I celebrate Christmas!

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

The other night my husband said that telling your kids about Santa is mean. My sister said something like "so you want your kids NOT to experience the excitement, the love, and the joy of getting a gift from an unknown giver? ok, well how will you teach them about this then?" I don't really know who's right, but i have yet to hear someone complain about having Santa as a tradition in their family. I love little traditions like this, as long as things like presents dont overtake the true meaning of the season. My little sis and brother are "little elves" at christmas time. They leave little things on people's doorsteps to hopefully make them smile. I love this!

There is something that amazes me about this "childlike faith." We told Natty and Rylie the story of the first Christmas and they absolutely LOVED it. They were so happy that Jesus was once a little baby and kid like they are right now. They loved that he had a momma and daddy like they do and they loved the picture of Mary holding baby Jesus. They especially liked the new star, because it was so pretty and bright! If only everyone would recognize the reality of the joy that comes with this wonderful story! If only everyone was so willing to believe in something they cannot now see! How grateful I am that i have been taught this story, for i am happy because of it!

Semester OVER

This is my family at Red Robin, enjoying a complemetary meal because my husband is so smart! [the picture is pretty lame. the lighting was terrible and the girl who took it got her finger in it! haha!]He won a stock exchange contest in his accounting program at school and the teacher gave him a gift card. Sweet deal.

We had a crazy sleep over the other night. They always make each other laugh!


My beautiful girls with their cute socks, boots, and coats!


Oh yeah, and our fall school semester is over! wahoo!!!!!!

i love chocolate milk with bendy straws.

today i realized how much i love spending time with little kids.
yes it can be slightly crazy at times. but not all the time.
and mostly it's just fun.
kids get excited over little things, like stickers.
or bendy straws. or chocolate milk. or couch-forts!
even a simple, "good job" will light up their eyes.

I picked up J and T from school today with Nan, Ry, and Harrison in the car. We were of course listening to a song i have heard one million and two times, maybe more. then all of a sudden i pushed the brakes on the car (and let off) to the beat of the song. J laughed the cutest laugh i have heard from him in a LONG time. So, with five seconds of really annoying, and quite nerdy car driving, i got a laugh, and it made me laugh. soon everyone was laughing. over nothing.

how wonderful life is! i will admit that i am not always the best at being a mom. it isn't as natural to me as i wish it was, but oh(!) how thankful i am to have the choice to spend my time with these little ones! how blessed i am because of their sweet, curious souls! what i give up is a mere penny to the billions i get in return!

it's cold and icy, mama!

i go on walks in the morning with my friend Natalie. it finally is getting cold here in sunny st.george and if you know my girls they are wusses about the cold, just like their mama. so this is Nan and Ry all bundled up. When we got outside Rylie said "it's cold and icy, mama!" and in less than 10 minutes both girls were whining to go home. the next day they stayed home with michael and when i came back from my walk, they ran and hugged me, then rubbed my face to warm up my "cold and icy cheeks!"

i melt...

when i see this.
sometimes my girls have moments like these. and (only for a second) they make me think they are still little babies falling asleep anywhere they please.

chardon. kaychael. blaven?

Yep. i am getting another sister :)
Blake proposed to Haven wednesday night!
crazy kids! they are way excited though.
[March is the month of choice, but we will see what happens]
more updates to come!

her pretty ring:



oh yeah. and this is my sister's crazy boyfriend, Jer. i dont think i will ever get over this picture. and yes it's 100% real.

you and i met passing by...

and now our spirits feel warm.
seriously.
i marvel at how much my Father & Savior love me.
and why. (why in the world?) after so many disappointments on my part.
i have been so blessed these last few months.
i have gotten everything i could possibly want.
and what i really need.
the loveliest friend anyone could ask for.
the chance to serve.
strength from the book of mormon.
reconnecting with a sister.
a thanksgiving i wont forget.
all the things i was praying for.
even with all my shortcomings.
people are right when they say life isnt fair.
but at the same time they have it all wrong.

I am thanful for...

God. Christ. Michael. Nan. Ry. Family.

Friends. Scripture. Church. St.George. Home.

We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving. It was a really fun trip. The girls loved Grandma Charlie's house. They love her pig and the mama chicken they got to feed. They also loved playing with their cousins and going outside with Grandpa. We had a good thanksgiving dinner and a fun time playing games with the family. (john bought rock band so we played that a lot. we also got to play board games and cards after the kids went to bed. so fun!)
Anyways... here is a picture. Rylie and Natty are thankful for sisters.

Last week we went to "the spinny park" with Haley, Ellie, and baby Charlie. Treygan came too. It is an awesome park. It is fun for little kids, big kids, and adults! and most everything spins or swings. Here is a pic of the kids on the bench swing.

and the stockings were hung...

Ok. So our stockings aren't hanging yet, but Christmas is coming soon.... and here are the beautiful stockings my mom made Natty and Rylie. I love them!

crazy house!

So our house has been kind of crazy lately. Mondays we watch a 2yr old boy named Treygan from 8-5. Tuesdays we watch Treygan all day, plus a baby boy named Harrison from 2-4, plus Jay and Tia from 3:30 til 6. We used to watch Treygan Wednesdays too, but they are free now (and Michael gets home early so that is a good catch up day). Thursdays we watch baby Harrison from 2-4 and Jay and Tia from 3:30 til 6. I also pick Jay and Tia up from school every thursday. The girls love having all these kids over to play and in the mornings they always ask who is coming over today. [They also usually ask if their friends Eyla and Raya are coming over too. If i say no, they reply "Eyla and Raya ARE coming over. Tomorrow Mama, ok?" They have to make sure they will see their friends again :) so cute.]

Anyways, it was our 3rd anniversary on Wednesday. We went on a date to dinner and a movie. (where the wild things are. i dont recommend it...) It was fun to spend time together.
Also, i got a message on Wednesday that said I won a free trip to the CasaBlanca hotel in Mesquite from the news, KCSG (we stayed up late watching to see who won the election. Baca lost. we are kinda sad). The trip included a round of golf and $70 worth of spa treatment! yay! We went over the weekend and it was really fun. I got a massage and Michael went golfing. We also got some Christmas shopping done. Mesquite isn't that great of a town, but it was free and i am glad we went.

Nan, Trey, Ry

Silly Faces!

Ry, Tia, Nan

They tipped their house and snuggled all together for a movie. so cute!

i love these girls!!

Little sparkle fairies...

Michael had this pic on his phone. awww.

more...

pictures from our trip.

there was a little park like right outside our room. tia, nan, and ry loved it.