While the Cat is Away....

The mice will play.....

I had a beautiful day away from home (yesterday). I met a dear, dear, dear friend in a town not to far away and we did our normal catch up routine (coffee, shopping, lunch, stalling, stalling some more - then hugging and saying goodbye). It is not fair to live so far away! When I got home I found out that the kids got into Eden's dresser and spread her folded clothes EVERYWHERE. They climbed up on the dresser breaking the drawer and reached a jar of petroleum jelly. They then took the whole jar smearing it all over their heads... and for that matter anything they found after that. I am finding it EVERYWHERE! Micah gave them baths and washed their hair repeated times, but even so this morning I put Eden's oily hair in a ponytail and it naturally stands STRAIGHT UP! Any tips for getting this water resistant stuff out of their hair? I told Micah he had to watch them every minute... I think he understand now what I mean... they are busy bees... even if your back is turned for a second!

I just can't help smiling when I look at my little pixie daughter.....

Our Sweet Christmas

We had a beautiful, simple home Christmas... the way I like it! It was fun to feel the kids excitement... it was/is contagious! I love being able to spend a whole day together with no agenda but just being together, remembering our Savior's love, feasting in celebration, and giving gifts of love... it was a treat!

Thanks so much to all our dear family and friends that send us wrapped love!

Each gift was a special treat and we are so thankful!

I am even more thankful for the gift of love that God gave us wrapped in swaddling clothes (so many years ago)... our Savior and Messiah! I love how this season reminds me of how much I am loved by my Creator and God - for me this is all that really matters!

Show and Tell

I don't mean to brag... oh wait... YES I DO!

My husband MADE me this desk for my birthday!

It is custom made just for me with so many details I can't begin to describe them all.... and he was the one that thought of it all! It was a grand birthday present and I am soooo thankful for a more kid/user friendly desk to work at! I am loved, and I am IN love!

Happy Birthday, Jesus

We are so thankful You came!

"For God so loved the world, He sent His only Son. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (quoted from John 3:16)

Lunch Joys

One day while surfing blogs to figure out some new creative ideas for my kid's lunch I came across the Pampered Chef's cut and seal thingy. I was intrigued! The next time I found a Pampered Chef rep... I ordered it - I just got it YESTERDAY! It has got limitless possibilities from making little pizza pockets to tarts to empanadas! You can make little sandwiches - like we did for lunch... peanut butter, nutella and banana! You can make full sealed circles like this or only use half of it for a crescent shape. I am excited to have a bunch of new healthy lunch ideas for my kiddos! Yay for Pampered Chef!

Lincoln Log Fun

Ethan and I have been creating lincoln log villages on the dinning room table. That is the only place that is sort of safe from tornado Eden. Every once and awhile she get up on the chair and demolishes them and we get to start over. I love Ethan's imagination. When he is playing I just love to listen to him because he is constantly weaving elaborate story lines. I am loving each new stage of his life... he keeps getting funner and funner!

Wedding Pictures

Micah and I took the photographs of a local wedding last Saturday - it is something we LOVE to do together. I really loved this picture I took and I thought I would share it!

The Story of Our Week

Last week Grampie and Grammie showed up for a visit (I was brain dead and forgot to get very many pictures....). It was a lovely time... and we are oh so thankful for their visit!!! Grammie brought some of her famous grandkid gingerbread children and Ethan and Eden LOVED them! I think they got enough sugar to last the rest of their lives, but hey... it is Christmas time and we are celebrating! Grampie "helped us" (actually he did most all the work) turn 45 pounds of venison into jerky and it is GOOD! THANKS!!!!!

Ethan is at the age where he remembers his grandparents and is thrilled to see them. Eden had to warm up to the idea of them being in the house, but once she did - she enjoyed them.

Grampie and Grammie normally bring their trailer, but since it is icy out - they didn't this time. They have a little box of cars in the trailer and Ethan asked REPEATEDLY if they could bring their little box of cars... even though the trailer wasn't coming. They did and he was thrilled!

