snowman!!!

I was a little disappointed to leave Nampa the day after Christmas because it was snowing so much! I was sad for the kids because they had not played in snow at all this winter. 

Then, it snowed in Ridgefield on New Year's Eve! 

It was beautiful, and the kids had such an amazing time playing outside with their daddy and Uncle Jerad. 

simon & seth

These boys are bound to be great friends. 

we tried

Even though all of us were sick over the weekend before Christmas, I decided we needed to go to Christmas Eve candlelight service. I figured that since all of the fun Christmas festivities I had planned were ruined by 2 weeks of sickness, we had to at least get the Christmas Eve service in. 

We should have just stayed home. I don't know what I was thinking! 

Elias had to get a drink and use the bathroom at least 3 times before we finally said no more. "No" equals breakdown in Elias's world these days. Simon got super hot because they keep our church at like one hundred degrees. The boy hates to be hot. Raelynn couldn't sit still. What can you do? She's 20 months old! So, we were in and out the whole service, and hardly had a chance to reflect on why we were even there - the birth of our Savior! 

We got to the car, and Bryan said, "That was one hour?! I thought it was three!". Yes, we should have stayed home in our pj's and read the Christmas story aloud. 

My next mistake was insisting on taking pictures of all these tired, sick kids. Ah well, you win some, you lose some. The progression of these pictures is just too funny not to share. 

This one is not too bad....

Simon didn't want to be apart of this anymore....

I realized we couldn't even see Raelynn's dress, 

so I passed Simon off to Elias.

As you can see, she's pretty ticked....

Isaiah tried helping out, and made things worse...

Elias is, once again, in his own world. 

So happy to be holding Simon.

Even though Simon was furious. 

christmas day 2012

Our Christmas was perfect. We had breakfast, read the Bible, opened presents, had a little down time, then went to my Aunt Cindy's for the afternoon. It was wonderful.

This little girl could not wait to open presents

This handsome man was so happy

Simon was so happy that I forgot to grab him for the 

stocking photo

Thankfully, I did eventually remember

Oh boy, this kid is so sweet

I really can't enough of him!

The beginning of the chaos

The end

Christmas always has toys to put together

Elias immediately started "sawing" down the tree

Elias is such a crack up

Bryan and I are experimenting with what our Christmas's will look like. He grew up opening one present, then waiting for everyone else to open one present (boring!). I grew up in a frenzy free for all - all opening at once (chaos!). Last year we did it his way, this year we did it my way. We still don't agree! Ha. Maybe our tradition will be one year his way, one year my way? Our maybe I'll just get my way (wink, wink).

Patiently waiting for their presents

The final chaos of the day

christmas with grandma

a little baking

After over a week of being sick, I finally tackled baking some cookies for Christmas. We didn't actually decorate the cookies for almost a week because our dear children were all sick the day I planned to decorate. I wouldn't let them near the cookies until they were better! 

My darling little helper on the first day (dressed by daddy)

Raelynn figured out the night before that she could eat while I mixed

That's why she showed up the next morning to help out

This guy loves to help me in the kitchen

christmas program 2012

Oh my, how I love watching my kiddos in their programs at church. Truth be told, I wasn't sure how the morning was going to go because both boys had informed me that they would not sing or go on stage. Elias kept saying, "I'll put my pants on, but I will not go up there". Okay then.

They both went up on stage. They did just fine. Elias even got into the motions (perhaps a little too much).

caldwell lights

We spent an evening wandering around downtown Caldwell admiring the light display. It was a really fun night, and Elias did not stop running the whole time. I think he enjoyed it the most. I do believe we'll be making the Caldwell lights a tradition.

she loves him

She really loves this boy.
I'm just not sure he feels the same way.
He acts a little afraid of the giant toddler always attacking him.
I can't say that I blame him.

some window decor

We've started a little tradition of buying some cute, little window decorations and putting them up the first week of December. The boys just love it, and it keeps us all entertained for a few minutes. We have to put them up high since we have a very mischevious girl. 

this is real life

We were hit with sickness. It started with me, then spread through the entire family.
Bryan dresses Raelynn so strange.....all the time.
I am a human jungle gym.
There is always a basket of laundry to be folded and put away.
The kids are always playing with our cell phones.
Simon is the cutest, little thing ever. I can't stop kissing those cheeks.
Bryan loves to get his picture taken...especially when he doesn't feel good.