Christmas Sunday

Christmas Sundays are the best! Sacrament meeting was so good (and only one hour church!) and I loved singing all the Christmas hymns. ♥♥ We came home and enjoyed listening to more songs and spending the day together. Adeline loved rearranging the tree and Rudger just wanted to cuddle with his new teddy bear that he got from his school teacher. 

Later that night we had a Shepherd's dinner. It is now our favorite new tradition! The kids thought it was the best that we were eating dinner on the floor in the family room. I bought fancy cheese and that pretty much made their year. Charcuterie boards are another new favorite! We talked about that special night and how the Shepherds must have felt. It's amazing how strong the spirit can be when you take time to be still and reflect on our Savior. It was a very special night.

the hard and the good

The hard:
This weekend we went to a family cousin baptism and the two youngest had a hard time being quite during it. Adeline has discovered that she has this high pitch scream and it is draining. The downstairs remained a disaster all weekend. Adeline was loud and wiggly in church. The election has our whole family annoyed. Bedtime was way too late.

The good:
I got the pantry cleaned out and organized. We worked on cleaning up our neglected yard and Adeline loved being outside (where she could squeal as loud as she wanted). Daddy gathered the boys around to watch funny pranks on youtube. We got an extra hour of sleep. We cuddled together on the couch while reading a fun book together about history. The boys fasted without complaining too much and with a purpose (for kindness to return to our country). We went to tithing settlements where Corbin told the bishop that he had the best parents ever :) (then I leaned over and told him I would pay him later, which I immediately regretted because I kind of hate when people say that). The boys were happy to do Fast Sunday pictures and most of them smiled without making too many weird faces. We had a cozy evening at home that felt completely like Christmastime and I declared to them that I am putting up the downstairs Christmas tree this week! It hasn't happened yet, but I am seriously going to do it when life slows down :) 

Now today I am off to vote, which is kind of depressing this year, but I am still so grateful we have this opportunity in America. And I have great hope that America will be great again. (bahahaha #trump) But, seriously, I think America is awesome, and I know there is so much goodness here. 

And the kids are dying to find out what we are having for dinner and dessert tonight. We voted and it is a very tight race. It all comes down to Rudger's vote.

found fall in the mountains

A couple of weeks ago we went for a Saturday adventure fall drive. It was a total flop. I was so sad and totally let down. A week later, after church and dinner, we drove up to the place we should have gone the first time. I guess it just made this trip all the sweeter. 

My camera did not do it justice (I should have adjusted the settings better because it did not capture the colors like they really were) But it did capture plenty of happy moments along the trail.

The boys ran around like the adventurers they are exploring the trail and finding plenty of sticks. We collected leaves to make a fall banner (they are currently drying in between book pages). Adeline loved standing on the trail picking up leaves, we (and the camera) couldn't get enough of her. In the end, it started to get quite chili, so we left with a big handful of leaves and plenty of sticks to last until the next time we head to the mountains.

11.2.2014 - for happy sundays

Yesterday was just one of those really good Sundays. (for me, most Sundays are really good). It started out with the boys being extra good during Sacrament meeting. Lately we have been sitting among the elderly in our ward. After the meeting, one of the sweet sisters leaned over and told us we sure have our boys trained well. Made my day right there. Our testimony meeting was one of the best we have heard in a long time. There was an incredible spirit there that day. Which reminds me, I am so grateful for my testimony of the Prophet Joseph and for temples.

Sunday was an extra chilly day, finally felt right to have our traditional chili, rolls, and pumpkin pie. Always feels like I am back at home in Brigham City when I eat this.  Then the boys decided to brave the cold (Levi in shorts *sigh*) and run around and play together outside. I am just so thankful for happy Sundays like this one.