A Random Assortment of our Life's Happenings

With Bella gone at school all day, I spend a lot of time with these two little stinkers. As you can see, I often resort to, well, let's just call it "motivation", to get through basic grocery shopping trips.

I love the conversations that I have with Ezra and Cali through out our days together. Recently, Ez said this to me:
Ezra: "Mom, see your jacket on the floor over there?"
Me: "Yes, I see it."
Ezra: "Well, is that where it belongs?"
It's a funny experience to have your kids turn things around on you!

Bella and I took a quick trip to Portland so that we could be at my niece, Brittany's, wedding. I can hardly believe that my sister has a daughter that is married now!!! I remember the day Britt was born. Wow...it really makes me ponder how quickly the days are turning to years and how short this life really is! Brittany made a BEAUTIFUL bride and her husband, Stuart, seems like such a wonderful person. So very happy for them!




Blaine stayed home with Cali and Ez. Here is a picture Blaine texted me of Cali that said, "She is talking to you on the phone." I missed my little ones but it was really great to have some one on one time with Bella.

One of the things I love most about Blaine is how engaged he is with our kids. He loves to take them to the park, play "mop tag" with them, or get them out in the snow. Here is an igloo that he spent hours on one day.


And here they are sledding down a nearby hill. They always have SO MUCH FUN! It kind of scares me to see how fast they get going down the hill! But, it is clear they are having a blast, especially Ezra...he just cruises down with no fear while whooping and hollering joyfully the whole way.

And here is Cali and her best buddy, Ben. They were born on the same day at the same hospital. Sarah and I do a weekly trade so that we can each get a morning to run errands while our kids have a playdate. Every single week when Ben arrives, Cali goes and gets him a sucker, or in this case, SEVERAL suckers!

If I have it my way, these two will be married someday! As a mother, I totally believe in arranged marriages...don't you?

Christmas Memories

December, oh December! Such a FUN and EXHAUSTING month! In fact, I'll probably need to take a nap after I compose this blog post...just remembering all of December's activities has me feeling tired! But, even so, it is always a magical month and I hope that my kids will grow up with fun memories of the Christmas seasons of their youth.

We started a new family tradition this year by making a blanket to donate to a shelter. Here we are making this Mickey Mouse blanket. Although the kids were wishing it was for them, they understood and caught on to the spirit of giving it to someone who needs it more than they do. We have plans to do this every December now.





Cali and Ez show off their cuteness in "Back to Bethlehem" costumes for a church activity.

You can never be too careful, I suppose, when putting in your Christmas list request. Sometimes you just need to visit the old man twice in one month to ensure that he's really clear on what you want! So, that is what we did this year.




Grandma and Grandpa H spent Christmas with us this year.


And, just like we do every year, we spent Christmas Eve with the Angus cousins. Here are all of the cousins freshly changed into their Christmas Eve pajamas.

I love that Christmas is filled with so many traditions. I think it will be the small things that are repeated every year that the kids will always remember...like sleeping on our floor Christmas Eve. Here they are ready to hunker down for the night after an evening with the cousins, putting out the Reindeer food, and cookies and milk for Santa.


Christmas was on a Sunday this year. So, the kids woke up and got to play with their Santa gifts and their stalking gifts, but had to wait until after church to open the other presents. It was really great because it made Christmas last longer and we got to worship and remember the true meaning of Christmas, which too often gets lost in the fun of unwrapping the presents.




It was indeed, a Very Merry Christmas for all!