Christmas 2014

Each year it seems we say, "This was the best Christmas yet!"  And this year was no exception.  

I have to say that I love the tradition we have carried over from Bret's childhood of ice skating on Christmas Eve Day.  It is so much fun.  This year we went to a beautiful outdoor rink in Reston.  It was lovely.

They even had toddler ice-skates that we tried out with Grayson.  He wasn't a big fan.

 Gavin was definitely most improved.  It was really impressive.  He would fall down and pop right back up and keep going.  The kid is a champ.

That night we had our traditional shepherds dinner.  Bret added to the meal this year with a recipe for pan fried crusted trout that he found and prepared all on his own.  It was yummy!  

Bret gave a wonderful devotional this year about how the shepherds were one of the first to witness of the Savior.   We then took turns and talked about what we would personally witness of Jesus Christ.   As I sat there listening to each of my children share different aspects of the Savior's life, or characteristics of Him I was so grateful for the spirit that was filling our home in that moment.  It was  a wonderful and special moment.

After giving our personal gifts to the Savior and cleaning up from dinner we opened our Christmas PJ's and sibling gifts.  While there are no pictures this year to go along with the sibling gift exchange I love doing this on Christmas Eve.  I feel that the kids are more excited and are filled with more gratitude then when it gets lost in the abundance of Christmas morning.  

  

The worst part of Christmas Eve was Gavin getting sick in the middle of the night.  The poor kids was up several times, high fever and nauseous.  Because of him being sick we told the other kids that we were not going to be waking up early to open presents.  They patiently waited until 7:30 before coming into our room.  We read scriptures with them and said family prayer and then woke up Gavin and Grayson.

 Exploring Christmas stocking loot.

 I don't think we've ever had a two year old that was more meticulous with the opening of presents.  This kid had to open everything just so...getting all the paper and all the tape.  

 For a kid who is usually bursting with enthusiasm there was none to be found in him...he just couldn't be excited about anything with how sick he was.  We even had to put opening presents on hold for him to throw up.

 Zachary is trying to explain to Gavin that Santa gave them the WiiU they were asking for as a combined gift...still no expression from Gavin!

 Could it be, could it possibly be....

 A PHONE!!!!

 McKenna got a guitar for Christmas!  Can't wait for her to take lessons and hear her strumming/singing away.

 The girls were supper excited about giving Bret this shirt.  

 Gavin spent the rest of the day asleep in various locations around the house.  

 Bret has renamed Christmas day "Daddy workshop day"

 Abby spent the day reading and finished one of her new books.

Merry Christmas!

Official Teenager

Even though she's looked like one for a long time now...

Even though she's acted like one for a long time (and I honestly mean this in a good way)...

Abby is officially a teenager!

The Big 13!!

Similar to Zach, her celebrations where spread out over a span as well.  Peach Pie and some presents the night before her birthday, some presents the morning of her birthday, a friend birthday party over the weekend (which I did not get a single picture of) and her Sunday birthday dinner of choice.  

Jewelery and some boots...yep, she's a teenager all right!

The following morning she opened some make-up, amazon gift cards and a new wallet that had a little spending money in it.

The best part of her morning was walking outside to see how cute the young women in the ward had decorated our driveway!  It sure made her feel special.

Happy Birthday to my big little girl!  

13 Things I Love about Abby:

1. As one of her young women leaders recently said, Abby is tall.  Not just physically tall, but tall in spirit, tall in testimony, tall in virtue, and tall in kindness.  It's the perfect description for Abby!

2.  Abby is self driven.  I never have to ask what homework she has or what tests she needs to study for.  She just does it all on her own.

3.  Abby is organized.  A skill I am still trying to develop in myself.  

4.  Abby is fun to be with.  

5.  She is a great communicator and she shares things not only with her parents but with her sister as well.

6.  Abby has a beautiful voice.  I love listening to her sing.

7.  Abby has her own great sense of style.  I love that if I have a question about things matching or going together I can go ask her for her opinion and trust what she tells me.  