Today is the first day of winter! I love the turning of the seasons... (although it has felt like "winter" for a while now!) We caught this picture on the way to school this morning. We chased the moon, but missed a closer shot... by a minute or two! It laughed at us as it slipped behind the mountain.... The moon has always captured my attention, and this morning it was truly magical!

Ethan had his little Christmas party at school today. I made my first fruit pizza.... Ethan told me it tasted awful, but I thought it was pretty at least! I love that he has this preschool opportunity. He is always "very busy" when I watch him in class - so that always makes me a little bit worried for his teacher, but I continue to pray that God gives him a soft heart, a respectful disposition, and a kind spirit. I am thankful she is willing to work with him...

Eden loved Ethan's party just as much as he did.... we celebrated the Christmas break by going out for lunch... it truly was a week full of blessings!

Practice Pic

Micah and I took some wedding pictures yesterday and this is a picture of Eden that Micah caught while he was adjusting his flash. I love Eden's wispy hair!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... around here!

For Uncle Eli

Just wanted to let Uncle Eli know that we love him and am thinking about him as he is sooo far from home!

A Smile to Start the Day

My kids were being super goofy this morning and I was just loving it. I ran to get my camera (praying the whole time they wouldn't move... because they usually do)... and got this pic. I just love my kids, the moments we have, and the joy that fills our home.

A few more pics for fun:

Eden and Dadda! Eden is in her Christmas outfit. She looks like an adorable elf!

Ethan and Eden really love helping me with everything... lately it has been our morning carrot/apple juice. It is so fun to see them working together, communicating, and laughing... which is something they do a lot!

It has been a wonderful Christmas break thus far....

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Who would have know that my life would have been changed the moment I walked out of the camp bathroom and ran into Andy and Barcley. I was in 6th grade...

They lived 120 miles away and so began the letters. All three of us kept in connect and lived for camp in the summer. When we got older we visited each other at our baseball/ basketball/ volleyball games, concerts, even prom. We wrote often and called every once and awhile (there wasn't internet or cell phones back then ;o) ).

I love these guys! They were an important part of my growing up life. I am thankful God gave their friendship to me. I think of them today because this weekend Barcley is getting married. From afar I celebrate and rejoice in this event... and want to wish him a happy marriage! Andy is married and I have been blessed to call his wife a very dear friend... I am thankful.

Blessings to you both!

Sibling Love

Ethan Cade and Eden Eve

I think these two are so cute together!

And they are growing up fast!

From My View

I never tire of the view I see every morning (or for that matter all throughout the day). I love where I live and the beauty that surrounds me. It is truly a remarkable canyon, and if and when I leave this place this view is what I will miss the most. Everyday the view is different... the colors change, the clouds vary, but the splendor remains the same. This mountain is steadfast.

Images from Our Day

For the past few days we have been duct taping and safety pinning Eden into her clothes/diaper for bedtime and nap times.... if we don't - we find a completely naked girl and a soaked bed. She would love to spend her days naked.... so she is always trying to take something off or put something on. Eden thinks she is capable of doing things on her own. She has discovered the power of a chair. She carries her little chair around with her and if she sees anything she wants she just has to climb on the chair and STAND UP and she can reach just about anything she wants! Oh Child... you make life interesting!

Ethan on the other hand has found the candy canes on the Christmas tree. I caught him sneaking some licks and it cracked me up. We have been working on becoming potty training (at least I am working on it... HE IS NOT!). He keeps telling me that he is not a big boy (yet)... nor does he (EVER) want to be! My goal is to have him out of diapers by the time he goes to college, but I am not holding my breath!

Expressions

I think my favorite part of the day is when I download my camera's flash drive onto my computer. I love to see which pictures turned out... which ones perfectly captured moments through out our day. I love how each picture is unique... but equally precious!