Christmas Things

We got the tree up and decorated the day after we brought it home.

Kyler, Kacin, and L were really good about placing all the ornaments carefully on the tree. D was good at taking them all off, and tying to take the ornaments apart. Kacin put the first ornament on this year and Kyler placed the star at the top of the tree. L did a lot of rearranging of ornaments.

We pulled out a nativity set to play with.

A group of ladies from my ward got together to prepare a 25 Days of Christ set for our families--an ornament for each day and a book that includes scriptures, quotes, and video links to correspond with each ornament. The kids love it so far, but it would help if we were better about remembering and not so busy in the evenings so we didn't have to keep playing catch up. Oh well.

Eric has been working late a lot lately. One of those nights I envisioned I'd have a magical moment with my four kids and feel the Christmas spirit while reading a few Christmas books to them. Kacin and I picked the books out and gathered everyone into my little's room before bed. Kyler was annoyed we interrupted him. L was in a bad mood and hit everyone who tried to sit next her. And D just wanted to play with the light switch. Do you know how hard it is to read a book with the lights flashing on and off? To say the least, our magical Christmas book reading was a little interrupted. I adore my four kids and my crazy life with them. :)

I feel more prepared for Christmas this year than any other year so far. Here we are a week before Christmas and Christmas cards have already been sent out, packages mailed, and last night I was wrapping presents. Have I ever wrapped presents this early? I guess I don't remember, but this is better than last year. I only have a few more straggling things on my shopping list. and I'm looking forward to a whole weekend to enjoy without worry and holiday stress. It helps that Eric and I don't even bother to secretly shop for the other one. We tell each other what we want/need and either purchase it together or buy our own stuff. It's a lovely system. We know we love and think about each other and this cuts back on holiday stress for us.

One of our favorite people in the world these days, who has blessed our lives so much since we got the two youngest kids, gave us this gingerbread man kit. Fun!

We went to the boys Christmas music concert. I love their elementary school because of the music teacher. She is fabulous.

Last night, we met some friends to visit the lights at the botanical gardens. Awww, Christmas lights.

We also attended a nativity festival last week. D played in the children's nativity room while the rest of us took shifts looking at all of the beautiful and diverse nativity sets. Three days later, L is still asking to go back and see more baby Jesus.

Those are some of the Christmas things we've been up to lately. The countdown til Christmas begins!

Best News of the Year

Our adoption date is set!

**Dec. 30th**

Finding Our Tree

We were disappointed this year when that amazing little u-cut Christmas tree farm we found last year (super cheap trees) was closed. But we drove a few miles farther and paid a little more money and wondered through a bunch of Christmas trees looking for the perfect one.

 prancing feet

What do you know? We found the perfect tree right in the same spot in which D started melting down. It was the one for us. Because we needed to hurry up and make a quick exit to the car. Good thing it was a really pretty tree.

you see why it was time to go  . . .

Thanksgiving 2013

It was a good one!
Our Thanksgiving plans changed like 5 times, but if we couldn't be around family for the holiday, it was so nice being with some sweet friends. We hosted the meal at our house and three other families joined us and helped provide the yummy food. Eric smoked two turkeys this year (a bbq one and a "regular" flavor) and of course, it was the best turkey ever. He just gets better and better every year.

I guess messy hair runs in the family . . .

Zoning out with a movie after the meal . . . Don't you love D's necklace? He wore that thing for at least three days straight.

Steps Closer

I feel like I need to shout it to the world
we are one step closer
one big step closer
to being an officially legal family of six.
They signed the papers!
What is heart wrenching for two people,
has filled our hearts.
I hope they know that we love D and L with all our hearts. We think of them as our own. We want them to be happy and healthy and live full, beautiful lives. We are far from perfect, but we will do our best to care for, teach, and love D and L.
I hope they know that they will be remembered and will always hold a special place in our hearts as the ones who brought D and L into this world.
I hope they know as hard as it was, they put their kids first and that was a right decision. I hope they can move forward and live happy lives.
We still have a little while before our adoption will be finalized, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel and we are almost there.

Kyler's 10th Birthday

Happy 10th Birthday to you, Kyler!

Ten Things I Love About Kyler

(in no particular order)

1. Ky is a wonderful big brother. He jumped right in to taking care of L and D and loving them with all his heart. Often without even being asked he helps out. He loves to snuggle with them both.

2. Ky is a wonderful brother and friend to Kacin. He loves Kacin and they, generally, get along well and spend most of their time doing things together.

3. I love Ky's smile and hugs! 

4. Kyler notices people who need help or need a friend.

5. Kyler is not a follower. He is comfortable doing his own thing or standing up for what's right or leading people in his own games.

6. He loves books! Not a day goes by without him spending time reading.

7. He has a great attitude.

8. He goes on walks with me.

9. He has stuck with piano and tries hard to develop this talent.

10. He has a testimony of the gospel and wants to share what he knows with others around him.

  

To celebrate his day, L and I met him at school for lunch. We brought him two donuts (a long one and a circle one) to form the number 10.

That night we took him to get gelato and he opened his family gifts.

A few days earlier, he had a friend party at our house. They ate food, made team t-shirts and had X-box One competitions. I like simple parties.

Um, it's supposed to be the X-box symbol, you know like the "on" button.

L was having fun with all those boys around.

Balloon wars. I hate balloons. Boys go crazy with them.

 Welcome to the world of double digits, Ky! We love you!