8.  Abby loves to be with her family.  I love this about her because I love having her around and being with her!

9.  Abby is a veracious reader.  She has a love for literature and appreciates good literature.  I love that we can share a love for so many great classic novels.

10.  Abby is kind to everyone and just to selective people.  

11.  As Abby is the oldest in our family I am especially grateful for the example she has set for her younger siblings.  Her example in reading, her example in school work, her example in respect, and her example in obedience.

12.  Abby seeks to expand her gospel knowledge and understand.  I find this remarkable for one her age.  She eagerly searches and ponders the scriptures so that she can gain a stronger understanding and testimony.

13.  Abby is beautiful.  Beautiful on the inside and out!

Zachary's Birthday Week

Yep, he's reached that milestone.  The big 10!

Double Digits.  

Sometimes because of the business of life a single birthday can turn into a week long celebration.  That's what happened with Zach this year.  But I didn't mind.  I'll celebrate the day he came into our family any chance I get!  Celebrations included: family presents and cake the day before the actually birthday because Bret was going to be gone, birthday lunch with Mom, a surprise birthday party, and then dinner of his choice the Sunday following his birthday.  

I was a little worried that because he opened his presents the day before his birthday that his actually birthday would be a little bit of a downer.  He reassured me that it wouldn't be the case because that way he could just play with his presents all day long on his birthday.  

One of his favorite presents ended up being movie tickets to go see Guardians of the Galaxy.

I love that he still asks for Legos.

Cake and presents came after Graysons bedtime we we missed him in this picture.  For the last two years Zachary has been asking if I will make him my famous Chocolate Mouse Cake for his 10th birthday.  Even though this cake has become pretty easy for me to make, I love that it's still in the category of "EXTREMELY SPECIAL OCCASIONS"  Makes it more fun that way.

Grayson and I went to lunch with Zach on his birthday and brought him Wendy's.  It's always so fun for me to go to lunch with my kids.   I love talking with their friends and watching them interact socially.  Grayson loves it because he gets to see his siblings in the middle of the school day!

Then Saturday came along and we had Zachary's surprise birthday party.  We had all the boys arrive at the house at 8:45 a.m.  Zach was out fishing with Bret and then came back home at 9:00.  We served breakfast and then took the boys to go play a couple games of laser tag.

This is Zach's best friend Jason hiding in the coat closet.

SURPRISE!!!  I just love these pictures.  Sometimes I worry that because of Zachary's easy going personality and the amount of things the girls have going on that he can get sometimes just be along for the ride.  I don't want him to feel like the sterio-typical middle child feels.  I loved doing this for Zachary because more then anything else he felt so special.  I mean, just look at his face in these pictures!  He is absolutely beaming!  

The fresh out of oven coffee cake was melting the candles so we opted for one while we sang.

All ten boys fitting into the hurricane simulator

Really, you can't go wrong with 10 boys and two games of laser tag!

Happy Birthday Zach!  I sure am grateful to be your mother!  

10 Things I Love About Zach:

1. He is such a GOOD boy.  He knows right from wrong and he can always be found on the side of goodness.

2.  He has a thirst for knowledge that astounds me.  

3.  He is kind.

4.  He is a great big brother!  I'm so grateful Gavin and Grayson have such a great example to follow.

5.  He is funny.  People don't often know this about Zach because he can sometimes be quite, but he really has a great sense of humor.

6.  He is not afraid to try to new things.  Man, do I ever love and admire this quality about him.

7.  Zach is obedient.  It is a rare thing when I have to ask him to do something twice.

8. Zach loves to read.  So much so it's nearly impossible to keep him in books.

9.  Zach is responsible.  One small example is that I never have to ask him to do his homework.  He takes the initiative and always does it on his own without me asking him to.

10.  Zach is a great friend.  He is aware of those that might need a little extra kindness and he gives it freely.