is almost always ALL BOY!

As we sat down for prayers Jaden gently grabbed my face and said "mom, you have pretty eyes". I instantly grabbed him in a big hug and told him that "you have beautiful eyes". I totally mean it too, I love his sparkly eyes. He informed me that his eyes were flat and that all kids had flat eyes...hmmm, not sure what that means. Then he proceeded to tell me again. His hands kept softly grabbing my face.

I have to cherish these tender moments:)

On to Christmas

It's amazing how quickly Thanksgiving comes & goes! Sometimes I think it gets lost in the rush to Christmas but I think it's such a great holiday to reflect on what we are thankful for....something that often gets forgotten in our busy lives.

This year we hosted Chris's family for thanksgiving. Since both sides of my family are very large we will probably never host them but his family is a much more manageable size for Thanksgiving.

Chris mom arrived on Tuesday, his brother on Wednesday, & his sister Thursday + their families. We've had a week full of visitors.

On Thanksgiving we of course ate, the guys played x-box, the kids played, & then we celebrated Chris's sister son's birthday (his b-day was last week).

The day after Thanksgiving we pulled out all the Christmas Decorations. I'm so glad that my kids find this task so enjoyeable, I really don't. It wasn't something I was looking forward too. Both of the boys were Giddy & Excited and Jaden literally put our tree together by himself. He's so smart! Landon danced in circles...so adorable!

Later that evening we headed to Rexburg for Santa, fireworks, & a chili dinner. All we had to do was bring a gift for each persons admittance. Beforehand we let Jaden pick out 4 toys at the store and although it was hard for him to realize these gifts weren't for him, it was such a good opportunity to show him how to share & think of others. The boys were freezing and ready to go home until the fireworks began. They love them! Landon kept saying "wow". Fireworks against a cold clear sky are really a neat site.

Now, I'm tired & sick but feel like I'm staying caught up & that's a GREAT feeling!

Reflection

I'm not any good at these types of posts but I have seriously had warm feelings this week & I know it's because my life is so blessed so here's my attempt to be grateful for my week. I decided only to reflect on my week because my life is so full & my list would never end.

My church and the knowledge that it brings. It's such a blessing to have such a foundation in my life. This blesses my life daily!

My Boys! Chris has been travelling the last 3 weeks (a fact I choose only to share after he's returned home). It's so nice to have his travelling done for the year and to see the excitement of the boys when he returns home; and we did sneak a visit in last week. These boys make my life full! (Landon in this pic just wasn't happy & we couldn't get a good one, but this one does reflect real life).

My parents! (Had to scan this pic in). My mother is such a good moral compass for me. This week I've had some worries & I really make the very best effort to be the best person that I can be. I call her so that she can help me & tell me if I'm wrong or right....I love it when she tells me I'm right:) It's a relief to know that she's such a fair person. My dad loves to spoil his family! We feel his love all the time.

Great friends! This week has been so busy. I've realized that with Chris gone I only spent one night without someone at my house keeping me company. The party on Wednesday was such a success that instead of it ending at 8:30 pm it ended after 10pm. And I got to enjoy Friday with friends again celebrating a Birthday and going to NEW MOON (so good btw).

My sisters! Can I just say I LOVE THEM! I love having Jenna live here and to Britt, you just need to move closer. This week Britt found tickets to Atlanta for a fabulous price. We were all ready to jump on them but wanted to check with sister-in-laws. In the mean time they shot up WAY high! I'm sure it's because we are supposed to wait and purchase them at even a cheaper price...so on this one, I'm grateful they are going to be cheaper:) We are going to get them and have a fun girls week in a warmer climate!

These are just a few of my blessings that I'm grateful for!