adeline jill's day

The first Sunday in December Adeline had grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins come to celebrate her. Daddy gave a beautiful blessing. Grandpa Packer said he peeked open his eyes during the blessing and said that Adeline was laying there so reverently with her arms folded. At least for the first 20 seconds. Then she was done and cried the remainder of the prayer. When the blessing was over and Justin held her up for all to see, it hit me yet again, we have a daughter! My heart was so full. 

Our kind 2nd counselor got up afterwards and said if any person dares to cause this girl any discomfort, they'll have four brothers to answer to. There is some big time truth to that, I can already tell.

Afterwards we headed home for soups, breads, and desserts. We are so grateful for the love that each family member has shown for this special girl since before she was even born.

^^ this kid finds his way into many pictures ^^

^^ While everyone was dishing up their dinner, Rudger got his ^^

As soon as we decided Adeline's middle name would be Jill, I knew I wanted to do something extra special for her blessing dress. My mother's favorite flowers are daises. In fact, her wedding dress had beautiful daisy lace over the entire dress. I had this image in my mind of Adeline wearing a beautiful little blessing dress covered in daisy lace too. I looked and looked and could not find what I was looking for. I was discouraged, but knew that it really didn't matter. So I let it go. What I really wanted was special touches of both grandmas. Justin's mother helped me make the dress and with her help we added little touches of daisies to make it a special dress.

(I do hope it is special to Adeline someday)

a happiest Christmas day!

Another Christmas has come and gone, and yet again,

"This was the best Christmas, ever!!!"

The boys are allowed to go open their stockings anytime they wake up Christmas morning (Justin's tradition growing up), so at four in the morning we could hear quiet footsteps running down the hall and quite whispers of excitement. They played for a little and then went back to sleep until 7:00. After that, it was a very happy morning!

christmas eve

This day was FULL of anticipation. They knew their jammies were wrapped and under the tree, they had wrapped their presents to each other the day before, we set the table early in the day for our special Christmas Eve dinner (a memory from my childhood that I loved), and the day that kids wait for all year long was just a day away. They were SO excited! 

To help with some of the extra energy, we all went downstairs and did a major clean up. We gave them each a box and the goal was to fill up the box with unwanted toys to give away. Maybe not the most enjoyable thing we could have been doing (in the future, I think we will do this the day before) but it felt so refreshing. And (Justin did take them sledding on the back of the four-wheeler earlier in the day!)

Christmas Eve evening is my very favorite. We had our candlelight Christmas dinner that always sets the mood. Then we opened jammies and the kids all gave their gifts to each other. (Corbin gave to Taylor, Taylor gave to Levi, Levi gave to Rudger, Rudger gave to Adeline, and Adeline gave to Corbin) We acted out the nativity and sang several Christmas carols, then tucked some very excited kids into bed.

Afterwards, Justin and I finished the evening wrapping the last of the presents while watching my most favorite movie, 'It's A Wonderful Life' (and really, I wrapped and he fell asleep on the couch cuddling with our baby)

Merry Christmas!

As much as I wanted to be on top of it this year, I just couldn't get myself to get Christmas cards done. But imagine, if you will, a beautiful card with our family picture on the front and when you turn it over you see a picture of our favorite Christmas present this year all wrapped up with a big red bow.

Merry Christmas!!

temple square

In the past, we bundled up kids, grabbed some hot chocolate, climbed aboard the polar express (aka the frontrunner) and headed to one of the most exciting places to be during the Christmas season. Well, this year we didn't ride the train, but I did throw in some candy with the hot chocolate so I think that made up for it. Maybe.

If there is any place magical during the season, it really is Temple Square. We tried to soak it up as much as possible. And the weather was sooo perfect, especially for our little baby who stayed snuggly wrapped up to me.

In one of the visitor centers we watched The Nativity with these sweet sisters. We were the only ones in there and they were just so tender and adorable with our kids.

 And of course we HAD to see the candy window display. It was the cutest Charlie Brown theme!

Loved our evening there! (this was just before Justin took them on the tracks for a couple of blocks so that we could say they did get to ride the train)
p.s. taking normal, smiling pictures is not what we do :)