Tonight Santa is coming to our house!
(I know it is a day early)  It is just going to work out better for us... and so why not?
We are so excited.

I can't believe how fast December has gone and that Christmas is finally here.  
Daniel is officially done with his MSHR (Masters of Science in Human Resources)
This past semester was a crazy one.  I think it is safe to say that when he wasn't working and eating he was doing homework or thinking about it!
We are so proud that he was able to accomplish his first Masters and now we only have 6 more months until he finishes his second.  An MBA.
He has requested that we all call him MASTER.  I think it fits him well.

We started our countdown at the first of the month with a candy and christmas activity each day.
We slept out by the Christmas tree, we all got ornaments, we sang christmas carols, wrote thank you notes, made cookies, ate cookies, looked at christmas lights, saw santa (they were content looking from a distance)  We have tried to embrace all of the magic and enjoy the fun moments without the stress.
I think it is easy to say that doorbell ditching Thank You notes was by far the favorite activity.
I loved focusing on a Christlike attribute each day and trying to be more like him.
Something that I hope becomes a part of me and my everyday life.. not just at this time of year.
Today I was able to attend the temple and it was the perfect way to kick off our "Christmas Eve" celebrations.
We are going to have a nice turkey dinner (yikes wish me luck I've never cooked a turkey before) and spend the night as a family.

The boys have been so well behaved this last year.  They totally deserve for Santa to spoil them!  I know that it hasn't been easy for them in all of our craziness that we call life.  They are so sweet and loving and I hope that they know more than anything that we love them.  I love the boys that they are turning into.  That they are able to learn and to grow and become these fantastic young men each and every day.  And that I get to be a part of their journey.... because lets  be honest I am sure that I learn and grow more than they do!

I love that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving and then Christmas.  That we get to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for and then show our love and gratitude to our Savior and others through the gift of giving.  It is truly a blessing.

I know I haven't written in a long time.  There isn't an excuse.  Just a shift in priorities I suppose.  The priority to live and embrace everything about my simple and joyful life.  With Master and my two little men.

First snow of the Season

Saturday we woke up to snow on the ground.
Thomas couldn't have been more excited.
It is gone now... which I am ok with.
BUT, it was very magical for the day.
We dressed nice and cozy and rushed outside to the fluffy white stuff.
Lewis wasn't a huge fan at first but, quickly warmed up.
We built a snowman named Cowboy Frank.
We played on the playground and went fast fast fast down the slides.
We had snowball fights.  Thomas was brutal, he would aim right at your face or down your back.  YUCK.

There was a moment where the feeling in the air was PURE EXCITEMENT.
It was so real, it seemed as if it was tangible.
I could have bottled it up and carried it my pocket.
I LOVE experiencing these moments with my boys.  As they explore life and experience it for the first time.
It reminds me of everything that is important.  It reminds me what it was like to be a child.  To curiously explore life.  To have no worries.  No bills to pay.  Nobody else to take care of.  Just the responsibility to explore and enjoy life.  I hope they never loose that ability.  I want them to always be able to go on magical adventures and dream big dreams, with pure excitement.

HALLOWEEN

Hoping everyone had a fantastic halloween.
Ours was simple and perfect and just what we needed after the previous week of sickness.  We loved spending time as a whole family.  Plus we are still "crying it out" getting a little better everyday... except that this morning he woke up at 5 and Daniel just decided to get up with him for the day.  YUCK.
Unfortunately this post is going to be long and full of pictures.... I just can't ever take enough.

We have loved all of the colors this fall and the beautiful weather.  We seriously spent as much time outside as possible soaking up every ounce of warmth.  We took a little walk collected leaves and found some great little cabins.  LOVING living so close to such beautiful places.

We started off all of our official festivities with the pumpkin walk.  I love THomas in most of these pictures.  He looks so happy to be there!

Friday night before Halloween we had a neighborhood trunk or treat.  Daniel painted Spidermans face and it looked awesome.  Thomas was scared of all cowboys... especially one on stilts.  Lewis was a cute little guitar and held on tight to a few pieces of candies and was content with that.  So sweet.

Sunday we had our annual harvest fest dinner.  Oh the menu salmon, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and homemade rolls.  Then carved our pumpkin.  This year a cat.  I did the carving for probably the first time in my life (without my dad finishing).  It was a proud moment.

And last but not least the actual holiday.  On Halloween night we went trick or treating around our apartment complex and to a small neighborhood of homes nearby.  Thomas loved knocking on the doors and by the end wouldn't let me come up to the doors with him.  Lewis hung out in the stroller and decided to be a fire chief.  Rented a spooky/lame movie and handed out candy to all of the trick or treaters, while checking out the goods.  So perfect for our small little family.

its my party and i'll cry if i want to

It is 1:31 AM Saturday Morning (friday night)

Still haven't gone to bed even though I have been in bed since 10.

WHY? you might ask after a long week of the stomach flu and a fabulous night trunk or treating with the darlings?

Because we are letting the youngest darling CRY in out.  UNFORTUNATELY.

We are going on hour 3 and he isn't seeming to let up.  2 hours and 44 minutes to be exact.  Cruel punishment on my part as parent?  SURE looks like it.  Pretty sure the upstairs neighbors hate us at this point.  As for Thomas he is 4 feet away in the same bedroom and still knocked out cold.

But,  I have got to get him sleeping through the night.  Cruel punishment on his part as a darling, by waking up to eat (snack) 3 times a night up to this point.  I AM DONE I TELL YOU.  He is 15 months and I AM DONE.  I am afraid this is the only way I know how at this point.

feelings on crying it out...
pure torture for the parents.
pure torture by the sounds of it, for the little darling.
if you do it when they are young you feel so sad and sympathetic for the little one.
if you wait until they are older you don't.... but they are stubborn and I am afraid it takes much longer.
it must work....because the little darling finally drifted off to sleep without a "snack" MIRACLES do happen I tell ya!

*Just realized that 1:30 really isn't all that late.  I used to stay up this late every night.  That is a true sign that I am getting old.  peace out I am off to get my beauty sleep.

PiCS that describe our day

On a day like today.....
We are eating jerky.
We are going to story time.
We took a lot of silly pictures with photo booth.
It is cold outside. So it begins.
We are going to eat a roast and potatoes for dinner.  At least I have that planned.
We have played with swords and lincoln logs.
We are embracing fall/winter in all of its glory.  Needless to say we are all feeling a little like this....