Gingerbread House

Grandma Hillan invited our family over for dinner and then to make a gingerbread house.  The boys were so excited and went right to work.

Nathan go a little sidetracked because the Broncos were playing and he wanted to cheer them on with Dad and Grandpa.

That meant Grandma and I had to help Kendall finish up the house and eat some Hershey's Kisses.  We had no problem doing both.

The Party on the Polar Express

Our ward put on a darling Christmas party. 

The kids received invitations at church and were thrilled to be able to attend in their jammies.

It was decorated like a big train station at the North Pole with tons of white snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.

We ate a delicious breakfast casserole, ham and pineapple from Tucanos, fruit, sweet orange rolls, and sipped on pipping hot- hot chocolate with all the fixins.

They had a sing along, skit form the Polar Express, a movie of the Piano Guys Christmas special about the Savior, and then the children got in line with the conductor to go on the train to go see Santa and get their bell.

So much work was put into this night and our family really appreciated feeling the spirit and the experience we had at the North Pole!

Christmas Tree Sleepover

This has got to be one of our favorite December traditions that we have. Our family sleepover under the tree.

The boys look forward to it for weeks.

We stayed up late and played games, sipped on hot chocolate, and read a ton of books.

It was finally time to go to sleep.

Kendall went first all snuggled up by my ear and....snoring.

Five minutes later, Justin was out and...snoring.  LOUD snoring.

Then twenty minutes later Nathan, on my other side was out and... yep, SNORING!

For forty minutes I listened to my choir of frogs.

I quietly snuck out and tiptoed into my own bed and guess what?  PEACE and QUIET! That's what!

  I slept like a baby and returned to the frogs early the next morning.

The Boxcar Children

Nathan had to read, The Boxcar Children, The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost, and then make some kind of game out of it.

He came up with a board and cards that have events from the book and depending on which on you draw, you can move forward or backwards.  When you advance and land on a ghost, you can flip it up to see how the boxcar children solved the mystery.

He presented it to his class and came home grinning because his teacher cave him a 4!

Hillbilly

Justin and I keep laughing every time we see Kendall and his little "hole" in his mouth. 

Dinner is Served

We were downstairs and heard the boys call, "Come and eat!"

The table had a setting for all of us.  Raspberry toast, applesauce, an orange, an apple, and a glass of milk.

The boys' had a grin all the way across their face and kept mentioning how "healthy" their choices were.

It was the most delicious dinner I had ever had!

Giggles...

Nathan: "Hey mom, when are you going to get me some of that deodorant stuff?"
Me: "I'm not sure, why?"
Nathan: "Because I'm sick of going around smellin' like a jerk!"

I was in the car and overheard a little conversation of Kendall's the morning...
Barrett (Kendall's friend): "Our elf, Buddy came to our house last night!"
Kendall: "Oh really?! Well... we actually have a real Buddy in our family.  He's one and he's alive."

Nathan: "I remember in first and second grade I got chased by a bunch of girls and I really liked it!"

Kendall: "You're just too easy to hug...That's why I love you!"

Kendall: "I'm afraid I can't let my mom go to your house cuz she's allergic to cats and dogs!" (They had no animals, he just did not want to go)

Kendall: "Are we waterproof and airproof?"

Kendall: "Jesus's town is in the clouds.  That bright spot is Jesus or angels in the clouds."

Kendall: "Oh you smell good! It makes me want to eat you because you smell sooo good!  Giggle!"

Nathan: "Popcorn is not a treat...it's corn!"

Nathan: "I repent... a lot!"

Kendall: "Hey mom, is Kendall my forwards name and Hillan my backwards name?"

Kendall age 5-6  Nathan 7-8

Skylar's Babtism

My Smith Family

 The finale of our Farmington Thanksgiving was the Baptism of sweet Skylar.  It was done at the stake center in Kirtland.

He was so shinny and handsome.  It made me wish my boys lived closer to all these kids.

After he was confirmed we had a photo shoot in the lobby.  Josh was the most excited.

 We took a few traditional cousin pictures and though it was fun it just wasn't complete without Sam, Amber and their girls there.

 "The Aunts" aka: funnest ladies west of the Mississippi.

Gram and her "special" granddaughters.

Apache Building

When I think back at my childhood, the church where I was raised in is a big part of my life.

It is the only one I have ever been into that has a stained glass picture of the Savior.

The words, "Not my will but thine be done" is etched on the bottom and thus has been etched into me.

I remember looking at that picture every Sunday and thinking how sad it was that apostles had fallen asleep under the tree when He was going through that.

The picture had deep meaning for me then but as I went back and looked at it, it had an even deeper meaning now.

 Uncle Sam was playing a song and the melody echoed up and down the isles and surrounded us with such a sweet feeling.

I love that place.

 

Time With the Ducks and Good People...

 Friday we met up with dad's side of the family at berg park.  Everyone was greeted with open arms and jumping up and down. 

It was such a bonus to see so many of the cousins I so love that had migrated down to Farmington as well.  My heart was full as I talked to all the uncles and aunts.  I feel so comforted by all of them and feel such a deep love for each.  I'm extremely lucky to have this on both sides of my family.

Aunt Peggy and Uncle Ron had bags of duck food for the kids.  It was such a treat.

The weather turned a bitter cold so we concluded in the Apache building with ball games, pizza, tours, and more visiting.

That night Uncle Jerry, Aunt Jeri, Aunt Cindi, Uncle Sam, Aunt Tammy, Brittany, Mom, Dad, Sara, Justin, and I laughed the roof off the hotel.  Seriously, It was a highlight for me and the next day my stomach was sore.

I am kicking myself for not getting anymore pictures of this day but I am glad I will always have the memories.