Sunday, April 3, 2016
45 In Paint Rock, Alabama
I am 45! There is something about that number that is crazy!! Half way to 50 just doesn't seem possible. Seth surprised me with beautiful roses and a strawberry cake. We spent the day in Paint Rock, Alabama near the Tennessee line. It was gorgeous there and very, very cold. It was great being outside with my sweet family all day, watching them do what they love!
The kid's trail was very hard and I was amazed at all 3 of these kiddo's! This was Sawyer's first race and it was probably the hardest trail that they have ever had. That little boy rode for 25 minutes sloshing through mud. If he had a tip over, he got right back up and kept going! He is just adorable on that bike!
Almost gave up...
I thought about giving up the blogging. I get so aggravated with myself, when I don't make time to blog, and then I get so behind and think, "what's the use!" Then I see this happening.
I mentioned one day that I didn't think I was going to blog anymore, and they all said, "No mommy!" "Please don't stop blogging!" And I quickly decided that even if I'm behind, it doesn't matter because I'm journaling about my sweet family. And they love reading about all of our adventures and memories.
So here I am!
I mentioned one day that I didn't think I was going to blog anymore, and they all said, "No mommy!" "Please don't stop blogging!" And I quickly decided that even if I'm behind, it doesn't matter because I'm journaling about my sweet family. And they love reading about all of our adventures and memories.
So here I am!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Highlights of 2015
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2015 has been a great year and we are truly blessed!
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| Seth starts knocking down walls, to create a new floor plan! |
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| I surprise Laurel and Savannah with pedicures for Valentines |
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| We spent spring break at Point Clear |
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| Laurel got braces! |
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| Seth gave me a girl's weekend with my mom, sisters, and sister-in-laws! |
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| We celebrated Seth for being a great father, and Landon turned 6! |
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| We spent over 2 weeks in Utah visiting my family! |
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| We attended a memorial service for Seth's Aunt Inez. |
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| Laurel is 12 now, and attended the temple for the first time! |
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| Sawyer finally gets to ride his suzuki dirt bike! |
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| Laurel takes her first family pictures! |
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| Christmas, of course! |
A Christmas Letter to Laurel and Savannah
Laurel started asking me when she was in the 5th grade about Santa. You could tell that she really wanted to keep believing and I would always just say, "It's just a magical time of year!" I didn't want to just bluntly say, "No, there is no Santa!" "And now, all the magic is over for you!" I found this letter a few years ago that another mother had written to her son. She said it perfectly, so I saved the letter and copied it word for word. Laurel loved the letter and was so happy that I told her like this, because nothing has changed, really. It can still be magical.
Dear Laurel,
You asked a really good question, "Are Mom and Dad really Santa?" We know that you want to know the answer, and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is NO. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa. We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree-just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.
This could never make any of us Santa, though. Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive. He lives in our hearts-not at the North Pole. Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others. What he does is teach children to believe in something they can't see or touch. Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe: In yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God.
You will be able to believe in things you can't measure or hold in your hands.
Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: He has help from all the people whose hearts he has filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like mommy and daddy take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible. So no, we are not Santa.
Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. We are on his team, and now you are too.
We love you, and we always will.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Savannah started asking questions during Christmas. I asked her if she really wanted to now right now, or if she wanted to talk about it after Christmas. She said, "let's just talk after Christmas!" I gave her the letter after Christmas. She loved learning this way also. It's a little sad to me that they are growing up. But they are on our team now! :)
Dear Laurel,
You asked a really good question, "Are Mom and Dad really Santa?" We know that you want to know the answer, and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is NO. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa. We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree-just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.
This could never make any of us Santa, though. Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive. He lives in our hearts-not at the North Pole. Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others. What he does is teach children to believe in something they can't see or touch. Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe: In yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God.
You will be able to believe in things you can't measure or hold in your hands.
Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: He has help from all the people whose hearts he has filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like mommy and daddy take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible. So no, we are not Santa.
Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. We are on his team, and now you are too.
We love you, and we always will.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Savannah started asking questions during Christmas. I asked her if she really wanted to now right now, or if she wanted to talk about it after Christmas. She said, "let's just talk after Christmas!" I gave her the letter after Christmas. She loved learning this way also. It's a little sad to me that they are growing up. But they are on our team now! :)
December 2015/Christmas Morning
Our Christmas morning began at 7:30! Seth and I were amazed that they slept in that long, so we didn't make them wait too long. We got up and as we always do, left them in our bedroom. Seth usually turns on the fireplace, but it was so hot this year, we skipped that. I turned on Christmas music and Seth got the video camera and I had the camera. We called for them and they came running to see all the Christmas Magic that was left the night before!
December 2015/Piano Recital/Enduring The Rain
Laurel and Savannah had a Christmas piano recital. Their friends, Ava and Lily came to watch. They both did such a good job. I loved listening to them play Christmas music for weeks and weeks before the recital.
The weather has been crazy the month of December. It has been hot and rainy. I have learned over the years to let go of messes. The boys have played and played outside in the rain. They have to strip down to their underwear before they can come into the house.
The weather has been crazy the month of December. It has been hot and rainy. I have learned over the years to let go of messes. The boys have played and played outside in the rain. They have to strip down to their underwear before they can come into the house.
December 2015/Gingerbread House/Decorating For Christmas
Our first and last attempt at a gingerbread house! It was a complete disaster. I'm not sure what we were doing wrong, but there has to be a better way!
I did not take one, single picture of the children decorating the tree. I don't know what happened to me. But I brought the boxes up and they decorated. I didn't put one ornament on the tree and I didn't move anything around. I have let go of the idea of having a perfectly decorated tree. The kids love it this way and everyone is happy. Every ornament on the tree, besides a few that I have given to the kids, were homemade! We were all disappointed that we didn't go cut our tree down like last year. We have decided that we are going to try to make this happen the weekend after Thanksgiving, because after that, things just get too crazy and we run out of time.
I did not take one, single picture of the children decorating the tree. I don't know what happened to me. But I brought the boxes up and they decorated. I didn't put one ornament on the tree and I didn't move anything around. I have let go of the idea of having a perfectly decorated tree. The kids love it this way and everyone is happy. Every ornament on the tree, besides a few that I have given to the kids, were homemade! We were all disappointed that we didn't go cut our tree down like last year. We have decided that we are going to try to make this happen the weekend after Thanksgiving, because after that, things just get too crazy and we run out of time.
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| I caught Landon that night sitting in front of the tree just like this. I do love this time of year! |
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