Birthday Wishes

Dear Michael,

Hope your birthday is SUPER.

Little underwear-head here, Craig, the girls and I all love you faster than a speeding bullet. Thanks for the awesome.

Some Day Soon

Our backyard has looked a little like a minefield over the last few months. (When it hasn't been busy looking like a chocolate river, that is.) The weather has finally stayed nice long enough that Craig (with the help of two very nice missionaries) has finally been able to get the trenches for the gas lines dug once and for all and get the PE piping in. That means that we can finally get the decking done and get this thing done. Woo hoo! (Did you see how I just said "we"? That's funny.)

It's a mess right now but if everything goes as planned, it should be done in time for the melting season, which will soon be upon us.

(Right, sweetie??)

Happy Christmas to All

Well, here it is. The Christmas Post. You know, the one that you have all (okay, not really) been waiting for. But this is the last one to go in the blog book for 2014, so I better get it done so Craig can finish up editing and getting the book together (and also stop asking me when I think I am going to finally write this post.)

Christmas was dreamy. We did stockings, (ate candy), had an unhealthy breakfast (followed by candy), then opened the rest of our gifts (and had just a little more candy). The kids even slept in until 8. (Well, actually, they were up before that and just didn't wake us up until 8 because they were under strict orders not to come in our room until then. Sorry, peeps that got up when it was still dark outside; that's just how we roll.) Then we napped, got dressed, and hung out with family for leftovers, fun, and festivities until we crawled back in bed and hibernated some more. What more could we ask for?

Here's the plethora of pics:

{The famous Candy Trail. Thank goodness Santa shops the candy sales after 

Halloween. No one seemed to notice that the m & m's were in Fall colors.}

{the spread}

 

{everyone's loot}

{the before and after of the American Girl Dolls, which really aren't American Girl Dolls 

at all, though no one seems to mind. And they call them "American Dolls" anyway.}

{under the Kistletoe, Julia's present for Craig and I, made out of 

materials that she pulled off of our wreaths. Tricksy Hobbit.}

{A stomachache for Christmas? Yes, please!}

{Some great moments.

The above pic of Lexa is my fave.}

{more sweet treats, courtesy of Linda}

{Winding down with Grandma Lorene at the end of the day.}

I found a quote last year that I really love:

"There is no greater gift at Christmas than to have 

everything you want before you open the gifts."

Though I love the sentiment, this year and last, it actually felt true this Christmas and I was so grateful for that. After all the shopping, and bargain hunting, and planning ahead and trying to find the things that everyone will love, there is absolutely something (everything, really) to be said for contemplating the magnificent gifts in our lives that we get to experience each and every day: healthy bodies, able minds, treasured relationships, love to feel and to share, talents to develop, trials that bring strength and clarity, a loving God who gave us life and is our biggest supporter. 

And the best part? We get to open those gifts on every single day of the year.

Hope your Christmas was magical and memorable.

{When There Was} One More Sleep Til Christmas

Christmas Eve was a dream. My fabulous mother-in-law Linda spoiled us with a delicious ham dinner and all I had to do was make the mashed potatoes...which I pretty much delegated to my brother, Michael. (Though I did peel and boil them. With Spencer's help, of course.) The rest of the day we pretty much just hung out and cleaned up. And, I think there was a quick trip to Target somewhere in there for some last-minute items. (Note to self: avoid Target if possible on Christmas Eve. It seems most people wait until then to do all of their shopping.) I'm pretty sure we fit a nap in there, too. Cleaning, Target, napping and a wonderful ham dinner are a good combination for a fabulous Christmas Eve, if I do say so. (Even though Target was crazy. I sure love that place.)

{helpful child}

{preparing to feast}

{being silly with Dryden}

{hanging with Uncle Nate}

{Loving on Grandma Lorene}

{obligatory photo montage}

{nightgowns from Grandma Linda}

We snuck in some present opening time before dinner and then we all mooned over Baby Kaden for the rest of the night and argued over whose turn it was to hold him next. (The girls have nothing on me. I am most definitely his fave. After his mommy, Annie, anyway.) Then we watched him make adorable faces and snuggled him and tried to plot how we could send his parents home conveniently forgetting that he was still at our house. Sadly, we were foiled in the attempt. 

It was definitely a Merry Christmas Eve to all, and to all a good night!

LeFou, I'm Afraid I've Been Thinking...

The holidays are over, so with all my...er...spare time, I'm trying to get sort of caught up on here. (By the way, is it seriously January already? This is getting ridiculous.) 

Back in November, Lex, Grandma Linda, and I went to see the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast in downtown Phoenix. It was spectacular. I could have stayed all day to listen and watch, but it turns out the play ends and then you have to leave. Lexa loved every minute, though she kept reminding me that the people we were watching were not the "real" characters from the animated movie. Very true, but everything about it was still quite fabulous...you know, as if there was something there that wasn't there before...

{obligatory theater pose}

{my little belle}

{sweet balcony seats}

{obligatory theater posse...

{we'll just pretend I took these pictures}

After the play, we got to see the Top Secret Decorating of the Giant Christmas Tree inside the

Wells Fargo building, and of course had to photograph ourselves in front of the life-size stagecoach.

{They say, "Together, we'll go far," but this fancy stagecoach refused to take us anywhere. Rats.}

The long ride home proved to be a little too much for this beauty to handle.